October 1
“Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.”
(John 2:23–25, NLT)
(John 2:23–25, NLT)
A sign is an indication, signal, or pointer. For example, a stop sign indicates that you need to stop your vehicle at an intersection for traffic to flow smoothly and safely. Without stop signs, there would be many accidents and driving would be inherently dangerous. Advertising signs along the highway are examples of pointers. They might tell the motorist of a place to eat or a gas station a few miles further up the highway. Advertising signs are not meant for safety necessarily, but they are meant to help you know what amenities are nearby. If you ignore signs on the road, you are extremely likely to have an accident, lose your way, or miss an opportunity. The same thing happens when you miss the spiritual signs sent from God.
Spiritual signs come in many different forms. A miraculous healing may be a sign of a person's spiritual power. John 4:54 gives an example of Jesus healing a man's son and calls this healing a "sign" to the people at that time. The sign was meant to "point" or "signal" that Jesus was indeed the Christ. When Peter and John healed a man, Acts 4:22 called this healing a "sign" that the disciples of Jesus had the power to do miracles. Spiritual signs do not have to be healings alone. Romans 4:11 calls the circumcision of Abraham a "sign" of Abraham's willingness to be in covenant with God. Paul proclaimed the speaking of tongues as a sign of faith and power for unbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:22). The prophet Ezekiel was himself called a sign to the people of Israel (Ezekiel 24:24). When Ezekiel spoke, he displayed God's directions for the people, pointing them to true faith in unclear times. God caused the sun to go backwards in the days of Isaiah (Isaiah 38:7). God called the action of the sun a sign of HIS promise for King Hezekiah. In the scripture for today, the "miraculous signs" that Jesus performed caused "many" to "trust" in Jesus (John 2:23). Those in Jesus' presence saw HIS connection with God and some responded with true faith. Others responded with a shallow and weak faith and only desired to see more miracles (John 2:24). God can use just about anything or anyone as a sign to indicate something for faithful or unfaithful people. But with God, all the spiritual signs in history are to point people to God, God's plan, God's purposes, or God's promise.
What I find most interesting about spiritual signs sent by God is that they are meant to bring forth faith in those who rightly interpret the sign. A sign of healing isn't meant for a person to be out of pain or freed from disease alone. It is meant to display God's power and require faith in God as a response. Miraculous signs weren't meant for people to see the miracle, but for them to respond with faith to God's power over creation. If you ever see a spiritual sign, God will want you to respond with faith in some concrete way. Signs are meant to elicit a response by those to whom the sign is sent. Seeing a spiritual sign should make you immediately search for the adequate response of faith God desires.
More than twenty years ago, I had an unusual visit to my office. A man who was not a member of my congregation came to see me. Weeks before, he and his family visited our worship service. At the time, he was inspired to ask God for healing. Days later, the healing occurred. He came to the church feeling very thankful, wanting to give a gift to the church as a response. After a short while, he figured out that maybe the gift wasn't quite what God desired. After some amount of wonderful conversation, we both felt God wanted him and his family to attend worship and become active in faith again. They did just that. I believe this healing by God in this man's family was a sign that God wanted them closer to HIM. A gift to the church was not the faithful response God desired. God wanted a relationship with that family. Thankfully, the father recognized the signs and responded!
As you go through life, God will inevitably give you signs or pointers along the way. I have personally encountered hundreds, maybe thousands of signs meant for me. You may experience many as well, if you notice. Signs may push you in a different direction or point to a change in your life that needs to happen. The sign may appear as an unusual coincidence. It may be miraculous in nature. It may be like a whisper. It may come with an explosion! Signs may be more or less clear at the time, but they are nonetheless God's way to reach you. Don't overlook them. They are God's way of keeping your faith on track and headed in the right direction.
Have you seen any spiritual signs lately? When was the last time you noticed a spiritual sign sent by God? Are you too busy or too preoccupied to notice spiritual signs? Isn't it wonderful knowing that the Creator of the universe wants to reach out to you personally with spiritual signs?!!!! Your life, your decisions, your direction, your faith all matter greatly to your Lord.
Spiritual signs come in many different forms. A miraculous healing may be a sign of a person's spiritual power. John 4:54 gives an example of Jesus healing a man's son and calls this healing a "sign" to the people at that time. The sign was meant to "point" or "signal" that Jesus was indeed the Christ. When Peter and John healed a man, Acts 4:22 called this healing a "sign" that the disciples of Jesus had the power to do miracles. Spiritual signs do not have to be healings alone. Romans 4:11 calls the circumcision of Abraham a "sign" of Abraham's willingness to be in covenant with God. Paul proclaimed the speaking of tongues as a sign of faith and power for unbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:22). The prophet Ezekiel was himself called a sign to the people of Israel (Ezekiel 24:24). When Ezekiel spoke, he displayed God's directions for the people, pointing them to true faith in unclear times. God caused the sun to go backwards in the days of Isaiah (Isaiah 38:7). God called the action of the sun a sign of HIS promise for King Hezekiah. In the scripture for today, the "miraculous signs" that Jesus performed caused "many" to "trust" in Jesus (John 2:23). Those in Jesus' presence saw HIS connection with God and some responded with true faith. Others responded with a shallow and weak faith and only desired to see more miracles (John 2:24). God can use just about anything or anyone as a sign to indicate something for faithful or unfaithful people. But with God, all the spiritual signs in history are to point people to God, God's plan, God's purposes, or God's promise.
What I find most interesting about spiritual signs sent by God is that they are meant to bring forth faith in those who rightly interpret the sign. A sign of healing isn't meant for a person to be out of pain or freed from disease alone. It is meant to display God's power and require faith in God as a response. Miraculous signs weren't meant for people to see the miracle, but for them to respond with faith to God's power over creation. If you ever see a spiritual sign, God will want you to respond with faith in some concrete way. Signs are meant to elicit a response by those to whom the sign is sent. Seeing a spiritual sign should make you immediately search for the adequate response of faith God desires.
More than twenty years ago, I had an unusual visit to my office. A man who was not a member of my congregation came to see me. Weeks before, he and his family visited our worship service. At the time, he was inspired to ask God for healing. Days later, the healing occurred. He came to the church feeling very thankful, wanting to give a gift to the church as a response. After a short while, he figured out that maybe the gift wasn't quite what God desired. After some amount of wonderful conversation, we both felt God wanted him and his family to attend worship and become active in faith again. They did just that. I believe this healing by God in this man's family was a sign that God wanted them closer to HIM. A gift to the church was not the faithful response God desired. God wanted a relationship with that family. Thankfully, the father recognized the signs and responded!
As you go through life, God will inevitably give you signs or pointers along the way. I have personally encountered hundreds, maybe thousands of signs meant for me. You may experience many as well, if you notice. Signs may push you in a different direction or point to a change in your life that needs to happen. The sign may appear as an unusual coincidence. It may be miraculous in nature. It may be like a whisper. It may come with an explosion! Signs may be more or less clear at the time, but they are nonetheless God's way to reach you. Don't overlook them. They are God's way of keeping your faith on track and headed in the right direction.
Have you seen any spiritual signs lately? When was the last time you noticed a spiritual sign sent by God? Are you too busy or too preoccupied to notice spiritual signs? Isn't it wonderful knowing that the Creator of the universe wants to reach out to you personally with spiritual signs?!!!! Your life, your decisions, your direction, your faith all matter greatly to your Lord.
October 2
“But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification.” (Romans 6:17–19, RSV)
"You used to be different!"
Those were the words of his best friend. They were meant to hurt his feelings, to cause him to wake up and act like he used to just weeks before. He could not. Something had changed in Charlie at the Billy Graham Crusade in Minneapolis. Drinking didn't appeal to him any longer; getting into trouble with his best friend seemed to be a waste of time. He felt guilty saying something mean or swearing. Worship services actually spoke to him for once. His best friend was right. He was different now.
When you begin to truly believe in God, changes inevitably take place in your life. Your priorities will usually be altered. Events in your life are now filtered through the eyes of faith. Decisions seem more important. Your actions will be gauged through a spiritual lens. Right and wrong will become more clear. There will be a before and after. Before you came to accept God's place in your life, things seemed carefree. You would sin and not care. After you accepted Jesus into your heart in a real way, sinning seemed very wrong. The Bible seemed to speak to you. Scriptures would pop out with new meaning. Praying felt real. If changes in your life have never really occurred because of your belief in Jesus Christ, chances are you are not saved, not Spirit-filled, or not one with God yet.
When the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, he wanted to emphasize this change that comes when a person begins to truly believe in God through Jesus Christ. Paul mentioned in Romans 6 that the believers in Rome who used to be "slaves of sin" became "obedient from the heart", filled with "righteousness", and should give "thanks to God" (Romans 6:17-18). In the very next verse, he adds that where the faithful in Rome used to "yield… to greater and greater impurity (sins)", now they were full of "righteousness for sanctification" (Romans 6:19). They now lived rightly, and were thus holy to God. Notice in all these verses how the Roman Christians had changed. Before they believed in God through Jesus Christ, sin and impurity and disobedience held sway. After coming to faith, these things were replaced by righteousness, sanctification, and a rejection of sin.
It is normal for things to change the closer you get to God. If they don't, something is wrong with your faith. Sinful thoughts and behaviors should lose their appeal or their sway. The desire to please God and do what is right should be the new normal. The reverse can also be true. As you fall away from God, certain sins will take hold of your life. A bad habit will control your life more and more. Bad thoughts or judgments will creep in. Prayer, holiness, and worship will become less and less important. This is why every true Christian should constantly evaluate his or her priorities, values, and commitments. They will tell you if your faith is growing or dying. These point to the truth of your commitment to God.
Look back over your life. Have you changed? Are there still sins that maintain their hold upon your life? Have you given up sinful thoughts, and replaced them with Godly prayer? If a friend from the "old days" saw you now, would you be different? Could he or she see the change? This is when you know that God is growing in your heart. Over time, the changes should be evident. It is something to celebrate, not mourn. You have to be different in order to be holy. Priorities have to change in order for Jesus to mean something to you! Take today to look back and reminisce. How has God affected your life, your decisions, your future?
Those were the words of his best friend. They were meant to hurt his feelings, to cause him to wake up and act like he used to just weeks before. He could not. Something had changed in Charlie at the Billy Graham Crusade in Minneapolis. Drinking didn't appeal to him any longer; getting into trouble with his best friend seemed to be a waste of time. He felt guilty saying something mean or swearing. Worship services actually spoke to him for once. His best friend was right. He was different now.
When you begin to truly believe in God, changes inevitably take place in your life. Your priorities will usually be altered. Events in your life are now filtered through the eyes of faith. Decisions seem more important. Your actions will be gauged through a spiritual lens. Right and wrong will become more clear. There will be a before and after. Before you came to accept God's place in your life, things seemed carefree. You would sin and not care. After you accepted Jesus into your heart in a real way, sinning seemed very wrong. The Bible seemed to speak to you. Scriptures would pop out with new meaning. Praying felt real. If changes in your life have never really occurred because of your belief in Jesus Christ, chances are you are not saved, not Spirit-filled, or not one with God yet.
When the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, he wanted to emphasize this change that comes when a person begins to truly believe in God through Jesus Christ. Paul mentioned in Romans 6 that the believers in Rome who used to be "slaves of sin" became "obedient from the heart", filled with "righteousness", and should give "thanks to God" (Romans 6:17-18). In the very next verse, he adds that where the faithful in Rome used to "yield… to greater and greater impurity (sins)", now they were full of "righteousness for sanctification" (Romans 6:19). They now lived rightly, and were thus holy to God. Notice in all these verses how the Roman Christians had changed. Before they believed in God through Jesus Christ, sin and impurity and disobedience held sway. After coming to faith, these things were replaced by righteousness, sanctification, and a rejection of sin.
It is normal for things to change the closer you get to God. If they don't, something is wrong with your faith. Sinful thoughts and behaviors should lose their appeal or their sway. The desire to please God and do what is right should be the new normal. The reverse can also be true. As you fall away from God, certain sins will take hold of your life. A bad habit will control your life more and more. Bad thoughts or judgments will creep in. Prayer, holiness, and worship will become less and less important. This is why every true Christian should constantly evaluate his or her priorities, values, and commitments. They will tell you if your faith is growing or dying. These point to the truth of your commitment to God.
Look back over your life. Have you changed? Are there still sins that maintain their hold upon your life? Have you given up sinful thoughts, and replaced them with Godly prayer? If a friend from the "old days" saw you now, would you be different? Could he or she see the change? This is when you know that God is growing in your heart. Over time, the changes should be evident. It is something to celebrate, not mourn. You have to be different in order to be holy. Priorities have to change in order for Jesus to mean something to you! Take today to look back and reminisce. How has God affected your life, your decisions, your future?
October 3
““Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”” (Romans 3:14, NLT)
Paul described the unrighteous in the scripture above as having mouths full of cursing and bitterness. Cursing is wishing evil upon someone or something. In ancient times, cursing was actually putting a curse or hex on someone. The word in Greek for "cursing" means to utter a "wish". In this case, however, that wish was always negative, always meant to cause pain. Cursing can be wishing another to suffer or encounter misfortune or even death. Today, however, I want to focus on the next word Paul used to describe the unrighteous person. He or she was full of "bitterness" (Romans 3:14). The word "bitterness" comes from the Greek word meaning "sharp" or "painful". When full of bitterness, people will have a "sharp tongue" that cuts to the heart. When they speak, "bitter" words of hate and spite pour forth.
When a child encounters certain foods for the first time, she may recoil and shake her head. Something tangy or "bitter" may cause her to immediately pull back or even spit out the food. It is a natural reaction to a strong taste. The child may grow used to the taste and enjoy the tart aftertaste, or the child may simply reject the strong food. You never know. For some adults, the aftertaste of alcohol may carry the same response. When encountering a "strong" drink, a man may feel the instant urge to shake his head and pull back. He is recoiling from the "bitterness" of the drink. That's why some alcoholic drinks are called "bitters" in various parts of the world. It was also a common word used for alcohol in the "Old West".
When a person spews "bitterness", as in Paul's description of the unrighteous person in Romans 3, the natural response of the Christian is to recoil and feel the sharpness of the words. When a person is full of bitterness, their words will cut like a knife and cause emotional and psychological pain. Anyone full of bitterness will often cause others to pull back and recoil from their spiteful personality and angry outbursts.
Ethel was a person in my church who was full of bitterness (I have changed her name). A person once described her to me as "born with a lemon in her mouth". She would constantly purse her lips when she didn't like you or something you said. She was known to even say kind words with a sort of backhanded slap in the face. She never seemed happy with anything or anyone. Though considering herself too cultured and refined to ever swear, she used words to spew forth bitterness with sentences such as "I'm sure you feel that way, dear" or "I'm glad you think you did that well". Being a pastor for this woman was torture. If she wasn't telling me how inept I was in a variety of ways, she would cause fights and ill-feelings to break out in the church wherever she went.
It is very important that you not become "full of bitterness" yourself. As people age, some can be full of regrets and remorse. In response, they lash out at others. The same thing can easily happen when you become judgmental or selfish. You will find it easy to speak "down" to others or put others "in their place". When full of bitterness, you might have a "sharp tongue" that causes emotional wounds in those you love. You might swear up a storm or use words you know will hurt another. If you ever become "full of bitterness" you can be sure of one thing; it is a sign that you are unrighteous before God as the scripture for today contends.
Many events in life, when not worked through with God, can feed bitterness. Abuse and neglect can cause it. Pain can strengthen it. Egotism and self-centeredness often give rise to bitterness. Resentments and losses in life often form the basis for bitterness to take hold. The death of a loved one can cause you to hate your life as depression takes hold. The result will be bitterness. Psychological insecurities inherently breed bitterness. When you find yourself in any of these situations, it is important that you not let bitterness take hold in you. Not only will it hurt you, but it will cut like a knife in the lives of those you care about. Like a child tasting a strong tart berry, bitterness always causes people to pull back and recoil. Sadly, bitterness always comes back to bite you.
Are you bitter about something in your past? When on certain subjects, do you become defensive and angry? Whenever bitterness threatens to take hold, remember to ask God to remove the strong negative feelings and emotions from your heart, soul, and mind. If left there too long, they can only produce the worst in you.
When a child encounters certain foods for the first time, she may recoil and shake her head. Something tangy or "bitter" may cause her to immediately pull back or even spit out the food. It is a natural reaction to a strong taste. The child may grow used to the taste and enjoy the tart aftertaste, or the child may simply reject the strong food. You never know. For some adults, the aftertaste of alcohol may carry the same response. When encountering a "strong" drink, a man may feel the instant urge to shake his head and pull back. He is recoiling from the "bitterness" of the drink. That's why some alcoholic drinks are called "bitters" in various parts of the world. It was also a common word used for alcohol in the "Old West".
When a person spews "bitterness", as in Paul's description of the unrighteous person in Romans 3, the natural response of the Christian is to recoil and feel the sharpness of the words. When a person is full of bitterness, their words will cut like a knife and cause emotional and psychological pain. Anyone full of bitterness will often cause others to pull back and recoil from their spiteful personality and angry outbursts.
Ethel was a person in my church who was full of bitterness (I have changed her name). A person once described her to me as "born with a lemon in her mouth". She would constantly purse her lips when she didn't like you or something you said. She was known to even say kind words with a sort of backhanded slap in the face. She never seemed happy with anything or anyone. Though considering herself too cultured and refined to ever swear, she used words to spew forth bitterness with sentences such as "I'm sure you feel that way, dear" or "I'm glad you think you did that well". Being a pastor for this woman was torture. If she wasn't telling me how inept I was in a variety of ways, she would cause fights and ill-feelings to break out in the church wherever she went.
It is very important that you not become "full of bitterness" yourself. As people age, some can be full of regrets and remorse. In response, they lash out at others. The same thing can easily happen when you become judgmental or selfish. You will find it easy to speak "down" to others or put others "in their place". When full of bitterness, you might have a "sharp tongue" that causes emotional wounds in those you love. You might swear up a storm or use words you know will hurt another. If you ever become "full of bitterness" you can be sure of one thing; it is a sign that you are unrighteous before God as the scripture for today contends.
Many events in life, when not worked through with God, can feed bitterness. Abuse and neglect can cause it. Pain can strengthen it. Egotism and self-centeredness often give rise to bitterness. Resentments and losses in life often form the basis for bitterness to take hold. The death of a loved one can cause you to hate your life as depression takes hold. The result will be bitterness. Psychological insecurities inherently breed bitterness. When you find yourself in any of these situations, it is important that you not let bitterness take hold in you. Not only will it hurt you, but it will cut like a knife in the lives of those you care about. Like a child tasting a strong tart berry, bitterness always causes people to pull back and recoil. Sadly, bitterness always comes back to bite you.
Are you bitter about something in your past? When on certain subjects, do you become defensive and angry? Whenever bitterness threatens to take hold, remember to ask God to remove the strong negative feelings and emotions from your heart, soul, and mind. If left there too long, they can only produce the worst in you.
October 4
“Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.”
(Colossians 3:25, NIV)
(Colossians 3:25, NIV)
Everyone in my elementary school class felt bad for Lori. She was the black sheep of the family. Lori's sister Kathy was the pretty one. Kathy got good grades. Being pretty, she was popular among the boys. During recess, she was one of the first chosen for a team. When awards were given out, Kathy always received at least one. Growing up in the shadow of the "amazing" Kathy, Lori felt alone and unloved. She sought attention, because she seldom got it when Kathy was around. Even at home, Kathy was preferred. If Lori got in trouble, she was punished immediately. When Kathy messed up, her parents made an excuse for her. If Lori got a two presents for her birthday, Kathy would get three. I always wondered why Kathy was so revered at home and Lori seemed to always "play second fiddle".
Some Christians think that because they are God's children that they get special treatment as well. According to the scripture for today, when it comes to sinning or doing wrong, nobody gets special treatment from God. All will face God's condemnation when they do wrong. You included. If you do not face the fact that you sin, you will almost surely end up with spiritual pridefulness. King David, King Saul, Peter, Paul, the pharisees and Pharaoh all suffered greatly from this very condition.
In Colossians 3, the apostle Paul spoke about the proper place of things with respect to God. The first few verses of this chapter urge the faithful to place Christ first in life. Colossians 3:5-10 explained to the Christian the importance of leaving behind sinful vices when in relationship with God. Paul then wrote about spiritual attributes that should be commonplace in the Christian life such as compassion, forgiveness, and thankfulness. Paul then moved on to explaining the right relationships between a husband and wife, children and parents, slaves and masters. Then, in the very last verse of this chapter, Paul explained that a right relationship with God requires all "wrongs" to be "repaid". Just because you are a child of God, precious and favored, doesn't mean you will be off the hook for sinful actions. God is an equal judge of right and wrong. No wrong goes unpunished.
It is surprising to me the amount of people who think that God differentiates between sins and sinners. I've heard people complain that something was "just a little sin" or "a little bit wrong". Others have often commented to me that a "little white lie" is just bending the truth. It isn't really wrong or a sin or even a real lie! I have heard many more say that if something "wrong" isn't listed among the Ten Commandments, then its "not that bad". Are you kidding me?!!! You may tell yourself that a little sin isn't worth God's time, but to God all sins and wrongs add up. They all can slowly change your views or let temptation in. It's often the little wrongs that end up causing big sins. You may think that because you don't sin very often that a little sin here and there are overlooked by God. Since you are a pastor, teacher, born-again Christian, or have gone to church your whole life that God will overlook when you commit a little sin. That's not how it works. The scripture for today makes clear that God shows "no favoritism" with sinning. God is uniformly hard on sins and wrongs in the world. God doesn't play around with spiritual offenses.
Decades ago, a pastor was involved in marriage counseling with a husband and wife of his congregation. As the weeks progressed, the wife developed feelings for the pastor. It's called transference. It is not unusual for a counselee to find the counselor open and engaging, but then the counselee begins to feel that the counselor is a joy to be around or one who "really understands". The pastor, ignoring the transference going on, began to flirt with the wife when the husband wasn't around. After a year of counseling, the pastor became romantically involved with the wife he was counseling. Months later, he had convinced himself that the affair was a good thing, because "God would want them both to be happy". It did not end well. Despite the pastor convincing himself that the affair was "not really wrong", in God's eyes it was very wrong. He was as much a sinner as the guy in town who constantly cheated on his wife. A sin is a sin is a sin. God did not show favoritism to that pastor (Colossians 3:25). The wrongs done will have to be atoned for, and repentance demanded. All sins have consequences.
There are people who have hidden sins, overlooked little sins, and even ignored sinful thoughts. The scripture for today requires us to make right or "pay" for sins, little and great alike. Just because you may have put away a wrong from your past without any thought of repentance doesn't mean God has done so. Did you ask for forgiveness and make amends for past sins, no matter how big the mistake? Did you make things right? Do you tell yourself that a little habitual sin won't affect your relationship with God? God requires us to right our wrongs in life, no matter how small or large the slight. God is fair and just when it comes to good and bad. Today, look into the crevices of your past. Make sure there are not any sins there that have been hidden or overlooked. It doesn't matter how beloved by God you are, your sins must be dealt with.
My grandmother used to say to me, "You are not too big for me to put you over my knee!" If I was being naughty, she was letting me know it! In a sense, you are not too good a person to be corrected by your Lord. All of us have to answer for every wrong. The scripture for today reminds us of that fact.
Some Christians think that because they are God's children that they get special treatment as well. According to the scripture for today, when it comes to sinning or doing wrong, nobody gets special treatment from God. All will face God's condemnation when they do wrong. You included. If you do not face the fact that you sin, you will almost surely end up with spiritual pridefulness. King David, King Saul, Peter, Paul, the pharisees and Pharaoh all suffered greatly from this very condition.
In Colossians 3, the apostle Paul spoke about the proper place of things with respect to God. The first few verses of this chapter urge the faithful to place Christ first in life. Colossians 3:5-10 explained to the Christian the importance of leaving behind sinful vices when in relationship with God. Paul then wrote about spiritual attributes that should be commonplace in the Christian life such as compassion, forgiveness, and thankfulness. Paul then moved on to explaining the right relationships between a husband and wife, children and parents, slaves and masters. Then, in the very last verse of this chapter, Paul explained that a right relationship with God requires all "wrongs" to be "repaid". Just because you are a child of God, precious and favored, doesn't mean you will be off the hook for sinful actions. God is an equal judge of right and wrong. No wrong goes unpunished.
It is surprising to me the amount of people who think that God differentiates between sins and sinners. I've heard people complain that something was "just a little sin" or "a little bit wrong". Others have often commented to me that a "little white lie" is just bending the truth. It isn't really wrong or a sin or even a real lie! I have heard many more say that if something "wrong" isn't listed among the Ten Commandments, then its "not that bad". Are you kidding me?!!! You may tell yourself that a little sin isn't worth God's time, but to God all sins and wrongs add up. They all can slowly change your views or let temptation in. It's often the little wrongs that end up causing big sins. You may think that because you don't sin very often that a little sin here and there are overlooked by God. Since you are a pastor, teacher, born-again Christian, or have gone to church your whole life that God will overlook when you commit a little sin. That's not how it works. The scripture for today makes clear that God shows "no favoritism" with sinning. God is uniformly hard on sins and wrongs in the world. God doesn't play around with spiritual offenses.
Decades ago, a pastor was involved in marriage counseling with a husband and wife of his congregation. As the weeks progressed, the wife developed feelings for the pastor. It's called transference. It is not unusual for a counselee to find the counselor open and engaging, but then the counselee begins to feel that the counselor is a joy to be around or one who "really understands". The pastor, ignoring the transference going on, began to flirt with the wife when the husband wasn't around. After a year of counseling, the pastor became romantically involved with the wife he was counseling. Months later, he had convinced himself that the affair was a good thing, because "God would want them both to be happy". It did not end well. Despite the pastor convincing himself that the affair was "not really wrong", in God's eyes it was very wrong. He was as much a sinner as the guy in town who constantly cheated on his wife. A sin is a sin is a sin. God did not show favoritism to that pastor (Colossians 3:25). The wrongs done will have to be atoned for, and repentance demanded. All sins have consequences.
There are people who have hidden sins, overlooked little sins, and even ignored sinful thoughts. The scripture for today requires us to make right or "pay" for sins, little and great alike. Just because you may have put away a wrong from your past without any thought of repentance doesn't mean God has done so. Did you ask for forgiveness and make amends for past sins, no matter how big the mistake? Did you make things right? Do you tell yourself that a little habitual sin won't affect your relationship with God? God requires us to right our wrongs in life, no matter how small or large the slight. God is fair and just when it comes to good and bad. Today, look into the crevices of your past. Make sure there are not any sins there that have been hidden or overlooked. It doesn't matter how beloved by God you are, your sins must be dealt with.
My grandmother used to say to me, "You are not too big for me to put you over my knee!" If I was being naughty, she was letting me know it! In a sense, you are not too good a person to be corrected by your Lord. All of us have to answer for every wrong. The scripture for today reminds us of that fact.
October 5
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
(Proverbs 22:6, RSV)
(Proverbs 22:6, RSV)
I believe that parents should get a medal for raising children in these tumultuous times. There are so many pressures that society puts on children and parents that can ruin their lives. Parents have to protect their children while giving them freedom to learn, watch over children while giving them space, care for teenagers who will find it hard to respect authority, and teach their children right and wrong in a world where morals have completely decayed. It seems an almost impossible task! Despite being daunting, parenting is crucial to the future of our species as well as the future of the faith.
I memorized the above scripture years ago. This scripture about parenting is more complex and real than it might initially appear. First, it teaches that parents MUST "train up a child" in the right "way". The word "train" in this verse is not just a verb. In Hebrew, it is a command. To God, parents don't have the option to train a child in right and wrong. It is commanded by God. This training should involve teaching the child about the world, showing a child what is right and wrong and faithful, helping a child to understand his or her behavior, and so much more. But realize that the word used in the verse above is "train", not "let a child decide for him or herself"! A popular method of parenting since the 1960's was to let children learn about God on their own, letting a child decide for him or herself what was good or bad. This is not "training". This is neglect! A child who has to figure everything in life on her own will take much longer to learn the nuances of life. If it isn't obvious to the child, the child will not see it. Parents need to train children about life, not let them roam free to learn on their own! Another common mistake parents of the past made was to try and befriend their children. Their job is to TRAIN children, not make friends of them. You can't follow this scripture if you follow the models of parenting that the world is so fond of promoting.
Susanna Wesley had a hard life. She lived from 1669 to 1742 in difficult circumstances that would have caused most people to turn to mush. She had nineteen children, but only eight of her children were alive when she died. Nine of her children died in infancy during an age when infant mortality was atrocious. Her husband left her for a time. She suffered through two house fires. While lacking in many of life's amenities, Susanna did not lack in faith. She read the Bible daily, and led devotions for her children. She followed six basic rules in raising her children: "(1) Subdue self-will in a child and thus work together with God to save his soul. (2) Teach him to pray as soon as he can speak. (3) Give him nothing he cries for and only what is good for him if he asks for it politely. (4) To prevent lying, punish no fault which is freely confessed, but never allow a rebellious, sinful act to go unnoticed. (5) Commend and reward good behavior. (6) Strictly observe all promises you have made to your child." (Believer's Bible Commentary). Susanna Wesley dedicated her life to "training her children". Most of her children became pastors and church leaders. The family helped write many hymns that are still played in churches today. She and her children became instrumental in beginning the Wesleyan and Methodist Christian traditions. If you are a Methodist today, you can thank Susanna Wesley for her good parental training that formed the backbone of that denomination.
The poor training of children is everywhere evident today. Youths pouring over their cell phones and paying no attention to the conversation or family during dinner is commonplace. Children screaming and falling to the ground in temper tantrums in the supermarket is ubiquitous. I have met children who didn't know how to write coherent sentences, teens who couldn't communicate at an adult event, sixteen-year old drivers who couldn’t change a tire on a car, and eighteen-year-old youth who didn't want to learn something new because they could find out all their answers to life on Google, Wikipedia, or YouTube. How do you teach the nuances of a relationship with another person or God via a three hundred word article or a five minute video? How do you teach patience to a teenager who has been handed everything she wanted in life?
One mistake you may make in reading the scripture for today is ignoring the second half of the verse. You may focus on "training a child in the way he should go", but overlook that next part of the verse; "when he is old, he will not depart from it". This verse does not say a child will accept or like the training. It doesn't say it will be easy to train a child or that the teen will pick up on the training right away. Some people are "old" before they "get it". Often, children have to wise up before they come back to the good training of their parents. In the meantime, they may reject what they learned growing up. How many children brought up in the church leave the fold during their college years, only to return a decade later? Even Billy Graham's son Franklin Graham argued a lot with his father over his training!
Sadly, I cannot include many of the training issues of parents today while keeping the length of today's meditation at a fair level. However, I leave you with a few thoughts. Abuse is not training. Neglect is not training. Teaching ethics and morals rightly depends on the age. There is so much to share. I wish we could communicate more about this issue! In the end, just remember that God cares about how you train children. God wants to help you reach the next generation. Lean on God and others for help! God the Father knows what it is like to be a parent. Faithful parental guidance is terribly difficult, but your godly attempts at parenting will be cherished by Heaven always.
I memorized the above scripture years ago. This scripture about parenting is more complex and real than it might initially appear. First, it teaches that parents MUST "train up a child" in the right "way". The word "train" in this verse is not just a verb. In Hebrew, it is a command. To God, parents don't have the option to train a child in right and wrong. It is commanded by God. This training should involve teaching the child about the world, showing a child what is right and wrong and faithful, helping a child to understand his or her behavior, and so much more. But realize that the word used in the verse above is "train", not "let a child decide for him or herself"! A popular method of parenting since the 1960's was to let children learn about God on their own, letting a child decide for him or herself what was good or bad. This is not "training". This is neglect! A child who has to figure everything in life on her own will take much longer to learn the nuances of life. If it isn't obvious to the child, the child will not see it. Parents need to train children about life, not let them roam free to learn on their own! Another common mistake parents of the past made was to try and befriend their children. Their job is to TRAIN children, not make friends of them. You can't follow this scripture if you follow the models of parenting that the world is so fond of promoting.
Susanna Wesley had a hard life. She lived from 1669 to 1742 in difficult circumstances that would have caused most people to turn to mush. She had nineteen children, but only eight of her children were alive when she died. Nine of her children died in infancy during an age when infant mortality was atrocious. Her husband left her for a time. She suffered through two house fires. While lacking in many of life's amenities, Susanna did not lack in faith. She read the Bible daily, and led devotions for her children. She followed six basic rules in raising her children: "(1) Subdue self-will in a child and thus work together with God to save his soul. (2) Teach him to pray as soon as he can speak. (3) Give him nothing he cries for and only what is good for him if he asks for it politely. (4) To prevent lying, punish no fault which is freely confessed, but never allow a rebellious, sinful act to go unnoticed. (5) Commend and reward good behavior. (6) Strictly observe all promises you have made to your child." (Believer's Bible Commentary). Susanna Wesley dedicated her life to "training her children". Most of her children became pastors and church leaders. The family helped write many hymns that are still played in churches today. She and her children became instrumental in beginning the Wesleyan and Methodist Christian traditions. If you are a Methodist today, you can thank Susanna Wesley for her good parental training that formed the backbone of that denomination.
The poor training of children is everywhere evident today. Youths pouring over their cell phones and paying no attention to the conversation or family during dinner is commonplace. Children screaming and falling to the ground in temper tantrums in the supermarket is ubiquitous. I have met children who didn't know how to write coherent sentences, teens who couldn't communicate at an adult event, sixteen-year old drivers who couldn’t change a tire on a car, and eighteen-year-old youth who didn't want to learn something new because they could find out all their answers to life on Google, Wikipedia, or YouTube. How do you teach the nuances of a relationship with another person or God via a three hundred word article or a five minute video? How do you teach patience to a teenager who has been handed everything she wanted in life?
One mistake you may make in reading the scripture for today is ignoring the second half of the verse. You may focus on "training a child in the way he should go", but overlook that next part of the verse; "when he is old, he will not depart from it". This verse does not say a child will accept or like the training. It doesn't say it will be easy to train a child or that the teen will pick up on the training right away. Some people are "old" before they "get it". Often, children have to wise up before they come back to the good training of their parents. In the meantime, they may reject what they learned growing up. How many children brought up in the church leave the fold during their college years, only to return a decade later? Even Billy Graham's son Franklin Graham argued a lot with his father over his training!
Sadly, I cannot include many of the training issues of parents today while keeping the length of today's meditation at a fair level. However, I leave you with a few thoughts. Abuse is not training. Neglect is not training. Teaching ethics and morals rightly depends on the age. There is so much to share. I wish we could communicate more about this issue! In the end, just remember that God cares about how you train children. God wants to help you reach the next generation. Lean on God and others for help! God the Father knows what it is like to be a parent. Faithful parental guidance is terribly difficult, but your godly attempts at parenting will be cherished by Heaven always.
October 6
“Help me, O Lord my God; Save me according to Your lovingkindness.”
(Psalm 109:26, NASB95)
(Psalm 109:26, NASB95)
General William Tecumseh Sherman had fought battle after battle in the Civil War of the United States. He grew to know what information he could trust and what he couldn't. He learned how to supply his armies and where to place his troops. In the midst of a war that was tearing apart the nation, Sherman also learned who among his fellow soldiers he could count on when things got hot and heavy. After the war, General Sherman wrote to General Ulysses S. Grant: "I knew wherever I was that you thought of me, and if I got in a tight place you would come--if alive." With these words, Sherman disclosed his belief that when he needed help in battle, he felt most secure calling for help from General Grant.
Every one of us will need help at some time in life. You may fall and need help getting up. You might need help with homework or learning a skill. You might need someone's aid in an emergency. You might benefit from spiritual guidance. Help might be needed to overcome an obstacle or illness or failure. Don't ever be too prideful to ask for help when you need it.
In the scripture for today, David sought help from God. David was at an impasse. Those he trusted to help had failed him. David sought help from friends who turned against him in his time of need (Psalm 109:4). They returned evil for good (Psalm 109:5). They took advantage of his situation. In the end, David called on the only one who could be trusted completely. He called upon God for help (Psalm 109:26). David needed saving and trusted that God would be there.
It is very important in life that you realize that God's help is a sure thing. Where others may fail you, God will not. If you need saving, God will help. God always helps those whom HE loves. But, will you ask for help? Out of pride, many people refuse to ask for help when they truly need it. They do not want to be seen as needy or deficient. They want to appear self-sufficient, strongly independent, or infallible. Pridefulness will get you to push to failure, even though God is able to help your situation. You will need to ask for help from God. Are you too prideful to ask? Are you too pig-headed to admit when you need help?
In Psalm 109, David admitted that before he reached out for help from God, he sought help from untrustworthy friends. These failed him. In the end, God's "lovingkindness" came through, but not before David exhausted his opportunities among his friends. You may find it easier to ask friends for help rather than ask God for aid. You may look to friends for guidance, when what you really need is God's direction. Don't be afraid to seek God's aid. Don't be ashamed to ask for God's saving grace.
It surprises me how often people will go to the wrong friends for guidance. A woman goes to a divorced friend for advice about marriage. A man asks what his friends at work think he should do about a medical condition, but doesn't seek a doctor's wisdom. People wait until they are falling apart before seeking counseling. Some don't want to admit there is a problem they can't solve. Others don't know where to look for help. In the end, God shouldn't be the last person you ask for help. Heaven should be the first place you look for guidance!
Eighteen years ago this month, a husband and wife came to me looking desperate. They wanted to begin counseling as soon as possible. I made time in my full week for a session. When they came, I could tell they were stressed and frustrated. They seemed beaten down. The husband said the first words of the session: "Pastor Dave, we tried everything. We went to counseling. We read books on marriage. We talked to our friends and asked our parents what to do. We can't get along. I'm afraid our marriage is over."
My response actually surprised them: "Why are you here so late? Have you asked God for help?"
They looked at each other and then said nothing. While I spoke, I sought God's wisdom. I felt God saying there was a lot HE could do. I turned to them and said, "If you trust God and me in this process, I promise you that if your love is real and your faith is true, we WILL get this marriage to work. I know it! I can feel it!" Though doubting, I could see some amount of hope come back to them. At the time, I remember asking myself why they had neglected to come to me and God until everything else had failed! By the way, they are still married and I dearly love those two!
Don't be too prideful to ask for help. Don't neglect God when you are in need. Don't put off asking God for help until everything else has failed. Don't look for advice and aid from untrustworthy sources. God is a great source of wisdom and power. Chances are that God has many resources just waiting to aid you if you only ask for HIS help in obtaining them!
Every one of us will need help at some time in life. You may fall and need help getting up. You might need help with homework or learning a skill. You might need someone's aid in an emergency. You might benefit from spiritual guidance. Help might be needed to overcome an obstacle or illness or failure. Don't ever be too prideful to ask for help when you need it.
In the scripture for today, David sought help from God. David was at an impasse. Those he trusted to help had failed him. David sought help from friends who turned against him in his time of need (Psalm 109:4). They returned evil for good (Psalm 109:5). They took advantage of his situation. In the end, David called on the only one who could be trusted completely. He called upon God for help (Psalm 109:26). David needed saving and trusted that God would be there.
It is very important in life that you realize that God's help is a sure thing. Where others may fail you, God will not. If you need saving, God will help. God always helps those whom HE loves. But, will you ask for help? Out of pride, many people refuse to ask for help when they truly need it. They do not want to be seen as needy or deficient. They want to appear self-sufficient, strongly independent, or infallible. Pridefulness will get you to push to failure, even though God is able to help your situation. You will need to ask for help from God. Are you too prideful to ask? Are you too pig-headed to admit when you need help?
In Psalm 109, David admitted that before he reached out for help from God, he sought help from untrustworthy friends. These failed him. In the end, God's "lovingkindness" came through, but not before David exhausted his opportunities among his friends. You may find it easier to ask friends for help rather than ask God for aid. You may look to friends for guidance, when what you really need is God's direction. Don't be afraid to seek God's aid. Don't be ashamed to ask for God's saving grace.
It surprises me how often people will go to the wrong friends for guidance. A woman goes to a divorced friend for advice about marriage. A man asks what his friends at work think he should do about a medical condition, but doesn't seek a doctor's wisdom. People wait until they are falling apart before seeking counseling. Some don't want to admit there is a problem they can't solve. Others don't know where to look for help. In the end, God shouldn't be the last person you ask for help. Heaven should be the first place you look for guidance!
Eighteen years ago this month, a husband and wife came to me looking desperate. They wanted to begin counseling as soon as possible. I made time in my full week for a session. When they came, I could tell they were stressed and frustrated. They seemed beaten down. The husband said the first words of the session: "Pastor Dave, we tried everything. We went to counseling. We read books on marriage. We talked to our friends and asked our parents what to do. We can't get along. I'm afraid our marriage is over."
My response actually surprised them: "Why are you here so late? Have you asked God for help?"
They looked at each other and then said nothing. While I spoke, I sought God's wisdom. I felt God saying there was a lot HE could do. I turned to them and said, "If you trust God and me in this process, I promise you that if your love is real and your faith is true, we WILL get this marriage to work. I know it! I can feel it!" Though doubting, I could see some amount of hope come back to them. At the time, I remember asking myself why they had neglected to come to me and God until everything else had failed! By the way, they are still married and I dearly love those two!
Don't be too prideful to ask for help. Don't neglect God when you are in need. Don't put off asking God for help until everything else has failed. Don't look for advice and aid from untrustworthy sources. God is a great source of wisdom and power. Chances are that God has many resources just waiting to aid you if you only ask for HIS help in obtaining them!
October 7
“Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord.”
(Romans 12:11, RSV)
(Romans 12:11, RSV)
The above scripture is an example of the inability to communicate using outdated terminology. What in the world does it mean to "never flag"? Does it mean I should never put a flag up a pole and fly it? Does it mean to never make a flag an idol? Does it mean I shouldn't respect a flag? Actually, this is an example of a translation of a scripture that does not communicate to the modern reader what was originally intended by the author. Paul wrote in Greek. He didn't write in English, nor even translate in English. There was no real English at the time! So, what does this verse really mean? A good way to find out is to look at how other Bibles translated this verse.
The English Standard Version of the Bible reads, "Do not be slothful, be fervent in the Spirit, serve the Lord." (Romans 12:11) That helps. However, I don't use the word slothful often, or fervent either. The NIV Bible translates this verse as "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." I can understand "lacking", but the wording is just not clear. I decided to check the New Living Translation of the Bible. It is not a word for word translation, but it sometimes gives a better understanding of the concepts in the sentence. There, I found a very clear translation: "Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” Now this I understand. This verse of the Bible, written by Paul, originally concerned keeping the excitement and desire to serve God always present in faith. This is a great topic for today.
The Second Law of Thermodynamics concerns entropy. Entropy is the process whereby things seem to degrade into chaos in a closed system over time. Essentially, the momentum in a closed environment tends to slow with time. Entropy means "decline" or "degradation", "deterioration" or "breaking down". Over time, things can slow or break down. A wound clock will slow as its spring weakens. A car with many miles will take more gasoline and oil to keep it going. As you age, your body breaks down and ages. The energy you have when young is usually stronger than when you are old. It takes more energy to do things the older you get. The same can happen spiritually. Spiritual entropy is when it takes more and more energy to get less and less done. Your enthusiasm wanes. Your excitement about reading the Bible seems to falter and fail. Romans 12:11 is all about spiritual entropy . The author, Paul, desired that we not let our faith and spiritual energy wane and decline with time. He urged us to find ways to keep high our spiritual excitement, "zeal", and spiritual enthusiasm. Sometimes, that takes work!
Vince Lombardi was the beloved coach of the Green Bay Packers during the early days of the National Football League. He led the Packers to victory in the first and second Super Bowls during the 1960's. Lombardi was a strong-willed leader. He didn't like how some players with great talent could be so lazy in their training or fail to perform when called upon. He pushed his players to be highly competitive winners. On one occasion, when dealing with a player who was under-performing, his comment was "If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm." It was a strong statement that when on the field, a football player needed to be fired up to give his all. Anything less wouldn't help the team or the outcome.
Spiritually, we need to remember that enthusiasm for God, for the faith, and for our missions in life are crucial to the outcome. If a choir sings with lackluster projection, they may be in tune but they won't inspire those who listen. When a pastor is burned out due to long hours of work, his sermons might be disjointed and lack encouragement. If your prayers are highly repetitive, you might say a lot of words and spend a lot of time doing them, but they will lack spiritual power. Spiritual enthusiasm is required by the scripture for today. Are you excited about your faith?
Part of the problem with worship today is that too often it is boring and lacking spiritual vitality. At some churches, the order of worship is so predictable that you don't even need a bulletin or missal to follow along. Everything is highly structured but lacking innovation. You might get so used to what comes next that you may not even listen to what you are saying! Some pastors spend such little time organizing their thoughts and researching new ways to illustrate a scripture that their people are falling asleep in the pews with boredom. Spiritual enthusiasm is often lost when the church just won't try anything new. When leaders are afraid or accustomed to the same old same old, it deadens the effectiveness of the gospel message. When people don't want to be challenged to do something new for God, they get used to past accomplishments and don't inspire fresh ones. Spiritual enthusiasm brings a newness to the gospel and mission. It fires up young people and generates new leaders. It inspires people to learn more about God and gives seekers a reason to listen to the gospel anew.
If you are stuck in a spiritual rut and your enthusiasm for the gospel is lacking, this scripture should kick you in the spiritual butt. It should push you to do something new with God. Go to a new Bible Study. Start a new curriculum. Join a new group. Take on a new mission. Find a part of the faith that speaks to you in a different way. Listen to a new Christian Radio Station or a take on a new spiritual challenge. Read a new devotional. Find a new web site that makes you long for a revitalized connection with God. There is nothing worse than a stodgy, out of date, self-absorbed, ritualized, stuck-in-the-mud Christian or Church. Be "aglow in the Spirit". Get fired up about God again! God is far from dead, so why should your faith be anything different?
The English Standard Version of the Bible reads, "Do not be slothful, be fervent in the Spirit, serve the Lord." (Romans 12:11) That helps. However, I don't use the word slothful often, or fervent either. The NIV Bible translates this verse as "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." I can understand "lacking", but the wording is just not clear. I decided to check the New Living Translation of the Bible. It is not a word for word translation, but it sometimes gives a better understanding of the concepts in the sentence. There, I found a very clear translation: "Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” Now this I understand. This verse of the Bible, written by Paul, originally concerned keeping the excitement and desire to serve God always present in faith. This is a great topic for today.
The Second Law of Thermodynamics concerns entropy. Entropy is the process whereby things seem to degrade into chaos in a closed system over time. Essentially, the momentum in a closed environment tends to slow with time. Entropy means "decline" or "degradation", "deterioration" or "breaking down". Over time, things can slow or break down. A wound clock will slow as its spring weakens. A car with many miles will take more gasoline and oil to keep it going. As you age, your body breaks down and ages. The energy you have when young is usually stronger than when you are old. It takes more energy to do things the older you get. The same can happen spiritually. Spiritual entropy is when it takes more and more energy to get less and less done. Your enthusiasm wanes. Your excitement about reading the Bible seems to falter and fail. Romans 12:11 is all about spiritual entropy . The author, Paul, desired that we not let our faith and spiritual energy wane and decline with time. He urged us to find ways to keep high our spiritual excitement, "zeal", and spiritual enthusiasm. Sometimes, that takes work!
Vince Lombardi was the beloved coach of the Green Bay Packers during the early days of the National Football League. He led the Packers to victory in the first and second Super Bowls during the 1960's. Lombardi was a strong-willed leader. He didn't like how some players with great talent could be so lazy in their training or fail to perform when called upon. He pushed his players to be highly competitive winners. On one occasion, when dealing with a player who was under-performing, his comment was "If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm." It was a strong statement that when on the field, a football player needed to be fired up to give his all. Anything less wouldn't help the team or the outcome.
Spiritually, we need to remember that enthusiasm for God, for the faith, and for our missions in life are crucial to the outcome. If a choir sings with lackluster projection, they may be in tune but they won't inspire those who listen. When a pastor is burned out due to long hours of work, his sermons might be disjointed and lack encouragement. If your prayers are highly repetitive, you might say a lot of words and spend a lot of time doing them, but they will lack spiritual power. Spiritual enthusiasm is required by the scripture for today. Are you excited about your faith?
Part of the problem with worship today is that too often it is boring and lacking spiritual vitality. At some churches, the order of worship is so predictable that you don't even need a bulletin or missal to follow along. Everything is highly structured but lacking innovation. You might get so used to what comes next that you may not even listen to what you are saying! Some pastors spend such little time organizing their thoughts and researching new ways to illustrate a scripture that their people are falling asleep in the pews with boredom. Spiritual enthusiasm is often lost when the church just won't try anything new. When leaders are afraid or accustomed to the same old same old, it deadens the effectiveness of the gospel message. When people don't want to be challenged to do something new for God, they get used to past accomplishments and don't inspire fresh ones. Spiritual enthusiasm brings a newness to the gospel and mission. It fires up young people and generates new leaders. It inspires people to learn more about God and gives seekers a reason to listen to the gospel anew.
If you are stuck in a spiritual rut and your enthusiasm for the gospel is lacking, this scripture should kick you in the spiritual butt. It should push you to do something new with God. Go to a new Bible Study. Start a new curriculum. Join a new group. Take on a new mission. Find a part of the faith that speaks to you in a different way. Listen to a new Christian Radio Station or a take on a new spiritual challenge. Read a new devotional. Find a new web site that makes you long for a revitalized connection with God. There is nothing worse than a stodgy, out of date, self-absorbed, ritualized, stuck-in-the-mud Christian or Church. Be "aglow in the Spirit". Get fired up about God again! God is far from dead, so why should your faith be anything different?
October 8
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.”
(Hebrews 13:15, NIV84)
(Hebrews 13:15, NIV84)
For centuries, as part of worship people sang the "Doxology". In that song, praise is repeated over and over "Praise God from whom all blessings flow….Praise Him… Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost". What many Christians don't know is that the word "doxology" in Greek means "words of praise". The song is literally full of words of praise about God. Christians chose for centuries for sing this same song over and over. Why? Because according to the scripture today, we are to praise God "continually".
1 Peter 1:7 teaches that a genuine faith will result in a person who is full of praise of the work of Christ Jesus. Hebrews 2:12 mentions that when in any congregation, the righteous "praise God". It is normal and usual for praise to come from the lips of the faithful. Philippians 4:8 reminds us to think about things that are "worthy" of praise. It's not just God who is praised. 1 Peter 2:14 urges the faithful to "praise those who do right". Ultimately Proverbs 27:21 says we are judged by the praises we say and sing. God certainly listens to praise. Are you one who is full of praise or one who withholds his praise?
Standing in the reception area after college graduation, a young man and his parents looked out of place. He wore the graduation gown and mortar cap. They had a camera and were taking pictures. But, something was wrong. A minute later, I figured out why. The mother turned to the father of the graduate and said, "Well, aren't you going to congratulate your son?" That's what was wrong! The entire time I watched them at the graduation reception, they didn't speak. The son looked around. The mother looked at the father and the guests. The father held the camera. But nobody spoke! It was painful to watch. The father's response to the mother was simply, "He knows how I feel!" End of discussion. It really bothered me that the father couldn't give his son a bit of praise on a day his hard work was recognized. Some people are like that. They withhold their praise, do not say encouraging words, and generally are painful to be around.
As a true Christian, your character should be filled with praise. Praise for God. Praise for the hard worker who lives righteously. Praise for the single mother who takes the time to pray with her daughter daily. Are you one who shares praise or holds it back? Are you quick to praise, or quick to find fault?
Praise does something to you. It also does something wonderful to others. Praise tends to cause people to be joyful and hopeful. If a person is full of praise, you will often find a smile on their lips or laugh lines on their face. People who enjoy praising God will often try to find answers, not constantly point out problems. According to the scripture today, we are taught that God wants us not just to praise Him once in a while, but "continually" ( Hebrews 13:15). We are even to "sacrifice", to work hard, to make sure we praise God and others. Praise is important to God and the worship of God.
The praise of God and righteousness should be commonplace, but it is not. Where Christians should be full of praise, sometimes they withhold their praises. In worship, where the praise of God should be common, I have seen praise missing at times. I've seen soloists who were more concerned with how they sounded or how they looked that in what God thought. Members were overly concerned with which pew they sat or with whom they associated than making sure to sing a lot of praise to God. I've seen churches who sacrificed a lot of effort working on budgets, costs, complaints, projections, and committees. But in very few places did I see people who placed a priority on making sure everyone praised God continually, contrary to the spirit of today's scripture.
I hope you get so used to praising God and righteousness that praise is "on your lips" ready to burst forth continually. I hope others have been encouraged by your praising. I hope your praising never devolves into flattery with an alternative intent. Praise is meant for God, asked for by God, and blessed by God. So, just do it! Please! Make a sacrifice to praise God and others, and watch the joy it creates!
1 Peter 1:7 teaches that a genuine faith will result in a person who is full of praise of the work of Christ Jesus. Hebrews 2:12 mentions that when in any congregation, the righteous "praise God". It is normal and usual for praise to come from the lips of the faithful. Philippians 4:8 reminds us to think about things that are "worthy" of praise. It's not just God who is praised. 1 Peter 2:14 urges the faithful to "praise those who do right". Ultimately Proverbs 27:21 says we are judged by the praises we say and sing. God certainly listens to praise. Are you one who is full of praise or one who withholds his praise?
Standing in the reception area after college graduation, a young man and his parents looked out of place. He wore the graduation gown and mortar cap. They had a camera and were taking pictures. But, something was wrong. A minute later, I figured out why. The mother turned to the father of the graduate and said, "Well, aren't you going to congratulate your son?" That's what was wrong! The entire time I watched them at the graduation reception, they didn't speak. The son looked around. The mother looked at the father and the guests. The father held the camera. But nobody spoke! It was painful to watch. The father's response to the mother was simply, "He knows how I feel!" End of discussion. It really bothered me that the father couldn't give his son a bit of praise on a day his hard work was recognized. Some people are like that. They withhold their praise, do not say encouraging words, and generally are painful to be around.
As a true Christian, your character should be filled with praise. Praise for God. Praise for the hard worker who lives righteously. Praise for the single mother who takes the time to pray with her daughter daily. Are you one who shares praise or holds it back? Are you quick to praise, or quick to find fault?
Praise does something to you. It also does something wonderful to others. Praise tends to cause people to be joyful and hopeful. If a person is full of praise, you will often find a smile on their lips or laugh lines on their face. People who enjoy praising God will often try to find answers, not constantly point out problems. According to the scripture today, we are taught that God wants us not just to praise Him once in a while, but "continually" ( Hebrews 13:15). We are even to "sacrifice", to work hard, to make sure we praise God and others. Praise is important to God and the worship of God.
The praise of God and righteousness should be commonplace, but it is not. Where Christians should be full of praise, sometimes they withhold their praises. In worship, where the praise of God should be common, I have seen praise missing at times. I've seen soloists who were more concerned with how they sounded or how they looked that in what God thought. Members were overly concerned with which pew they sat or with whom they associated than making sure to sing a lot of praise to God. I've seen churches who sacrificed a lot of effort working on budgets, costs, complaints, projections, and committees. But in very few places did I see people who placed a priority on making sure everyone praised God continually, contrary to the spirit of today's scripture.
I hope you get so used to praising God and righteousness that praise is "on your lips" ready to burst forth continually. I hope others have been encouraged by your praising. I hope your praising never devolves into flattery with an alternative intent. Praise is meant for God, asked for by God, and blessed by God. So, just do it! Please! Make a sacrifice to praise God and others, and watch the joy it creates!
October 9
“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” (Revelation 21:22, NIV84)
The above scripture reading for today was written to describe the New Jerusalem, where people will live with God forever. It is a city built by God for the faithful to live for all eternity. It will be part of our future Heaven. What surprises many people is that in God's Holy City meant to last forever, there is no temple. There is no church. There is no house of worship. This verse of the Bible explains why (Revelation 21:22). "The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb" are in the city. God is present there. There is no need for a building in which to meet God. You can worship God in HIS presence!
In this present time, we are relegated to having temples and houses of worship to meet with God. In Heaven, there will be no such restriction. We will meet God openly everywhere. There is no need for a house of worship in the New Jerusalem. God is enough. But here and now, we build houses of worship in order to have a place to meet God, teach about God, and worship God. Churches and buildings of worship are not meant to last forever. They are temporary, used until we are forever in God's presence.
There are some people who cannot separate their worship IN a building from the worship OF GOD. In Heaven, they don’t need a building to worship God as the scripture above makes clear. Despite this fact, there are those who link their faith with their building. The sanctuary or the building becomes more than a holy place to meet God. It sometimes becomes an object of worship itself. This can make the church building or place a worship a form of idolatry to some people. Where God intended us to only worship HIM, some worship the building instead of God.
A church in an older part of a large city was a cultural icon to the community. Many immigrants had settled in the area and built the church not long after moving there. The first generation of immigrants cared greatly for that church, remembering how important God was in the migration of all the families in the community. But after a few generations, things changed. The church became more of a museum from the past than a force for bringing God and faith into the present. A split in the church was caused when a group in the church took a large sum of the budget to rebuild an area of the sanctuary wall that had weakened over the years. Instead of raising the money through tithes and offerings, the church took the money from its budget for the Sunday School. As the walls of the building were fixed, the Sunday School teachers went without curriculum, new Bibles for visiting children, and new rooms for the growing church. What caused the split in the church was that some wanted to make the church a shrine to past immigrant families. Others wanted the church to grow, reaching out to new families moving into the neighborhood. Twenty years later, one side won. The church became a national monument, with rooms dedicated to pictures of immigrant families and past works of faith. But, the church was really a museum of the past. It no longer had a Sunday School. It no longer taught children in the neighborhood about Jesus. Instead, it was a beacon for the past. God was no longer central to that congregation and its mission outreach. God was no longer really worshiped there. The building was left standing, but promoting true biblical faith was no longer the intended main purpose of that place.
There are many ways to worship a building instead of God. A congregation can use a lot of its tithes and offerings to repair a building while neglecting evangelism and missions. The members can consider certain programs or places in the building as "their baby". Some church members will even go so far as to give tons of money for the building, but ignore the ministry, mission, and outreach of the church. When the church building becomes the focus of your spiritual life, be careful. God may be out of focus for you.
I don't want you to think that I am against taking care of God's house. I am absolutely not. Prophets such as Haggai, Ezra, and Nehemiah poured forth God's anger when people neglected the house of worship. I do, however, believe that God's house should not be worshiped. A temple will not be in New Jerusalem in Heaven, but God will be. Many churches suffer from those who have made the church building an idolatry. I wonder what our faith would be like if everyone focused more on how to introduce others to God instead of how to keep God's house pretty!
In this present time, we are relegated to having temples and houses of worship to meet with God. In Heaven, there will be no such restriction. We will meet God openly everywhere. There is no need for a house of worship in the New Jerusalem. God is enough. But here and now, we build houses of worship in order to have a place to meet God, teach about God, and worship God. Churches and buildings of worship are not meant to last forever. They are temporary, used until we are forever in God's presence.
There are some people who cannot separate their worship IN a building from the worship OF GOD. In Heaven, they don’t need a building to worship God as the scripture above makes clear. Despite this fact, there are those who link their faith with their building. The sanctuary or the building becomes more than a holy place to meet God. It sometimes becomes an object of worship itself. This can make the church building or place a worship a form of idolatry to some people. Where God intended us to only worship HIM, some worship the building instead of God.
A church in an older part of a large city was a cultural icon to the community. Many immigrants had settled in the area and built the church not long after moving there. The first generation of immigrants cared greatly for that church, remembering how important God was in the migration of all the families in the community. But after a few generations, things changed. The church became more of a museum from the past than a force for bringing God and faith into the present. A split in the church was caused when a group in the church took a large sum of the budget to rebuild an area of the sanctuary wall that had weakened over the years. Instead of raising the money through tithes and offerings, the church took the money from its budget for the Sunday School. As the walls of the building were fixed, the Sunday School teachers went without curriculum, new Bibles for visiting children, and new rooms for the growing church. What caused the split in the church was that some wanted to make the church a shrine to past immigrant families. Others wanted the church to grow, reaching out to new families moving into the neighborhood. Twenty years later, one side won. The church became a national monument, with rooms dedicated to pictures of immigrant families and past works of faith. But, the church was really a museum of the past. It no longer had a Sunday School. It no longer taught children in the neighborhood about Jesus. Instead, it was a beacon for the past. God was no longer central to that congregation and its mission outreach. God was no longer really worshiped there. The building was left standing, but promoting true biblical faith was no longer the intended main purpose of that place.
There are many ways to worship a building instead of God. A congregation can use a lot of its tithes and offerings to repair a building while neglecting evangelism and missions. The members can consider certain programs or places in the building as "their baby". Some church members will even go so far as to give tons of money for the building, but ignore the ministry, mission, and outreach of the church. When the church building becomes the focus of your spiritual life, be careful. God may be out of focus for you.
I don't want you to think that I am against taking care of God's house. I am absolutely not. Prophets such as Haggai, Ezra, and Nehemiah poured forth God's anger when people neglected the house of worship. I do, however, believe that God's house should not be worshiped. A temple will not be in New Jerusalem in Heaven, but God will be. Many churches suffer from those who have made the church building an idolatry. I wonder what our faith would be like if everyone focused more on how to introduce others to God instead of how to keep God's house pretty!
October 10
“And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”” (Luke 13:6–9, RSV)
Gerald was a real handyman. He loved to fix things, and was always doing so for friends and family. To support his passion, Gerald would watch videos on home repair and subscribed to several DIY magazines. He loved to make cabinets, especially. His shop in the basement was a woodworker's paradise.
One December, Gerald was reading an article on a new power tool. It seemed to have all the bells and whistles. It could cut wood like a table saw. After some adjustments, it could act as a wood lathe. Turning the motor in a certain way, the machine could also act as a bench grinder and a router. Saving all his Christmas money and extra spending money, he bought one on sale in January. When he got it, he put it in the middle of his wood shop.
Nine months later, Gerald walked from one corner to another in his shop. In order to do so, he had to walk around his big purchase. Holding a piece of wood, he tripped for the umpteenth time as he tried to get around the new machine. He found that instead of setting up the machine for each task, he wished he had a dedicated tool so he could quickly get the job done instead of fiddling with setup every time he wanted to do a task. He was getting tired of his new purchase. After tripping over the foot of the machine, Gerald looked angrily at the machine and blurt out, "You, my ungodly beast of a machine, are a waste of space!" He was sick of the thing taking up too much of his valuable work space. He had enough of it. Two weeks later, it was sold on Craigslist.
We've all had things in life that took up too much space or were a waste of space. Do you have that family heirloom that you accepted out of obligation only to find no good place for it due to its size? How about that gizmo you had to have that now takes up space in your kitchen drawer? Is there a K-Tel "Made for TV" doodad that you keep around, but hasn't been as great a buy as you thought? (OK, I'm showing my age!!!!) Things that are a waste of space eat up valuable room in a small area. If not used regularly, the objects may become something that just aren't worth the time or room they take up. Spring or fall cleaning may find those "wastes of space" in the Thrift Shop bin.
In the scripture above, a fig tree became a "waste of space". It was planted perfectly in a vineyard. It was cared for and watched over. But after a suitable time, it did not produce fruit (Luke 13:6-7). Though intended to help feed the family, the fig tree bore no figs! Thus it had no purpose. It was a waste of space in the vineyard, better suited to a tree that produced fruit to eat. In this parable, the man who took care of the vineyard wanted to try one more time to get the fig tree to produce fruit. He was going to work on the tree and add manure to help fertilize it (Luke 13:8). It would be the last chance the tree had for life. If it didn't produce figs, it was going to be cut down to make room for a more productive tree (Luke 13:9).
This parable of Jesus tells us something about your life. Are you just taking up space on this earth? God created you to be a spiritual helper and faithful beacon of hope to others. God had hopes in your creation and life. How well have you added to our world? Are you a trusted and cherished addition to God's people and those around you, or are you a waste of space? If your life feels as if you are spinning your gears and not contributing, God wants to prune you and add some fertilizer. God wants you to produce fruits of love and righteousness. If you don't contribute to God's plan and to this world, God may consider you a waste of space. God may find another tree that produces fruit and enjoy its presence in the garden of life, having no more to do with you.
The vinedresser in this parable wants badly for the fig tree to produce its intended fruit. He was willing to watch over it for four years, more than ample time for it to produce fruit. God has watched over and fertilized your life in many ways. How well do you produce good things in your life? How proud is God of the fruit of your labors? Tell me you are valuable to God and others! I never want you to be a waste of space.
There may come a time in your life when God will add a little fertilizer to increase the fruit you bear. That fertilizer may come in the form of a new job, new friends, an obstacle, new spiritual endeavors, a new church in a new community, or a new opportunity. God might change your environment or situation so that you accomplish good things for HIM and others. God loves to see you grow and produce fruit in the Spirit. What have you to show for your years of God's attention? Can you honestly say you have not been a waste of time in God's Kingdom? God forbid it should ever be so! God's pampering can last for only so long. Then, God will want to see some fruit in your life. I can't wait to see what kind of fruit you produce. I feel blessed just being a part of the process! Just, please, don’t ever become a waste of space!
One December, Gerald was reading an article on a new power tool. It seemed to have all the bells and whistles. It could cut wood like a table saw. After some adjustments, it could act as a wood lathe. Turning the motor in a certain way, the machine could also act as a bench grinder and a router. Saving all his Christmas money and extra spending money, he bought one on sale in January. When he got it, he put it in the middle of his wood shop.
Nine months later, Gerald walked from one corner to another in his shop. In order to do so, he had to walk around his big purchase. Holding a piece of wood, he tripped for the umpteenth time as he tried to get around the new machine. He found that instead of setting up the machine for each task, he wished he had a dedicated tool so he could quickly get the job done instead of fiddling with setup every time he wanted to do a task. He was getting tired of his new purchase. After tripping over the foot of the machine, Gerald looked angrily at the machine and blurt out, "You, my ungodly beast of a machine, are a waste of space!" He was sick of the thing taking up too much of his valuable work space. He had enough of it. Two weeks later, it was sold on Craigslist.
We've all had things in life that took up too much space or were a waste of space. Do you have that family heirloom that you accepted out of obligation only to find no good place for it due to its size? How about that gizmo you had to have that now takes up space in your kitchen drawer? Is there a K-Tel "Made for TV" doodad that you keep around, but hasn't been as great a buy as you thought? (OK, I'm showing my age!!!!) Things that are a waste of space eat up valuable room in a small area. If not used regularly, the objects may become something that just aren't worth the time or room they take up. Spring or fall cleaning may find those "wastes of space" in the Thrift Shop bin.
In the scripture above, a fig tree became a "waste of space". It was planted perfectly in a vineyard. It was cared for and watched over. But after a suitable time, it did not produce fruit (Luke 13:6-7). Though intended to help feed the family, the fig tree bore no figs! Thus it had no purpose. It was a waste of space in the vineyard, better suited to a tree that produced fruit to eat. In this parable, the man who took care of the vineyard wanted to try one more time to get the fig tree to produce fruit. He was going to work on the tree and add manure to help fertilize it (Luke 13:8). It would be the last chance the tree had for life. If it didn't produce figs, it was going to be cut down to make room for a more productive tree (Luke 13:9).
This parable of Jesus tells us something about your life. Are you just taking up space on this earth? God created you to be a spiritual helper and faithful beacon of hope to others. God had hopes in your creation and life. How well have you added to our world? Are you a trusted and cherished addition to God's people and those around you, or are you a waste of space? If your life feels as if you are spinning your gears and not contributing, God wants to prune you and add some fertilizer. God wants you to produce fruits of love and righteousness. If you don't contribute to God's plan and to this world, God may consider you a waste of space. God may find another tree that produces fruit and enjoy its presence in the garden of life, having no more to do with you.
The vinedresser in this parable wants badly for the fig tree to produce its intended fruit. He was willing to watch over it for four years, more than ample time for it to produce fruit. God has watched over and fertilized your life in many ways. How well do you produce good things in your life? How proud is God of the fruit of your labors? Tell me you are valuable to God and others! I never want you to be a waste of space.
There may come a time in your life when God will add a little fertilizer to increase the fruit you bear. That fertilizer may come in the form of a new job, new friends, an obstacle, new spiritual endeavors, a new church in a new community, or a new opportunity. God might change your environment or situation so that you accomplish good things for HIM and others. God loves to see you grow and produce fruit in the Spirit. What have you to show for your years of God's attention? Can you honestly say you have not been a waste of time in God's Kingdom? God forbid it should ever be so! God's pampering can last for only so long. Then, God will want to see some fruit in your life. I can't wait to see what kind of fruit you produce. I feel blessed just being a part of the process! Just, please, don’t ever become a waste of space!
October 11
“And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”
(Acts 10:38, NLT)
(Acts 10:38, NLT)
Have you ever choked on something? When something gets lodged in your throat and you can't breathe, you choke. You gasp for breath. Your arms might flail about as you fall to floor desperately needing more air in your lungs. Choking can occur when you get something lodged in your throat. You can also choke when you have a strong allergic reaction and the tissue surrounding your throat or lungs swells, causing your airways to narrow. Choking is never comfortable. You definitely want to avoid it.
There is a spiritual kind of choking that can also occur in your life. In the scripture above, Jesus was given the power of the Holy Spirit to do "good" and "heal all who were oppressed by the devil". As I pondered Jesus' good works and mission, I studied the words "oppressed by the devil". I looked closely at how Satan oppresses people. The Greek word for "oppressed" used in this sentence can also mean "choked". Taking this meaning with the scripture above, it is clear that the devil likes to choke you, make you gasp for breath, hold you by the neck and watch the life drain out of you. That's what the devil does. That's his modus operandi. He likes to spiritually choke people until the spiritual life drains out of them. How's that for a picture!
I find it interesting that the same concept is used in Luke 8:14 to describe what pleasures and wealth can do to faith. They can "choke" the life out of it. Like a seed planted among thorns just can't seem to grow up healthy, the spiritual life has problems growing up healthy surrounded by riches, wealth, and pleasures. Satan, wealth, and a life filled with lots of pleasures have detrimental effects on the Christian believer. They all choke the life out of faith, squeezing every last bit of faith from the Christian.
C.S. Lewis often reflected on the many facets of life. He saw many spiritual connections. He said this: "One of the dangers of having a lot of money is that you may be quite satisfied with the kinds of happiness money can give, and so fail to realize your need for God. If everything seems to come simply by signing checks, you may forget that you are at every moment totally dependent on God." The more independent and self-centered your life becomes, the more God seems to be relegated to the back burner. You rely on your own wits, your money, and your power to accomplish things in life. Sadly, you do not rely on God. Then, your pride can easily be all wrapped up in what you have accomplished with your money and power. It can sway your judgment. C.S. Lewis noted wisely that "it was through pride that the Devil became the Devil: pride leads to every other vice; it is the complete anti-God state of mind."
In the scripture for today, Satan is content to oppress, to choke the life out of a person. If you look at people who are oppressed in the media, you will see a picture of suffering. Photos of the oppressed often include people who are crying, sad, humbled, beaten. Seldom do you see oppressed people with genuine smiles, laughing and jumping for joy, or full of life. Satan causes people to be broken down, oppressed, suffering, hurting, choked by the cares of life. Why would you ever want this for yourself?
According to Acts 10:38, Jesus came to end Satan's stranglehold upon your life. Jesus wants to free you from oppression and the effects of a sinful lifestyle. He wants to fill you with joy, peace, and eternal security. If you find yourself spiritually choking in your life, you know where to run. Seek Jesus if you want to be able to breathe again, have joy, and live life to the fullest. Nowhere and no one and nothing can compare.
There is a spiritual kind of choking that can also occur in your life. In the scripture above, Jesus was given the power of the Holy Spirit to do "good" and "heal all who were oppressed by the devil". As I pondered Jesus' good works and mission, I studied the words "oppressed by the devil". I looked closely at how Satan oppresses people. The Greek word for "oppressed" used in this sentence can also mean "choked". Taking this meaning with the scripture above, it is clear that the devil likes to choke you, make you gasp for breath, hold you by the neck and watch the life drain out of you. That's what the devil does. That's his modus operandi. He likes to spiritually choke people until the spiritual life drains out of them. How's that for a picture!
I find it interesting that the same concept is used in Luke 8:14 to describe what pleasures and wealth can do to faith. They can "choke" the life out of it. Like a seed planted among thorns just can't seem to grow up healthy, the spiritual life has problems growing up healthy surrounded by riches, wealth, and pleasures. Satan, wealth, and a life filled with lots of pleasures have detrimental effects on the Christian believer. They all choke the life out of faith, squeezing every last bit of faith from the Christian.
C.S. Lewis often reflected on the many facets of life. He saw many spiritual connections. He said this: "One of the dangers of having a lot of money is that you may be quite satisfied with the kinds of happiness money can give, and so fail to realize your need for God. If everything seems to come simply by signing checks, you may forget that you are at every moment totally dependent on God." The more independent and self-centered your life becomes, the more God seems to be relegated to the back burner. You rely on your own wits, your money, and your power to accomplish things in life. Sadly, you do not rely on God. Then, your pride can easily be all wrapped up in what you have accomplished with your money and power. It can sway your judgment. C.S. Lewis noted wisely that "it was through pride that the Devil became the Devil: pride leads to every other vice; it is the complete anti-God state of mind."
In the scripture for today, Satan is content to oppress, to choke the life out of a person. If you look at people who are oppressed in the media, you will see a picture of suffering. Photos of the oppressed often include people who are crying, sad, humbled, beaten. Seldom do you see oppressed people with genuine smiles, laughing and jumping for joy, or full of life. Satan causes people to be broken down, oppressed, suffering, hurting, choked by the cares of life. Why would you ever want this for yourself?
According to Acts 10:38, Jesus came to end Satan's stranglehold upon your life. Jesus wants to free you from oppression and the effects of a sinful lifestyle. He wants to fill you with joy, peace, and eternal security. If you find yourself spiritually choking in your life, you know where to run. Seek Jesus if you want to be able to breathe again, have joy, and live life to the fullest. Nowhere and no one and nothing can compare.
October 12
“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
(Proverbs 14:30, NIV84)
(Proverbs 14:30, NIV84)
Peace is an elusive thing to many. A calm soul is hard to find in modern times where the cities bustle with activity, people are bombarded by technology and social media, and politics plays havoc with our nation and world. Workers rush to appointments, mothers with young children work full-time jobs, and families are pulled in every direction. For centuries, the meal was a place for everyone to get together. Conversation between friends and family over a meal was commonplace. Now, there are interruptions at most meals. A nice, quiet get-together or meal is rare. Texts, phone calls, instant messaging, tweets all interrupt your life and demand your attention. Over time, the modern life can eat away at your sanity. Calm, quiet, reflective, or enjoyable moments are too few and far between.
The scripture for today from Proverbs begins by reminding you that peace is crucial to your body. Peace won't help you if it happens just once in a while. A "heart at peace" is crucial to the health of your body (Proverbs 14:30). It brings "life to the body". It is necessary for you to feel whole. When peace is missing, you will feel distracted and torn. Little things will get to you. Worries will eat away at the edges of your mind. A peaceful time of prayer isn't just meant for God. It is meant to clear your mind and ease your soul. It will benefit your entire body, from your physical and mental health to your spiritual wholeness.
The second half of the scripture for today teaches that one of the common enemies to a peaceful heart is "envy". It will "rot the bones", eating away at your strength. Envy of other people causes you to want what others have. It pushes desires into your mind. You will be jealous of others who have what you do not. Envy will open up your mind to anxiety and fear. It might make you feel as if you aren't accomplishing enough. It will feed your insecurities. When you are envious, you will not be content with what you have or who you are. Envy will drive you to never be happy with your current situation. When envy is around, you won't be at peace. Your heart will long for something you don't have or won't be good for you.
Jenny was a great young lady. She was full of life and active in her school. She was elected to the student council and was considered for prom court. But Jenny had a secret; she was not happy. She didn't feel secure in who she was. Constantly seeking the attention of others, she would beg her parents for a new iPhone every year so she could fit in with her friends. She went through changes of clothes, shoes, hair styles, and makeup like a person goes through maple syrup on dry pancakes. She would be content with her look or her purchase for a week or two, maybe a month, but she would inevitably be unhappy with her appearance or purchases all to quick. Thankfully, her parents were wealthy and could afford her moods.
While at church camp, Jenny had a revelation. She looked back on her life and realized that she filled her life with lots of new, trendy things, but she was never satisfied. After worship one evening, she gave her life to Christ. In the last few days of camp, Jenny found a "peace that passed all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). For the first time in her life, she felt good. She was at ease. But, when school started in the fall, Jenny went back to old friends and old ways. It was not until five years later that she felt that real peace again. She knelt at an altar at a young women's retreat. There, she vowed to change her life, accept Christ, and give up her worldly ways. Peace returned to her life. She no longer was enticed by advertisements, new styles in magazines, or the latest fad. This time, that peace Jenny sought settled into her life. It became her constant companion. Everything in her day could go wrong, but when time came to pray, Jenny was at peace again. She trusted God to watch over the big things in her life.
When you are caught up in the cares of this world, filled with envious thoughts and needless cravings, peace will seem far away. Only in the presence of God will you find true peace. Envy, jealousy, and the desires and pleasures of new things do not last. There is always something you will crave. Peace can only come when you give up desiring worldly things and turn to God to give your life meaning. Until God becomes THE center of your life, your body will suffer from the lack of contentment and peace. You were made to be in connection with God. Advertisements and promotions will make you feel like you need the newest "thing". Technology will make you constantly feel like you can't keep up. Social media will not satisfy your inner longings. Only a peace from God will calm your heart and heal your body, just as Proverbs 14:30 promises.
Whenever your life becomes unhinged and chaotic, spend more time with your Maker. Seek God's presence in prayer and worship. Give up your desires for "more" and "better" and "newer". The latest, greatest thing will not fill that void in your life. Only God can. Only God will. Just "ask and you shall receive; seek and you will find" (Matthew 7:7) that God's peace will calm your life like nothing else.
The scripture for today from Proverbs begins by reminding you that peace is crucial to your body. Peace won't help you if it happens just once in a while. A "heart at peace" is crucial to the health of your body (Proverbs 14:30). It brings "life to the body". It is necessary for you to feel whole. When peace is missing, you will feel distracted and torn. Little things will get to you. Worries will eat away at the edges of your mind. A peaceful time of prayer isn't just meant for God. It is meant to clear your mind and ease your soul. It will benefit your entire body, from your physical and mental health to your spiritual wholeness.
The second half of the scripture for today teaches that one of the common enemies to a peaceful heart is "envy". It will "rot the bones", eating away at your strength. Envy of other people causes you to want what others have. It pushes desires into your mind. You will be jealous of others who have what you do not. Envy will open up your mind to anxiety and fear. It might make you feel as if you aren't accomplishing enough. It will feed your insecurities. When you are envious, you will not be content with what you have or who you are. Envy will drive you to never be happy with your current situation. When envy is around, you won't be at peace. Your heart will long for something you don't have or won't be good for you.
Jenny was a great young lady. She was full of life and active in her school. She was elected to the student council and was considered for prom court. But Jenny had a secret; she was not happy. She didn't feel secure in who she was. Constantly seeking the attention of others, she would beg her parents for a new iPhone every year so she could fit in with her friends. She went through changes of clothes, shoes, hair styles, and makeup like a person goes through maple syrup on dry pancakes. She would be content with her look or her purchase for a week or two, maybe a month, but she would inevitably be unhappy with her appearance or purchases all to quick. Thankfully, her parents were wealthy and could afford her moods.
While at church camp, Jenny had a revelation. She looked back on her life and realized that she filled her life with lots of new, trendy things, but she was never satisfied. After worship one evening, she gave her life to Christ. In the last few days of camp, Jenny found a "peace that passed all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). For the first time in her life, she felt good. She was at ease. But, when school started in the fall, Jenny went back to old friends and old ways. It was not until five years later that she felt that real peace again. She knelt at an altar at a young women's retreat. There, she vowed to change her life, accept Christ, and give up her worldly ways. Peace returned to her life. She no longer was enticed by advertisements, new styles in magazines, or the latest fad. This time, that peace Jenny sought settled into her life. It became her constant companion. Everything in her day could go wrong, but when time came to pray, Jenny was at peace again. She trusted God to watch over the big things in her life.
When you are caught up in the cares of this world, filled with envious thoughts and needless cravings, peace will seem far away. Only in the presence of God will you find true peace. Envy, jealousy, and the desires and pleasures of new things do not last. There is always something you will crave. Peace can only come when you give up desiring worldly things and turn to God to give your life meaning. Until God becomes THE center of your life, your body will suffer from the lack of contentment and peace. You were made to be in connection with God. Advertisements and promotions will make you feel like you need the newest "thing". Technology will make you constantly feel like you can't keep up. Social media will not satisfy your inner longings. Only a peace from God will calm your heart and heal your body, just as Proverbs 14:30 promises.
Whenever your life becomes unhinged and chaotic, spend more time with your Maker. Seek God's presence in prayer and worship. Give up your desires for "more" and "better" and "newer". The latest, greatest thing will not fill that void in your life. Only God can. Only God will. Just "ask and you shall receive; seek and you will find" (Matthew 7:7) that God's peace will calm your life like nothing else.
October 13
“When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. And the people stood by, looking on. … (Luke 23:33–35, NASB95)
In the scripture above, Jesus was crucified. As I read this scripture again, something jumped out at me that I hadn't thought about before. While Jesus was being crucified, there were crowds of people. While Jesus suffered, did they cry or hurt with him? Did they ask for the injustice to cease? They did none of these things. The scripture from Luke 23:35 says that when Jesus was crucified the crowds "stood around, looking on". They didn't say a word. They were apathetic. They didn't care. They didn't raise a hand. They did nothing. They saw Jesus' suffering as mere entertainment.
How can people just sit by and watch when another suffers? How can they just watch in fascination as people are tortured? Sadly, the reaction of the crowds to Jesus is not new. Throughout all of history, there were those who just sat by while watching something wrong or illegal or sinful occur. They said nothing. They did nothing. Apathy reigned supreme.
When Rosina Hernandez was in college, she attended a rock concert at which a young man was brutally beaten. No one made an attempt to stop the beating. The next day she was struck dumb to learn that the youth had died as a result of the pounding. Yet neither she nor anyone else had raised a hand to help him. She could never forget the incident or her responsibility as an inactive bystander.
Some years later, Rosina saw another catastrophe. A car driving in the rain ahead of her suddenly skidded and plunged into Biscayne Bay. The car landed top down in the water with only the rear end showing. After a moment, a woman appeared on the surface, shouting for help and saying her husband was stuck inside. This time Rosina waited for no one. She plunged into the water, tried unsuccessfully to open the car door, then pounded on the back window as other bystanders stood on the causeway and watched. First she screamed at them, begging for help, then cursed them, telling them there was a man dying in the car. First one man, then another, finally came to help. Together they broke the safety glass and dragged the man out. They were just in time -- a few minutes later it would have been all over. The wife was very thankful for Rosina and her help.
Rosina knew in her heart she had to save the man in the river. She couldn't have lived with herself if she had let another person die while she said and did nothing. She had made herself a promise after the man died at the concert that she wouldn't ever let that happen again. Thankfully, she had made good on her promise. (adapted from Bits & Pieces, June 24, 1993, pp. 20-21.)
I hope you and I never get comfortable with just watching while another suffers or dies. I hope we would step in to help. To let a person suffer and die without saying or doing anything to help would be like being one of the crowd just gawking at Jesus being crucified. I don't want to be associated with a crowd like that. Would you?
Don't be surprised if God puts you in a position to help, care, or protect. It will be God's way of testing if you are one of the apathetic crowd who just looks on or one of the faithful who will make a difference in that moment. God saves, redeems, reaches out, shares, and loves. God acts. In that moment of crisis, will you do the same?
How can people just sit by and watch when another suffers? How can they just watch in fascination as people are tortured? Sadly, the reaction of the crowds to Jesus is not new. Throughout all of history, there were those who just sat by while watching something wrong or illegal or sinful occur. They said nothing. They did nothing. Apathy reigned supreme.
When Rosina Hernandez was in college, she attended a rock concert at which a young man was brutally beaten. No one made an attempt to stop the beating. The next day she was struck dumb to learn that the youth had died as a result of the pounding. Yet neither she nor anyone else had raised a hand to help him. She could never forget the incident or her responsibility as an inactive bystander.
Some years later, Rosina saw another catastrophe. A car driving in the rain ahead of her suddenly skidded and plunged into Biscayne Bay. The car landed top down in the water with only the rear end showing. After a moment, a woman appeared on the surface, shouting for help and saying her husband was stuck inside. This time Rosina waited for no one. She plunged into the water, tried unsuccessfully to open the car door, then pounded on the back window as other bystanders stood on the causeway and watched. First she screamed at them, begging for help, then cursed them, telling them there was a man dying in the car. First one man, then another, finally came to help. Together they broke the safety glass and dragged the man out. They were just in time -- a few minutes later it would have been all over. The wife was very thankful for Rosina and her help.
Rosina knew in her heart she had to save the man in the river. She couldn't have lived with herself if she had let another person die while she said and did nothing. She had made herself a promise after the man died at the concert that she wouldn't ever let that happen again. Thankfully, she had made good on her promise. (adapted from Bits & Pieces, June 24, 1993, pp. 20-21.)
I hope you and I never get comfortable with just watching while another suffers or dies. I hope we would step in to help. To let a person suffer and die without saying or doing anything to help would be like being one of the crowd just gawking at Jesus being crucified. I don't want to be associated with a crowd like that. Would you?
Don't be surprised if God puts you in a position to help, care, or protect. It will be God's way of testing if you are one of the apathetic crowd who just looks on or one of the faithful who will make a difference in that moment. God saves, redeems, reaches out, shares, and loves. God acts. In that moment of crisis, will you do the same?
October 14
“If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”
(1 Corinthians 12:26, ESV)
(1 Corinthians 12:26, ESV)
When you are in the company of a true Christian, you should feel safer, better, never alone. Connected by a mutual filling of God's love, the Holy Spirit should pull the faithful together like magnets pull each other from a short distance. By the side of another Christian, the Holy Spirit makes you feel more whole and connected. Among a group of Christians, your soul is meant to feel warmed....
that's if you are with another true Christian.
There are a lot of shallow and selfish Christians in the world today. They are not true Christians, but Christians in name only. Many Christians are not only Biblically illiterate (Fifty to eighty percent of members in American Christian denominations), they lack the Holy Spirit. You, dear friend, are different. I am as well. You would not be here unless God and the Holy Spirit were not reaching out to you. God is wanting you to connect with me. God will use my words to reach out to you. God's scriptures will bind us together by the power of God's Spirit.
Together. It's a beautiful word. If you are together with someone, you can't be alone. I'm not talking about two people who are in the same room. It's also not a sexual thing. I'm talking about two people who are together in the Spirit, bonded by a connection with God. That's you and me. God brought us together.
All true Christians have a spiritual connection that goes beyond the bounds of rationality. Highly spiritual Christians can even feel that connection made by God holding together all who truly believe. When in the presence of another true Christian, you will feel God's pull to keep you together in the Lord. Jesus prayed about this in John 17 when he asked God the Father to help HIS children to all "be one" (John 17:21). Together. It's a beautiful thing.
A young couple had taken a vacation to Colorado in their RV. After traveling for several days, they reached their campsite. It was high in the mountains, not far from several mountains called the "Fourteeners", because they all were over 14,000 feet in height. Steve and Charlene marveled at the beauty of the mountains. They couldn't wait to spend a few days in the shadow of such an awesome landscape in their Airstream Travel Trailer.
On that first night, they got a big surprise. They woke up with snow covering the ground. During the night, their furnace didn't work right. Then, the pipes began to freeze. It was a long night. Worried about the frozen pipes and furnace problems and seeing the snow, they grew depressed. It was cold out there! All morning, they worked on the RV. Seeking to get warm, they decided to get in their tow vehicle and have a late breakfast in the nearby town. The truck didn't start. Everything was going wrong.
Charlene's eyes filled with tears as she followed her husband to the Campground Office to seek help. When they got to the office, they saw a bunch of people gathered in the connected building. There, a group of veteran RV'ers were gathered for a reunion. One elderly gentleman saw the tears on Charlene's face. He got together several of his friends and they fixed the furnace, helped unfreeze the pipes with a hairdryer, and got the truck running again. With a hug, Charlene thanked each of the gentlemen personally for their gracious help. Then, she asked the head of the group why he would bother to give aid. He responded: "I saw your cross on your neck, young lady. I knew I had to stop what I was doing and help. We're in this together, you know!" Charlene understood. Christ had brought Charlene and her knight in shining armor together. The group was sent by God. She and her husband were ever so grateful.
In our scripture for today, the word "together" is used twice in one sentence to describe those who are filled with God's Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:26). Though they may have been given different spiritual gifts, the Christians in Corinth were bound to one another in the "body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:27). Paul, who wrote this scripture, wanted them to be "one in Christ", faithfully united. God wants the same with you and me and all God's children today.
Isn't it nice to know you are never alone? You have God's presence. You are filled with God's Spirit. And you are given other faithful people to walk with you in life. You are surrounded by the love of God! When you meet other true Christians, there will always be a bond. You can face challenges TOGETHER. You can fight evil TOGETHER. God will bless you TOGETHER. We "suffer TOGETHER". We "rejoice TOGETHER" (1 Corinthians 12:26). It's a wondrous thing…. being bound TOGETHER by God's Spirit in the unity of Christ!
that's if you are with another true Christian.
There are a lot of shallow and selfish Christians in the world today. They are not true Christians, but Christians in name only. Many Christians are not only Biblically illiterate (Fifty to eighty percent of members in American Christian denominations), they lack the Holy Spirit. You, dear friend, are different. I am as well. You would not be here unless God and the Holy Spirit were not reaching out to you. God is wanting you to connect with me. God will use my words to reach out to you. God's scriptures will bind us together by the power of God's Spirit.
Together. It's a beautiful word. If you are together with someone, you can't be alone. I'm not talking about two people who are in the same room. It's also not a sexual thing. I'm talking about two people who are together in the Spirit, bonded by a connection with God. That's you and me. God brought us together.
All true Christians have a spiritual connection that goes beyond the bounds of rationality. Highly spiritual Christians can even feel that connection made by God holding together all who truly believe. When in the presence of another true Christian, you will feel God's pull to keep you together in the Lord. Jesus prayed about this in John 17 when he asked God the Father to help HIS children to all "be one" (John 17:21). Together. It's a beautiful thing.
A young couple had taken a vacation to Colorado in their RV. After traveling for several days, they reached their campsite. It was high in the mountains, not far from several mountains called the "Fourteeners", because they all were over 14,000 feet in height. Steve and Charlene marveled at the beauty of the mountains. They couldn't wait to spend a few days in the shadow of such an awesome landscape in their Airstream Travel Trailer.
On that first night, they got a big surprise. They woke up with snow covering the ground. During the night, their furnace didn't work right. Then, the pipes began to freeze. It was a long night. Worried about the frozen pipes and furnace problems and seeing the snow, they grew depressed. It was cold out there! All morning, they worked on the RV. Seeking to get warm, they decided to get in their tow vehicle and have a late breakfast in the nearby town. The truck didn't start. Everything was going wrong.
Charlene's eyes filled with tears as she followed her husband to the Campground Office to seek help. When they got to the office, they saw a bunch of people gathered in the connected building. There, a group of veteran RV'ers were gathered for a reunion. One elderly gentleman saw the tears on Charlene's face. He got together several of his friends and they fixed the furnace, helped unfreeze the pipes with a hairdryer, and got the truck running again. With a hug, Charlene thanked each of the gentlemen personally for their gracious help. Then, she asked the head of the group why he would bother to give aid. He responded: "I saw your cross on your neck, young lady. I knew I had to stop what I was doing and help. We're in this together, you know!" Charlene understood. Christ had brought Charlene and her knight in shining armor together. The group was sent by God. She and her husband were ever so grateful.
In our scripture for today, the word "together" is used twice in one sentence to describe those who are filled with God's Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:26). Though they may have been given different spiritual gifts, the Christians in Corinth were bound to one another in the "body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:27). Paul, who wrote this scripture, wanted them to be "one in Christ", faithfully united. God wants the same with you and me and all God's children today.
Isn't it nice to know you are never alone? You have God's presence. You are filled with God's Spirit. And you are given other faithful people to walk with you in life. You are surrounded by the love of God! When you meet other true Christians, there will always be a bond. You can face challenges TOGETHER. You can fight evil TOGETHER. God will bless you TOGETHER. We "suffer TOGETHER". We "rejoice TOGETHER" (1 Corinthians 12:26). It's a wondrous thing…. being bound TOGETHER by God's Spirit in the unity of Christ!
October 15
“So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you.” (Proverbs 9:8, NLT)
In ancient Scandinavian folklore, a troll was a demon or fiend who shunned Christian society. They kept to themselves and often stayed in certain areas known to be uninhabited. They were often pictured as hairy and ugly creatures. When they came in contact with people, they often became dangerous. They were dim-witted beings with a penchant for destruction. In the "Billy Goats Gruff" fairy tale, trolls lived under a bridge and harassed any who dare cross it. In modern literature, trolls sought to raise havoc and hurt people in books like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
In social media, the term troll has been linked with a person who will leave comments or opinions online in order to harass, intimidate, libel, or abuse others. A troll loves to play "devil's advocate". If you try and reason with a troll, they will often revert to name calling. They love to "push all your buttons" and cause you to get angry, upset, or frustrated. The more havoc they cause, the happier they seem to be. If you try and correct a social media troll, all you will get is mockery and heaped abuse. The scripture from Proverbs 9:8 shown above reminds you that when you "bother correcting mockers, they will only hate you." In speaking about internet trolls, this is absolutely true. They refuse to learn, to see reason, or speak respectfully. They grow worse if you act honorably.
In the second half of the scripture for today, the author (assumed to be King Solomon by tradition) wrote that wise people respond intelligently. They do not respond like trolls. They learn from their mistakes. They see the need for correction. Proverbs 9:8 adds that if you "correct the wise, they will love you." Proverbs 12:15 says that a "fool is right in his own eyes". Proverbs 15:5 says a "fool despises his father's instruction". Proverbs 26:11 tells how fools make the same mistakes over and over. Fools hate correction. It is important in your life to realize that you can act wisely or foolishly. How you respond to constructive criticism and godly correction will show if you are wise or foolish. The wise, according to the scripture today, learn from correction and respond with love. The fool, according to all of Proverbs, will never learn from his mistakes and often responds with derision and hate.
Carrie's best friend, Meg, had changed. Ever since she began using meth, she seemed different and aloof. Carrie didn't like it one bit. The two had grown apart. After a few months of deteriorating conversations, Carrie decided to approach Meg's parents. In a last ditch effort to save their friendship, Carrie told Meg's parents in confidence about the drug use and personality changes. Meg's parents politely asked Carrie to leave and never talk with their daughter again. For months, Meg called Carrie various names including "traitor" and "former friend", along with lots of other swear words. Carrie blamed herself for the wrecked relationship. She should not have. Her friend and her friend's parents were to blame. They were the fools who would not listen to reason and refused loving correction.
If you look back on your life, how wise or foolish have you been? How well do you respond to constructive criticism and godly correction? Do you make the same mistakes over and over? Do you love those who correct you in the Lord, or are you apt to start an argument rather than learn? How you answer each of these questions will determine whether you are wise or foolish in the eyes of your Lord!
In social media, the term troll has been linked with a person who will leave comments or opinions online in order to harass, intimidate, libel, or abuse others. A troll loves to play "devil's advocate". If you try and reason with a troll, they will often revert to name calling. They love to "push all your buttons" and cause you to get angry, upset, or frustrated. The more havoc they cause, the happier they seem to be. If you try and correct a social media troll, all you will get is mockery and heaped abuse. The scripture from Proverbs 9:8 shown above reminds you that when you "bother correcting mockers, they will only hate you." In speaking about internet trolls, this is absolutely true. They refuse to learn, to see reason, or speak respectfully. They grow worse if you act honorably.
In the second half of the scripture for today, the author (assumed to be King Solomon by tradition) wrote that wise people respond intelligently. They do not respond like trolls. They learn from their mistakes. They see the need for correction. Proverbs 9:8 adds that if you "correct the wise, they will love you." Proverbs 12:15 says that a "fool is right in his own eyes". Proverbs 15:5 says a "fool despises his father's instruction". Proverbs 26:11 tells how fools make the same mistakes over and over. Fools hate correction. It is important in your life to realize that you can act wisely or foolishly. How you respond to constructive criticism and godly correction will show if you are wise or foolish. The wise, according to the scripture today, learn from correction and respond with love. The fool, according to all of Proverbs, will never learn from his mistakes and often responds with derision and hate.
Carrie's best friend, Meg, had changed. Ever since she began using meth, she seemed different and aloof. Carrie didn't like it one bit. The two had grown apart. After a few months of deteriorating conversations, Carrie decided to approach Meg's parents. In a last ditch effort to save their friendship, Carrie told Meg's parents in confidence about the drug use and personality changes. Meg's parents politely asked Carrie to leave and never talk with their daughter again. For months, Meg called Carrie various names including "traitor" and "former friend", along with lots of other swear words. Carrie blamed herself for the wrecked relationship. She should not have. Her friend and her friend's parents were to blame. They were the fools who would not listen to reason and refused loving correction.
If you look back on your life, how wise or foolish have you been? How well do you respond to constructive criticism and godly correction? Do you make the same mistakes over and over? Do you love those who correct you in the Lord, or are you apt to start an argument rather than learn? How you answer each of these questions will determine whether you are wise or foolish in the eyes of your Lord!
October 16
“My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.”
(Proverbs 1:10, NIV84)
(Proverbs 1:10, NIV84)
I remember having lots of friends when I was a kid. I had my school friends, church friends, neighborhood friends, and pen pals. Some were closer to me. Others were mere acquaintances. Still, I considered them all my friends. I enjoyed playing with friends. We had neighborhood baseball games, football games, and played hide and seek. I had a great childhood. However, I still got into trouble with my friends. In some of those moments when I was caught doing something I shouldn't do, I might give the excuse, "But everybody is doing it!" or "Steve's parents say its OK!" Inevitably, my parents would ask me, "If all your friends jumped in the river, would you do it, too?" It was a saying of theirs. It meant "Don't do what everybody else does just because they do it. Is it right?"
The scripture for today reminds us that just because people sin or fail or make mistakes, you don't have to do it as well. You have a choice. You can say, "NO!". Proverbs 1: 10 warns about what to do when others "entice you" to sin. When you are encouraged to do wrong, when a friend pressures you to do something you know you shouldn't do, you do not have to follow along. You can decide "not to give in to them" (Proverbs 1:10b). Other versions of the Bible say that when sinners entice you, you should not "consent". Don't give your OK. Don't fall in line to do what is wrong. When you allow yourself to follow the sinning crowd, you choose to sin. You choose to go against God.
"A few years ago psychologist Ruth W. Berenda and her associates carried out an interesting experiment with teenagers designed to show how a person handled group pressure. The plan was simple. They brought groups of ten adolescents into a room for a test. Subsequently, each group of ten was instructed to raise their hands when the teacher pointed to the longest line on three separate charts. What one person in the group did not know was that nine of the others in the room had been instructed ahead of time to vote for the second-longest line.
Regardless of the instructions they heard, once they were all together in the group, the nine were not to vote for the longest line, but rather vote for the next to the longest line. The experiment began with nine teen-agers voting for the wrong line. The stooge would typically glance around, frown in confusion, and slip his hand up with the group. The instructions were repeated and the next card was raised. Time after time, the self-conscious stooge would sit there saying a short line is longer than a long line, simply because he lacked the courage to challenge the group. This remarkable conformity occurred in about 75% of the cases, and was true of small children and high-school students as well." (C. Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, p. 225.)
It is a hard thing to go against the flow. When you are enticed to do what the world wants, you will find it very challenging to say "No!" when everyone else is saying "Yes!". When "everyone" is doing something, you will find yourself desiring to go along with it. To do so, might be the worst choice for you. As Proverbs 1:10 teaches, you do NOT have to consent. You do not have to "give in". It is better to choose to do what is right and please God, than to choose what is wrong and please your friends or family. But it takes guts not to give in. It takes real courage to go against a sinful flow.
How many people do you know who made bad decisions and paid for it later because they went along with their crowd? Have you ever regretting "giving in" to something you knew was wrong? This week, look at how you make decisions. Are you influenced by negative thinking, pushy people, or advertising gimmicks? You do have a choice. You don't have to give in to the wrong. It may sting to do so, but it will be worth it in the long run. You'll see.
The scripture for today reminds us that just because people sin or fail or make mistakes, you don't have to do it as well. You have a choice. You can say, "NO!". Proverbs 1: 10 warns about what to do when others "entice you" to sin. When you are encouraged to do wrong, when a friend pressures you to do something you know you shouldn't do, you do not have to follow along. You can decide "not to give in to them" (Proverbs 1:10b). Other versions of the Bible say that when sinners entice you, you should not "consent". Don't give your OK. Don't fall in line to do what is wrong. When you allow yourself to follow the sinning crowd, you choose to sin. You choose to go against God.
"A few years ago psychologist Ruth W. Berenda and her associates carried out an interesting experiment with teenagers designed to show how a person handled group pressure. The plan was simple. They brought groups of ten adolescents into a room for a test. Subsequently, each group of ten was instructed to raise their hands when the teacher pointed to the longest line on three separate charts. What one person in the group did not know was that nine of the others in the room had been instructed ahead of time to vote for the second-longest line.
Regardless of the instructions they heard, once they were all together in the group, the nine were not to vote for the longest line, but rather vote for the next to the longest line. The experiment began with nine teen-agers voting for the wrong line. The stooge would typically glance around, frown in confusion, and slip his hand up with the group. The instructions were repeated and the next card was raised. Time after time, the self-conscious stooge would sit there saying a short line is longer than a long line, simply because he lacked the courage to challenge the group. This remarkable conformity occurred in about 75% of the cases, and was true of small children and high-school students as well." (C. Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, p. 225.)
It is a hard thing to go against the flow. When you are enticed to do what the world wants, you will find it very challenging to say "No!" when everyone else is saying "Yes!". When "everyone" is doing something, you will find yourself desiring to go along with it. To do so, might be the worst choice for you. As Proverbs 1:10 teaches, you do NOT have to consent. You do not have to "give in". It is better to choose to do what is right and please God, than to choose what is wrong and please your friends or family. But it takes guts not to give in. It takes real courage to go against a sinful flow.
How many people do you know who made bad decisions and paid for it later because they went along with their crowd? Have you ever regretting "giving in" to something you knew was wrong? This week, look at how you make decisions. Are you influenced by negative thinking, pushy people, or advertising gimmicks? You do have a choice. You don't have to give in to the wrong. It may sting to do so, but it will be worth it in the long run. You'll see.
October 17
“…then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord’s side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him.” (Exodus 32:26, ESV)
"The hottest places in hell are reserved for those, who in time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality." Nobody knows who said this, but its meaning is clear. In times of crisis, it is very important that you seek God's will. In that moment, it is crucial that you make a decision and stand on God's side. To remain neutral in the face of evil is wrong. It may be safe, but it is wrong.
My neighbor had two beautiful daughters. They were good kids. I often gave them hugs and would sneak them a piece of candy or two when I could. The family was not very well off. The mother did her best by working at two jobs, but they barely made ends meet. Now and then, we would watch the two girls when the mother had an emergency or a doctor's appointment. Not having girls of my own, I enjoyed those days. I found myself smiling while watching them chase a butterfly or dress up like princesses, complete with tiaras!
The mother had just one problem with the girls; for months, they had both wet their beds. She read up on the problem and tried everything. Then, she came to me. With my counseling background, I was worried. When the mother described the girls and their bed-wetting episodes, I remembered my training about child abuse. I asked the mother if she had been doing anything differently with the girls lately. The only thing she had done recently was have their uncle and aunt watch them. I told the mother to ask the girls about those visits to their aunt and uncle. At first, the girls were hesitant to say anything. Then, they began to tell of their fear of being with their uncle. Finally, they spoke of their uncle touching them inappropriately. I told the mother never to let the children alone with their aunt and uncle. We talked about abuse. The mother spoke with a few of the relatives. They threatened her, "How dare you even suggest this! It will destroy the family!" A good friend told her to keep quiet. In the end, the mother did little about it, not even finding counseling for the girls. She did, however, never allow the girls to be alone with their aunt and uncle.
It is amazing to me how many people hush up those who are abused, neglected, harmed, hurt. Polls and studies report tens of thousands of cases of abuse and violence that go unreported, hidden, swept under the rug each year. There comes a time when you have to stand up for what is right. To remain neutral when God wants you to take a stand is absolutely wrong.
In the scripture for today, the people of Israel were faced with a decision. Moses demanded that they decide for themselves "who is on the Lord's side" (Exodus 32:26). After worshiping the golden calf near Mt. Sinai, the people had sinned against the Lord. It was time for the Israelites to make a choice; they could worship God or worship the golden calf. One or the other. This was a moment when no one was allowed to sit on the fence. They had to choose to follow God or not. God wanted a commitment. It was time to give up old sins and show God true faith. Neutrality was not an option. Remaining silent while the leaders promoted the worship of the golden calf would no longer be tolerated.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor during Adolf Hitler’s regime said, “Silence in the face of evil is evil itself. Not to speak is to speak, not to act is to act.” When the church refused to speak out against Hitler’s abuse of the Jews, the abuse became culturally acceptable behavior. Bonhoeffer did not stand for it. He saw Hitler's treatment of Jews as a portent for future abuses. He was right. Thousands of Slavs, gypsies, Russians, and POW's suffered and died in death camps. Millions were worked to death or executed. In the end, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was killed for siding against Adolf Hitler's abuses. By Hitler's own orders, he was imprisoned, starved, and then hanged.
Edmond Burke once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men (or women) do nothing”. Moses was not allowed to remain neutral while the people of God sinned. He had to pick a side. The leaders had to pick a side. The people ultimately choose one side over the other. You will find yourself needing to take God's side now and then in your life. Remaining neutral will not always be an option. It's not that God likes it when people take sides. The problem is that remaining neutral in the face of sin and corruption is not tolerated by God. Sometimes, you gotta get off that fence!
My neighbor had two beautiful daughters. They were good kids. I often gave them hugs and would sneak them a piece of candy or two when I could. The family was not very well off. The mother did her best by working at two jobs, but they barely made ends meet. Now and then, we would watch the two girls when the mother had an emergency or a doctor's appointment. Not having girls of my own, I enjoyed those days. I found myself smiling while watching them chase a butterfly or dress up like princesses, complete with tiaras!
The mother had just one problem with the girls; for months, they had both wet their beds. She read up on the problem and tried everything. Then, she came to me. With my counseling background, I was worried. When the mother described the girls and their bed-wetting episodes, I remembered my training about child abuse. I asked the mother if she had been doing anything differently with the girls lately. The only thing she had done recently was have their uncle and aunt watch them. I told the mother to ask the girls about those visits to their aunt and uncle. At first, the girls were hesitant to say anything. Then, they began to tell of their fear of being with their uncle. Finally, they spoke of their uncle touching them inappropriately. I told the mother never to let the children alone with their aunt and uncle. We talked about abuse. The mother spoke with a few of the relatives. They threatened her, "How dare you even suggest this! It will destroy the family!" A good friend told her to keep quiet. In the end, the mother did little about it, not even finding counseling for the girls. She did, however, never allow the girls to be alone with their aunt and uncle.
It is amazing to me how many people hush up those who are abused, neglected, harmed, hurt. Polls and studies report tens of thousands of cases of abuse and violence that go unreported, hidden, swept under the rug each year. There comes a time when you have to stand up for what is right. To remain neutral when God wants you to take a stand is absolutely wrong.
In the scripture for today, the people of Israel were faced with a decision. Moses demanded that they decide for themselves "who is on the Lord's side" (Exodus 32:26). After worshiping the golden calf near Mt. Sinai, the people had sinned against the Lord. It was time for the Israelites to make a choice; they could worship God or worship the golden calf. One or the other. This was a moment when no one was allowed to sit on the fence. They had to choose to follow God or not. God wanted a commitment. It was time to give up old sins and show God true faith. Neutrality was not an option. Remaining silent while the leaders promoted the worship of the golden calf would no longer be tolerated.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor during Adolf Hitler’s regime said, “Silence in the face of evil is evil itself. Not to speak is to speak, not to act is to act.” When the church refused to speak out against Hitler’s abuse of the Jews, the abuse became culturally acceptable behavior. Bonhoeffer did not stand for it. He saw Hitler's treatment of Jews as a portent for future abuses. He was right. Thousands of Slavs, gypsies, Russians, and POW's suffered and died in death camps. Millions were worked to death or executed. In the end, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was killed for siding against Adolf Hitler's abuses. By Hitler's own orders, he was imprisoned, starved, and then hanged.
Edmond Burke once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men (or women) do nothing”. Moses was not allowed to remain neutral while the people of God sinned. He had to pick a side. The leaders had to pick a side. The people ultimately choose one side over the other. You will find yourself needing to take God's side now and then in your life. Remaining neutral will not always be an option. It's not that God likes it when people take sides. The problem is that remaining neutral in the face of sin and corruption is not tolerated by God. Sometimes, you gotta get off that fence!
October 18
“Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.”
(1 Samuel 3:1, RSV)
(1 Samuel 3:1, RSV)
There are periods in history where God's involvement was rare. God withdrew to see who had faith and who did not. Some held tightly to God during those times. Others strayed off into other pursuits. We even know that in the time before King Josiah of Israel, so many people had fallen away from worship that the temple was underused, ignored, and falling apart (2 Kings 23). In the scripture for today, we are introduced to Samuel and Eli, two prophets of the Old Testament. In their time as well, God was standing back and watching the people of Israel to see how much faith was in the land. The scripture above even mentions that the longer God just watched and did not strongly act, the more that the "word of the Lord" became "rare" (1 Samuel 3:1). Visions from God to the people became infrequent. It's not that God had abandoned the people. Instead, the people were slowly abandoning God. Fewer and fewer talked about God, shared God's word, spoke about God's visions.
In your life, periods of quiet from God may also arise. Then, God will be looking to see what kind of faith you have. Will you continue to share the word of God? Will you continue to seek God's direction? Your faith is rare, wonderful, beautiful. It is meant to be shared. It is crucial to our world. In times when God's voice is drowned out by pleasures and politics and fights, those like you with faith will be beacons of hope and joy in a world that will be falling apart.
A young mother was washing her clothes while the kids played outside by the old sandbox. Her two children had invited two other children to play in the sand. The four were making mounds, castles, and roads. They chatted as they created their little sand world. Mother came out of the house with a basket of clothes to hang on the line. As she walked down the breadth of the garage, she heard the children talking around the corner. She paused to listen. The children were talking about a castle in the sand. One child asked if there was a princess inside. Two others responded immediately saying that a king and queen and prince and princess were all inside the castle. And there were knights guarding it as well. Then, one of the children asked, "Is God in the castle?" Her own daughter explained: "Of course! God keeps the castle safe! God protects them." The other three children considered her words, and then the work continued. Mother was now confident that her children certainly had faith. A small tear came down her cheek. She was proud of them.
Faith brings comfort to parents, to a world in chaos, to those grieving at a time of death. Faith transcends the boundaries of the physical world to bind people with their Creator. In moments when spiritual sparks are few and far between, it is faith that warms the hearts of God's people. Those who have the gift of faith (1 Corinthians 12:9) are God's light between moments of revelation. They shine forth to give strength to others while God watches to see who will respond to HIM. It's easy to come to God when your life is threatened or everyone else is doing it. Those with real faith will be that source of hope when God isn't close by and "the word of God becomes rare" (1 Samuel 3:1). The lost will look to faithful ones for assurance of God's presence and power.
As in the days of Samuel, the Word of God and visions from God are rare in some places today. God is watching to see how we will respond. Not long after this scripture was written, God raised up the powerful prophet Samuel and ushered in the age of the Kings of Israel and Judah. When young, Samuel was God's rare gift waiting to be shared with God's people. Little did the people know how Samuel would bring forth God's strength. He even anointed David as King!(1 Samuel 16:13)
Please realize today how rare and beautiful is your faith. Others may not notice it, but God certainly does. When your faith shines, God sees it and blesses it. Our world is dying for meaning. People turn to drugs like meth, opioids, cocaine, and marijuana in order to escape the pain. Few turn to God to find true purpose. You have chosen differently. Your choice to follow God is a treasure for our world. Nurture that relationship with God. Trust that God is with you. Reach out and share God's truth. You are crucial to God's plans.
In your life, periods of quiet from God may also arise. Then, God will be looking to see what kind of faith you have. Will you continue to share the word of God? Will you continue to seek God's direction? Your faith is rare, wonderful, beautiful. It is meant to be shared. It is crucial to our world. In times when God's voice is drowned out by pleasures and politics and fights, those like you with faith will be beacons of hope and joy in a world that will be falling apart.
A young mother was washing her clothes while the kids played outside by the old sandbox. Her two children had invited two other children to play in the sand. The four were making mounds, castles, and roads. They chatted as they created their little sand world. Mother came out of the house with a basket of clothes to hang on the line. As she walked down the breadth of the garage, she heard the children talking around the corner. She paused to listen. The children were talking about a castle in the sand. One child asked if there was a princess inside. Two others responded immediately saying that a king and queen and prince and princess were all inside the castle. And there were knights guarding it as well. Then, one of the children asked, "Is God in the castle?" Her own daughter explained: "Of course! God keeps the castle safe! God protects them." The other three children considered her words, and then the work continued. Mother was now confident that her children certainly had faith. A small tear came down her cheek. She was proud of them.
Faith brings comfort to parents, to a world in chaos, to those grieving at a time of death. Faith transcends the boundaries of the physical world to bind people with their Creator. In moments when spiritual sparks are few and far between, it is faith that warms the hearts of God's people. Those who have the gift of faith (1 Corinthians 12:9) are God's light between moments of revelation. They shine forth to give strength to others while God watches to see who will respond to HIM. It's easy to come to God when your life is threatened or everyone else is doing it. Those with real faith will be that source of hope when God isn't close by and "the word of God becomes rare" (1 Samuel 3:1). The lost will look to faithful ones for assurance of God's presence and power.
As in the days of Samuel, the Word of God and visions from God are rare in some places today. God is watching to see how we will respond. Not long after this scripture was written, God raised up the powerful prophet Samuel and ushered in the age of the Kings of Israel and Judah. When young, Samuel was God's rare gift waiting to be shared with God's people. Little did the people know how Samuel would bring forth God's strength. He even anointed David as King!(1 Samuel 16:13)
Please realize today how rare and beautiful is your faith. Others may not notice it, but God certainly does. When your faith shines, God sees it and blesses it. Our world is dying for meaning. People turn to drugs like meth, opioids, cocaine, and marijuana in order to escape the pain. Few turn to God to find true purpose. You have chosen differently. Your choice to follow God is a treasure for our world. Nurture that relationship with God. Trust that God is with you. Reach out and share God's truth. You are crucial to God's plans.
October 19
“Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.”
(Revelation 2:10–11, NLT)
(Revelation 2:10–11, NLT)
The church in Smyrna in ancient Greek lands came under persecution not long after the above scripture was written by John of Patmos. Christians were attacked, rounded up, and imprisoned. Despite the fact that Roman leaders were behind the persecution, the author of this scripture was certain that the leaders were attacking Christians due to the devil's attempts to silence the early church. Satan can't stand true faith. He will always try to silence it. The author of the scripture above warned about Christians being "thrown into prison" (Revelation 2:10). He saw it as a test of faith that would show how faithful the Christians were to Jesus and HIS legacy. John gave them comfort by saying that the test would be short, but God would notice their faith and grant them the "crown" of eternal life one day. The Christians who kept their faith would "not be harmed by the second death" (Revelation 2:11) where people are judged and sent to heaven or hell.
In the scripture above, the devil orchestrated the persecution. He was working behind the scenes to cause people to reject Jesus and give up their faith. His goal was to stop the connection between people and their Creator, ending trust between people and God. He would use persecution in this instance to attempt to loosen the bonds between God and HIS people. "The activity of Satan against believers is mentioned in various ways throughout the NT. Satan tempts believers to lie (Acts 5:3); he accuses and slanders them (Revelation 12:10); he entices them toward sexual sin (1 Corinthians 7:5); he places obstacles in their path (1 Thessalonians 2:18); he causes persecution (Revelation 2:10); and he causes pseudo-Christians to infiltrate among true Christians to promote confusion and division in the church (Matthew 13:38, 39). The Christian’s defense involves being on guard, sober, vigilant (1 Peter 5:8), taking a stand against the devil and resisting him (James 4:7; Ephesians 6:11–18)" (adapted from The Women's Study Bible for 1 Peter 5:8).
Living in America, you might think that the persecution of Christians sounds medieval. It doesn't occur today, does it? How wrong you would be to think such a thing. The devil continues to use the same tactics as in New Testament times. He manipulates events to drive a wedge between people and their Creator. However, there are those who aren't so easily manipulated by Satan and his tactics. Despite persecution, slander, and many other forms of degradation perpetrated by Satan and his hordes, these faithful ones will continue to believe despite all obstacles put in their path. I am hoping and praying that you are one of those truly faithful ones.
In this scripture, those who remain close to God despite the devil's machinations were promised God's blessing. During the testing, God would watch over them and their faith. On the Day of Judgment, they would receive the "crown of life" (Revelation 2:10). Eternal life would be assured. Their faith would be rewarded. All they had to do was endure the testing of Satan, holding fast to God.
Joe had a rough year. He lost his mother, was forced to change jobs, and flirted with depression. For a twenty-year-old man, he faced a lot of upheaval in his young life. He didn't have a lot of support. He pushed his friends away during his depression. Those closest to him at work were left behind as he was moved to a new plant by management. His grief weighed heavy upon him. He loved his mother very much. Joe felt like a ship tossed in a storm without an anchor. He flirted with drugs and began to drink a little too much. He threw himself into computer gaming, but it didn't satisfy his longing for a good friend.
At his mother's funeral, Joe got close to the pastor. He decided to visit his mother's church. There, Joe found a Bible study group that interested him. They seemed genuine. He felt their care. When a leadership change in the Bible study group bothered Joe, he started to pull himself from the group. Joe's faith wavered. In time, Joe stopped coming to the church. If you look at Joe's situation, you will see how tenuous is his grip on life. Being removed from the church, Joe is liable to slip back into depression. He is likely to feel loneliness return. Rather than responding with faith, Joe is pulling back. Rather than becoming closer to God from all the upheaval in his life, Joe is retreating from his connection with God.
Joe is a prototype of those who are searching for meaning in life in modern times. His faith is so weak that his connection with God is very fragile. When the first hint of problems arises in the future, Joe is apt to fall apart. God wants to save Joe. Joe wants to feel comfort and assurance, but can't seem to take a bold step with God. All the devil has to do is put a couple of obstacles and trials in his way and Joe will fall apart. He will retreat from God. He will reject his faith.
The devil knows that for most people, all it takes is a little push and they will pull away from God. Without knowing it, many people are giving up the "crown of life" because they want comfort and assurance without giving faith a chance. God wants commitment. People like Joe want to float through life and be entertained or fixed. God is willing to grant those needs, but God needs assurance that you are not going to falter when the going gets tough. God responds to real faith. It is the truly faithful who find comfort in God's arms, not the dabblers and experimenters. A shallow faith will fall apart during the devil's manipulations. Only the truly faithful will remain when a time of testing is over.
Are you one who is apt to fall apart at the first hint of trials or problems? Is your connection with God strong enough to endure a period of testing? No doubt, we will find out. It will become evident in the days ahead. Hold tightly to God. A crown of life hangs in the balance for you.
In the scripture above, the devil orchestrated the persecution. He was working behind the scenes to cause people to reject Jesus and give up their faith. His goal was to stop the connection between people and their Creator, ending trust between people and God. He would use persecution in this instance to attempt to loosen the bonds between God and HIS people. "The activity of Satan against believers is mentioned in various ways throughout the NT. Satan tempts believers to lie (Acts 5:3); he accuses and slanders them (Revelation 12:10); he entices them toward sexual sin (1 Corinthians 7:5); he places obstacles in their path (1 Thessalonians 2:18); he causes persecution (Revelation 2:10); and he causes pseudo-Christians to infiltrate among true Christians to promote confusion and division in the church (Matthew 13:38, 39). The Christian’s defense involves being on guard, sober, vigilant (1 Peter 5:8), taking a stand against the devil and resisting him (James 4:7; Ephesians 6:11–18)" (adapted from The Women's Study Bible for 1 Peter 5:8).
Living in America, you might think that the persecution of Christians sounds medieval. It doesn't occur today, does it? How wrong you would be to think such a thing. The devil continues to use the same tactics as in New Testament times. He manipulates events to drive a wedge between people and their Creator. However, there are those who aren't so easily manipulated by Satan and his tactics. Despite persecution, slander, and many other forms of degradation perpetrated by Satan and his hordes, these faithful ones will continue to believe despite all obstacles put in their path. I am hoping and praying that you are one of those truly faithful ones.
In this scripture, those who remain close to God despite the devil's machinations were promised God's blessing. During the testing, God would watch over them and their faith. On the Day of Judgment, they would receive the "crown of life" (Revelation 2:10). Eternal life would be assured. Their faith would be rewarded. All they had to do was endure the testing of Satan, holding fast to God.
Joe had a rough year. He lost his mother, was forced to change jobs, and flirted with depression. For a twenty-year-old man, he faced a lot of upheaval in his young life. He didn't have a lot of support. He pushed his friends away during his depression. Those closest to him at work were left behind as he was moved to a new plant by management. His grief weighed heavy upon him. He loved his mother very much. Joe felt like a ship tossed in a storm without an anchor. He flirted with drugs and began to drink a little too much. He threw himself into computer gaming, but it didn't satisfy his longing for a good friend.
At his mother's funeral, Joe got close to the pastor. He decided to visit his mother's church. There, Joe found a Bible study group that interested him. They seemed genuine. He felt their care. When a leadership change in the Bible study group bothered Joe, he started to pull himself from the group. Joe's faith wavered. In time, Joe stopped coming to the church. If you look at Joe's situation, you will see how tenuous is his grip on life. Being removed from the church, Joe is liable to slip back into depression. He is likely to feel loneliness return. Rather than responding with faith, Joe is pulling back. Rather than becoming closer to God from all the upheaval in his life, Joe is retreating from his connection with God.
Joe is a prototype of those who are searching for meaning in life in modern times. His faith is so weak that his connection with God is very fragile. When the first hint of problems arises in the future, Joe is apt to fall apart. God wants to save Joe. Joe wants to feel comfort and assurance, but can't seem to take a bold step with God. All the devil has to do is put a couple of obstacles and trials in his way and Joe will fall apart. He will retreat from God. He will reject his faith.
The devil knows that for most people, all it takes is a little push and they will pull away from God. Without knowing it, many people are giving up the "crown of life" because they want comfort and assurance without giving faith a chance. God wants commitment. People like Joe want to float through life and be entertained or fixed. God is willing to grant those needs, but God needs assurance that you are not going to falter when the going gets tough. God responds to real faith. It is the truly faithful who find comfort in God's arms, not the dabblers and experimenters. A shallow faith will fall apart during the devil's manipulations. Only the truly faithful will remain when a time of testing is over.
Are you one who is apt to fall apart at the first hint of trials or problems? Is your connection with God strong enough to endure a period of testing? No doubt, we will find out. It will become evident in the days ahead. Hold tightly to God. A crown of life hangs in the balance for you.
October 20
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.””
(Mark 10:27, RSV)
(Mark 10:27, RSV)
Jesus was teaching the disciples about who would go to heaven. He had just told them in Mark 10 that it would be hard for a rich man to gain entrance to heaven (Mark 10:25), when the disciples responded, "Who can be saved, then?" The disciples looked at the issue about who could go to heaven and figured that if rich people couldn't get there, who in the world could ever get there? To that Jesus replied with the scripture for today: "With men, it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." With these words, Jesus was claiming that working our way into heaven is impossible. Following God's way into heaven will work. God makes things possible that people consider impossible. Where people often see only how something can't seem to work, God knows how it will work.
How do you look at a problem? Do you see possibilities from God's prospective, or do you see the difficulties or impossibilities of the endeavor? More than a hundred years ago, a shoe manufacturer sent two salesmen into the African Congo region. He wanted to know if there was a possibility for this undeveloped area to be a good place to sell shoes. One salesman cabled back: "Prospect here nil. No one wears shoes!" The other salesman reported enthusiastically, "Market potential terrific! Everyone is barefooted." Two different salesmen saw two different potentialities in the exact same situation! One saw how it couldn’t' be done. One saw how it could be done. So often, we can see how something can't work, won't work, or will fail. We see the obstacles, the issues, the problems. We often miss the potential. The salesman who saw that everyone was barefooted did not see a problem, but the potential for sales. God often sees potential as well. God even sees the potential in you!
While others may look at a situation in your life and not see a good outcome, God can look at your situation and see potential. While you look at an issue and might get worried, God has already seen how to best deal with the issue. The problems in your life will not hold you back from enjoying God's grace and love. They will not keep your from growing, learning, and inspiring others. Your attitude in looking at the problem will determine just what will happen. If you see the potential in yourself or your situation as God sees it, great things are always possible! "All things are possible with God...." (Mark 10:27). Nothing is possible without God!
Acquire for yourself Jesus' perspective in life. Where the disciples saw what was impossible, Jesus saw what was possible. How about you?
When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, "He's so big we can never kill him." (1 Samuel 17:11). They were afraid to fight. They felt overwhelmed by the chance of defeating such a giant. Young David looked at the same giant and thought, "He's so big I can't miss." (adapted from "God Can Make it Happen"). Where the soldiers saw overwhelming odds, David saw possibilities. He saw things from God's perspective!
Will you?
How do you look at a problem? Do you see possibilities from God's prospective, or do you see the difficulties or impossibilities of the endeavor? More than a hundred years ago, a shoe manufacturer sent two salesmen into the African Congo region. He wanted to know if there was a possibility for this undeveloped area to be a good place to sell shoes. One salesman cabled back: "Prospect here nil. No one wears shoes!" The other salesman reported enthusiastically, "Market potential terrific! Everyone is barefooted." Two different salesmen saw two different potentialities in the exact same situation! One saw how it couldn’t' be done. One saw how it could be done. So often, we can see how something can't work, won't work, or will fail. We see the obstacles, the issues, the problems. We often miss the potential. The salesman who saw that everyone was barefooted did not see a problem, but the potential for sales. God often sees potential as well. God even sees the potential in you!
While others may look at a situation in your life and not see a good outcome, God can look at your situation and see potential. While you look at an issue and might get worried, God has already seen how to best deal with the issue. The problems in your life will not hold you back from enjoying God's grace and love. They will not keep your from growing, learning, and inspiring others. Your attitude in looking at the problem will determine just what will happen. If you see the potential in yourself or your situation as God sees it, great things are always possible! "All things are possible with God...." (Mark 10:27). Nothing is possible without God!
Acquire for yourself Jesus' perspective in life. Where the disciples saw what was impossible, Jesus saw what was possible. How about you?
When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, "He's so big we can never kill him." (1 Samuel 17:11). They were afraid to fight. They felt overwhelmed by the chance of defeating such a giant. Young David looked at the same giant and thought, "He's so big I can't miss." (adapted from "God Can Make it Happen"). Where the soldiers saw overwhelming odds, David saw possibilities. He saw things from God's perspective!
Will you?
October 21
“The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them, and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord God to the mountains and the hills, to the ravines and the valleys: Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places. Your altars shall become desolate, and your incense altars shall be broken, and I will cast down your slain before your idols.”
(Ezekiel 6:1–4, ESV)
(Ezekiel 6:1–4, ESV)
"One afternoon in 1865, President Lincoln's Cabinet entered a council room for a meeting and found the President seated at the head of the table, his face buried in his hands. Presently he raised his head. His face was grave and worn. "Gentlemen," he said, "before long you will have important news."
Someone inquired, "Have you bad news, Mr. President? Is it something serious?"
"I have heard nothing; I've had no news," he replied. "But last night I had a dream. I dreamed I was in a boat, alone. I had no oars, no rudder. I was helpless in a boundless ocean." There was silence for a moment. Then the President added: "I have had that dream many times during the war. And each time, some great battle came within a day or two. Yes, gentlemen, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps in just a few hours, you will have important news."
Five hours later, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated" (Bits and Pieces, March 1990).
You might read this event in the life of Abraham Lincoln as an aberration or maybe the musings of a man gone mad following the Civil War. It was neither of those things. I believe Abraham Lincoln saw his own future, as he had received from God other dreams and visions of large battles before they happened. Some people are given the ability to see things in the future. God opens up their mind to see beforehand the consequences of actions, the road ahead, a challenge needing to be overcome, or a special event. Prophets, seers, apostles, disciples, visionaries, and many others were given a view by God of important events long before they occurred. Jesus saw a number of things, including the end times long beforehand. In our scripture for today, a prophet long ago named Ezekiel told of a vision he had received from God about the crushing defeat of Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians.
If you read the scripture for today written above, you will see a terrible premonition. Ezekiel was given insight into God's plans for Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem, for the "word of the Lord came" to him (Ezekiel 6:1). What Ezekiel saw was frightening. Like Abraham Lincoln, he saw terrible events of the future that were foretold by God. In the vision of Ezekiel, God told the prophet to face the mountains of Israel. Then, he was to speak a prophecy from God wherein a sword would destroy the "high places" where God's people were practicing idolatry. On those mountain tops, the Israelites were worshiping idols of other gods. God promised that in the war to come, the high places would be torn down, the altars would be broken, and the sinful people would be slain (Ezekiel 6:3-4). Not long after this prophecy, the Babylonian armies destroyed Israel and Judah and Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 36 describes the utter destruction.
You may not realize it, but God does send forth visions to people before they die, before important events, or as a warning. Often, those who are close to God will see things that others can't see. They will see omens of things to come, warnings of future events, or visions of God's greatness soon to appear. The book of Revelation is filled with the visions of John of Patmos displaying the end of time. What surprises me is that true Christians do not think that God will show them events to come or give them warnings to heed. I believe these happen all the time. I've experienced them. I know others who have as well.
Not long before a friend of mine died, he told me that he believed his time was short. He just knew that he was going to die. When he expressed his feeling, others thought him morbid or depressed. While talking to him, I did not. He grew closer to God. He didn't shut himself off from friends or family. He started to prepare for the day he would be gone. He remodeled his house. He increased his savings for his wife. And then, one day a year later, he died of cancer. He was diagnosed eleven months after he talked to me about what he dreamed was to come. I'm very thankful God gave him time to get things right before he died. So was he.
Ezekiel was given his visions as a warning to the people of God just before war. God gave the visions to warn the people to make things right. They didn't listen. You may ignore a vision from God, but its just a matter of time before it comes to fruition. God doesn't share events of the future for them to be ignored but for them to be respected. Don't be surprised if you are given a vision of things to come or if you have a feeling about something in the future. It may be God's way of warning you, helping you to get right, getting the word out, saving lives and souls. Lots of people claim to have visions about the future. I often don't heed them. But when the truly faithful have a vision, I often listen closely. God has a way of telling the faithful the honest truth of what is coming.
Someone inquired, "Have you bad news, Mr. President? Is it something serious?"
"I have heard nothing; I've had no news," he replied. "But last night I had a dream. I dreamed I was in a boat, alone. I had no oars, no rudder. I was helpless in a boundless ocean." There was silence for a moment. Then the President added: "I have had that dream many times during the war. And each time, some great battle came within a day or two. Yes, gentlemen, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps in just a few hours, you will have important news."
Five hours later, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated" (Bits and Pieces, March 1990).
You might read this event in the life of Abraham Lincoln as an aberration or maybe the musings of a man gone mad following the Civil War. It was neither of those things. I believe Abraham Lincoln saw his own future, as he had received from God other dreams and visions of large battles before they happened. Some people are given the ability to see things in the future. God opens up their mind to see beforehand the consequences of actions, the road ahead, a challenge needing to be overcome, or a special event. Prophets, seers, apostles, disciples, visionaries, and many others were given a view by God of important events long before they occurred. Jesus saw a number of things, including the end times long beforehand. In our scripture for today, a prophet long ago named Ezekiel told of a vision he had received from God about the crushing defeat of Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians.
If you read the scripture for today written above, you will see a terrible premonition. Ezekiel was given insight into God's plans for Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem, for the "word of the Lord came" to him (Ezekiel 6:1). What Ezekiel saw was frightening. Like Abraham Lincoln, he saw terrible events of the future that were foretold by God. In the vision of Ezekiel, God told the prophet to face the mountains of Israel. Then, he was to speak a prophecy from God wherein a sword would destroy the "high places" where God's people were practicing idolatry. On those mountain tops, the Israelites were worshiping idols of other gods. God promised that in the war to come, the high places would be torn down, the altars would be broken, and the sinful people would be slain (Ezekiel 6:3-4). Not long after this prophecy, the Babylonian armies destroyed Israel and Judah and Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 36 describes the utter destruction.
You may not realize it, but God does send forth visions to people before they die, before important events, or as a warning. Often, those who are close to God will see things that others can't see. They will see omens of things to come, warnings of future events, or visions of God's greatness soon to appear. The book of Revelation is filled with the visions of John of Patmos displaying the end of time. What surprises me is that true Christians do not think that God will show them events to come or give them warnings to heed. I believe these happen all the time. I've experienced them. I know others who have as well.
Not long before a friend of mine died, he told me that he believed his time was short. He just knew that he was going to die. When he expressed his feeling, others thought him morbid or depressed. While talking to him, I did not. He grew closer to God. He didn't shut himself off from friends or family. He started to prepare for the day he would be gone. He remodeled his house. He increased his savings for his wife. And then, one day a year later, he died of cancer. He was diagnosed eleven months after he talked to me about what he dreamed was to come. I'm very thankful God gave him time to get things right before he died. So was he.
Ezekiel was given his visions as a warning to the people of God just before war. God gave the visions to warn the people to make things right. They didn't listen. You may ignore a vision from God, but its just a matter of time before it comes to fruition. God doesn't share events of the future for them to be ignored but for them to be respected. Don't be surprised if you are given a vision of things to come or if you have a feeling about something in the future. It may be God's way of warning you, helping you to get right, getting the word out, saving lives and souls. Lots of people claim to have visions about the future. I often don't heed them. But when the truly faithful have a vision, I often listen closely. God has a way of telling the faithful the honest truth of what is coming.
October 22
“[Jesus said:] “And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.””
(Luke 13:30, NASB95)
(Luke 13:30, NASB95)
When I was in elementary school, we had lots of holidays to celebrate. One tradition for each holiday was a special class party sponsored by parents who would bring in cookies, candies, or cakes for us to share. I still remember the teacher calling us to line up, so that we could get our place in line for the goodies. On several occasions, the class wasn't ready for the teacher to line us up. In one instance when the teacher yelled, "Line up!", we all jumped up and ran to get our spot in the line. Big kids ran into little kids in their rush to get to the front of the line. Smaller children got knocked over, knocked down, or pushed out of the way. Everybody wanted to get first crack at the sweets! The teacher, noting the rough handling and maneuvering, promptly started giving the treats to those in the back of the line! It was certainly smart of her to do so. On that day, the first in line was the last to get the treats. I still remember how unfair it seemed. I was usually near the front of the line (and one of the biggest kids!)! Today, I'm glad I was knocked down a few pegs. Being in such a rush to be first in line no matter who is hurt is no attitude to espouse with Christ as your Lord.
Jesus taught his disciples about the danger of wanting to be "first" in life. In Luke 13, Jesus spoke about the End Times and Judgement Day. He wanted the disciples to know that there would be a judgment of each person by God before entrance into Heaven. Jesus' final words on the subject made clear to the disciples that some who are "first" in life would be "last" to gain entrance into Heaven. Some who are "last" in seeming importance in life would be "first" in line to meet God. In essence, earthly performance often has no bearing on who gets into heaven or who does well in their earthly walk for God. Rich people might look pretty poor in Jesus' presence. Powerful bankers might not have much power if they even reach heaven. The "movers and shakers" of this world who are often in first place, first in line, or first to get headlines may not even be found in the Kingdom of God. This scripture is a warning by Jesus that earthly success has nothing whatsoever to do with Heavenly placement. Luke 13 even makes clear that those who are saved will be "few", not many (Luke 13:23,24).
People can be in such a rush to look good, be first in line, be noticed, or be rewarded that they can mess up in life as well as in Heaven. When you are consumed by your own goals and being number one or looking good, it can bite you. This kind of prideful arrogance can even cause great destruction. "In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn't a technology problem like radar malfunction--or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship's presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late." (Closer Walk, December 1991).
In your life, don't get all caught up in being number one. Walking over others on your way to fame or fortune will not look good come Judgment Day. If you are so determined to succeed that you overlook the cost of that victory to others, you just might find yourself at a loss on the Day of Judgment. Will God be embarrassed at how you walked over others to get to the head of some line? Money, power, wealth, comforts, and many other amenities come to winners in this life. God has different ideas for who are winners! Don't let your greatest success be the source of your greatest shame.
Jesus taught his disciples about the danger of wanting to be "first" in life. In Luke 13, Jesus spoke about the End Times and Judgement Day. He wanted the disciples to know that there would be a judgment of each person by God before entrance into Heaven. Jesus' final words on the subject made clear to the disciples that some who are "first" in life would be "last" to gain entrance into Heaven. Some who are "last" in seeming importance in life would be "first" in line to meet God. In essence, earthly performance often has no bearing on who gets into heaven or who does well in their earthly walk for God. Rich people might look pretty poor in Jesus' presence. Powerful bankers might not have much power if they even reach heaven. The "movers and shakers" of this world who are often in first place, first in line, or first to get headlines may not even be found in the Kingdom of God. This scripture is a warning by Jesus that earthly success has nothing whatsoever to do with Heavenly placement. Luke 13 even makes clear that those who are saved will be "few", not many (Luke 13:23,24).
People can be in such a rush to look good, be first in line, be noticed, or be rewarded that they can mess up in life as well as in Heaven. When you are consumed by your own goals and being number one or looking good, it can bite you. This kind of prideful arrogance can even cause great destruction. "In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn't a technology problem like radar malfunction--or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship's presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late." (Closer Walk, December 1991).
In your life, don't get all caught up in being number one. Walking over others on your way to fame or fortune will not look good come Judgment Day. If you are so determined to succeed that you overlook the cost of that victory to others, you just might find yourself at a loss on the Day of Judgment. Will God be embarrassed at how you walked over others to get to the head of some line? Money, power, wealth, comforts, and many other amenities come to winners in this life. God has different ideas for who are winners! Don't let your greatest success be the source of your greatest shame.
October 23
“Mortal, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt; speak, and say, Thus says the Lord God: I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon sprawling in the midst of its channels, saying, “My Nile is my own; I made it for myself.”” (Ezekiel 29:2–3, NRSV)
In the scripture above, the prophet Ezekiel is commanded to prophesy against Pharaoh of Egypt. God was upset at his arrogance and meanness. Pharaoh was commanding his people to believe that he had created the Nile River, "making it for himself" (Ezekiel 29:3). He thought himself such a "god" that he could create things like the Nile at will, causing it to come into existence, causing its channels to sprawl throughout Egypt! In his arrogance, Pharaoh set himself up against God. His actions and words challenged God to compete for who was really creator of the earth and its environs. Pharaoh earned God's wrath, God even calling him a "great dragon".
In literature and folk lore, dragons were known to cause havoc. They were very powerful creatures who commanded respect of both the sky and the earth. With their wings, a dragon could jet down from the sky to cause destruction. With a blast of fire from its mouth, it could damage and kill. God saw Pharaoh as one such beast. With a word, Pharaoh could send his armies to bring destruction to a land. With his command, the fires of war could blast and destroy, damage and kill. In the days of Ezekiel, God was determined to end Pharaoh's destructive reign.
In the book, Well Intentioned Dragons, author Marshall Shelley describes people like Pharaoh who exist in the church. They are strong-willed people who cause destruction in their wake. From their mouths often come words that kill the enthusiasm in a church or destroy the confidence of a leader. They are often in places of power in the church due to their generous giving or their pushy demands. People walk on eggshells around them, fearing their wrath. Shelley dedicated his book to "those who kept their humanity in the face of their beastliness". He wrote the book especially for Pastors, to help them deal with these impossible people, these dragons.
You may have one of these "dragons" in your life. Maybe it’s the co-worker who never fails to find your mistakes and expose them. It might be the boss who is sure she can find fault with your work. You might have an in-law who causes havoc wherever she goes. The dragon might even live with you in the form of a husband or teenager. Whoever this "dragon" is, he or she will cause fires to burn wherever they go. Their mouths cause hurts and pains, their attitudes condemn, their fault-finding is notorious. Like God dealing with "the great dragon" Pharaoh, your wrath might be well-intentioned against that person. However, you are not God. No matter how much you like, you can't destroy them with a word or bring the whirlwind upon them. In fact, to stand against a "dragon" might cause you to lose your job or suffer public humiliation. They are known to destroy even the best.
I have found "dragons" in every church I have served. Living with their barbs, I find them prickly at best. These people are often insecure, despite their blustering. They are often judgmental and vengeful. Try as you might, I find only God can change them. To attempt to stop their foolishness will only earn you "fire" from their mouths. They will curse you and talk about you behind your back. They can play passive aggressive games or openly manipulate people. They are often painfully arrogant, just like Pharaoh in our scripture for today. If I can give you any advice, please never let them control you. Don't bow down to them, but instead follow God's leaning. Pray to God for them ("love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!" - Matthew 5:44). Let their words and judgments roll off your back. They are small, pitiful people. God will take care of them in due time.
I once knew a woman who was quite the "dragon". Cross her and she would breathe forth "fire". Her words would cut like a knife. She would use mistakes in your past to drown your voice out in a public debate. If she felt threatened, she would gather up her forces to destroy you. I found that most people never told her the truth. They didn't like her, they put up with her. Even her friends didn't enjoy her company. They kept her close in order to watch for her wrath or keep it at bay. When her husband died, her friends were not warm. They were absent. When she was depressed, she suffered alone. In time, she grew bitter and resentful. When she died, people were thankful to see her gone.
Don't pity any "dragon" in your life. Don't bow to their moods. Let everything they say roll off your shoulders. Don't heed their advice. Definitely treat them wisely, but don't fret for one minute over their destructive attempts. You answer to God. God gives grace where they do not. In the end, realize that their destruction will inevitably come. Not only will this earth be better for their passing, but they will fear to meet God. In this life, God will not protect them. In the next life, God will banish them to hell. Their fate will be awful. Don't share in that fate.
I do not know of any "dragon" that I've ever met who is a true and faithful child of God, no matter what they think. Unless they repent, they will suffer the same fate as Pharaoh in the days of Ezekiel. Don't become a dragon. Deal wisely with any you know. They are liable to burn you. Thank God that you are not to suffer their fate.
In literature and folk lore, dragons were known to cause havoc. They were very powerful creatures who commanded respect of both the sky and the earth. With their wings, a dragon could jet down from the sky to cause destruction. With a blast of fire from its mouth, it could damage and kill. God saw Pharaoh as one such beast. With a word, Pharaoh could send his armies to bring destruction to a land. With his command, the fires of war could blast and destroy, damage and kill. In the days of Ezekiel, God was determined to end Pharaoh's destructive reign.
In the book, Well Intentioned Dragons, author Marshall Shelley describes people like Pharaoh who exist in the church. They are strong-willed people who cause destruction in their wake. From their mouths often come words that kill the enthusiasm in a church or destroy the confidence of a leader. They are often in places of power in the church due to their generous giving or their pushy demands. People walk on eggshells around them, fearing their wrath. Shelley dedicated his book to "those who kept their humanity in the face of their beastliness". He wrote the book especially for Pastors, to help them deal with these impossible people, these dragons.
You may have one of these "dragons" in your life. Maybe it’s the co-worker who never fails to find your mistakes and expose them. It might be the boss who is sure she can find fault with your work. You might have an in-law who causes havoc wherever she goes. The dragon might even live with you in the form of a husband or teenager. Whoever this "dragon" is, he or she will cause fires to burn wherever they go. Their mouths cause hurts and pains, their attitudes condemn, their fault-finding is notorious. Like God dealing with "the great dragon" Pharaoh, your wrath might be well-intentioned against that person. However, you are not God. No matter how much you like, you can't destroy them with a word or bring the whirlwind upon them. In fact, to stand against a "dragon" might cause you to lose your job or suffer public humiliation. They are known to destroy even the best.
I have found "dragons" in every church I have served. Living with their barbs, I find them prickly at best. These people are often insecure, despite their blustering. They are often judgmental and vengeful. Try as you might, I find only God can change them. To attempt to stop their foolishness will only earn you "fire" from their mouths. They will curse you and talk about you behind your back. They can play passive aggressive games or openly manipulate people. They are often painfully arrogant, just like Pharaoh in our scripture for today. If I can give you any advice, please never let them control you. Don't bow down to them, but instead follow God's leaning. Pray to God for them ("love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!" - Matthew 5:44). Let their words and judgments roll off your back. They are small, pitiful people. God will take care of them in due time.
I once knew a woman who was quite the "dragon". Cross her and she would breathe forth "fire". Her words would cut like a knife. She would use mistakes in your past to drown your voice out in a public debate. If she felt threatened, she would gather up her forces to destroy you. I found that most people never told her the truth. They didn't like her, they put up with her. Even her friends didn't enjoy her company. They kept her close in order to watch for her wrath or keep it at bay. When her husband died, her friends were not warm. They were absent. When she was depressed, she suffered alone. In time, she grew bitter and resentful. When she died, people were thankful to see her gone.
Don't pity any "dragon" in your life. Don't bow to their moods. Let everything they say roll off your shoulders. Don't heed their advice. Definitely treat them wisely, but don't fret for one minute over their destructive attempts. You answer to God. God gives grace where they do not. In the end, realize that their destruction will inevitably come. Not only will this earth be better for their passing, but they will fear to meet God. In this life, God will not protect them. In the next life, God will banish them to hell. Their fate will be awful. Don't share in that fate.
I do not know of any "dragon" that I've ever met who is a true and faithful child of God, no matter what they think. Unless they repent, they will suffer the same fate as Pharaoh in the days of Ezekiel. Don't become a dragon. Deal wisely with any you know. They are liable to burn you. Thank God that you are not to suffer their fate.
October 24
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”
(2 Thessalonians 2:16–17, ESV)
(2 Thessalonians 2:16–17, ESV)
A young woman was hurting. Her heart ached. As she stood there, her best friend came up and threw his arms around her in a great bear hug. The tears let loose only then.
In the next town over, a man was asleep on the couch. It was a long day of work. His body was so worn out, he just fell into a deep sleep with his head in his wife's lap. She smiled down upon him and softly rubbed his cheek.
Far across the ocean, in the same minute, a young lady waited at the train station for her boyfriend. They had been absent for months. Video chats just couldn't replace their empty arms when they missed each other. But this moment was not to be filled with loneliness. As he got off the train, she spied his frame. As he walked to the station, he saw her smile. The embrace was memorable, beautiful. It felt so good to be in each other's arms.
Each of these people above found comfort in the arms or presence of another. They felt cared for, loved, at peace. The hugs brought reassurance and hope, love and warmth. The comfort they felt in each other's presence made life seem that much better. There is something to be said for the comfort of someone you care deeply about. That kind of comfort can't be replaced easily. It is rare and wonderful. It makes life worth living!
In the scripture for today, the Apostle Paul wrote about God's love. He wrote the Thessalonians about the "eternal comfort" God gives along with "good hope through grace" (2 Thessalonians 2:16). He repeated the word "comfort" in both verses, writing about how God will "comfort the hearts" of the faithful, encouraging them toward "good work and word" (2 Thessalonians 2:17). In scripture, we read about the many sides of God. God is Judge and Lord, Redeemer and Savior. God is associated with lightning and thunder, plagues and death. But this scripture reaffirms that God is also intimately associated with comfort, even "eternal comfort". God's arms will one day wrap around you to show that comfort and love.
It's sometimes hard to wrap our minds around the fact that the same God who created the universe also desires to comfort you! The Lord of all the Earth will bring comfort in the midst of your pain and hurting. Like those in my first three paragraphs, God wishes to be the one you run to when lonely and the one you need to hold onto when hurting. Are you going to let him bring comfort to you?
I am sometimes surprised by those who find no comfort in life. Some are never satisfied. Some harbor resentment or regret and do not allow themselves to feel love. Due to past sins, there are many who will not feel real joy or peace or comfort in life. They won't even let God enclose them with eternal arms. They have chosen hurt over comfort, regret and depression over God. Many have not repented. Some have not let go of bitterness. Don't be one of those who can't feel comfort and love, even from God.
Decades ago, I was talking with a young lady on a dark night. It was at a church camp. She expressed to me her agony at being abused. We talked. We prayed. She cried. After many tense moments, she finally let it go. She gave me a genuine hug in the end. After the hug, I knew for certain. She would now let God comfort her. In the next weeks, I saw a real smile appear on her lips and a genuine laugh come to voice. She hugged others, some for the first time ever. Her friends could see she was different. God's grace and comfort found a home in her heart.
You can physically see it when a person is willing to be comforted by another or by God. The ease with which they open their arms, smile, or listen makes all the difference in the world. Are you one with whom others can feel the comfort and love of God? I bet so. I hope so. Our world is desperately in need of you to bring God's comfort and assurance and love. Our world is desperately in need of the faith so rare in your heart. Share that comfort where you can …. in honor of the God who loves you. It makes live worth living.
In the next town over, a man was asleep on the couch. It was a long day of work. His body was so worn out, he just fell into a deep sleep with his head in his wife's lap. She smiled down upon him and softly rubbed his cheek.
Far across the ocean, in the same minute, a young lady waited at the train station for her boyfriend. They had been absent for months. Video chats just couldn't replace their empty arms when they missed each other. But this moment was not to be filled with loneliness. As he got off the train, she spied his frame. As he walked to the station, he saw her smile. The embrace was memorable, beautiful. It felt so good to be in each other's arms.
Each of these people above found comfort in the arms or presence of another. They felt cared for, loved, at peace. The hugs brought reassurance and hope, love and warmth. The comfort they felt in each other's presence made life seem that much better. There is something to be said for the comfort of someone you care deeply about. That kind of comfort can't be replaced easily. It is rare and wonderful. It makes life worth living!
In the scripture for today, the Apostle Paul wrote about God's love. He wrote the Thessalonians about the "eternal comfort" God gives along with "good hope through grace" (2 Thessalonians 2:16). He repeated the word "comfort" in both verses, writing about how God will "comfort the hearts" of the faithful, encouraging them toward "good work and word" (2 Thessalonians 2:17). In scripture, we read about the many sides of God. God is Judge and Lord, Redeemer and Savior. God is associated with lightning and thunder, plagues and death. But this scripture reaffirms that God is also intimately associated with comfort, even "eternal comfort". God's arms will one day wrap around you to show that comfort and love.
It's sometimes hard to wrap our minds around the fact that the same God who created the universe also desires to comfort you! The Lord of all the Earth will bring comfort in the midst of your pain and hurting. Like those in my first three paragraphs, God wishes to be the one you run to when lonely and the one you need to hold onto when hurting. Are you going to let him bring comfort to you?
I am sometimes surprised by those who find no comfort in life. Some are never satisfied. Some harbor resentment or regret and do not allow themselves to feel love. Due to past sins, there are many who will not feel real joy or peace or comfort in life. They won't even let God enclose them with eternal arms. They have chosen hurt over comfort, regret and depression over God. Many have not repented. Some have not let go of bitterness. Don't be one of those who can't feel comfort and love, even from God.
Decades ago, I was talking with a young lady on a dark night. It was at a church camp. She expressed to me her agony at being abused. We talked. We prayed. She cried. After many tense moments, she finally let it go. She gave me a genuine hug in the end. After the hug, I knew for certain. She would now let God comfort her. In the next weeks, I saw a real smile appear on her lips and a genuine laugh come to voice. She hugged others, some for the first time ever. Her friends could see she was different. God's grace and comfort found a home in her heart.
You can physically see it when a person is willing to be comforted by another or by God. The ease with which they open their arms, smile, or listen makes all the difference in the world. Are you one with whom others can feel the comfort and love of God? I bet so. I hope so. Our world is desperately in need of you to bring God's comfort and assurance and love. Our world is desperately in need of the faith so rare in your heart. Share that comfort where you can …. in honor of the God who loves you. It makes live worth living.
October 25
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
(2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT)
(2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT)
It has become popular in many areas of life to do "makeovers". Interior decorators promote changing the décor in your home to keep with the times. A hair stylist might suggest a change in hair style, tint, or cut. Home remodelers suggest that homeowners update their kitchens and bathrooms before selling a home. That remodel usually will make the home more valuable. Personal trainers often suggest new training regimens in order to keep the workouts fresh and the body growing strong. Makeovers are usually seen as a positive change in one's life or environment. Even painting a room or putting up new drapes can change the feeling of a room during a makeover.
A makeover of the spiritual life isn't quite what the scripture for today is suggesting. A makeover usually involves putting new paint over old, replacing the look of a room or a person, updating a living environment to keep up with new styles. But, you can't just paint over a hurting heart. Changing the look of a Christian on the outside won't affect their relationship with God. Where makeovers all involve a change of appearance, the scripture for today speaks to a change of heart.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Apostle Paul was writing to the controversial Corinthian Church. That church had problems. The people fought and were divisive (1 Corinthians 11:18). They took sides over pastors (1 Corinthians 1:12). They even argued about how to take communion (1 Corinthians 11:20)! Paul was very upset with the church and its leaders. He wrote two long letters (some say three) to the church in order to quell fights in the church and return a Biblical order to their worship and life. Sadly, what Paul found most troubling was that the worshipers in Corinth didn't commit themselves fully to God in Christ Jesus. Instead, they brought Greek customs and beliefs into their church life. Greek religious practices tainted their understanding. These conflicted with faithfulness. You can't worship God as a new Christian by holding on to old past sinful ways! In the scripture above, Paul made clear that by committing to Christ, one's "old life" will die off while the "new life"in Christ grows.
When Peter began attending church with his new girlfriend, he found the people a little standoffish. He sometimes felt like a fifth wheel. The churchgoers knew his girlfriend, but didn't know him. After a while, he began to feel more comfortable with a few of the members. He began to pray with some guys in the Men's Group and study the Bible with an Adult Sunday School group. A few months after Peter began attending church, he ran into an old friend. His friend Josh openly expressed that he missed partying and drinking with Peter after their Saturday baseball games in a local league. Peter tried to invite Josh to join his church Men's Group. Josh responded: "I guess I'm not good enough as I am! You want to make me into a religious nut? What has your girlfriend done to my old friend?!!!" Josh liked the "old Peter", who partied, drank, and caroused. He didn't like the "new Peter" who attended worship, prayed, and was serious about his faith. While Peter could look at this as a terrible loss of an old friend, he should find comfort in one thing. Even his friend could see Peter's lifestyle changes, Peter's newfound faith, Peter's relationship with God.
If you can't see a difference in your life from before you knew God until now, something is terribly wrong. There should be an "old you" and a "new you". Faith in God changes a person. That relationship adds a new depth and dimension to your life. Your new values should be different from your old ones. Your new life should have different emphases. Usually, it will involve new friendships. Some old friends may not feel comfortable with a new faithful you.
Every now and then in your relationship with God, you will need to shed some of the "old you" to become more as God intended. You will have to give up old habits, old fights, old sins, and sometimes old friends who won't accept your faithfulness. You will have to take up new habits like praying and repenting. God will push you to new understandings or into new areas of leadership in a church. God might even push you to a new church home or find you a new job that is better suited to the new you.
Don't fight the changes. You can miss the "old days" or reminisce about the "old you", but the "new you" is probably much better suited to God's plans. Just don't fall back into old sins or old habits that will cause you to lose your passion for Christ. Pretty soon those old ways could bring you back again to a place you don't want to be. Understand?
A makeover of the spiritual life isn't quite what the scripture for today is suggesting. A makeover usually involves putting new paint over old, replacing the look of a room or a person, updating a living environment to keep up with new styles. But, you can't just paint over a hurting heart. Changing the look of a Christian on the outside won't affect their relationship with God. Where makeovers all involve a change of appearance, the scripture for today speaks to a change of heart.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Apostle Paul was writing to the controversial Corinthian Church. That church had problems. The people fought and were divisive (1 Corinthians 11:18). They took sides over pastors (1 Corinthians 1:12). They even argued about how to take communion (1 Corinthians 11:20)! Paul was very upset with the church and its leaders. He wrote two long letters (some say three) to the church in order to quell fights in the church and return a Biblical order to their worship and life. Sadly, what Paul found most troubling was that the worshipers in Corinth didn't commit themselves fully to God in Christ Jesus. Instead, they brought Greek customs and beliefs into their church life. Greek religious practices tainted their understanding. These conflicted with faithfulness. You can't worship God as a new Christian by holding on to old past sinful ways! In the scripture above, Paul made clear that by committing to Christ, one's "old life" will die off while the "new life"in Christ grows.
When Peter began attending church with his new girlfriend, he found the people a little standoffish. He sometimes felt like a fifth wheel. The churchgoers knew his girlfriend, but didn't know him. After a while, he began to feel more comfortable with a few of the members. He began to pray with some guys in the Men's Group and study the Bible with an Adult Sunday School group. A few months after Peter began attending church, he ran into an old friend. His friend Josh openly expressed that he missed partying and drinking with Peter after their Saturday baseball games in a local league. Peter tried to invite Josh to join his church Men's Group. Josh responded: "I guess I'm not good enough as I am! You want to make me into a religious nut? What has your girlfriend done to my old friend?!!!" Josh liked the "old Peter", who partied, drank, and caroused. He didn't like the "new Peter" who attended worship, prayed, and was serious about his faith. While Peter could look at this as a terrible loss of an old friend, he should find comfort in one thing. Even his friend could see Peter's lifestyle changes, Peter's newfound faith, Peter's relationship with God.
If you can't see a difference in your life from before you knew God until now, something is terribly wrong. There should be an "old you" and a "new you". Faith in God changes a person. That relationship adds a new depth and dimension to your life. Your new values should be different from your old ones. Your new life should have different emphases. Usually, it will involve new friendships. Some old friends may not feel comfortable with a new faithful you.
Every now and then in your relationship with God, you will need to shed some of the "old you" to become more as God intended. You will have to give up old habits, old fights, old sins, and sometimes old friends who won't accept your faithfulness. You will have to take up new habits like praying and repenting. God will push you to new understandings or into new areas of leadership in a church. God might even push you to a new church home or find you a new job that is better suited to the new you.
Don't fight the changes. You can miss the "old days" or reminisce about the "old you", but the "new you" is probably much better suited to God's plans. Just don't fall back into old sins or old habits that will cause you to lose your passion for Christ. Pretty soon those old ways could bring you back again to a place you don't want to be. Understand?
October 26
“The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.” (Proverbs 28:22, NIV)
One of America’s most miserly millionaires was John G. Wendel, who died in 1915 at his home in New York City. Seeking to keep their inherited fortune in the family, Wendel and five of his six sisters remained unmarried. He instilled such frugality in his sisters that when the last one died in 1931, it was found that although her estate amounted to more than $100 million, she never had a telephone, electricity, or an automobile. Her only dress was one she had made herself and worn for nearly 25 years. (Today in the Word, December 17, 1992)
I have seen the consequences of miserliness. One miser known to me kept a wad of twenties in his pocket at all times, only to convince his wife she really wasn't hungry and didn't need to eat so much! She weighed 80 lbs when she died, bedridden. Another miser I know denied his employees raises and a health plan all the while convincing himself what a wonderful Christian servant he was. When an employee or family member got very ill, he'd say how sorry he was, but never offered him or her health insurance or a day off. He is hated by everyone in his company and many in his hometown. One other miser, known to many for putting strings on every gift to her church, is so disliked that I'd be surprised if anyone but family desiring inheritance money shows up for her funeral. Money is so corruptible that Jesus warned that those who were rich were unlikely to get to heaven. He compared their chances as equivalent to a camel passing through the eye of a needle (Matthew 19:24).
In the book of Proverbs in our Old Testament, the wisdom written above continues this warning against the lure of riches, speaking poorly of misers. Proverbs 28:22 taught that the "stingy" (other versions of the Bible say "misers") are eager to "get rich". Their goals in life revolve around money, even choosing money as their "god". This verse makes clear that stingy persons will find only "poverty" in life. The Wendel family mentioned in the opening paragraph lived like paupers in many ways. Though loaded with millions of dollars in wealth, the last surviving sister couldn't bear to buy a new dress in over 25 years. But, there are other kinds of poverty that the stingy will find in life. A common consequence of stinginess is the loss of a deep spiritual life. Burdened by overseeing their financial empire, the wealthy will often have only a shallow (if any) relationship with God. Few and far between are the wealthy whose money has not corrupted them.
I have found that misers are often unloved in life. Oh, there are those who will love their money, but many are not really loved by anyone. They are afraid to marry, for fear they will lose their fortune in a divorce. Their children often wreck their lives. Their families often squabble over any inheritance. It's a sad and lonely life, absent from grace, love, joy, and many other things that the faithful find abundant in life. Ecclesiastes 5:12 adds a further spin on the poverty of the miserly. They will often lack sleep. Worries and fears of losing their wealth robs them of a good night's rest.
As you go through life, be careful how you view money. It exposes your weaknesses. It can easily threaten your relationships, even with God. Longing to win the lottery is a sign of a person who lacks the realization of the corruption money brings. A true Christian never lives for a big payday or a lottery check of millions.
Misers will call this Bible meditation naive and backward. The rich might call scripture's warnings against wealth as unrealistic or pitiful. If you value your spiritual life, watch out for money's allure and wealth's trappings. Better people than you and me have lost all joy in life following that rabbit hole. There's a reason God made wealth something that you leave behind when you die. Still, the effects of your wealth will follow you all the way to Judgment Day.
I have seen the consequences of miserliness. One miser known to me kept a wad of twenties in his pocket at all times, only to convince his wife she really wasn't hungry and didn't need to eat so much! She weighed 80 lbs when she died, bedridden. Another miser I know denied his employees raises and a health plan all the while convincing himself what a wonderful Christian servant he was. When an employee or family member got very ill, he'd say how sorry he was, but never offered him or her health insurance or a day off. He is hated by everyone in his company and many in his hometown. One other miser, known to many for putting strings on every gift to her church, is so disliked that I'd be surprised if anyone but family desiring inheritance money shows up for her funeral. Money is so corruptible that Jesus warned that those who were rich were unlikely to get to heaven. He compared their chances as equivalent to a camel passing through the eye of a needle (Matthew 19:24).
In the book of Proverbs in our Old Testament, the wisdom written above continues this warning against the lure of riches, speaking poorly of misers. Proverbs 28:22 taught that the "stingy" (other versions of the Bible say "misers") are eager to "get rich". Their goals in life revolve around money, even choosing money as their "god". This verse makes clear that stingy persons will find only "poverty" in life. The Wendel family mentioned in the opening paragraph lived like paupers in many ways. Though loaded with millions of dollars in wealth, the last surviving sister couldn't bear to buy a new dress in over 25 years. But, there are other kinds of poverty that the stingy will find in life. A common consequence of stinginess is the loss of a deep spiritual life. Burdened by overseeing their financial empire, the wealthy will often have only a shallow (if any) relationship with God. Few and far between are the wealthy whose money has not corrupted them.
I have found that misers are often unloved in life. Oh, there are those who will love their money, but many are not really loved by anyone. They are afraid to marry, for fear they will lose their fortune in a divorce. Their children often wreck their lives. Their families often squabble over any inheritance. It's a sad and lonely life, absent from grace, love, joy, and many other things that the faithful find abundant in life. Ecclesiastes 5:12 adds a further spin on the poverty of the miserly. They will often lack sleep. Worries and fears of losing their wealth robs them of a good night's rest.
As you go through life, be careful how you view money. It exposes your weaknesses. It can easily threaten your relationships, even with God. Longing to win the lottery is a sign of a person who lacks the realization of the corruption money brings. A true Christian never lives for a big payday or a lottery check of millions.
Misers will call this Bible meditation naive and backward. The rich might call scripture's warnings against wealth as unrealistic or pitiful. If you value your spiritual life, watch out for money's allure and wealth's trappings. Better people than you and me have lost all joy in life following that rabbit hole. There's a reason God made wealth something that you leave behind when you die. Still, the effects of your wealth will follow you all the way to Judgment Day.
October 27
““This will happen because these evil prophets deceive my people by saying, ‘All is peaceful’ when there is no peace at all! It’s as if the people have built a flimsy wall, and these prophets are trying to reinforce it by covering it with whitewash! Tell these whitewashers that their wall will soon fall down. A heavy rainstorm will undermine it; great hailstones and mighty winds will knock it down. And when the wall falls, the people will cry out, ‘What happened to your whitewash?’ “Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will sweep away your whitewashed wall with a storm of indignation, with a great flood of anger, and with hailstones of fury. I will break down your wall right to its foundation, and when it falls, it will crush you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 13:10–14, NLT)
In the weeks preceding fall elections in the United States, there are always political fights pouring forth from those who seek office. One party slams the other. One tries to drag up all sorts of bad things against the other. Then come the many campaign promises. One promises this to one group and promises something opposite to another group. The politicians repeat what they believe the constituents want to hear. Do you think all those campaign promises will be fulfilled faithfully? Too much of politics is for show; they say what you want to hear. They try to woo you with flattering words. They cover up the truth with fine words and phrases and slogans. They make their platforms look pleasing and sensible. Deceptions are aplenty.
In the days of the prophet Ezekiel, the same things were happening. But the political leaders weren't the ones covering up their lies and making them look like the truth. The political powers weren't the ones shouting what everyone wanted to hear to look good. Believe it or not, some of the prophets were the ones making lies look good, covering up the bad, telling people what they wanted to hear. And it made God very angry. The prophet Ezekiel was told by God to condemn the prophets who shouted that God was happy with them "saying, ‘All is peaceful’ when there is no peace at all!" (Ezekiel 13:10). God was accusing these false prophets of "whitewashing" their lies. (Ezekiel 13:11)
Whitewash is like diluted white paint. Until recent times, people would paint something with whitewash to make it look good or new or better, even rotting wood! A house could be falling apart, but a person who wanted to deceive buyers might paint it with whitewash to sell it before it was condemned. Some put whitewash on old fences that were falling apart from rain exposure. From a distance, they looked fine, but up close you'd see the rot. Upon closer inspection, any good buyer would see that someone who used whitewash over rotting wood or a poorly built fence to hide the flaws,meant to deceive. What kind of person would use whitewash to cover up mistakes or rot on a building or fence or wall? Someone who is trying to cover up the truth.
That's just what Ezekiel was talking about in our scripture for today. The religious leaders of Ezekiel's time were covering up the truth. They were making things appear better than they were. In fact, some of the religious leaders were telling the king what to do politically, knowing God was against it. They were telling the king what he wanted to hear, just to get ahead. But God was against this. God wanted HIS prophets to tell the truth, not cover up lies. God rejected the falseness and manipulations that went along with the whitewash.
A woman was married to a controlling man. She had to fight for everything she got. One day, she told him she was going window shopping. He said, "Look, but don't buy."
A few hours later she came home with a new dress. "What is this?" her husband fumed. "I thought I told you to look but not buy!"
"Well," she explained, "I saw this lovely dress and thought I'd try it on, and when I did the devil said, 'It sure looks good on you."'
"Right then you should have told him, 'Get thee behind me, Satan,"' her husband exclaimed.
"I did," she answered, "but when he got behind me he said, 'It sure looks good from the back, too."'
(Bernard Brunsting, The Lord's Laughter, The Joyful Noiseletter, March 1992)
The devil will always manipulate you by telling you what you want to hear. He's good at whitewashing the truth.
The boss walks in the door. An employee sees him and says, "Good to see you, George. Nice tie." But in his mind he's thinking, "I hate this guy. He probably spent $100 on that tie and laid off an employee to afford it." It's whitewash, all whitewash.
From marriage to relationships to everyday life, it is so easy to cover up the truth, to whitewash your words. It is so easy to sin, but then tell yourself it wasn't a big sin, or to lie to yourself and think everybody's doing it. God doesn't want you to cover up things, to whitewash the problems in your life, to tell yourself things are better than they are. God wants you to confess your sins, be faithful in your dealings with others, and to be honest to with HIM.
The scripture for today ends with God promising a storm to wash off the whitewash, to expose the truth (Ezekiel 13:13,14). When God exposes the truth and lies in your life, how will you look? Will others see a different "you"? Will others be proud you told the God's-honest truth? Can others trust your words? You also might want to ask yourself, "Is someone whitewashing the truth with me?" This is a wise question for anyone who knows the scripture for today.
In the days of the prophet Ezekiel, the same things were happening. But the political leaders weren't the ones covering up their lies and making them look like the truth. The political powers weren't the ones shouting what everyone wanted to hear to look good. Believe it or not, some of the prophets were the ones making lies look good, covering up the bad, telling people what they wanted to hear. And it made God very angry. The prophet Ezekiel was told by God to condemn the prophets who shouted that God was happy with them "saying, ‘All is peaceful’ when there is no peace at all!" (Ezekiel 13:10). God was accusing these false prophets of "whitewashing" their lies. (Ezekiel 13:11)
Whitewash is like diluted white paint. Until recent times, people would paint something with whitewash to make it look good or new or better, even rotting wood! A house could be falling apart, but a person who wanted to deceive buyers might paint it with whitewash to sell it before it was condemned. Some put whitewash on old fences that were falling apart from rain exposure. From a distance, they looked fine, but up close you'd see the rot. Upon closer inspection, any good buyer would see that someone who used whitewash over rotting wood or a poorly built fence to hide the flaws,meant to deceive. What kind of person would use whitewash to cover up mistakes or rot on a building or fence or wall? Someone who is trying to cover up the truth.
That's just what Ezekiel was talking about in our scripture for today. The religious leaders of Ezekiel's time were covering up the truth. They were making things appear better than they were. In fact, some of the religious leaders were telling the king what to do politically, knowing God was against it. They were telling the king what he wanted to hear, just to get ahead. But God was against this. God wanted HIS prophets to tell the truth, not cover up lies. God rejected the falseness and manipulations that went along with the whitewash.
A woman was married to a controlling man. She had to fight for everything she got. One day, she told him she was going window shopping. He said, "Look, but don't buy."
A few hours later she came home with a new dress. "What is this?" her husband fumed. "I thought I told you to look but not buy!"
"Well," she explained, "I saw this lovely dress and thought I'd try it on, and when I did the devil said, 'It sure looks good on you."'
"Right then you should have told him, 'Get thee behind me, Satan,"' her husband exclaimed.
"I did," she answered, "but when he got behind me he said, 'It sure looks good from the back, too."'
(Bernard Brunsting, The Lord's Laughter, The Joyful Noiseletter, March 1992)
The devil will always manipulate you by telling you what you want to hear. He's good at whitewashing the truth.
The boss walks in the door. An employee sees him and says, "Good to see you, George. Nice tie." But in his mind he's thinking, "I hate this guy. He probably spent $100 on that tie and laid off an employee to afford it." It's whitewash, all whitewash.
From marriage to relationships to everyday life, it is so easy to cover up the truth, to whitewash your words. It is so easy to sin, but then tell yourself it wasn't a big sin, or to lie to yourself and think everybody's doing it. God doesn't want you to cover up things, to whitewash the problems in your life, to tell yourself things are better than they are. God wants you to confess your sins, be faithful in your dealings with others, and to be honest to with HIM.
The scripture for today ends with God promising a storm to wash off the whitewash, to expose the truth (Ezekiel 13:13,14). When God exposes the truth and lies in your life, how will you look? Will others see a different "you"? Will others be proud you told the God's-honest truth? Can others trust your words? You also might want to ask yourself, "Is someone whitewashing the truth with me?" This is a wise question for anyone who knows the scripture for today.
October 28
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10, ESV)
A family had become fed up with the noise and traffic of the city and decided to move to the country and try life in the wide open spaces. Intending to raise cattle, they bought a western ranch. Some friends came to visit a month later and asked them what they had named the ranch. The father said, "Well, I wanted to call it the Flying-W and my wife wanted to call it the Suzy-Q. But one of our sons liked the Bar-J and the other preferred the Lazy-Y. So we compromised and called it the Flying-W, Suzy-Q, Bar-J, Lazy-Y Ranch." Their friend asked, "Well, where are your cattle?" The man replied, "We don't have any. None of them survived the branding." (John C. Maxwell, Developing the Leader Within You, p.33 Thomas Nelson Publ. Nashville 1993)
While humorous, the story about the family above reminds us of the danger of trying to please everyone. If you are so caught up in pleasing someone, you will often make the mistakes of throwing caution, reason, or faith aside in order to look good to another person. You will jump through hoops in order to bring joy to another. You might even find yourself neglecting what you should do or what God wants in order to get another person to like you.
Dorothy was not very popular in High School. She was intelligent and witty, but lacked an appeal to the boys. After being teased by some of her friends, she decided to show them. A month later, she spent days flirting with a boy in order to seduce him at a school party. The boy was well liked and popular. She was thrilled. Within just a few dates, they had sex. Her friends were amazed that she "landed such a catch". To keep her boyfriend happy and continue her streak to popularity among her friends, she continued to have sex with her boyfriend. Six months later, she was pregnant and then had an abortion. Seven months later, her boyfriend dumped her for another girl. It was only then that Dorothy realized that she was got into the relationship because of the hassle of her friends. She had sex because that's what she thought would keep her boyfriend happy. She had the abortion to hide everything from her parents and keep them happy. Throughout the entire time, she wasn't even happy! She was doing everything to look good, be popular, be a good girl…. but she regretted it the whole while. To this day, she feels horrible that a child had to suffer and die just so she could learn her lesson.
In the scripture above from Galatians, the apostle Paul wrote about the danger of seeking the "approval of man" (Galatians 1:10). For Paul, "pleasing man" was antithetical to pleasing God. You can't please everyone all the time. You have to choose whom to please. If you are seeking the approval of a person, you can't be spending your time seeking God's approval. It’s a matter a priorities. This is made clear when Paul wrote toward the end of the verse that in "trying to please man, you CAN'T be a servant of Christ". Have you figured this out yet?
I am often surprised by those who try to please others in life. They think it will make them look good, when it often makes them look the opposite to God. Being subject to the "approval" of others makes you subject to them and their moods. Their happiness becomes your delight. Their disappointment becomes your shame. You will suffer at the whim of another. In the end, isn't it all about whom is manipulating whom? Reread this last sentence again!
Don't get caught up in the merry-go-round of people-pleasing. It won't go well. Christ doesn't look kindly upon it either. In the end, you become a stooge, and Christ is made to "play second fiddle" while you learn your lesson. Both you and your Lord deserve better.
While humorous, the story about the family above reminds us of the danger of trying to please everyone. If you are so caught up in pleasing someone, you will often make the mistakes of throwing caution, reason, or faith aside in order to look good to another person. You will jump through hoops in order to bring joy to another. You might even find yourself neglecting what you should do or what God wants in order to get another person to like you.
Dorothy was not very popular in High School. She was intelligent and witty, but lacked an appeal to the boys. After being teased by some of her friends, she decided to show them. A month later, she spent days flirting with a boy in order to seduce him at a school party. The boy was well liked and popular. She was thrilled. Within just a few dates, they had sex. Her friends were amazed that she "landed such a catch". To keep her boyfriend happy and continue her streak to popularity among her friends, she continued to have sex with her boyfriend. Six months later, she was pregnant and then had an abortion. Seven months later, her boyfriend dumped her for another girl. It was only then that Dorothy realized that she was got into the relationship because of the hassle of her friends. She had sex because that's what she thought would keep her boyfriend happy. She had the abortion to hide everything from her parents and keep them happy. Throughout the entire time, she wasn't even happy! She was doing everything to look good, be popular, be a good girl…. but she regretted it the whole while. To this day, she feels horrible that a child had to suffer and die just so she could learn her lesson.
In the scripture above from Galatians, the apostle Paul wrote about the danger of seeking the "approval of man" (Galatians 1:10). For Paul, "pleasing man" was antithetical to pleasing God. You can't please everyone all the time. You have to choose whom to please. If you are seeking the approval of a person, you can't be spending your time seeking God's approval. It’s a matter a priorities. This is made clear when Paul wrote toward the end of the verse that in "trying to please man, you CAN'T be a servant of Christ". Have you figured this out yet?
I am often surprised by those who try to please others in life. They think it will make them look good, when it often makes them look the opposite to God. Being subject to the "approval" of others makes you subject to them and their moods. Their happiness becomes your delight. Their disappointment becomes your shame. You will suffer at the whim of another. In the end, isn't it all about whom is manipulating whom? Reread this last sentence again!
Don't get caught up in the merry-go-round of people-pleasing. It won't go well. Christ doesn't look kindly upon it either. In the end, you become a stooge, and Christ is made to "play second fiddle" while you learn your lesson. Both you and your Lord deserve better.
October 29
“Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.” (Proverbs 31:10–11, NKJV)
I have always been a strong advocate for equal rights for all people. I feel that equal work deserves equal pay, no matter who does the work. However, in the last decade or two, I've seen equality slip, not because a lot of people don't believe in equal rights and equal pay. It's slipped because people who don't deserve equal pay demand it. Instead of equal rights, we've ended up with "anti-oriented" groups and "pro-me" groups. Feminists of today often advocate for women's rights instead of human rights. I've seen and heard women advocate that men are the problem of everything bad in the world. Our world is filled with a "victimization attitude", where everyone else is at fault for me not getting what I think I deserve. We've moved away from a selfless love and concern for others to a demand to be heard. We've moved away from unselfish servant-hood to the mantra that people have a right to do what "they want" and to "live their life however they please". Of all the groups of people on this earth, modern worldly attitudes and beliefs have affected women more negatively than any other group.
Marriage rates are the lowest ever. Unwed mothers proliferate. More and more children grow up in poverty. Men don't want responsibility. Women are taught by society to be entitled. Women are taught that they "deserve" equal pay because of a "glass ceiling", even when they are not doing an equal job for that equal pay. Respect for women in society has decreased significantly. Groups like "Men Going Their Own Way" have proliferated, believing that "modern" women are no longer worth marrying and carry too much baggage. Society lies to women, saying they can have it all when that is impossible. Can you imagine the burden of a woman working full time, fully invested in her career, with five kids, a husband, a house, high pay, a college degree, at every PTA meeting, never missing her children's events and present at every high point of development, involved fully in her church and social life, and totally independent??????? I can't say that I know one woman who fits this model, and yet this is what the world teaches women about how to live. It's insanity.
The Bible has a very different view of feminism. It's found in Proverbs 31, an entire chapter of the Bible devoted to defining the perfect woman or wife. It's words show a model woman as a teacher (Proverbs 31:1), one who does "good and not harm" (Proverbs 31:12), a hard worker (Proverbs 31:13,19,24), a wise investor (Proverbs 31:16), strong yet dignified (Proverbs 31:17,25), a giving and caring soul (Proverbs 31:20) who is good for her husband and children (Proverbs 31:10,21,27,28). She is wise and yet kind (Proverbs 31:26). She is a provider. She is trustworthy (Proverbs 31:11). You can count on her. As the scripture above contends, a good wife is not only hard to find, but worth a great deal!
The Biblical view of a woman and wife contrasts greatly to the worldly view of a woman or wife seen today. Women today are taught to be demanding. The world says they should spend their time "demanding" equal pay, "pushing" for abortion and women's rights, "standing up" for themselves and other women, and to "expect" special treatment. Where the Proverbs 31 woman is trustworthy, dignified, and strong, the worldly woman tends to be demanding, pushy, independent to a fault, and concerned more about looks than character. Honestly, how many women do you know who ascribe to a Biblical model and how many fight tooth and nail for a worldly set of values? I have found very few women who care about being a "Biblical woman", and thousands who would rather be a "modern woman" or "raging feminist". The Biblical woman deserves absolute respect. God expects this of you. It's even in print (Proverbs 31:30, 31)! As for the "modern woman", I think she is an impossible, selfish, weak, worldly, and destructive person. Where the Biblical woman will bless those whose lives she touches, the worldly woman usually destroys relationships and values.
The scripture for today says, "Who can find a virtuous wife/woman?". Men are dying to find her. She is disappearing. We need her in the world. You are blessed by her presence in your life. Virtuous women have been some of my greatest teachers, best friends, and most trustworthy of companions. Why don't you let a few of those virtuous "biblical" women in your life know that you appreciate them and God does, too? If you are a woman reading this, I ask one final question: "Is God blessed by your virtuous life?"
Marriage rates are the lowest ever. Unwed mothers proliferate. More and more children grow up in poverty. Men don't want responsibility. Women are taught by society to be entitled. Women are taught that they "deserve" equal pay because of a "glass ceiling", even when they are not doing an equal job for that equal pay. Respect for women in society has decreased significantly. Groups like "Men Going Their Own Way" have proliferated, believing that "modern" women are no longer worth marrying and carry too much baggage. Society lies to women, saying they can have it all when that is impossible. Can you imagine the burden of a woman working full time, fully invested in her career, with five kids, a husband, a house, high pay, a college degree, at every PTA meeting, never missing her children's events and present at every high point of development, involved fully in her church and social life, and totally independent??????? I can't say that I know one woman who fits this model, and yet this is what the world teaches women about how to live. It's insanity.
The Bible has a very different view of feminism. It's found in Proverbs 31, an entire chapter of the Bible devoted to defining the perfect woman or wife. It's words show a model woman as a teacher (Proverbs 31:1), one who does "good and not harm" (Proverbs 31:12), a hard worker (Proverbs 31:13,19,24), a wise investor (Proverbs 31:16), strong yet dignified (Proverbs 31:17,25), a giving and caring soul (Proverbs 31:20) who is good for her husband and children (Proverbs 31:10,21,27,28). She is wise and yet kind (Proverbs 31:26). She is a provider. She is trustworthy (Proverbs 31:11). You can count on her. As the scripture above contends, a good wife is not only hard to find, but worth a great deal!
The Biblical view of a woman and wife contrasts greatly to the worldly view of a woman or wife seen today. Women today are taught to be demanding. The world says they should spend their time "demanding" equal pay, "pushing" for abortion and women's rights, "standing up" for themselves and other women, and to "expect" special treatment. Where the Proverbs 31 woman is trustworthy, dignified, and strong, the worldly woman tends to be demanding, pushy, independent to a fault, and concerned more about looks than character. Honestly, how many women do you know who ascribe to a Biblical model and how many fight tooth and nail for a worldly set of values? I have found very few women who care about being a "Biblical woman", and thousands who would rather be a "modern woman" or "raging feminist". The Biblical woman deserves absolute respect. God expects this of you. It's even in print (Proverbs 31:30, 31)! As for the "modern woman", I think she is an impossible, selfish, weak, worldly, and destructive person. Where the Biblical woman will bless those whose lives she touches, the worldly woman usually destroys relationships and values.
The scripture for today says, "Who can find a virtuous wife/woman?". Men are dying to find her. She is disappearing. We need her in the world. You are blessed by her presence in your life. Virtuous women have been some of my greatest teachers, best friends, and most trustworthy of companions. Why don't you let a few of those virtuous "biblical" women in your life know that you appreciate them and God does, too? If you are a woman reading this, I ask one final question: "Is God blessed by your virtuous life?"
October 30
“And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9–10, RSV)
Some things in life are related. If you affect one, it will affect the other. If you change one, you will change the other. There are millions of examples of this. If you change out dead batteries in a toy for new ones, the toy will come to life again. If you move the thermostat setting up two degrees, the house will warm as the furnace kicks in. When you take the fall leaves out of a blocked gutter, the water should be able to flow through it again. In your spiritual life, there are also related elements that affect one another. Our scripture for today shows some of these elements and how they work together to mold a person into a more effective and beloved child of God.
Colossians 1:9 mentions Paul's intention to pray for the Colossian Christians. He was a founding leader of their church and cared deeply about their connection with God. In the letter of Colossians, Paul wrote that his prayers include the desire that God fill the Colossian Christians with "all spiritual wisdom and understanding". With spiritual wisdom and understanding, Paul knew that the faithful in that church would begin to "lead a life worthy of the Lord" (Colossians 1:9). If this spiritual wisdom was God-inspired, Paul knew that the people would then "please God". Then, they would bear spiritual "fruit" by both doing "good works" and "increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). There is a spiritual progression dependent on the connections in these two verses. By growing in spiritual wisdom and an understanding of God in Jesus Christ, you then will begin to live a life "worthy of the Lord". This worthy life when continued will "please God". In response to God's blessing, you will then bear fruit in service and worship, increasing in the knowledge of God. Do you see the progression here?
The first step to pleasing God and growing close to God involves increasing your wisdom and knowledge about spiritual things. This is where a few things come into play. Worship is important to help you grow in the knowledge of God's will and purpose in the world. By saying prayers, you connect with God. Learning about the Bible and God's commands and promises, you will grow in a spiritual understanding about life. Through faithful interactions that develop with time, you will grow to understand your spiritual journey in life and God's purpose for the world. You will increasingly become familiar with spiritual feelings, the knowledge of the Bible, and an understanding of your salvation through Jesus Christ. Your relationship with God should strengthen. In response, you will please God. Then, with the blessing and help of God, you will move out to do good works and grow more deeply in your faith. All these elements found in Colossians 1:9-10 come into play. They are related. One affects the other.
Jane and Timothy wanted to get married. Coming from Christian families, they decided to have Jane's pastor do their wedding. Neither was close to Jane's pastor, but it was traditional in both families to get married in a church. It seemed the right thing to do, and it was. However, Jane's pastor was not very motivated. He was laid back and rather forgetful. He didn't require any pre-marital classes or any kind of reflection on their marriage as it relates to God and scripture. He just went through a "normal" wedding service, told them where to stand and what to say, and set the date. In the entire process, there was little interaction and no genuine conversation about faithful marriage. After the wedding ceremony, the couple thanked the pastor for the service, and went about their lives, never to darken the door of the church again.
What went wrong is that the pastor and church never really took the first step found in our scripture today. The pastor never helped the couple explore their spiritual knowledge. He never imparted God-given wisdom. He just went through the motions, said the appropriate words, and went back to his study to sign the civil documents. In many churches today, spiritual knowledge and wisdom are not imparted. Thus, many people are not making those important connections with God. Ultimately, they never please God, participate in good works, or grow in the knowledge of God. The relationship never blooms between many people and God, because those who have the spiritual wisdom aren't imparting it. Those who have grown in spiritual knowledge aren't putting that knowledge to work in actions of faith. God is never pleased. Spiritual depth never occurs. The connections with God wither on the vine.
Where are you on this spiritual progression? Are you still at the initial stages where you are still trying to grow in spiritual wisdom and faithful knowledge? Have you pleased God by growing closer to HIM? Are your good works increasing? Is your connection with God growing stronger? These things all affect each other. This spiritual progression is crucial if you ever want to grow close to God. Most of you have progressed to the point of great works and a great depth of Spirit. Some of you are still just starting out and have yet to please God. A good share of you not only please God, but you are taking your first steps into committed faithful works and Spiritual growth is growing. The Bible is becoming more alive for all of you. Your prayers will be increasingly deep and meaningful.
No matter where you are in this spiritual progression, I KNOW your life will always be better the farther along in this godly journey you are. God will not only be fully active in your life, you will learn the depths of love and compassion and repentance and salvation. This Spiritual walk will define your life and bless those around you. Of that, I have no doubt!
Colossians 1:9 mentions Paul's intention to pray for the Colossian Christians. He was a founding leader of their church and cared deeply about their connection with God. In the letter of Colossians, Paul wrote that his prayers include the desire that God fill the Colossian Christians with "all spiritual wisdom and understanding". With spiritual wisdom and understanding, Paul knew that the faithful in that church would begin to "lead a life worthy of the Lord" (Colossians 1:9). If this spiritual wisdom was God-inspired, Paul knew that the people would then "please God". Then, they would bear spiritual "fruit" by both doing "good works" and "increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). There is a spiritual progression dependent on the connections in these two verses. By growing in spiritual wisdom and an understanding of God in Jesus Christ, you then will begin to live a life "worthy of the Lord". This worthy life when continued will "please God". In response to God's blessing, you will then bear fruit in service and worship, increasing in the knowledge of God. Do you see the progression here?
The first step to pleasing God and growing close to God involves increasing your wisdom and knowledge about spiritual things. This is where a few things come into play. Worship is important to help you grow in the knowledge of God's will and purpose in the world. By saying prayers, you connect with God. Learning about the Bible and God's commands and promises, you will grow in a spiritual understanding about life. Through faithful interactions that develop with time, you will grow to understand your spiritual journey in life and God's purpose for the world. You will increasingly become familiar with spiritual feelings, the knowledge of the Bible, and an understanding of your salvation through Jesus Christ. Your relationship with God should strengthen. In response, you will please God. Then, with the blessing and help of God, you will move out to do good works and grow more deeply in your faith. All these elements found in Colossians 1:9-10 come into play. They are related. One affects the other.
Jane and Timothy wanted to get married. Coming from Christian families, they decided to have Jane's pastor do their wedding. Neither was close to Jane's pastor, but it was traditional in both families to get married in a church. It seemed the right thing to do, and it was. However, Jane's pastor was not very motivated. He was laid back and rather forgetful. He didn't require any pre-marital classes or any kind of reflection on their marriage as it relates to God and scripture. He just went through a "normal" wedding service, told them where to stand and what to say, and set the date. In the entire process, there was little interaction and no genuine conversation about faithful marriage. After the wedding ceremony, the couple thanked the pastor for the service, and went about their lives, never to darken the door of the church again.
What went wrong is that the pastor and church never really took the first step found in our scripture today. The pastor never helped the couple explore their spiritual knowledge. He never imparted God-given wisdom. He just went through the motions, said the appropriate words, and went back to his study to sign the civil documents. In many churches today, spiritual knowledge and wisdom are not imparted. Thus, many people are not making those important connections with God. Ultimately, they never please God, participate in good works, or grow in the knowledge of God. The relationship never blooms between many people and God, because those who have the spiritual wisdom aren't imparting it. Those who have grown in spiritual knowledge aren't putting that knowledge to work in actions of faith. God is never pleased. Spiritual depth never occurs. The connections with God wither on the vine.
Where are you on this spiritual progression? Are you still at the initial stages where you are still trying to grow in spiritual wisdom and faithful knowledge? Have you pleased God by growing closer to HIM? Are your good works increasing? Is your connection with God growing stronger? These things all affect each other. This spiritual progression is crucial if you ever want to grow close to God. Most of you have progressed to the point of great works and a great depth of Spirit. Some of you are still just starting out and have yet to please God. A good share of you not only please God, but you are taking your first steps into committed faithful works and Spiritual growth is growing. The Bible is becoming more alive for all of you. Your prayers will be increasingly deep and meaningful.
No matter where you are in this spiritual progression, I KNOW your life will always be better the farther along in this godly journey you are. God will not only be fully active in your life, you will learn the depths of love and compassion and repentance and salvation. This Spiritual walk will define your life and bless those around you. Of that, I have no doubt!
October 31
“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.”
(1 John 4:1–3, NLT)
(1 John 4:1–3, NLT)
When you make a commitment to God through Jesus Christ, you become a Christian. As you live out the promises and obedience given that relationship, you become a faithful and true Christian. The basis for the word "Christian" is Christ, the Messiah. Thus, when you live for Jesus' sake, you become a "Christian" through that relationship with Jesus. An "Serbian" owes a commitment to Serbia. A "Mohammedan" is an ancient term for one who follows Mohammed. A "Christian" owes his or her life to Christ. That relationship should be the center of one's life and form the crux of who you are.
After becoming a true Christian with a deep relationship with Christ, it is important to follow the scripture above. 1 John 4:1 warns us "not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit". There are many spiritual and religious people in the world, but not all of them are of God. Not all of them have a true commitment to Christ. In the days in which this scripture was originally written, there were people who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but they did not believe he was "born of Mary". He did not suffer and die on a cross. He was a spiritual being, but not a physical one. These people were mostly Gnostics. They believed they knew Jesus, but they could not accept his real death on a cross. When John wrote the words above, he asked the real Christians to "test" others who spoke about our faith. John wanted them to make sure that the "spirit they have comes from God" (1 John 4:2). He even targets the Gnostics by writing: "if a person claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3). In verse 2 above, the false prophets (Gnostics) denied Jesus had a "real body". Thus, they were not of God. They were from the "Antichrist" (1 John 4:3), sent to mess up the connection with the believer and the real Christ Jesus.
According to the scripture above, you can have a "Spirit of God" or you can have the "spirit of the Antichrist". Your job is to "test the spirits". An important aspect of being faithful to Jesus Christ involves checking to make sure that those you trust spiritually are those who have the Spirit of God. From priests to pastors to spiritual mentors and friends, you need to spiritually steer clear of those who do not have the "Spirit of God" in them. They can be friends, but not Christian friends. They can give advice, but not godly advice. God can work through them, but God is not in them.
Carolyn was always a spiritual person. She grew up attending worship in a Catholic Church. During her teens, she drifted away from the Catholic Church, remaining a Christian in name only. She was a wonderful person who was well liked by her friends. She had lots of friends. In her early twenties, Carolyn fell in love with a Peter, whom she met at a concert. The two hit it off and became inseparable. They married in 1969 and began a beautiful life together.
Seven years into the marriage, Carolyn and Peter began to have marriage problems. They fought the same old fights over and over. Wondering what to do, Carolyn expressed her frustration to her closest friend. This friend stated that men are born to cheat. They aren't wired like women. She talked about men being biologically antithetical to marriage. Can you tell her best friend was divorced? Carolyn began to drift away from her husband, spending more time with her best friend. After divorcing her husband, Carolyn began to get involved with an Eastern Meditation group. They taught that life was all spiritual and the purpose of life was to become one with "the spirit". The group met together regularly, some even moving in together in a large commune. Carolyn loved her new life, and highly respected the gurus who taught the group.
Ten years later, Carolyn's life was a mess. After her closest friend died, she began to question her life choices. She was poor and desperate. All her time and money was spent supporting the spiritual group she had migrated into. Desperately seeking some help, she visited a Catholic mission not far away. There, she met a priest who took her under his wing. He helped her find housing. A congregation helped her re-acclimate to her new life. A husband and wife stopped in often to check on her. For the first time in a long time, Carolyn felt spiritually connected again. To this day, she is very active in her parish in California.
There were many spiritual voices in Carolyn's life. Some weren't from God. Some were. Sadly, she wandered away from the people sent by God. She took spiritual advice and counseling from those who were not bearing the "Spirit of God". Many years of her life were wasted because of those who did not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular thinking, all religions and spiritual groups are NOT the same. True Christianity saves lives. I thank God for the priest who gave Carolyn a connection with God, for the people from her parish who took her in, for those who showed her love, and for Christ who redeemed her.
If you listen to spiritual advice from those who do not have the "Spirit of God", you will find yourself drifting away from God. Your life will suffer for the loss of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You were meant to be godly. You were meant to rely on the "Spirit of God". God ordained your life to have a relationship with Jesus. God sends HIS Spirit to comfort and direct you. Before you make your choices in life or listen to spiritual advice, you NEED to find those who have the "Spirit of God" in them. The person with the "spirit of the Antichrist" is always ready to give spiritual advice and lead you down the wrong paths in life. According to this scripture, you need to figure out which spiritual people are trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
I celebrate the Spirit of God that is in you and brought you to reading this. I'm excited about what wonderful additions you will bring to God's work and world. God will bless you and protect you as you walk this spiritual walk of life. Just be wise in taking advice. You want the advice to come from God, not from somewhere else!
After becoming a true Christian with a deep relationship with Christ, it is important to follow the scripture above. 1 John 4:1 warns us "not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit". There are many spiritual and religious people in the world, but not all of them are of God. Not all of them have a true commitment to Christ. In the days in which this scripture was originally written, there were people who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but they did not believe he was "born of Mary". He did not suffer and die on a cross. He was a spiritual being, but not a physical one. These people were mostly Gnostics. They believed they knew Jesus, but they could not accept his real death on a cross. When John wrote the words above, he asked the real Christians to "test" others who spoke about our faith. John wanted them to make sure that the "spirit they have comes from God" (1 John 4:2). He even targets the Gnostics by writing: "if a person claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3). In verse 2 above, the false prophets (Gnostics) denied Jesus had a "real body". Thus, they were not of God. They were from the "Antichrist" (1 John 4:3), sent to mess up the connection with the believer and the real Christ Jesus.
According to the scripture above, you can have a "Spirit of God" or you can have the "spirit of the Antichrist". Your job is to "test the spirits". An important aspect of being faithful to Jesus Christ involves checking to make sure that those you trust spiritually are those who have the Spirit of God. From priests to pastors to spiritual mentors and friends, you need to spiritually steer clear of those who do not have the "Spirit of God" in them. They can be friends, but not Christian friends. They can give advice, but not godly advice. God can work through them, but God is not in them.
Carolyn was always a spiritual person. She grew up attending worship in a Catholic Church. During her teens, she drifted away from the Catholic Church, remaining a Christian in name only. She was a wonderful person who was well liked by her friends. She had lots of friends. In her early twenties, Carolyn fell in love with a Peter, whom she met at a concert. The two hit it off and became inseparable. They married in 1969 and began a beautiful life together.
Seven years into the marriage, Carolyn and Peter began to have marriage problems. They fought the same old fights over and over. Wondering what to do, Carolyn expressed her frustration to her closest friend. This friend stated that men are born to cheat. They aren't wired like women. She talked about men being biologically antithetical to marriage. Can you tell her best friend was divorced? Carolyn began to drift away from her husband, spending more time with her best friend. After divorcing her husband, Carolyn began to get involved with an Eastern Meditation group. They taught that life was all spiritual and the purpose of life was to become one with "the spirit". The group met together regularly, some even moving in together in a large commune. Carolyn loved her new life, and highly respected the gurus who taught the group.
Ten years later, Carolyn's life was a mess. After her closest friend died, she began to question her life choices. She was poor and desperate. All her time and money was spent supporting the spiritual group she had migrated into. Desperately seeking some help, she visited a Catholic mission not far away. There, she met a priest who took her under his wing. He helped her find housing. A congregation helped her re-acclimate to her new life. A husband and wife stopped in often to check on her. For the first time in a long time, Carolyn felt spiritually connected again. To this day, she is very active in her parish in California.
There were many spiritual voices in Carolyn's life. Some weren't from God. Some were. Sadly, she wandered away from the people sent by God. She took spiritual advice and counseling from those who were not bearing the "Spirit of God". Many years of her life were wasted because of those who did not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular thinking, all religions and spiritual groups are NOT the same. True Christianity saves lives. I thank God for the priest who gave Carolyn a connection with God, for the people from her parish who took her in, for those who showed her love, and for Christ who redeemed her.
If you listen to spiritual advice from those who do not have the "Spirit of God", you will find yourself drifting away from God. Your life will suffer for the loss of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You were meant to be godly. You were meant to rely on the "Spirit of God". God ordained your life to have a relationship with Jesus. God sends HIS Spirit to comfort and direct you. Before you make your choices in life or listen to spiritual advice, you NEED to find those who have the "Spirit of God" in them. The person with the "spirit of the Antichrist" is always ready to give spiritual advice and lead you down the wrong paths in life. According to this scripture, you need to figure out which spiritual people are trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
I celebrate the Spirit of God that is in you and brought you to reading this. I'm excited about what wonderful additions you will bring to God's work and world. God will bless you and protect you as you walk this spiritual walk of life. Just be wise in taking advice. You want the advice to come from God, not from somewhere else!