October 2
“Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in iron chains of misery. They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High.” (Psalm 107:10–11, NLT)

Elizabeth Elliott was a missionary. Later in her life, she became a well-known author and speaker. She worked with her missionary husband, Jim Elliott, in the missionary field. She knew well the hazards of missionary life in Peru, even enduring the death of her husband by those he was sent to reach with the gospel.
At one point, Elizabeth Elliott tells about two adventurers who stopped by to see her. They brought lots of equipment for their trek into the rain forest east of the Andes Mountains. Instead of asking Elizabeth to share her wisdom from the field, they simply asked her to teach them a few words and phrases. They had hoped to use these to communicate with the Indians in the area. Later, she wrote: "Sometimes we come to God as the two adventurers came to me -- confident and, we think, well-informed and well equipped. But has it occurred to us that with all our accumulation of stuff, something is missing?”
“She suggests that we often ask God for too little. We know what we need--a yes or no answer, please, to a simple question. Or perhaps a road sign. Something quick and easy to point the way. What we really ought to have is the Guide himself. Maps, road signs, a few useful phrases are things, but infinitely better is someone who has been there before and knows the way” (from A Slow and Certain Light).
God is the perfect Guide for life. God knows so much more than we, yet we hesitate to seek His direction. Why? As Elizabeth Elliott noted, some think they know enough already. Some do not want the advice of a divine being. Some are too smart for their own good. Some do not understand the risks of their journey. It is incredibly important in life that you consistently seek the “counsel of the Most High” God (Psalm 107:11).
Jill came to her pastor for advice. She was middle-aged and had done well for herself. She was the mother of three beautiful children and had a husband who loved her dearly. Jill worked at a high-stress position with a financial group. She took the job because of the great pay and benefits. It was the next rung on her career. She was well suited to the position. She was a go-getter extraordinaire. But Jill had hit a wall. After the death of her father, she began to question some of her life choices. That’s why she decided to see her pastor. She needed to work through a few issues.
As the two talked in the pastor’s office, Jill came to some conclusions. She had made a lot of choices in her life without consulting God. Even though many people came to consult Jill about their financial decisions, Jill never thought to consult God for her own important choices in life. As Jill looked back on the past ten years of her life, she noticed that a lot her decisions had increased the pressure and stress on her and her family. She felt guilty about not being there enough for her children. Her time at home was harried and hectic. Due to her long work hours, her husband had to “hold down the fort” at home. This was after his forty-hour workweek as well. Her sixty-hour workweeks had taken a toll on her family, her emotions, her well-being. She now realized with the passing of her father that her spiritual life had also taken a toll. For a long time, God had been encouraging her to slow down, back off some of her obligations, give her soul time to heal, and work through her grief. Instead of listening to God’s counsel, she plunged ahead at work and ignored her soul. Now, to be honest, she was miserable.
After a few months of counseling sessions, she made some big changes in her life. After a lot of prayer, she changed jobs, became more involved with the children, took a vacation with the family that was long overdue, and began to work through the grief from her father’s death. She began to spend more time with some of her close friends from church. She began to clear her schedule for things like prayer time and down time. Two years after that initial visit to her pastor, she realized that her life was so much more wonderful than she ever imagined. Instead of being driven by stress, she felt a peace returning. Instead of being pulled in so many directions, she found herself more in control of her life. Her kids loved the changes. Her husband appreciated all her efforts. And once again she was listening to God’s divine counsel.
The scripture for today from Psalm 107 relates what happened when ancient Israelites “rebelled against the words of God”. They ignored God’s direction. They “scorned the counsel of the Most High” (Psalm 107:11). They disregarded God’s guidance. In the end, they were miserable (Psalm 107:10). I have found that when people do not consult God, do not pray for direction, ignore the still small voice of God, and fail to follow God’s word, they ultimately pay for those mistakes. The end up “imprisoned in iron chains of misery” as Psalm 107:10 so accurately relates it. When you ignore God’s direction and advice, that’s what will happen in your life. Misery always accompanies decisions made outside God’s wise counsel.
Do you have some decisions to make? Seek God’s counsel. Is there an area of your life that is miserable? Seek God’s guidance. Don’t limit your options to your wisdom alone. God’s wisdom will always provide better direction.
At one point, Elizabeth Elliott tells about two adventurers who stopped by to see her. They brought lots of equipment for their trek into the rain forest east of the Andes Mountains. Instead of asking Elizabeth to share her wisdom from the field, they simply asked her to teach them a few words and phrases. They had hoped to use these to communicate with the Indians in the area. Later, she wrote: "Sometimes we come to God as the two adventurers came to me -- confident and, we think, well-informed and well equipped. But has it occurred to us that with all our accumulation of stuff, something is missing?”
“She suggests that we often ask God for too little. We know what we need--a yes or no answer, please, to a simple question. Or perhaps a road sign. Something quick and easy to point the way. What we really ought to have is the Guide himself. Maps, road signs, a few useful phrases are things, but infinitely better is someone who has been there before and knows the way” (from A Slow and Certain Light).
God is the perfect Guide for life. God knows so much more than we, yet we hesitate to seek His direction. Why? As Elizabeth Elliott noted, some think they know enough already. Some do not want the advice of a divine being. Some are too smart for their own good. Some do not understand the risks of their journey. It is incredibly important in life that you consistently seek the “counsel of the Most High” God (Psalm 107:11).
Jill came to her pastor for advice. She was middle-aged and had done well for herself. She was the mother of three beautiful children and had a husband who loved her dearly. Jill worked at a high-stress position with a financial group. She took the job because of the great pay and benefits. It was the next rung on her career. She was well suited to the position. She was a go-getter extraordinaire. But Jill had hit a wall. After the death of her father, she began to question some of her life choices. That’s why she decided to see her pastor. She needed to work through a few issues.
As the two talked in the pastor’s office, Jill came to some conclusions. She had made a lot of choices in her life without consulting God. Even though many people came to consult Jill about their financial decisions, Jill never thought to consult God for her own important choices in life. As Jill looked back on the past ten years of her life, she noticed that a lot her decisions had increased the pressure and stress on her and her family. She felt guilty about not being there enough for her children. Her time at home was harried and hectic. Due to her long work hours, her husband had to “hold down the fort” at home. This was after his forty-hour workweek as well. Her sixty-hour workweeks had taken a toll on her family, her emotions, her well-being. She now realized with the passing of her father that her spiritual life had also taken a toll. For a long time, God had been encouraging her to slow down, back off some of her obligations, give her soul time to heal, and work through her grief. Instead of listening to God’s counsel, she plunged ahead at work and ignored her soul. Now, to be honest, she was miserable.
After a few months of counseling sessions, she made some big changes in her life. After a lot of prayer, she changed jobs, became more involved with the children, took a vacation with the family that was long overdue, and began to work through the grief from her father’s death. She began to spend more time with some of her close friends from church. She began to clear her schedule for things like prayer time and down time. Two years after that initial visit to her pastor, she realized that her life was so much more wonderful than she ever imagined. Instead of being driven by stress, she felt a peace returning. Instead of being pulled in so many directions, she found herself more in control of her life. Her kids loved the changes. Her husband appreciated all her efforts. And once again she was listening to God’s divine counsel.
The scripture for today from Psalm 107 relates what happened when ancient Israelites “rebelled against the words of God”. They ignored God’s direction. They “scorned the counsel of the Most High” (Psalm 107:11). They disregarded God’s guidance. In the end, they were miserable (Psalm 107:10). I have found that when people do not consult God, do not pray for direction, ignore the still small voice of God, and fail to follow God’s word, they ultimately pay for those mistakes. The end up “imprisoned in iron chains of misery” as Psalm 107:10 so accurately relates it. When you ignore God’s direction and advice, that’s what will happen in your life. Misery always accompanies decisions made outside God’s wise counsel.
Do you have some decisions to make? Seek God’s counsel. Is there an area of your life that is miserable? Seek God’s guidance. Don’t limit your options to your wisdom alone. God’s wisdom will always provide better direction.
October 4
“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret—it leads only to evil.” (Psalm 37:8, NRSV)

The scripture above chosen for today is a warning. It begins by commanding a follower of God to “refrain from anger and forsake wrath”. However, it is the second half of this verse that I want to examine today. It contains a very interesting word…”fret”. In modern times, we usually associate the phrase “do not fret” to mean “do not worry”. When I first read this verse in English, that’s what I thought the verse meant. That is not the case. In the Hebrew, the word “fret” means something wholly different. It means to “burn with anger”, “to have your blood boil”, “for your anger to smolder”. The Hebrew word for “fret” means to grow warm or to simmer or heat up. Have you ever let your anger simmer for a long time until it heated up inside you? That’s what “fret” means in this verse. If you let your anger simmer and burn for a good while, “it leads only to evil” (Psalm 37:8).
Three times in Psalm 37, there is a warning not to let your anger “heat up” or “fret” (Psalm 37:1,7,8). What the author of this psalm, David, intended for the reader was to keep him or herself from an anger that simmers and burns inside one’s heart, soul, or mind. This would lead to evil of some sort or another. Psalm 37:1 warns the reader not to let wicked people or envy get you to “fret”. Psalm 37:7 warns the reader not to let the prosperity of those who hatch evil plans cause you to “fret”. Taken in totality, Psalm 37 sees a great danger in letting your anger heat up over wrongs done to you, evil people getting the better of you, or jealousy at the prosperity of another. Enough of these little slights can all too easily drive you over the edge. When situations are unfair, it’s all too easy to “fret”. When something seems unjust, its all too easy to get worked up over it to the point you do something evil in a moment of red-hot revenge. What may start off as righteous anger can sometimes end up with you simmering and seething your way directly to sin.
While getting dressed for work one morning, Caroline was phoned by the school principal. Just before school began for the day, Caroline’s son Paul got into a scuffle in the hallway. He and the other boy were taken to the principal’s office and their parents were called. When Caroline heard the other boy’s name, she immediately took offense. This other boy was a notorious bully. She knew her Paul was a pretty level-headed young man. As she left for the school to meet with the principal, her anger began to flare. Her poor son had to deal constantly with this bully. This was probably all the bully’s fault. Now, she was going to be late for work. What a stressful morning!
On the drive over to the school, Caroline began to get worked up. She went through various scenarios in her head of what might be said in the principal’s office. She began to formulate a plan for punishment for Paul. She was planning on contacting that bully’s mom and letting her have it! By the time Caroline got to the principal’s office, she was already fuming. Her anger was starting to burn white hot. When she met with the principal, the first words out of her mouth were, “Why does my son have to deal with a bully at school?” Twenty minutes later when she heard the whole story that Paul had started the fight, she refused to believe it. She was so worked up, she stormed out of the principal’s office making threats and spewing words of anger and frustration.
Have you ever let yourself get all worked up over a situation to the point you blew your stack? Have you ever dealt with so many little stresses that when some small slight was done, you spewed anger and rage that was completely disproportionate to the situation? Have you ever had a small disagreement with your spouse turn into a screaming match where dozens of past issues were thrown in the face of the one you supposedly love? All these are examples of “fretting”. Too often evil is done when you let your anger boil and fretting takes over. Then, what do you think will happen?
Some people let little things boil to the point of fretting. Others will say nothing while their anger builds to a boiling point and then they kick the dog! Ever been in an argument with somebody that didn’t make sense? It might be that the person is angry at something or someone else, and you just got there in time to see the “fret-full” moment when the wrath burned off white hot.
The scripture for today warns you not to fret. By the time your anger is boiling, nothing good can come of a confrontation. It usually will result in evil. How do you let off the steam? How do you deal with your anger? Do you have to let it get to the point of fretting? Does prayer or a long walk or a good talk with a friend help you cope with your anger? I have found that a boiling anger can make it awful difficult to listen to God. Would you agree?
Three times in Psalm 37, there is a warning not to let your anger “heat up” or “fret” (Psalm 37:1,7,8). What the author of this psalm, David, intended for the reader was to keep him or herself from an anger that simmers and burns inside one’s heart, soul, or mind. This would lead to evil of some sort or another. Psalm 37:1 warns the reader not to let wicked people or envy get you to “fret”. Psalm 37:7 warns the reader not to let the prosperity of those who hatch evil plans cause you to “fret”. Taken in totality, Psalm 37 sees a great danger in letting your anger heat up over wrongs done to you, evil people getting the better of you, or jealousy at the prosperity of another. Enough of these little slights can all too easily drive you over the edge. When situations are unfair, it’s all too easy to “fret”. When something seems unjust, its all too easy to get worked up over it to the point you do something evil in a moment of red-hot revenge. What may start off as righteous anger can sometimes end up with you simmering and seething your way directly to sin.
While getting dressed for work one morning, Caroline was phoned by the school principal. Just before school began for the day, Caroline’s son Paul got into a scuffle in the hallway. He and the other boy were taken to the principal’s office and their parents were called. When Caroline heard the other boy’s name, she immediately took offense. This other boy was a notorious bully. She knew her Paul was a pretty level-headed young man. As she left for the school to meet with the principal, her anger began to flare. Her poor son had to deal constantly with this bully. This was probably all the bully’s fault. Now, she was going to be late for work. What a stressful morning!
On the drive over to the school, Caroline began to get worked up. She went through various scenarios in her head of what might be said in the principal’s office. She began to formulate a plan for punishment for Paul. She was planning on contacting that bully’s mom and letting her have it! By the time Caroline got to the principal’s office, she was already fuming. Her anger was starting to burn white hot. When she met with the principal, the first words out of her mouth were, “Why does my son have to deal with a bully at school?” Twenty minutes later when she heard the whole story that Paul had started the fight, she refused to believe it. She was so worked up, she stormed out of the principal’s office making threats and spewing words of anger and frustration.
Have you ever let yourself get all worked up over a situation to the point you blew your stack? Have you ever dealt with so many little stresses that when some small slight was done, you spewed anger and rage that was completely disproportionate to the situation? Have you ever had a small disagreement with your spouse turn into a screaming match where dozens of past issues were thrown in the face of the one you supposedly love? All these are examples of “fretting”. Too often evil is done when you let your anger boil and fretting takes over. Then, what do you think will happen?
Some people let little things boil to the point of fretting. Others will say nothing while their anger builds to a boiling point and then they kick the dog! Ever been in an argument with somebody that didn’t make sense? It might be that the person is angry at something or someone else, and you just got there in time to see the “fret-full” moment when the wrath burned off white hot.
The scripture for today warns you not to fret. By the time your anger is boiling, nothing good can come of a confrontation. It usually will result in evil. How do you let off the steam? How do you deal with your anger? Do you have to let it get to the point of fretting? Does prayer or a long walk or a good talk with a friend help you cope with your anger? I have found that a boiling anger can make it awful difficult to listen to God. Would you agree?
October 7
“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.” (Ephesians 4:11–14, NLT)

Stephen’s little sister, Cassie, sat on the bed in her room crying. Her heart was broken. Earlier in the day, she went to a girlfriend’s house. There, she got her feelings hurt. Stephen loved his little sister and always sought to protect her. In this case, she was crying over something that was said. Cassie’s best friend called her several names after the two got into a squabble. Both girls liked the same boy. Each wanted first shot at a date with the boy. It ended in a heated argument with name calling. As Stephen heard her on the bed crying, refusing to eat, he walked into her room without knocking. He strutted up to her and said, “Cassie, I love you, but you are going to have to grow up. You can’t just close yourself off in your room and have a pity party when stuff like this happens. You don’t need to beat yourself up over it, OK? Do you hear me? Grow up!” He slammed the door on his way out.
Cassie sat there stunned at the outburst. At first, she wanted to be angry at him for the outburst. How dare he tell her to grow up! Then, after a few more tears were shed, she realized he was right. She picked herself up from the bed and went downstairs and said to Stephen, “Thanks for the push, big brother. I guess I needed it.” Then, the two hugged their usual warm hug. Instantly, Cassie felt better. So did Stephen.
Some people mature in a beautiful way. They learn to adapt to their surroundings and deal with their feelings and failures and motivations. Others, however, do not deal well with maturity. Though having adult bodies, they are still emotionally or spiritually children inside. Their thoughts and feelings have not matured. They get moody. They want their way. They don’t listen and aren’t teachable. Like a two-year old, they will fight you to learn every life lesson. Their favorite words are “No!”, “I don’t have to!”, “I don’t want to!”, “Whatever!”. They haven’t learned to be mature in moral or spiritual character. They have a lot to learn.
In Hebrews 5:11-14, the author chastises immature Christians who have not learned the mature elements of the faith. Despite having apostles and teachers, these Christians did not grow in their faith. Instead, they remained spiritually infantile, needing spiritual “milk” instead of real food. They were hardheaded like two-year-olds, stuck in their ways and dull of hearing (Hebrews 5:11). They thought they were as good as other Christians but, to the author of Hebrews, they were not. They needed a more mature faith in order to reach their full potential for Christ.
How spiritually mature are you? Have you learned from your mistakes, grown in the faith, become closer to God Almighty? Is God your crutch or your strength? Do you stand firm in your convictions or waver like a kid trying to get out of doing homework? Do you study God’s Word and learn from God’s Spirit often or follow the crowd and dabble in the spiritual? Is prayer time an intimate time with God or a place to make demands or do all the talking? Are you spiritually mature or is it time for you to grow up in certain aspects of the faith?
Some of the most dangerous of Christians are those who think they know more than they do. Judas, who should have known better, betrayed Jesus. Saul, who thought he was more holy than Jesus, brought death upon early Christians. There are many times that Christian people have wrecked their church with immature power plays and childish demands. It should not be so among God’s people but is sadly a fact of spiritual life.
In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chosen as the scripture for today, there is much to learn. Paul mentions that the purposes of “apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers is to “equip God’s people to do HIS work” and “build up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11,12). It is not to babysit immature Christians. It is to help them grow and “mature in the Lord” (Ephesians 4:13). A Christian who is not mature enough will be manipulated by fad doctrines and tricked by “clever lies” (Ephesians 4:14). I see too much of this today in the church. Some Christians are so immature as to be swayed by smooth-talking preachers who look nice. They are manipulated by social media pressures that have watered down their view of God. Their faith is weak and vulnerable. They need to spiritually “grow up”. They need to gain more maturity in Christ before they fail the Lord.
Every single Christian has areas of the spiritual life that are more or less fully developed. What are your vulnerabilities? How might you be swayed by the latest spiritual fad or smooth-talking authority? I believe that the real backbone of the church is held together by the spiritually mature who have grown strong in the faith. It is not in the multitudes of followers who think they are so smart but who seriously need to “grow up” in the Lord.
Cassie sat there stunned at the outburst. At first, she wanted to be angry at him for the outburst. How dare he tell her to grow up! Then, after a few more tears were shed, she realized he was right. She picked herself up from the bed and went downstairs and said to Stephen, “Thanks for the push, big brother. I guess I needed it.” Then, the two hugged their usual warm hug. Instantly, Cassie felt better. So did Stephen.
Some people mature in a beautiful way. They learn to adapt to their surroundings and deal with their feelings and failures and motivations. Others, however, do not deal well with maturity. Though having adult bodies, they are still emotionally or spiritually children inside. Their thoughts and feelings have not matured. They get moody. They want their way. They don’t listen and aren’t teachable. Like a two-year old, they will fight you to learn every life lesson. Their favorite words are “No!”, “I don’t have to!”, “I don’t want to!”, “Whatever!”. They haven’t learned to be mature in moral or spiritual character. They have a lot to learn.
In Hebrews 5:11-14, the author chastises immature Christians who have not learned the mature elements of the faith. Despite having apostles and teachers, these Christians did not grow in their faith. Instead, they remained spiritually infantile, needing spiritual “milk” instead of real food. They were hardheaded like two-year-olds, stuck in their ways and dull of hearing (Hebrews 5:11). They thought they were as good as other Christians but, to the author of Hebrews, they were not. They needed a more mature faith in order to reach their full potential for Christ.
How spiritually mature are you? Have you learned from your mistakes, grown in the faith, become closer to God Almighty? Is God your crutch or your strength? Do you stand firm in your convictions or waver like a kid trying to get out of doing homework? Do you study God’s Word and learn from God’s Spirit often or follow the crowd and dabble in the spiritual? Is prayer time an intimate time with God or a place to make demands or do all the talking? Are you spiritually mature or is it time for you to grow up in certain aspects of the faith?
Some of the most dangerous of Christians are those who think they know more than they do. Judas, who should have known better, betrayed Jesus. Saul, who thought he was more holy than Jesus, brought death upon early Christians. There are many times that Christian people have wrecked their church with immature power plays and childish demands. It should not be so among God’s people but is sadly a fact of spiritual life.
In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chosen as the scripture for today, there is much to learn. Paul mentions that the purposes of “apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers is to “equip God’s people to do HIS work” and “build up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11,12). It is not to babysit immature Christians. It is to help them grow and “mature in the Lord” (Ephesians 4:13). A Christian who is not mature enough will be manipulated by fad doctrines and tricked by “clever lies” (Ephesians 4:14). I see too much of this today in the church. Some Christians are so immature as to be swayed by smooth-talking preachers who look nice. They are manipulated by social media pressures that have watered down their view of God. Their faith is weak and vulnerable. They need to spiritually “grow up”. They need to gain more maturity in Christ before they fail the Lord.
Every single Christian has areas of the spiritual life that are more or less fully developed. What are your vulnerabilities? How might you be swayed by the latest spiritual fad or smooth-talking authority? I believe that the real backbone of the church is held together by the spiritually mature who have grown strong in the faith. It is not in the multitudes of followers who think they are so smart but who seriously need to “grow up” in the Lord.
October 8
“And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”” (Genesis 32:24–26, ESV)

In the story above, Jacob wrestled with a man “until the breaking of the day” (Genesis 32:24). While Jacob struggled, he was injured. His hip was “put out of joint” (Genesis 32:25). Still, he fought on. Jacob knew this man was special. Upon reading the whole story, some say the man was God. Most say it was an angel. Later in Genesis, Jacob mentioned that he had that night “seen God face to face”. For Jacob, it was a holy moment. He had wrestled with God. He desired a blessing. It was Jacob’s ultimate goal… the blessing of God.
Throughout the night, as Jacob wrestled with the man, he would not let go. He would not give up. In the end, Jacob did receive his blessing. His efforts were rewarded by God. His tenacity in holding on during the arduous fight were noticed. God noticed and blessed his spiritual ardor.
There are times when you will only receive the blessing of God when you hold on tight. When things get difficult, shallow Christians often abandon their faith. They seek refuge in things or people. Jacob fought all night, holding on for dear life. He would not let go of his prize. How well do you hold on tightly to God during difficult times? When struggles come along, do you hold more firmly to your faith or do your own thing? When push comes to shove, will you abandon your morals? When put in an uncomfortable position, will you throw your faith under the bus? When someone really needs you, will you stick around?
Many years ago, I met a middle-aged woman at a nursing home. I was surprised to see someone so young at the home. She had been there for about five years. She had a degenerative disease that damaged her motor skills. It was hard for her to get around. Most days, she was bed-bound, unable to feed herself. Her family took care of her for a long time. Though only in her late forties, her time on this earth was growing short. Her neurological systems were failing. It would not be long before her body would give out.
During this very difficult time in her life, I visited her every few days. She used to be a member of my church. She used to be very active. Her family no longer attended. Her kids were grown up and lived several hours away. They visited once a month, when they could get away for a weekend. For the most part, she was alone every single day. I often caught her looking out the window, almost wishing she could take a walk outside again. Many times, she teared up as we prayed. She was a very beautiful woman. I was shocked nobody was there to visit her day after day. One day, I got up the courage to ask her why she had so few visits. She responded that her husband left her after she got too weak to walk. Most of their friends no longer came around. He remarried. He had a new family. Her relatives lived in another state. She was pretty much alone. I told her she still had me and God. I visited her until the day she died.
It was heartbreaking to see this woman so very alone as she faced terrible days. She loved poetry. She loved watching the birds outside her window. She smiled. She had a generous heart and kind soul. Yet, despite her sweet faith and warm demeanor, she was abandoned by those she loved. They didn’t stick around. They moved on.
So much of modern life is temporary and fleeting. Some friends won’t stick around when the going gets tough. A spouse may or may not be by your side when things go wrong. Children can move far away and lose touch. I’ve met people in nursing homes who haven’t seen a member of their church for a decade. There are home-bound older people who seldom have a visitor. Life for some in society can be so lonely. Those who have made past mistakes may find themselves isolated or unfriended. Despite all the ways that people can abandon you, God will not. The only way for you to go through life without God is if you abandon HIM. Otherwise, “You’ll never walk alone”.
Some Christians do not receive God’s blessing because they don’t hold tightly to God or godly ways when things go sour. In the first century church of Smyrna, they experienced difficult times. Persecution of Christians was not uncommon in those days. An apostle, John of Patmos, mentioned to that church how God was watching over them throughout all their trials. Through John, God gave the Christians in Smyrna these words: “Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). God was going to bless them. However, they had to be faithful to the end to receive their blessing.
How well do you stick tight to God when things go bad? When the winds of change blow hard against your plans, do you stray from God? Jacob found God’s blessing by not giving up during his struggles. I hope the same can be said about you.
Throughout the night, as Jacob wrestled with the man, he would not let go. He would not give up. In the end, Jacob did receive his blessing. His efforts were rewarded by God. His tenacity in holding on during the arduous fight were noticed. God noticed and blessed his spiritual ardor.
There are times when you will only receive the blessing of God when you hold on tight. When things get difficult, shallow Christians often abandon their faith. They seek refuge in things or people. Jacob fought all night, holding on for dear life. He would not let go of his prize. How well do you hold on tightly to God during difficult times? When struggles come along, do you hold more firmly to your faith or do your own thing? When push comes to shove, will you abandon your morals? When put in an uncomfortable position, will you throw your faith under the bus? When someone really needs you, will you stick around?
Many years ago, I met a middle-aged woman at a nursing home. I was surprised to see someone so young at the home. She had been there for about five years. She had a degenerative disease that damaged her motor skills. It was hard for her to get around. Most days, she was bed-bound, unable to feed herself. Her family took care of her for a long time. Though only in her late forties, her time on this earth was growing short. Her neurological systems were failing. It would not be long before her body would give out.
During this very difficult time in her life, I visited her every few days. She used to be a member of my church. She used to be very active. Her family no longer attended. Her kids were grown up and lived several hours away. They visited once a month, when they could get away for a weekend. For the most part, she was alone every single day. I often caught her looking out the window, almost wishing she could take a walk outside again. Many times, she teared up as we prayed. She was a very beautiful woman. I was shocked nobody was there to visit her day after day. One day, I got up the courage to ask her why she had so few visits. She responded that her husband left her after she got too weak to walk. Most of their friends no longer came around. He remarried. He had a new family. Her relatives lived in another state. She was pretty much alone. I told her she still had me and God. I visited her until the day she died.
It was heartbreaking to see this woman so very alone as she faced terrible days. She loved poetry. She loved watching the birds outside her window. She smiled. She had a generous heart and kind soul. Yet, despite her sweet faith and warm demeanor, she was abandoned by those she loved. They didn’t stick around. They moved on.
So much of modern life is temporary and fleeting. Some friends won’t stick around when the going gets tough. A spouse may or may not be by your side when things go wrong. Children can move far away and lose touch. I’ve met people in nursing homes who haven’t seen a member of their church for a decade. There are home-bound older people who seldom have a visitor. Life for some in society can be so lonely. Those who have made past mistakes may find themselves isolated or unfriended. Despite all the ways that people can abandon you, God will not. The only way for you to go through life without God is if you abandon HIM. Otherwise, “You’ll never walk alone”.
Some Christians do not receive God’s blessing because they don’t hold tightly to God or godly ways when things go sour. In the first century church of Smyrna, they experienced difficult times. Persecution of Christians was not uncommon in those days. An apostle, John of Patmos, mentioned to that church how God was watching over them throughout all their trials. Through John, God gave the Christians in Smyrna these words: “Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). God was going to bless them. However, they had to be faithful to the end to receive their blessing.
How well do you stick tight to God when things go bad? When the winds of change blow hard against your plans, do you stray from God? Jacob found God’s blessing by not giving up during his struggles. I hope the same can be said about you.
October 10
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
(2 Corinthians 4:16, NIV)
(2 Corinthians 4:16, NIV)

Carol Jean had the flu. It hit her quick. It hit hard. Tuesday morning, she was at work breezing through the many tasks on her to-do list, but by Tuesday afternoon she was aching and feverish. As she thought back on the past few months, she realized that she had never taken the time to get a flu shot. In fact, she had not been at the doctor’s office for a checkup in a long while. As her fever rose and her nausea began to appear, she knew she was in for a few days of misery.
At first, Carol Jean fought the flu. She tried telling herself that she was just tired and achy from her frequent long hours at work. Then, she tried to tell herself that her nausea was caused by a bad meal the night before. When she finished work for the day, she had no more excuses. Her underarms were sweaty, and she could feel the heat through her clothes. In her mind, she began to list off all the things she had to do in the next few days, all the meetings she could not miss. At home, her two children needed her to cook and clean. How would they get by if she went to bed for the rest of the day? She tried, to no avail, to talk herself into feeling better. Two quick tablets of Tylenol barely eased the fever. She was running out of excuses and time.
Carol Jean began her first evening by trying to complete as many tasks as she could. She cooked as usual. She cleaned as much as she was able. However, the flu drove her to bed early. The next morning, she could not even get out of bed. The kids came in asking her for breakfast and for lots more. She couldn’t help them. She was too sick. However, as the days of illness ran their course, Carol Jean decided to just let things happen. She was too weak to do much else. She asked her husband and the kids to take care of themselves. Instead of fretting over what she couldn’t do, she picked up a daily Bible reading devotional that was covered in dust and began to read it. Later in the day, despite occupying her time with other forms of entertainment, she kept going back to the devotional. The words contained in the devotional were feeding her soul.
After six days, Carol Jean went back to work. However, she was not the same person. What she had read and studied in the Bible devotional stuck to her thoughts and informed her decisions. She looked at the world differently. For the first time in a long time, her heart was at peace. The times that her husband and children helped her through the fevers were precious memories. The flu had beaten up her body, but the time with God and her family had refreshed her soul.
During the first century A.D., Christians were suffering in many ways. There were spurious persecutions throughout the Roman Empire. In Asia Minor, where Corinth was located, Christians were viewed as outsiders. When they did not participate in Greek religious festivals, they were shunned. In other areas of the Roman Empire, Christians were stoned or ridiculed publicly. In the scripture for today, the Apostle Paul told them to “not lose heart”. Paul wanted them to face these challenges with spiritual strength. Despite their sufferings “outwardly”, their souls were being “renewed day by day” by God’s powerful Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:16).
I have found that when true Christians suffer in the body, they often retreat inward to find communion with God. These moments are precious and fruitful. During illness or pain, your soul will often be fertile for God’s Spirit to grow. When you hurt or suffer, God will renew your soul in deep and powerful ways.
Some plants naturally retreat or lower during storms. They might bend or temporarily close up. However, thunderstorms with lightning often do something incredible for plants. The power of lightning divides nitrogen cells in the atmosphere. These cells then combine with oxygen to form nitrates, a natural fertilizer. So, out of the storms, plants are fed with free nitrates by the storm. In the same way, personal storms in your life may feed your soul. Illness and suffering can drive you straight into the arms of a loving God. The breaking of your heart and soul through tragedy can be the very fertilizer that feeds your spiritual life, renewing your parched soul. Times of distress can teach you how to be more loving and softhearted. Depression can be a great catalyst for a deep relationship with God!
When your physical body is “wasting away” due to mortal sufferings, look for God to renew your soul. In times of sorrow, God might be your perfect oasis. In seasons of sadness, God can bring you into deeper communion with Him. Don’t overlook the power of the Holy Spirit to refresh your soul, especially in moments of pain or sadness. A season of bodily weakness may be exactly what your Spiritual life needs to take off and soar!
At first, Carol Jean fought the flu. She tried telling herself that she was just tired and achy from her frequent long hours at work. Then, she tried to tell herself that her nausea was caused by a bad meal the night before. When she finished work for the day, she had no more excuses. Her underarms were sweaty, and she could feel the heat through her clothes. In her mind, she began to list off all the things she had to do in the next few days, all the meetings she could not miss. At home, her two children needed her to cook and clean. How would they get by if she went to bed for the rest of the day? She tried, to no avail, to talk herself into feeling better. Two quick tablets of Tylenol barely eased the fever. She was running out of excuses and time.
Carol Jean began her first evening by trying to complete as many tasks as she could. She cooked as usual. She cleaned as much as she was able. However, the flu drove her to bed early. The next morning, she could not even get out of bed. The kids came in asking her for breakfast and for lots more. She couldn’t help them. She was too sick. However, as the days of illness ran their course, Carol Jean decided to just let things happen. She was too weak to do much else. She asked her husband and the kids to take care of themselves. Instead of fretting over what she couldn’t do, she picked up a daily Bible reading devotional that was covered in dust and began to read it. Later in the day, despite occupying her time with other forms of entertainment, she kept going back to the devotional. The words contained in the devotional were feeding her soul.
After six days, Carol Jean went back to work. However, she was not the same person. What she had read and studied in the Bible devotional stuck to her thoughts and informed her decisions. She looked at the world differently. For the first time in a long time, her heart was at peace. The times that her husband and children helped her through the fevers were precious memories. The flu had beaten up her body, but the time with God and her family had refreshed her soul.
During the first century A.D., Christians were suffering in many ways. There were spurious persecutions throughout the Roman Empire. In Asia Minor, where Corinth was located, Christians were viewed as outsiders. When they did not participate in Greek religious festivals, they were shunned. In other areas of the Roman Empire, Christians were stoned or ridiculed publicly. In the scripture for today, the Apostle Paul told them to “not lose heart”. Paul wanted them to face these challenges with spiritual strength. Despite their sufferings “outwardly”, their souls were being “renewed day by day” by God’s powerful Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:16).
I have found that when true Christians suffer in the body, they often retreat inward to find communion with God. These moments are precious and fruitful. During illness or pain, your soul will often be fertile for God’s Spirit to grow. When you hurt or suffer, God will renew your soul in deep and powerful ways.
Some plants naturally retreat or lower during storms. They might bend or temporarily close up. However, thunderstorms with lightning often do something incredible for plants. The power of lightning divides nitrogen cells in the atmosphere. These cells then combine with oxygen to form nitrates, a natural fertilizer. So, out of the storms, plants are fed with free nitrates by the storm. In the same way, personal storms in your life may feed your soul. Illness and suffering can drive you straight into the arms of a loving God. The breaking of your heart and soul through tragedy can be the very fertilizer that feeds your spiritual life, renewing your parched soul. Times of distress can teach you how to be more loving and softhearted. Depression can be a great catalyst for a deep relationship with God!
When your physical body is “wasting away” due to mortal sufferings, look for God to renew your soul. In times of sorrow, God might be your perfect oasis. In seasons of sadness, God can bring you into deeper communion with Him. Don’t overlook the power of the Holy Spirit to refresh your soul, especially in moments of pain or sadness. A season of bodily weakness may be exactly what your Spiritual life needs to take off and soar!
October 12
“So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 3:7–8, NLT)

Years ago, the communist government in China commissioned an author to write a biography of the Christian missionary Hudson Taylor with the purpose of distorting the facts and presenting him in a bad light. They wanted to discredit the name of this consecrated missionary of the gospel. As the author was doing his research, he was increasingly impressed by Taylor's saintly character and godly life, and he found it extremely difficult to carry out his assigned task with a clear conscience. Eventually, at the risk of losing his life, he laid aside his pen, renounced his atheism, and received Jesus as his personal Savior. Whether we realize it or not, our example leaves an impression on others.
Do you realize the impression you leave in the lives of others? How has your faith affected the lives of those around you?
In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, he mentioned the persecution of Christians at Philippi (1 Thessalonians 2). Paul explained that the Christians leaders “suffered” and were “shamefully treated” in that mission field (1 Thessalonians 2:2). In response, Paul and his fellow Christian leaders lived “holy and righteous and blameless lives” among the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 2:10). While with the Thessalonian Christians, building up that church, they “toiled day and night” in the name of Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:9).
In 1 Thessalonians 3:7, Paul thanked the Thessalonian Christians for responding with a strong faith. He told them how they had been such a wonderful inspiration among the Christian missionaries. The faith of the church there brought “new life” to Paul and the others. By “standing firm” in their faith, Paul and other Christians grew more hopeful day by day. The faith of the Thessalonian Christians had renewed the inspiration in Paul and the others. The past persecution faded from their thoughts as the faith of those in Thessalonika grew strong and prospered.
When things become difficult in life, its easy to lose your perspective. You can become negative, cynical, depressed or despondent. When you are beaten by life’s tragedies or challenges or illness, it can be hard to be faithful, hopeful, or confident. However, when you are surrounded by people who are upbeat and positive in their faith, it rubs off. Inspiring people can so easily motivate you. Great examples of faith can fire you up, even healing your body and spirit.
In my second church, there were some very negative people. They considered it their right and responsibility to “keep the Pastor on his toes”. If they saw me praying, they asked why I wasn’t working harder. If they saw the lights on at my home in the evening or me watching TV with my family, they would later ask me why I wasn’t out scouring the neighborhood for new members. I even had one member complain that my lights were on one night during Easter week until 11PM. Why was I wasting electricity? Didn’t the church pay for that? The negative attitude of some Christians can drain your every ounce of energy if you let it.
However, in that church was also a wonderful soul. This man came to me one day and told me that if I was ever tired or down, to just come over and visit. After a particularly bad round of negativity from a couple of members in the congregation one morning, I visited that man’s farm. He took me around. We walked his fields. He and I walked and talked for more than an hour. It felt so good. His faith renewed my strength. For several years, I visited him whenever the pressures became too great or the negativity was sapping my soul. He always managed to bring my spirits up and my soul closer to God.
While writing these meditations, I may run into problems. When life gets crazy, I lose perspective. I have a hard time getting the words down on paper. I can’t even figure out what to write about! Every now and then, I will call upon a few good souls to help me. I’ll send them a copy of my message and ask for help. I might bare my heart and burdens. They are the ones who help me the most. Their faith brings me back to center again. Their encouragement keeps me engaged. Their concern inspires me.
How is your faith an inspiration to others? Do your words build up souls or break them down? After a time with you, do others feel closer to God? Paul mentioned in the scripture for today how much the inspirational faith of the Thessalonians brought new life to those who had suffered in persecution. Don’t ever underestimate the value of your faith, “standing firm in the Lord”, and inspiring those who need it.
Do you realize the impression you leave in the lives of others? How has your faith affected the lives of those around you?
In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, he mentioned the persecution of Christians at Philippi (1 Thessalonians 2). Paul explained that the Christians leaders “suffered” and were “shamefully treated” in that mission field (1 Thessalonians 2:2). In response, Paul and his fellow Christian leaders lived “holy and righteous and blameless lives” among the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 2:10). While with the Thessalonian Christians, building up that church, they “toiled day and night” in the name of Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:9).
In 1 Thessalonians 3:7, Paul thanked the Thessalonian Christians for responding with a strong faith. He told them how they had been such a wonderful inspiration among the Christian missionaries. The faith of the church there brought “new life” to Paul and the others. By “standing firm” in their faith, Paul and other Christians grew more hopeful day by day. The faith of the Thessalonian Christians had renewed the inspiration in Paul and the others. The past persecution faded from their thoughts as the faith of those in Thessalonika grew strong and prospered.
When things become difficult in life, its easy to lose your perspective. You can become negative, cynical, depressed or despondent. When you are beaten by life’s tragedies or challenges or illness, it can be hard to be faithful, hopeful, or confident. However, when you are surrounded by people who are upbeat and positive in their faith, it rubs off. Inspiring people can so easily motivate you. Great examples of faith can fire you up, even healing your body and spirit.
In my second church, there were some very negative people. They considered it their right and responsibility to “keep the Pastor on his toes”. If they saw me praying, they asked why I wasn’t working harder. If they saw the lights on at my home in the evening or me watching TV with my family, they would later ask me why I wasn’t out scouring the neighborhood for new members. I even had one member complain that my lights were on one night during Easter week until 11PM. Why was I wasting electricity? Didn’t the church pay for that? The negative attitude of some Christians can drain your every ounce of energy if you let it.
However, in that church was also a wonderful soul. This man came to me one day and told me that if I was ever tired or down, to just come over and visit. After a particularly bad round of negativity from a couple of members in the congregation one morning, I visited that man’s farm. He took me around. We walked his fields. He and I walked and talked for more than an hour. It felt so good. His faith renewed my strength. For several years, I visited him whenever the pressures became too great or the negativity was sapping my soul. He always managed to bring my spirits up and my soul closer to God.
While writing these meditations, I may run into problems. When life gets crazy, I lose perspective. I have a hard time getting the words down on paper. I can’t even figure out what to write about! Every now and then, I will call upon a few good souls to help me. I’ll send them a copy of my message and ask for help. I might bare my heart and burdens. They are the ones who help me the most. Their faith brings me back to center again. Their encouragement keeps me engaged. Their concern inspires me.
How is your faith an inspiration to others? Do your words build up souls or break them down? After a time with you, do others feel closer to God? Paul mentioned in the scripture for today how much the inspirational faith of the Thessalonians brought new life to those who had suffered in persecution. Don’t ever underestimate the value of your faith, “standing firm in the Lord”, and inspiring those who need it.
October 14
“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.” (Luke 21:34, ESV)

In every life there comes a day when things overwhelm you, when stresses overtake your emotions, when your responsibilities become too heavy to handle. I have met many people who work hard every day so that they don’t have one of those days where too much hits you all at once. However, I don’t think anyone can plan so perfectly that too much can never hit at once. You can’t control things in your life so much so that troubling times will never overtake you. On the other hand, I believe that one of the greatest things to help when everything is falling apart is a faith that never quits. With God as your strength, you can handle whatever comes your way. Today, our scripture contains some advice for when life hits hard. You may not see this at first, but I hope you see it in the end.
A close friend of mine had a few rough months this year. His wife landed in the hospital and had emergency surgery. His children needed his help. A vehicle broke down. His church was struggling. His garage burned down. There were problems at work. His “To-do list” grew long at home. After things settled down, I asked him how he was doing. His reply was simple and straightforward, “It seems like every month since January there has been something to deal with; whether it’s something breaking down or catching fire, or work issues or health and family issues. Through each situation, I can feel God's presence and I can see God working. Even though there has been a lot of stress and anxiety at times, I can't imagine having to go through all of this without faith.” He found that his faith was a calming factor, a strong encouragement, brought inner-strength, enabled an inner-peace. I have also found my faith in God to be a powerful force during trying times.
In Luke 21, Jesus talked about the destruction of Jerusalem, coming wars, and times of upheaval. These difficult days would come with great swiftness and hit the people of Israel hard. There would be famines and pestilence. Persecutions would break out against Christians in the Roman Empire. Jews and Christians could not stop or prevent this. They would have to suffer through it. However, God would not leave them desolate. Jesus warned his disciples, urging them not to “let their hearts be weighed down” with things like drunkenness. They should never resort to alcohol for comfort. They should not let the “cares of this life” drag them down (Luke 21:34). Jesus said His followers should “watch themselves”. In the next verse of the Bible, Jesus said they should “pray for strength” (Luke 21:35). Their faith would help them stand through the trials.
To face these trials, Jesus used three important words. First, he said in our verse to “watch”. This means you must take time to stop and evaluate your situation. It means you need to get a lay of the land and take precautions for times of difficulty. Many Christians do not take the time to watch and meditate, plan and make adequate arrangements. Then, when difficult times come like a thief in the night, they are not ready. They have not made adequate preparations. Like the bridesmaids in Matthew 25 who were not prepared with enough oil for the bridal festivities, don’t be one of those who is ill-prepared for your day of trial.
As a part of your “watch”, Jesus asked that you not be “weighed down” with “cares of this life” (Luke 21:34). If you have lots of possessions, these things may prevent you from going where God wants you to go or fleeing when God tells you its time to flee. Also, if you have a lot of “things” in your life, you may be tempted to rely on your wealth instead of God’s voice. It is best to be a minimalist, without a love of possessions or desire to attain or love things of this world.
The third word that I see often used when facing trials is “prayer”. In the sentences following our scripture for today, Jesus urged His followers to “pray for strength” while watching for difficult days. Prayers can not only help you to watch and evaluate the world around you and the dangers looming, they can also be a great source of strength when the crap hits the fan. Your faith, fueled by prayer, can make you much stronger than you ever thought possible. It can help you overcome bad odds. Don’t neglect your prayer life, especially in critical times.
Though difficult days may come, don’t forget to have a strong faith. “Watch” and plan for those days. Don’t be caught up in the “cares of this world”. Finally, “pray for strength”. In all these ways, your faith will sustain you when nothing else seems to work. God will be there in days of trial. Just remember to watch, live frugally, and pray with fervor. Each will help strengthen your faith. They will enhance God’s presence and power to encourage and save you.
A close friend of mine had a few rough months this year. His wife landed in the hospital and had emergency surgery. His children needed his help. A vehicle broke down. His church was struggling. His garage burned down. There were problems at work. His “To-do list” grew long at home. After things settled down, I asked him how he was doing. His reply was simple and straightforward, “It seems like every month since January there has been something to deal with; whether it’s something breaking down or catching fire, or work issues or health and family issues. Through each situation, I can feel God's presence and I can see God working. Even though there has been a lot of stress and anxiety at times, I can't imagine having to go through all of this without faith.” He found that his faith was a calming factor, a strong encouragement, brought inner-strength, enabled an inner-peace. I have also found my faith in God to be a powerful force during trying times.
In Luke 21, Jesus talked about the destruction of Jerusalem, coming wars, and times of upheaval. These difficult days would come with great swiftness and hit the people of Israel hard. There would be famines and pestilence. Persecutions would break out against Christians in the Roman Empire. Jews and Christians could not stop or prevent this. They would have to suffer through it. However, God would not leave them desolate. Jesus warned his disciples, urging them not to “let their hearts be weighed down” with things like drunkenness. They should never resort to alcohol for comfort. They should not let the “cares of this life” drag them down (Luke 21:34). Jesus said His followers should “watch themselves”. In the next verse of the Bible, Jesus said they should “pray for strength” (Luke 21:35). Their faith would help them stand through the trials.
To face these trials, Jesus used three important words. First, he said in our verse to “watch”. This means you must take time to stop and evaluate your situation. It means you need to get a lay of the land and take precautions for times of difficulty. Many Christians do not take the time to watch and meditate, plan and make adequate arrangements. Then, when difficult times come like a thief in the night, they are not ready. They have not made adequate preparations. Like the bridesmaids in Matthew 25 who were not prepared with enough oil for the bridal festivities, don’t be one of those who is ill-prepared for your day of trial.
As a part of your “watch”, Jesus asked that you not be “weighed down” with “cares of this life” (Luke 21:34). If you have lots of possessions, these things may prevent you from going where God wants you to go or fleeing when God tells you its time to flee. Also, if you have a lot of “things” in your life, you may be tempted to rely on your wealth instead of God’s voice. It is best to be a minimalist, without a love of possessions or desire to attain or love things of this world.
The third word that I see often used when facing trials is “prayer”. In the sentences following our scripture for today, Jesus urged His followers to “pray for strength” while watching for difficult days. Prayers can not only help you to watch and evaluate the world around you and the dangers looming, they can also be a great source of strength when the crap hits the fan. Your faith, fueled by prayer, can make you much stronger than you ever thought possible. It can help you overcome bad odds. Don’t neglect your prayer life, especially in critical times.
Though difficult days may come, don’t forget to have a strong faith. “Watch” and plan for those days. Don’t be caught up in the “cares of this world”. Finally, “pray for strength”. In all these ways, your faith will sustain you when nothing else seems to work. God will be there in days of trial. Just remember to watch, live frugally, and pray with fervor. Each will help strengthen your faith. They will enhance God’s presence and power to encourage and save you.
October 16
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”
(2 Corinthians 10:5, ESV)
(2 Corinthians 10:5, ESV)

In the scripture above, the apostle Paul wrote about his missionary work. Part of his preaching involved challenging the arguments and opinions “raised against the knowledge of God”. When writing these words to the church in Corinth, Paul knew that the Corinthians were constantly bombarded with Greek and Greco-Roman theological ideas and assumptions. Both the Greeks and the Romans believed in multiple gods and had specific ideas about cultural and moral obligations. The worship of the Greeks and Romans differed greatly from Biblical teachings. Gentile moral and cultural beliefs often openly challenged Biblical law and God’s authority. In response, Paul felt the Corinthians needed regular corrections to their understanding of God and the Christian Faith. He often had to correct not only their practices, but the very thoughts in their minds.
Have you ever had a thought that went against God take root in your mind or heart? Where God’s Word says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery!”, your eyes saw a pretty woman or gorgeous man and your thoughts went racing away from what is holy. This is just one example of the spiritual battle that goes on in the thoughts of otherwise faithful people. I’ve met Christians who struggled deeply with thoughts of suicide, insecurity, addiction, or depression. There are many people who fight daily with the desire to drink, to be self-destructive, or to get even. Trolls on the internet talk harshly to others, releasing their poison into the cyber-world. This often causes a backlash of anger and hurt. One-fourth of women have experienced some form of sexual assault. The guilt and fears from that past often rage inside their mind. There are so many thoughts that a person can have that are in direct opposition to God. You don’t even have to break a commandment to be suffering from them.
Paul ended the verse for today by writing that at times, the apostles needed to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). As I pondered his statement, I realized something very significant: we all have thoughts that need to be made captive in order to obey Christ. There are thoughts that swim around in your head that do not belong there. They cause undue harm or needless pain. They bring upon you fear or feed your self-doubt. They may be the first seeds that lead to a sin against God. I bet some of your thoughts right now need to be made captive to obey Christ. You need to take away their power over you. You need to give them up to Christ out of obedience. You need to let them go or take away their power over you.
As I was sitting in a restaurant one day, I found myself overhearing the conversation in the next booth. At least, I thought it was a conversation. A man was arguing, his voice rising above the din. At first, I thought he and his guest were upset. However, when I got up to rearrange myself on the seat, I noticed he was alone. The man had schizophrenia or a psychosis. He was arguing with himself out loud. There were voices in his head with which he was arguing. My first thought was that the guy had to be suffering. To have all these voices in your head was debilitating to say the least. However, the more I thought about what was happening, the more I realized that although this man was arguing with other people inside his head, we all argue within ourselves. We all deal with self-talk and self-dialogue. We just don’t usually say it out loud.
What kinds of thoughts are rattling around in that head of yours? Are there some self-destructive or dangerous thoughts in your mind or heart? How many of those thoughts might serve you better if you made them captive to Christ? Would you be better off if you didn’t have to fight those battles with evil and sinful thoughts that flit in and out of your mind?
Part of being a missionary or pastor or leader is dealing with beliefs of God that are wrong. You must challenge them. You must expose their sinfulness. However, part of being a faithful person also involves challenging your own sinful thoughts. You must choose to obey Christ instead of obeying those sinful thoughts that could easily feed your lustful or self-destructive urges. It is not easy to deal with some of those more dangerous thoughts that will take hold in your mind. It will take a lot of prayer and maybe long-term counseling to put away the most offensive thoughts. Medicines might be needed to help you get some control if disease has somehow strengthened the damaging thoughts of your mind. You might have to confess your sinful thoughts to a trusted and faithful friend or pastor. You might need to let go of the lies you have come to believe over the years. Again, dealing with sinful thoughts is not easy. It is difficult to bring all your thoughts in obedience to Christ.
Spiritual warfare is raged most keenly in the recesses of the human mind. It is there that Satan loves to play games with you. Be wary of the poison that may be existing in your heart and soul from the thoughts that beat you up daily. God wants to free you from the prison of sinful thoughts. God wants you to destroy the self-destructive thoughts that cause you pain during your weak moments. Daily, you need to choose between obeying Christ and following the rabbit-hole of cascading wrongful, sinful, or fearful thoughts coursing through your mind. Choose wisely.
Have you ever had a thought that went against God take root in your mind or heart? Where God’s Word says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery!”, your eyes saw a pretty woman or gorgeous man and your thoughts went racing away from what is holy. This is just one example of the spiritual battle that goes on in the thoughts of otherwise faithful people. I’ve met Christians who struggled deeply with thoughts of suicide, insecurity, addiction, or depression. There are many people who fight daily with the desire to drink, to be self-destructive, or to get even. Trolls on the internet talk harshly to others, releasing their poison into the cyber-world. This often causes a backlash of anger and hurt. One-fourth of women have experienced some form of sexual assault. The guilt and fears from that past often rage inside their mind. There are so many thoughts that a person can have that are in direct opposition to God. You don’t even have to break a commandment to be suffering from them.
Paul ended the verse for today by writing that at times, the apostles needed to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). As I pondered his statement, I realized something very significant: we all have thoughts that need to be made captive in order to obey Christ. There are thoughts that swim around in your head that do not belong there. They cause undue harm or needless pain. They bring upon you fear or feed your self-doubt. They may be the first seeds that lead to a sin against God. I bet some of your thoughts right now need to be made captive to obey Christ. You need to take away their power over you. You need to give them up to Christ out of obedience. You need to let them go or take away their power over you.
As I was sitting in a restaurant one day, I found myself overhearing the conversation in the next booth. At least, I thought it was a conversation. A man was arguing, his voice rising above the din. At first, I thought he and his guest were upset. However, when I got up to rearrange myself on the seat, I noticed he was alone. The man had schizophrenia or a psychosis. He was arguing with himself out loud. There were voices in his head with which he was arguing. My first thought was that the guy had to be suffering. To have all these voices in your head was debilitating to say the least. However, the more I thought about what was happening, the more I realized that although this man was arguing with other people inside his head, we all argue within ourselves. We all deal with self-talk and self-dialogue. We just don’t usually say it out loud.
What kinds of thoughts are rattling around in that head of yours? Are there some self-destructive or dangerous thoughts in your mind or heart? How many of those thoughts might serve you better if you made them captive to Christ? Would you be better off if you didn’t have to fight those battles with evil and sinful thoughts that flit in and out of your mind?
Part of being a missionary or pastor or leader is dealing with beliefs of God that are wrong. You must challenge them. You must expose their sinfulness. However, part of being a faithful person also involves challenging your own sinful thoughts. You must choose to obey Christ instead of obeying those sinful thoughts that could easily feed your lustful or self-destructive urges. It is not easy to deal with some of those more dangerous thoughts that will take hold in your mind. It will take a lot of prayer and maybe long-term counseling to put away the most offensive thoughts. Medicines might be needed to help you get some control if disease has somehow strengthened the damaging thoughts of your mind. You might have to confess your sinful thoughts to a trusted and faithful friend or pastor. You might need to let go of the lies you have come to believe over the years. Again, dealing with sinful thoughts is not easy. It is difficult to bring all your thoughts in obedience to Christ.
Spiritual warfare is raged most keenly in the recesses of the human mind. It is there that Satan loves to play games with you. Be wary of the poison that may be existing in your heart and soul from the thoughts that beat you up daily. God wants to free you from the prison of sinful thoughts. God wants you to destroy the self-destructive thoughts that cause you pain during your weak moments. Daily, you need to choose between obeying Christ and following the rabbit-hole of cascading wrongful, sinful, or fearful thoughts coursing through your mind. Choose wisely.
October 18
“The end of all things is at hand; therefore keep sane and sober for your prayers.” (1 Peter 4:7, RSV)

In the scripture above, the Revised Standard Version of the Bible uses some words that are less common today. The meaning of these words has changed over the years. When Peter wrote the Christians facing times of upheaval in the Roman Empire to “keep sane and sober”, Peter didn’t mean they were “not sane”, nor that they had to stop drinking heavily, i.e. keep sober! More modern versions of the Bible use the words “serious” or “clear-minded” instead of “sane”. They use the words “disciplined” or “self-controlled” instead of “sober”. Taken at their meaning, these words urge Christians facing desperate or frightful times to keep a clear head, to think instead of reacting, and to keep control over their emotions. Have you ever met those who did not?
When I heard that Billy had cancer, I was concerned. He was only seventeen and had his whole life before him! But now, that hopeful future was dashed with the one word from a doctor – “cancer”. As he lay in the hospital bed, he pondered what this diagnosis meant for his future. Walking into his hospital room, I could sense his unease, his worry, his fear. He tried to keep a positive outlook, but the worry shone brightly from his youthful face.
As we talked about the leukemia that had invaded his body, Billy looked toward the door to his hospital room. Seeing on his face and his demeanor change, I turned to see who had walked in. It was his mother. She immediately went to his side and grabbed his hand. She asked Billy if he had a fever. She asked when he last took his medicines and inquired which doctors had visited. She wanted him to immediately tell her word for word everything that was said while she was gone. It was as if I wasn’t in the room. She blasted him with question after question, worry all over her face. Her voice was demanding and impatient. She wanted to fix everything for Billy NOW! What she didn’t realize was that she was making things way worse for him.
Every time I visited Billy at hospital or at home, his mother was present. She was a bundle of nervous energy. She constantly attempted to make Billy more comfortable, check his body for changes, peruse his arms for infection, check his temperature for fevers. She was so overbearing that Billy’s friends stopped visiting. When flu season came around that fall, his mother shooed everyone away. She didn’t want Billy to get sick while going through treatment. I could see Billy was struggling. He was getting lonely. He felt like cancer had taken over his life. At times, his mother’s overwhelming concern took away all his joy. At other times, Billy had to deal with his mothers frequent crying.
Enduring months of this had taken its toll. Billy was a mess, both physically and psychologically. Despite his family’s faith that went back generations, Billy even felt separated from God. His mother’s antics drained every bit of joy and life from his day. Billy knew his mother was concerned out of love, but her care was smothering. Her frequent crying made him feel all the worse.
When you are a Christian and you fall to pieces for a long period, it makes others question your faith. It pushes others away. It takes away healing. True Christians shouldn’t be overly emotional, fall apart at the slightest obstacle, have a quick temper when things don’t go their way, or be driven by emotional peaks and valleys. If your God is so powerful as to move mountains, why would you let yourself fall apart when things don’t go well? Our scripture for today was written for early Christians who faced huge obstacles. Reeling in a time of uncertainty, Peter told the faithful to “keep sane and sober”, to keep a clear head and remain self-controlled. The last thing the church needed during those difficult times was faithful people who were going to pieces! The same thing holds true today.
When life takes a crazy turn, keep your head about you! Don’t let the situation control your emotional response. Don’t let critical comments fuel your anger. I have seen Christians get so caught up in one emotion or another that they follow their emotions instead of obeying their Lord. In that moment, who or what is really being worshiped?
Let’s also not forget WHEN those Christians in crisis were urged to “keep sane and sober”. Peter told them to remain clear-headed and serious “for their prayers” (1 Peter 4:7). If you come to God all stuffed with emotions and feelings, it may be difficult or nearly impossible to hear the voice of God. When insecurities and fears cloud everything you see and think, your prayer time will suffer.
Isn’t God more important to you than your fears? Are your insecurities so in control of your life that when God needs you to be strong, you will fall apart instead? This scripture is a clear reminder that you should never be defined by emotions or fears, insecurities or petty attitudes. Your Lord Jesus should be your strength. Jesus didn’t fall apart, even when on trial. He did not go to pieces when challenged and ridiculed by the Pharisees and Sadducees. You too need to trust in your God when things go poorly. God in Heaven should be your rock. Your prayers and heart need God’s strength. “Keep sane and sober” in your day of trial. Then, you will see God’s power pour forth.
When I heard that Billy had cancer, I was concerned. He was only seventeen and had his whole life before him! But now, that hopeful future was dashed with the one word from a doctor – “cancer”. As he lay in the hospital bed, he pondered what this diagnosis meant for his future. Walking into his hospital room, I could sense his unease, his worry, his fear. He tried to keep a positive outlook, but the worry shone brightly from his youthful face.
As we talked about the leukemia that had invaded his body, Billy looked toward the door to his hospital room. Seeing on his face and his demeanor change, I turned to see who had walked in. It was his mother. She immediately went to his side and grabbed his hand. She asked Billy if he had a fever. She asked when he last took his medicines and inquired which doctors had visited. She wanted him to immediately tell her word for word everything that was said while she was gone. It was as if I wasn’t in the room. She blasted him with question after question, worry all over her face. Her voice was demanding and impatient. She wanted to fix everything for Billy NOW! What she didn’t realize was that she was making things way worse for him.
Every time I visited Billy at hospital or at home, his mother was present. She was a bundle of nervous energy. She constantly attempted to make Billy more comfortable, check his body for changes, peruse his arms for infection, check his temperature for fevers. She was so overbearing that Billy’s friends stopped visiting. When flu season came around that fall, his mother shooed everyone away. She didn’t want Billy to get sick while going through treatment. I could see Billy was struggling. He was getting lonely. He felt like cancer had taken over his life. At times, his mother’s overwhelming concern took away all his joy. At other times, Billy had to deal with his mothers frequent crying.
Enduring months of this had taken its toll. Billy was a mess, both physically and psychologically. Despite his family’s faith that went back generations, Billy even felt separated from God. His mother’s antics drained every bit of joy and life from his day. Billy knew his mother was concerned out of love, but her care was smothering. Her frequent crying made him feel all the worse.
When you are a Christian and you fall to pieces for a long period, it makes others question your faith. It pushes others away. It takes away healing. True Christians shouldn’t be overly emotional, fall apart at the slightest obstacle, have a quick temper when things don’t go their way, or be driven by emotional peaks and valleys. If your God is so powerful as to move mountains, why would you let yourself fall apart when things don’t go well? Our scripture for today was written for early Christians who faced huge obstacles. Reeling in a time of uncertainty, Peter told the faithful to “keep sane and sober”, to keep a clear head and remain self-controlled. The last thing the church needed during those difficult times was faithful people who were going to pieces! The same thing holds true today.
When life takes a crazy turn, keep your head about you! Don’t let the situation control your emotional response. Don’t let critical comments fuel your anger. I have seen Christians get so caught up in one emotion or another that they follow their emotions instead of obeying their Lord. In that moment, who or what is really being worshiped?
Let’s also not forget WHEN those Christians in crisis were urged to “keep sane and sober”. Peter told them to remain clear-headed and serious “for their prayers” (1 Peter 4:7). If you come to God all stuffed with emotions and feelings, it may be difficult or nearly impossible to hear the voice of God. When insecurities and fears cloud everything you see and think, your prayer time will suffer.
Isn’t God more important to you than your fears? Are your insecurities so in control of your life that when God needs you to be strong, you will fall apart instead? This scripture is a clear reminder that you should never be defined by emotions or fears, insecurities or petty attitudes. Your Lord Jesus should be your strength. Jesus didn’t fall apart, even when on trial. He did not go to pieces when challenged and ridiculed by the Pharisees and Sadducees. You too need to trust in your God when things go poorly. God in Heaven should be your rock. Your prayers and heart need God’s strength. “Keep sane and sober” in your day of trial. Then, you will see God’s power pour forth.
October 20
“Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.” (Mark 6:45–46, ESV)

Recently, I was speaking with a mother who is very close to her son. The twenty-six-year-old son lives with his mother and father in a small apartment. He has a low-paying job but contributes little to the family financially. He dates but has never gotten serious about any women he has met. He is a very decent young man with a good soul. However, there is a family dynamic that is playing out at their home. It is unhealthy and, in the end, unfaithful. Let’s see what you think.
When the mother and father get upset with one another, the son usually sides with the mother. Mother and son are very close. When the father gets upset, the son becomes a buffer for the mother. The father constantly complains that the mother dotes on the son. The father believes his wife coddles the boy. The son has little gumption to move out, get a decent job, do his own laundry, or even cook for himself. His mother makes sure all this is done for him. The mother does these things “out of love” for her son. The son enjoys his living situation and loves his mother. Do you see any problem in this family dynamic?
When I presented this scenario to several people, all believed the mother is holding back her son. They are of a consensus that the son will always live in the shadow of his mother and that the women in his life with always be compared to the mother. The mother is, in many ways, shielding her son from the world. She wants him to succeed, to be safe, to be happy. However, as long as he is under her protective wing, living in a situation where his every need is taken care of, he will not grow into an independent and self-supporting member of society. Until he gets out of the shadow of his parents, he will always be limited in his potential.
There are many parents who shield and coddle their children. Some do it out of guilt or obligation. Some are “helicopter parents” who hover over their children, making all their decisions for them. Many of these people think they are being loving, when they are ultimately holding back their children. Young birds are often kicked out of the nest to fend for themselves. This shove is needed so that the young bird can learn to fly and fend for itself in a harsh and challenging world. If a young bird never leaves the nest, it often will not live a fruitful and independent life. It will be hampered. Certain species of birds will not learn to fly unless pushed out of the nest when young. If human parents do not push their children to become independent and self-sustaining, the children too will not be able to soar to their highest potential.
In the scripture for today, Jesus pushes his disciples to face a spiritually demanding situation. If you notice the first verse above, Jesus “made his disciples get into the boat” (Mark 6:45). Jesus did not go with them, but instead sent them off on their own “to the other side” of the Sea of Galilee. Then, Jesus dismissed the crowds and “went up on a mountain to pray” (Mark 6:46). For a long time, I did not notice how Jesus pushed his disciples to go on the sea that evening. I missed the fact that he sent them off to a Sea where they had to face a fierce storm without Him. When I examined these verses today, it became very apparent that Jesus “made” or “compelled” His disciples to face the Sea alone. He knew the storm was coming. He knew His disciples had to face this storm on their own in order to learn a spiritual lesson about the power of Jesus. Like a bird who pushes the young out of the nest so they may learn to fly, Jesus was pushing the disciples away from shore to discover the extent of their faith when they faced the wind and waves of the Sea. The disciples could have died on that boat! The situation that Jesus knowing put them in brought danger. He could only protect them through prayer. However, Jesus didn’t keep them on shore. He didn’t keep them safe and dry and protected. He sent them off on their mission of discovery into a dangerous but revealing situation while He prayed.
There are situations where you need to let your children grow up and face their challenges. There will be times when you are going to have to let them learn their own harsh lessons about the dangers of our world. Your job as a parent isn’t always to protect them. Sometimes, you have to send them out to spread their wings while you pray for their safety and learning. This is terribly hard for a loving parent to do. However, if you want your child to grow, it must be done. Prayer will always help. Coddling will not. Being overly protective will stunt the growth of a child. Spiritually, the same occurs with God.
God, as a parent, will push you into uncomfortable and even dangerous situations in order to help you grow and learn spiritual lessons. God will push you out of your comfort zone in order to see the world from a new perspective. God will not coddle you like an overly protective parent. God will not keep you from all danger. Life is inherently dangerous! Instead, God will watch over you as you face your obstacles and earn your wings. God will watch over you like Jesus watched over the disciples on the Sea of Galilee that night (Mark 6:48). Don’t for a minute think that God will protect you from all of life’s hard knocks. When facing harsh realities, some of the greatest lessons in life are learned.
When the mother and father get upset with one another, the son usually sides with the mother. Mother and son are very close. When the father gets upset, the son becomes a buffer for the mother. The father constantly complains that the mother dotes on the son. The father believes his wife coddles the boy. The son has little gumption to move out, get a decent job, do his own laundry, or even cook for himself. His mother makes sure all this is done for him. The mother does these things “out of love” for her son. The son enjoys his living situation and loves his mother. Do you see any problem in this family dynamic?
When I presented this scenario to several people, all believed the mother is holding back her son. They are of a consensus that the son will always live in the shadow of his mother and that the women in his life with always be compared to the mother. The mother is, in many ways, shielding her son from the world. She wants him to succeed, to be safe, to be happy. However, as long as he is under her protective wing, living in a situation where his every need is taken care of, he will not grow into an independent and self-supporting member of society. Until he gets out of the shadow of his parents, he will always be limited in his potential.
There are many parents who shield and coddle their children. Some do it out of guilt or obligation. Some are “helicopter parents” who hover over their children, making all their decisions for them. Many of these people think they are being loving, when they are ultimately holding back their children. Young birds are often kicked out of the nest to fend for themselves. This shove is needed so that the young bird can learn to fly and fend for itself in a harsh and challenging world. If a young bird never leaves the nest, it often will not live a fruitful and independent life. It will be hampered. Certain species of birds will not learn to fly unless pushed out of the nest when young. If human parents do not push their children to become independent and self-sustaining, the children too will not be able to soar to their highest potential.
In the scripture for today, Jesus pushes his disciples to face a spiritually demanding situation. If you notice the first verse above, Jesus “made his disciples get into the boat” (Mark 6:45). Jesus did not go with them, but instead sent them off on their own “to the other side” of the Sea of Galilee. Then, Jesus dismissed the crowds and “went up on a mountain to pray” (Mark 6:46). For a long time, I did not notice how Jesus pushed his disciples to go on the sea that evening. I missed the fact that he sent them off to a Sea where they had to face a fierce storm without Him. When I examined these verses today, it became very apparent that Jesus “made” or “compelled” His disciples to face the Sea alone. He knew the storm was coming. He knew His disciples had to face this storm on their own in order to learn a spiritual lesson about the power of Jesus. Like a bird who pushes the young out of the nest so they may learn to fly, Jesus was pushing the disciples away from shore to discover the extent of their faith when they faced the wind and waves of the Sea. The disciples could have died on that boat! The situation that Jesus knowing put them in brought danger. He could only protect them through prayer. However, Jesus didn’t keep them on shore. He didn’t keep them safe and dry and protected. He sent them off on their mission of discovery into a dangerous but revealing situation while He prayed.
There are situations where you need to let your children grow up and face their challenges. There will be times when you are going to have to let them learn their own harsh lessons about the dangers of our world. Your job as a parent isn’t always to protect them. Sometimes, you have to send them out to spread their wings while you pray for their safety and learning. This is terribly hard for a loving parent to do. However, if you want your child to grow, it must be done. Prayer will always help. Coddling will not. Being overly protective will stunt the growth of a child. Spiritually, the same occurs with God.
God, as a parent, will push you into uncomfortable and even dangerous situations in order to help you grow and learn spiritual lessons. God will push you out of your comfort zone in order to see the world from a new perspective. God will not coddle you like an overly protective parent. God will not keep you from all danger. Life is inherently dangerous! Instead, God will watch over you as you face your obstacles and earn your wings. God will watch over you like Jesus watched over the disciples on the Sea of Galilee that night (Mark 6:48). Don’t for a minute think that God will protect you from all of life’s hard knocks. When facing harsh realities, some of the greatest lessons in life are learned.
October 22
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!” (Isaiah 31:1, ESV)

During the days of Isaiah, the prophet, war was looming in the future for Judah. The people were aware of the growing power of the Assyrian and Babylonian empires. The leaders of Judah sought to reassure the people that they were safe against these great northern powers. Instead of relying on God to keep them safe, the leaders of Judah decided to put their faith somewhere else: in the power of Egypt. They made an alliance with the Egyptians against the Assyrians and Babylonians. Then, the leaders of Judah pronounced that the people would be protected, because of the great might of Egypt, because “they are many and in horsemen they are very strong” (Isaiah 31:1). While military alliances are sometimes very useful, in this case God viewed their ultimate reliance on the Egyptian military might as idolatry. Instead of “consulting the Lord”, they looked to Egypt for their safety and protection.
Are there times when you also might place your faith in something or someone other than God? Do you feel more secure in human institutions or God’s providence? Do you ultimately rely on God for your future? Do you pray to God about your future? These questions are supremely important to God!
When driving to work on a Friday morning, John’s car began to make a loud noise. The squealing came from the engine. His car had over two-hundred-thousand miles on it. He was worried that the engine was dying. A visit to his favorite mechanic confirmed his fears. The engine had a seized bearing on the crankshaft. The metal was wearing down. An oil passage to that portion of the engine had plugged and resulted in a damaged bearing. John was told by his mechanic that a different engine or different car would be his best bet. John heeded his mechanic’s warnings and later that day visited a used car dealer near his home.
After walking that used car lot for an hour and looking at several cars, John decided to purchase his favorite vehicle on the lot. The car was only four years old and had low miles. It was a little pricey, but he needed a new car. The salesman told John that the car was in great shape, had only one previous owner, and was marked down for a quick sale. The salesman encouraged John that he had chosen the perfect vehicle for his situation. At this point, John should have done several things. First, he should have prayed. Second, he should have taken the car for a test drive and for a visit to his favorite mechanic for a thorough inspection. Instead, John was convinced by the salesman’s pitch. The salesman promised that if there was anything wrong with the car, it would be fixed within the first 90 days. John felt this guarantee would protect him from anything going wrong. He felt confident to buy the car.
Over the next few months, John took back the car for several small repairs. He was very happy about their quick small fixes. After a year, however, serious things began to go wrong. An oil leak developed in the rear seal of the transmission. Then, the transmission developed shifting problems. By the time the transmission was fixed, the bill ran to several thousand dollars. When he told his mechanic friend about the bills, the mechanic said, “I could have told you that would happen. That model car is known for bad transmissions due to a cheap part they put in the transmission to save a few bucks at the factory.” John trusted the salesman and the 90-day guarantee that he was buying the right car. Neither helped him avoid a big bill because of what John didn’t know.
John rushed into buying his used car. He didn’t consult God. He didn’t consult his mechanic friend. He didn’t do his homework and read up on that make and model of vehicle. John wanted to get a car as quickly and painlessly as possible. He trusted the salesman. He trusted the guarantee. Neither helped him in the end.
When you place your faith and trust in people or human institutions, you are always taking a chance. When you trust a person or their promises and do not consult God, you are taking an awful chance. Look at your life today. Do you place your future financial security in the hands of the stock market, an IRA, an annuity, or a big bank account? All these can disappear overnight. During the stock market collapse of 1929, many people who did these same things committed suicide or ended up penniless. Human institutions and promises only account for so much. God is the one upon whom you can trust when making your decisions. Human guarantees and promises only go so far.
Don’t ever underestimate the value of consulting the Lord! There are so many ways that God makes things clearer for you. There are so many avenues through which God watches out for you. If you are going to place your faith in something that will last, look to your Lord God. In Jesus, we have hope. You may make mistakes, but God in Christ will be watching your back!
Are there times when you also might place your faith in something or someone other than God? Do you feel more secure in human institutions or God’s providence? Do you ultimately rely on God for your future? Do you pray to God about your future? These questions are supremely important to God!
When driving to work on a Friday morning, John’s car began to make a loud noise. The squealing came from the engine. His car had over two-hundred-thousand miles on it. He was worried that the engine was dying. A visit to his favorite mechanic confirmed his fears. The engine had a seized bearing on the crankshaft. The metal was wearing down. An oil passage to that portion of the engine had plugged and resulted in a damaged bearing. John was told by his mechanic that a different engine or different car would be his best bet. John heeded his mechanic’s warnings and later that day visited a used car dealer near his home.
After walking that used car lot for an hour and looking at several cars, John decided to purchase his favorite vehicle on the lot. The car was only four years old and had low miles. It was a little pricey, but he needed a new car. The salesman told John that the car was in great shape, had only one previous owner, and was marked down for a quick sale. The salesman encouraged John that he had chosen the perfect vehicle for his situation. At this point, John should have done several things. First, he should have prayed. Second, he should have taken the car for a test drive and for a visit to his favorite mechanic for a thorough inspection. Instead, John was convinced by the salesman’s pitch. The salesman promised that if there was anything wrong with the car, it would be fixed within the first 90 days. John felt this guarantee would protect him from anything going wrong. He felt confident to buy the car.
Over the next few months, John took back the car for several small repairs. He was very happy about their quick small fixes. After a year, however, serious things began to go wrong. An oil leak developed in the rear seal of the transmission. Then, the transmission developed shifting problems. By the time the transmission was fixed, the bill ran to several thousand dollars. When he told his mechanic friend about the bills, the mechanic said, “I could have told you that would happen. That model car is known for bad transmissions due to a cheap part they put in the transmission to save a few bucks at the factory.” John trusted the salesman and the 90-day guarantee that he was buying the right car. Neither helped him avoid a big bill because of what John didn’t know.
John rushed into buying his used car. He didn’t consult God. He didn’t consult his mechanic friend. He didn’t do his homework and read up on that make and model of vehicle. John wanted to get a car as quickly and painlessly as possible. He trusted the salesman. He trusted the guarantee. Neither helped him in the end.
When you place your faith and trust in people or human institutions, you are always taking a chance. When you trust a person or their promises and do not consult God, you are taking an awful chance. Look at your life today. Do you place your future financial security in the hands of the stock market, an IRA, an annuity, or a big bank account? All these can disappear overnight. During the stock market collapse of 1929, many people who did these same things committed suicide or ended up penniless. Human institutions and promises only account for so much. God is the one upon whom you can trust when making your decisions. Human guarantees and promises only go so far.
Don’t ever underestimate the value of consulting the Lord! There are so many ways that God makes things clearer for you. There are so many avenues through which God watches out for you. If you are going to place your faith in something that will last, look to your Lord God. In Jesus, we have hope. You may make mistakes, but God in Christ will be watching your back!
October 24
“And have mercy on those who doubt…” (Jude 22, ESV)

Your faith will be shaped by which version of the Bible you read and by the way you interpret the very words of your Bible. What you read in the Bible and how you read it will form the very fabric of your beliefs. It is therefore very important to not only choose a good Bible that is not tainted by worldly influences but to study your Bible in order to interpret its true meaning for your life. Today’s scripture gives a perfect example of this wisdom.
Jude is a very short book of the Christian New Testament. It contains only one chapter. In the 22nd verse of this short book, we find a very short phrase written above, “And have mercy on those who doubt…”. This sounds very clear. It’s meaning seems perfectly understandable. However, if you read a few other versions of the Bible, the meaning gets clouded. The Revised Standard Version of the Bible says “Convince some, who doubt”. The King James Version (1900) muddies the waters of understanding even further by saying, “And of some having compassion, making a difference…”. The New King James Version also changes the words. It reads, “And on some have compassion, making a distinction…”. Every single one of these interpretations differs from the one I chose above from the English Standard Version of the Bible.
If you were to read the scripture for today from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, you might think this verse urges you to go around “convincing” those who doubt the faith. This almost sounds like arguing with those who don’t believe strongly. That meaning is far different from “have mercy”. If you read the KJV, you might think this verse of the Bible is all about being nice, having a missionary heart, or being compassionate to others. Not only does this not mention those who doubt their faith (thus speaking to believers), it seems to suggest a good Christian should just have compassion and doubters will come to believe in time. If you read the NKJV, you might be moved to “make a distinction” among those who believe and those who doubt, as if drawing sides in a battle. To make things clearer, I studied this verse in depth. I looked at twenty versions of the Bible and read the original words in Greek. After much work, I know that this verse of the Bible clearly desires you to be merciful toward those who doubt their faith, whose faith is wavering.
To illustrate its meaning, let me tell you the story of Sabrina. When Sabrina was born, her family brought her to the church regularly. She grew up in the church, attended Sunday School and worship, and participated in church events. However, when she went to college, Sabrina began to question some of the church’s beliefs. Influenced by a friend who was a rabid young feminist, Sabrina began to doubt the tenets of her church. She began to think the church was too influenced by patriarchy. She told her parents that they were backward. When her parents talked about their church, Sabrina criticized their worldview. She made fun of their Christmas and Easter traditions, calling them mythical nonsense. The family was on the verge of fracturing due to Sabrina’s growing feminism and disdain for her parent’s faith.
If Sabrina’s mother had read Jude 22 from the RSV before speaking to Sabrina, she might be pushed to “convince” her daughter to give up her evil ways. The result might be a shouting match of epic proportions at the Christmas table. If Sabrina’s father had read Jude 22 from the NKJV version, he might have wanted to “make a distinction” between his family and their daughter. He might have urged the family to shun Sabrina or to dis-invite her from the Christmas meal. If Sabrina’s parents had read Jude 22 from the KJV, they may have opted to “just be nice” and compassionate toward their daughter. This might have led the daughter to believe that her parents’ faith was wishy-washy. In the end, the parents decided to just “have mercy” on their daughter. Their belief was that she was in a phase in her life in which she “doubted” her faith. They prayed for Sabrina, treated her with respect and mercy, but held firm to their belief in Christ.
How you read and study the Bible will inform and reflect your spiritual life. Is your version of the Bible faithful to the original language? Does it speak to you in today’s language? Can you understand what you are reading? You might find that it is better to have one version for light reading, another for Bible Study, and a third to bring with you to church on Sunday. Each version might speak differently to you at different times. Make sure those versions are trustworthy and reliable. Also, make sure you study your Bible enough to know what it really means. When in doubt, examine how multiple Bibles interpret a verse to get a better understanding. In some situations, it might more advantageous to talk to your Pastor about a difficult passage or interpretation. Your goal is to better understand God. Another goal is to make sure what you read and think about the Bible is a good reflection of TRUE faith in Jesus Christ!
Jude is a very short book of the Christian New Testament. It contains only one chapter. In the 22nd verse of this short book, we find a very short phrase written above, “And have mercy on those who doubt…”. This sounds very clear. It’s meaning seems perfectly understandable. However, if you read a few other versions of the Bible, the meaning gets clouded. The Revised Standard Version of the Bible says “Convince some, who doubt”. The King James Version (1900) muddies the waters of understanding even further by saying, “And of some having compassion, making a difference…”. The New King James Version also changes the words. It reads, “And on some have compassion, making a distinction…”. Every single one of these interpretations differs from the one I chose above from the English Standard Version of the Bible.
If you were to read the scripture for today from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, you might think this verse urges you to go around “convincing” those who doubt the faith. This almost sounds like arguing with those who don’t believe strongly. That meaning is far different from “have mercy”. If you read the KJV, you might think this verse of the Bible is all about being nice, having a missionary heart, or being compassionate to others. Not only does this not mention those who doubt their faith (thus speaking to believers), it seems to suggest a good Christian should just have compassion and doubters will come to believe in time. If you read the NKJV, you might be moved to “make a distinction” among those who believe and those who doubt, as if drawing sides in a battle. To make things clearer, I studied this verse in depth. I looked at twenty versions of the Bible and read the original words in Greek. After much work, I know that this verse of the Bible clearly desires you to be merciful toward those who doubt their faith, whose faith is wavering.
To illustrate its meaning, let me tell you the story of Sabrina. When Sabrina was born, her family brought her to the church regularly. She grew up in the church, attended Sunday School and worship, and participated in church events. However, when she went to college, Sabrina began to question some of the church’s beliefs. Influenced by a friend who was a rabid young feminist, Sabrina began to doubt the tenets of her church. She began to think the church was too influenced by patriarchy. She told her parents that they were backward. When her parents talked about their church, Sabrina criticized their worldview. She made fun of their Christmas and Easter traditions, calling them mythical nonsense. The family was on the verge of fracturing due to Sabrina’s growing feminism and disdain for her parent’s faith.
If Sabrina’s mother had read Jude 22 from the RSV before speaking to Sabrina, she might be pushed to “convince” her daughter to give up her evil ways. The result might be a shouting match of epic proportions at the Christmas table. If Sabrina’s father had read Jude 22 from the NKJV version, he might have wanted to “make a distinction” between his family and their daughter. He might have urged the family to shun Sabrina or to dis-invite her from the Christmas meal. If Sabrina’s parents had read Jude 22 from the KJV, they may have opted to “just be nice” and compassionate toward their daughter. This might have led the daughter to believe that her parents’ faith was wishy-washy. In the end, the parents decided to just “have mercy” on their daughter. Their belief was that she was in a phase in her life in which she “doubted” her faith. They prayed for Sabrina, treated her with respect and mercy, but held firm to their belief in Christ.
How you read and study the Bible will inform and reflect your spiritual life. Is your version of the Bible faithful to the original language? Does it speak to you in today’s language? Can you understand what you are reading? You might find that it is better to have one version for light reading, another for Bible Study, and a third to bring with you to church on Sunday. Each version might speak differently to you at different times. Make sure those versions are trustworthy and reliable. Also, make sure you study your Bible enough to know what it really means. When in doubt, examine how multiple Bibles interpret a verse to get a better understanding. In some situations, it might more advantageous to talk to your Pastor about a difficult passage or interpretation. Your goal is to better understand God. Another goal is to make sure what you read and think about the Bible is a good reflection of TRUE faith in Jesus Christ!
October 26
““Fear God,” he shouted. “Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.”” (Revelation 14:7, NLT)

The words of the scripture for today are spoken by an angel of God during the end times. The sentences are “shouted” so that all people may hear them. Those in Heaven can hear the sentences clearly. Those on earth may be able to hear them. I think it is very prudent that you discern the meaning of what the angel is saying in this verse. The angel’s words of wisdom apply to your life today.
The angel begins the pronouncement from heaven with the command, “Fear God!”. This does NOT mean you should be afraid of God. It means you should respect God in all ways, showing awe and worship. In the next sentence, the angel explains that God is soon going to judge all the earth. Judgment Day is coming. Every bit of creation needs to worship the God who has the power of life and death, of present and future.
In between calling for respect or fear of God and reminding all creation to worship God, there is one phrase upon which I want you to devote your time today. That phrase is “Give glory to Him [God].” There are many people over time who have offered their praise and worship and glory to the wrong people or things. They did not give God the glory for blessings or life or salvation or heaven or earth. You must never be numbered among those people.
“Missionary Hudson Taylor was scheduled to speak at a Large Presbyterian church in Melbourne, Australia. The moderator of the service introduced the missionary in eloquent and glowing terms. He told the large congregation all that Taylor had accomplished in China, and then presented him as "our illustrious guest." Taylor stood quietly for a moment, and then opened his message by saying, "Dear friends, I am the little servant of an illustrious Master."” (W. Wiersbe, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching and Preachers, p. 243). Hudson Taylor did not glory in his accomplishments. He did not brag about his abilities nor intellect. Instead, he called himself a little servant with “an illustrious Master”. He gave God the credit for everything.
Contrast this with the story of the Queen in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. She would look at her own appearance in a mirror and ask, “Who is the fairest (most beautiful) one of all?” She expected the magic mirror to tell her that she was the most beautiful. There are many people in Hollywood today who have whole entourages of fans who are willing to tell the singer or actor that he or she is “the most beautiful”, “a great actor”, “most benevolent”, or “wise beyond years”! Where many of the screwed up in our world desire others to tell them how great they are, the holiest are those who tell others how great God is!
“The famous inventor Samuel Morse was once asked if he ever encountered situations where he didn't know what to do. Morse responded, "More than once, and whenever I could not see my way clearly, I knelt down and prayed to God for light and understanding."
Morse received many honors from his invention of the telegraph but felt undeserving: "I have made a valuable application of electricity not because I was superior to other men but solely because God, who meant it for mankind, must reveal it to someone and He was pleased to reveal it to me."” (Tim Hansel, Eating Problems for Breakfast, pp. 33-34).
Are you a little too quick to take credit for things that God has done? Do you pride yourself on your intelligence, schooling, or income, or do you give God the credit? The Queen in the Snow White story ended up being evil. Her evil reign began with her self-absorbed pridefulness and self-glory. When anyone is unwilling to give credit for their blessings to God, it will always turn out bad in the end.
Give glory to God. The angel in today’s scripture shouts it. How well do you heed those words? Are you a little too prideful? Do you take too much credit for yourself? How much credit do you give God, especially when talking to others?
The angel begins the pronouncement from heaven with the command, “Fear God!”. This does NOT mean you should be afraid of God. It means you should respect God in all ways, showing awe and worship. In the next sentence, the angel explains that God is soon going to judge all the earth. Judgment Day is coming. Every bit of creation needs to worship the God who has the power of life and death, of present and future.
In between calling for respect or fear of God and reminding all creation to worship God, there is one phrase upon which I want you to devote your time today. That phrase is “Give glory to Him [God].” There are many people over time who have offered their praise and worship and glory to the wrong people or things. They did not give God the glory for blessings or life or salvation or heaven or earth. You must never be numbered among those people.
“Missionary Hudson Taylor was scheduled to speak at a Large Presbyterian church in Melbourne, Australia. The moderator of the service introduced the missionary in eloquent and glowing terms. He told the large congregation all that Taylor had accomplished in China, and then presented him as "our illustrious guest." Taylor stood quietly for a moment, and then opened his message by saying, "Dear friends, I am the little servant of an illustrious Master."” (W. Wiersbe, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching and Preachers, p. 243). Hudson Taylor did not glory in his accomplishments. He did not brag about his abilities nor intellect. Instead, he called himself a little servant with “an illustrious Master”. He gave God the credit for everything.
Contrast this with the story of the Queen in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. She would look at her own appearance in a mirror and ask, “Who is the fairest (most beautiful) one of all?” She expected the magic mirror to tell her that she was the most beautiful. There are many people in Hollywood today who have whole entourages of fans who are willing to tell the singer or actor that he or she is “the most beautiful”, “a great actor”, “most benevolent”, or “wise beyond years”! Where many of the screwed up in our world desire others to tell them how great they are, the holiest are those who tell others how great God is!
“The famous inventor Samuel Morse was once asked if he ever encountered situations where he didn't know what to do. Morse responded, "More than once, and whenever I could not see my way clearly, I knelt down and prayed to God for light and understanding."
Morse received many honors from his invention of the telegraph but felt undeserving: "I have made a valuable application of electricity not because I was superior to other men but solely because God, who meant it for mankind, must reveal it to someone and He was pleased to reveal it to me."” (Tim Hansel, Eating Problems for Breakfast, pp. 33-34).
Are you a little too quick to take credit for things that God has done? Do you pride yourself on your intelligence, schooling, or income, or do you give God the credit? The Queen in the Snow White story ended up being evil. Her evil reign began with her self-absorbed pridefulness and self-glory. When anyone is unwilling to give credit for their blessings to God, it will always turn out bad in the end.
Give glory to God. The angel in today’s scripture shouts it. How well do you heed those words? Are you a little too prideful? Do you take too much credit for yourself? How much credit do you give God, especially when talking to others?
October 28
“Seek good and not evil, that you may live; And thus may the Lord God of hosts be with you, Just as you have said! Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the Lord God of hosts May be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” (Amos 5:14–15, NASB95)

Recently, I watched a news program that saddened my heart. On it were interviewed people who were strongly emotional about politics. One cited, “I hate this president!”. Another mentioned that all who disagreed with her opinions should not be allowed to talk. A third mentioned that our country needs to demand her kind of justice or there should be consequences. A fourth mentioned that police should confiscate the guns of anyone who believed a certain way, whether they committed a crime or not. I find it terrible that people today want to control others, demand their own way, shut up those who disagree, and control others out of fear. Good and evil have been turned on their end. For these people, good is defined as what agrees with them. Evil is defined as what disagrees with them. It is clear to me that these people have no idea what constitutes true good and evil.
For faithful people of God, good and evil are defined from a different perspective. They are not personal choices or selfish principles. They are defined by the God who created the universe. As long as people fail to follow God, they will distort what is good and evil. Where people selfishly define good and evil, there will be injustice and hatred and fighting and war. When the media seeks to control the definition of good and evil, redefining it based on political or social fads, all the world will suffer. God knows true good and evil.
In the days of the prophet Amos, even the holy people of Israel had distorted good and evil. They treated the poor like trash (Amos 8:6). Injustice had poisoned the land (Amos 6:12). Authorities were known to take bribes. It was during this time of social and moral upheaval that the prophet Amos was sent by God to the people of Israel. Part of his mission was to remind the Israelites to keep faithful to the concepts of good and evil as defined by God. In Amos 5:14, the prophet tells the people to “seek good and not evil”. If they did not, the Lord would not be with them. He also preached that holy people should take sides in the battle for good and evil. They should “hate evil and love good” (Amos 5:15). They should keep faithful to God’s definition of good and evil so that there may be justice in the land and God will bless them.
I want you to understand, dear child of God, that God’s definitions of good and evil do not change. God’s law and word have made clear what defines each. When people move away from God, as in the days of Amos, good and evil will be redefined. Then, justice will become perverted. Throughout history, this same corruption of what defines good and evil has taken place. Each time these concepts were distorted, and God is taken out of the equation, injustice and inequality became commonplace.
Conrad Roy killed himself in 2014. Soon after his death, police discovered that his girlfriend had sent him dozens of texts urging him to commit suicide. A Massachusetts court found the girlfriend, Michelle Carter, guilty of Conrad Roy’s death. When Conrad considered not going through the suicide, Carter convinced him to just get it over with, no excuses. I find it interesting that some people considered Michelle Carter’s texts “clearly not wrong”, even when she urged her boyfriend to kill himself. In court, it was argued that Michelle never outright killed her boyfriend. While true, she did not alert anyone that he was suicidal. She also did not give him any reasons to live. Instead, she urged him follow through and kill himself.
During this case, how some people defined good and evil became evident. The defense argued that it is legal to let someone die without any help, encourage a person to die, and show no respect for the value of a life. Because Michelle never pulled a trigger or poisoned her boyfriend, she should be free from responsibility. However, just because a person didn’t pull a trigger doesn’t mean she is innocent. Her words and influence directly caused the death of Conrad Roy. Conrad is also responsible for his suicide. Happily, the court system found Michelle Carter guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Conrad Roy.
As this court case was being fought out in public opinion, there were many people who defended Michelle Carter. Some cited the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution, protecting free speech. I, on the other hand, believe in the law of God. I believe life is precious to God, based on many scriptures. I believe good is made apparent even from the first pages of the Bible in Genesis, when human beings were created in the image of God to tend and keep creation. From the beginning, God sought to preserve and protect life whenever possible. Each life is precious to God. Murder is clearly rejected in the Ten Commandments of Exodus 20. Good is defined as doing what is right in the eyes of God. This court case brought out how good and evil can be redefined by a young woman, by an attorney, and in the court of public opinion. God’s opinion on the matter hasn’t changed.
Our scripture for today brings to the forefront that you should “hate evil” and “love good”. Some have distorted this message today urging people to “hate life”, “hate Democrats”, “Hate Republicans”, “hate immigrants”, “hate conservatives or liberals”. Other have distorted what it means to be good. They may think good is what agrees with their opinion or with their agenda. For you, good and evil have been permanently defined by the Word of God and through the saving grace of Christ. I hope you never confuse what is good and evil. It will never turn out good for you in the end.
For faithful people of God, good and evil are defined from a different perspective. They are not personal choices or selfish principles. They are defined by the God who created the universe. As long as people fail to follow God, they will distort what is good and evil. Where people selfishly define good and evil, there will be injustice and hatred and fighting and war. When the media seeks to control the definition of good and evil, redefining it based on political or social fads, all the world will suffer. God knows true good and evil.
In the days of the prophet Amos, even the holy people of Israel had distorted good and evil. They treated the poor like trash (Amos 8:6). Injustice had poisoned the land (Amos 6:12). Authorities were known to take bribes. It was during this time of social and moral upheaval that the prophet Amos was sent by God to the people of Israel. Part of his mission was to remind the Israelites to keep faithful to the concepts of good and evil as defined by God. In Amos 5:14, the prophet tells the people to “seek good and not evil”. If they did not, the Lord would not be with them. He also preached that holy people should take sides in the battle for good and evil. They should “hate evil and love good” (Amos 5:15). They should keep faithful to God’s definition of good and evil so that there may be justice in the land and God will bless them.
I want you to understand, dear child of God, that God’s definitions of good and evil do not change. God’s law and word have made clear what defines each. When people move away from God, as in the days of Amos, good and evil will be redefined. Then, justice will become perverted. Throughout history, this same corruption of what defines good and evil has taken place. Each time these concepts were distorted, and God is taken out of the equation, injustice and inequality became commonplace.
Conrad Roy killed himself in 2014. Soon after his death, police discovered that his girlfriend had sent him dozens of texts urging him to commit suicide. A Massachusetts court found the girlfriend, Michelle Carter, guilty of Conrad Roy’s death. When Conrad considered not going through the suicide, Carter convinced him to just get it over with, no excuses. I find it interesting that some people considered Michelle Carter’s texts “clearly not wrong”, even when she urged her boyfriend to kill himself. In court, it was argued that Michelle never outright killed her boyfriend. While true, she did not alert anyone that he was suicidal. She also did not give him any reasons to live. Instead, she urged him follow through and kill himself.
During this case, how some people defined good and evil became evident. The defense argued that it is legal to let someone die without any help, encourage a person to die, and show no respect for the value of a life. Because Michelle never pulled a trigger or poisoned her boyfriend, she should be free from responsibility. However, just because a person didn’t pull a trigger doesn’t mean she is innocent. Her words and influence directly caused the death of Conrad Roy. Conrad is also responsible for his suicide. Happily, the court system found Michelle Carter guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Conrad Roy.
As this court case was being fought out in public opinion, there were many people who defended Michelle Carter. Some cited the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution, protecting free speech. I, on the other hand, believe in the law of God. I believe life is precious to God, based on many scriptures. I believe good is made apparent even from the first pages of the Bible in Genesis, when human beings were created in the image of God to tend and keep creation. From the beginning, God sought to preserve and protect life whenever possible. Each life is precious to God. Murder is clearly rejected in the Ten Commandments of Exodus 20. Good is defined as doing what is right in the eyes of God. This court case brought out how good and evil can be redefined by a young woman, by an attorney, and in the court of public opinion. God’s opinion on the matter hasn’t changed.
Our scripture for today brings to the forefront that you should “hate evil” and “love good”. Some have distorted this message today urging people to “hate life”, “hate Democrats”, “Hate Republicans”, “hate immigrants”, “hate conservatives or liberals”. Other have distorted what it means to be good. They may think good is what agrees with their opinion or with their agenda. For you, good and evil have been permanently defined by the Word of God and through the saving grace of Christ. I hope you never confuse what is good and evil. It will never turn out good for you in the end.
October 30
“But Amos replied, “I’m not a professional prophet, and I was never trained to be one. I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people in Israel.’” (Amos 7:14–15, NLT)

The scripture above contains “the” event which changed Amos’ life. He came from hardy stock but was “not a professional prophet” (Amos 7:14). He was never “trained”. He was a lowly shepherd who also took care of sycamore trees. He was a man of the earth, an average farmer, your everyday kind of guy. Despite having no formal training and no political or religious connections, Amos was “called away” by God to be a prophet (Amos 7:15). God did not choose a well-spoken and highly connected religious figure who was close to King Jeroboam. Instead, God chose Amos. God made him the greatest prophet of this period in the history of Israel.
You cannot predict whom God will call to do His work. You cannot predict when it will happen. God chooses specific people for specific works at specific times. Some people will answer that call by God when it comes. Amos did answer the call. Some people refuse God’s calling. They have doubts. Fears may cloud their judgment. They may think that the sins of their past will exclude them from a call by God. When Amos was called by God, it changed the whole history of Israel and Judah. Amos’ prophecies came at a crucial time when God desired to cleanse the sin of Israel. You have also been called by God at some time in your life, otherwise you wouldn’t be here reading this right now. You might think that a special call by God won’t come your way. Don’t ever assume God won’t do special things with your life. God took Amos from a farmer’s field and the sycamore trees he cared for and made him the greatest prophet of the period. What makes you think God can’t use you at this time or in the near future? God has already been working behind the scenes setting up parts of your life. Do you have a clue as to what God has planned?
“In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made application to Prior Richard at a local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the monastery. "Your Majesty," said Prior Richard, "do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king."
"I understand," said Henry. "The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you."
"Then I will tell you what to do," said Prior Richard. "Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you." When King Henry died, a statement was written: "The King learned to rule by being obedient." When we tire of our roles and responsibilities, it helps to remember God has planted us in a certain place and told us to be a good accountant or teacher or mother or father. Christ expects us to be faithful where he puts us...” (Steve Brown, Key Biscayne, Florida)
Like Amos and King Henry III, God may pull you away from the mundane parts of your life to do something significant. It’ll be a mission for God. There will be spiritual battles involved. You will need to be obedient like King Henry III. You may be hated (Amos was hated, threatened, and defamed). The work God has for you may be difficult. The road you travel for God may be mined with obstacles and spiritual booby-traps set by Satan. Many do not answer the call of God. Some do. Some follow through. Some will complete their work. However, nothing will happen if you don’t answer God’s call when it comes. You can’t start on the road God has planned unless you resolve to answer that call by God at the right time!
Do you feel ill-at-ease or incomplete lately? Do you feel like you are searching for something that remains elusive or unclear? Don’t be surprised if what you are feeling is a call from God that something needs to happen in your life. Answer the call. Begin that work. Be obedient.
You cannot predict whom God will call to do His work. You cannot predict when it will happen. God chooses specific people for specific works at specific times. Some people will answer that call by God when it comes. Amos did answer the call. Some people refuse God’s calling. They have doubts. Fears may cloud their judgment. They may think that the sins of their past will exclude them from a call by God. When Amos was called by God, it changed the whole history of Israel and Judah. Amos’ prophecies came at a crucial time when God desired to cleanse the sin of Israel. You have also been called by God at some time in your life, otherwise you wouldn’t be here reading this right now. You might think that a special call by God won’t come your way. Don’t ever assume God won’t do special things with your life. God took Amos from a farmer’s field and the sycamore trees he cared for and made him the greatest prophet of the period. What makes you think God can’t use you at this time or in the near future? God has already been working behind the scenes setting up parts of your life. Do you have a clue as to what God has planned?
“In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made application to Prior Richard at a local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the monastery. "Your Majesty," said Prior Richard, "do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king."
"I understand," said Henry. "The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you."
"Then I will tell you what to do," said Prior Richard. "Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you." When King Henry died, a statement was written: "The King learned to rule by being obedient." When we tire of our roles and responsibilities, it helps to remember God has planted us in a certain place and told us to be a good accountant or teacher or mother or father. Christ expects us to be faithful where he puts us...” (Steve Brown, Key Biscayne, Florida)
Like Amos and King Henry III, God may pull you away from the mundane parts of your life to do something significant. It’ll be a mission for God. There will be spiritual battles involved. You will need to be obedient like King Henry III. You may be hated (Amos was hated, threatened, and defamed). The work God has for you may be difficult. The road you travel for God may be mined with obstacles and spiritual booby-traps set by Satan. Many do not answer the call of God. Some do. Some follow through. Some will complete their work. However, nothing will happen if you don’t answer God’s call when it comes. You can’t start on the road God has planned unless you resolve to answer that call by God at the right time!
Do you feel ill-at-ease or incomplete lately? Do you feel like you are searching for something that remains elusive or unclear? Don’t be surprised if what you are feeling is a call from God that something needs to happen in your life. Answer the call. Begin that work. Be obedient.