September 1
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”
(Psalm 91:1–4, NLT)
(Psalm 91:1–4, NLT)
When U.S. Marines are in a gunfight in Iraq, they are often protected by "air cover" from above. The "air cover" might be an A-10 Warthog airplane which can swoop in and take out opposing tanks, artillery, or hardened defense positions. It might be an F-16 which can drop a bomb nearby on a strong opposing force. The "air cover" is meant to give final protection to the grunts on the ground in the fight. If everything goes wrong, they can count on their air cover to give backup protection.
Whether in a firefight or at work, at home or on a trip; you also have spiritual "air cover". It is explained beautifully in Psalm 91, written above. This scripture makes clear that from the point of view of the author, God is the "Most High" (Psalm 91:1). He is above all, watching you from on high. On earth, you are in the "shadow of the Almighty". The Almighty God is right above, close by, watching over you. How do I know? His "shadow" gives you comfort and "rest", "safety and refuge" (Psalm 91:2). You can't be under the shadow of a building unless that building is right above you, nearby. In the same way, you can't be in God's shadow unless HE is right above you, nearby. Like the "air cover" thousands of feet above the Marines in Iraq ready to swoop in and protect the soldiers on the ground, God is above you ready to "rescue you from every trap and protect you" (Psalm 91:3). He will shelter you. His promises will "protect you" like "armor" (Psalm 91:4). The image of God's "feathers" in verse 3 liken God to a bird in the sky who circles you, not like a vulture but instead like a mother-bird, ready to swoop in and rescue her precious children.
This scripture was meant to give you comfort to face whatever you have to face in the world. Like the "air cover" brings comfort to every soldier fighting on the ground, God's "cover" is a great protection for you in life. If God's shadow is near, you are under the eyes of the Most High. Your actions are watched. Your life is securely in His sights. Like armor gives great protection to a tank, God is your greatest protection in life. Do you feel that protection today?
The early American Indians had a unique practice of training young braves. On the night of a boy's thirteenth birthday, after learning hunting, scouting, and fishing skills, he was put to one final test. He was placed in a dense forest to spend the entire night alone. Until then, he had never been away from the security of the family and the tribe. But on this night, he was blindfolded and taken several miles away.
When he took off the blindfold, he was in the middle of a thick woods and he was terrified! The night would be incredibly dark and looming. Every time a twig snapped, he visualized a wild animal ready to pounce. After what seemed like an eternity, dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight entered the interior of the forest. Looking around, the boy saw flowers, trees, and the outline of the path. Then, to his utter astonishment, he beheld the figure of a man standing just a few feet away, armed with a bow and arrow. It was his father. He had been there all night long. (Originally from Our Daily Bread, this story is found online at: http://www.christianglobe.com/Illustrations/theDetails.asp?whichOne=p&whichFile=protection)
The Indian brave had no idea he was being protected by his father. When he saw the bow and arrow, then recognized his father nearby, he knew not to fear in the day or the night. Someone was watching over him.
Someone is watching over you. When you made promises to God, God made promises of protection for you (Psalm 91:4). From the day you began your relationship with God, and even before, God's eyes were upon you. God was and is watching carefully. Like the Indian brave protected by his father, you need not fear in the darkest night or the dreadful hour. You are never alone unless you send God away. Otherwise, God will be present, watching, his shadow dancing over you. You are in safe hands.
Do you feel the safety of being in God's "shadow" today? Find courage to face whatever it is you must face, knowing that the Most High God is your "air cover". The God who created the whole universe watches over your day. His eye is upon your situation. His ear is open to your cry for help (Psalm 34:15). Love can be found under HIS wings!
Whether in a firefight or at work, at home or on a trip; you also have spiritual "air cover". It is explained beautifully in Psalm 91, written above. This scripture makes clear that from the point of view of the author, God is the "Most High" (Psalm 91:1). He is above all, watching you from on high. On earth, you are in the "shadow of the Almighty". The Almighty God is right above, close by, watching over you. How do I know? His "shadow" gives you comfort and "rest", "safety and refuge" (Psalm 91:2). You can't be under the shadow of a building unless that building is right above you, nearby. In the same way, you can't be in God's shadow unless HE is right above you, nearby. Like the "air cover" thousands of feet above the Marines in Iraq ready to swoop in and protect the soldiers on the ground, God is above you ready to "rescue you from every trap and protect you" (Psalm 91:3). He will shelter you. His promises will "protect you" like "armor" (Psalm 91:4). The image of God's "feathers" in verse 3 liken God to a bird in the sky who circles you, not like a vulture but instead like a mother-bird, ready to swoop in and rescue her precious children.
This scripture was meant to give you comfort to face whatever you have to face in the world. Like the "air cover" brings comfort to every soldier fighting on the ground, God's "cover" is a great protection for you in life. If God's shadow is near, you are under the eyes of the Most High. Your actions are watched. Your life is securely in His sights. Like armor gives great protection to a tank, God is your greatest protection in life. Do you feel that protection today?
The early American Indians had a unique practice of training young braves. On the night of a boy's thirteenth birthday, after learning hunting, scouting, and fishing skills, he was put to one final test. He was placed in a dense forest to spend the entire night alone. Until then, he had never been away from the security of the family and the tribe. But on this night, he was blindfolded and taken several miles away.
When he took off the blindfold, he was in the middle of a thick woods and he was terrified! The night would be incredibly dark and looming. Every time a twig snapped, he visualized a wild animal ready to pounce. After what seemed like an eternity, dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight entered the interior of the forest. Looking around, the boy saw flowers, trees, and the outline of the path. Then, to his utter astonishment, he beheld the figure of a man standing just a few feet away, armed with a bow and arrow. It was his father. He had been there all night long. (Originally from Our Daily Bread, this story is found online at: http://www.christianglobe.com/Illustrations/theDetails.asp?whichOne=p&whichFile=protection)
The Indian brave had no idea he was being protected by his father. When he saw the bow and arrow, then recognized his father nearby, he knew not to fear in the day or the night. Someone was watching over him.
Someone is watching over you. When you made promises to God, God made promises of protection for you (Psalm 91:4). From the day you began your relationship with God, and even before, God's eyes were upon you. God was and is watching carefully. Like the Indian brave protected by his father, you need not fear in the darkest night or the dreadful hour. You are never alone unless you send God away. Otherwise, God will be present, watching, his shadow dancing over you. You are in safe hands.
Do you feel the safety of being in God's "shadow" today? Find courage to face whatever it is you must face, knowing that the Most High God is your "air cover". The God who created the whole universe watches over your day. His eye is upon your situation. His ear is open to your cry for help (Psalm 34:15). Love can be found under HIS wings!
September 2
“John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
“What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”” (Luke 3:7–14, NIV84)
“What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”” (Luke 3:7–14, NIV84)
When a torrent of rain befell Houston, some fifty inches of it, a resident stood in the middle of a flooded kitchen. She looked around at the damage. Out her window, she saw the devastation from the deluge. She was surrounded by wood that may rot and insulation that would have to be replaced, cupboards that would start to smell if not treated. She was happy to be alive, but deeply discouraged. With tears in her eyes, she turned to her husband and said, "What do we do now?"
Throughout history, people facing accidents, floods, fires, earthquakes and tsunamis, death or destruction have all said the same at some point. They too had to stop and wonder what to do. It may be overwhelming to ask or think, but in order to move on in life past the unfortunate times, these people had to start somewhere. They had to put their lives back in order. To accomplish that, they had to ask themselves and those they love, "What do we do now? Where do we start? How can we put our lives back in order?"
John the Baptist was preparing the world for Jesus (Luke 3:4). Many people came to hear John and responded to his preaching. They were searching for God, for redemption, for absolution. Some had fallen away from God. Some had sinned against God and now regretted the inevitable shame and guilt. Most were desperate to find solace in life or God's presence in difficult times. John the Baptist reminded the people of God's command to repent. Baptizing many, he urged them to change their ways as a sign of repentance saying, "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8). He wanted them to change their ways, start over in their relationship with God, live like people who have been given a second chance at life. What John did not want them to do is think they were saved and given grace because they were God's chosen people. Just because your ancestors believed in God doesn't mean you can live like you don't believe in God! John wanted the people to know that dark times were looming. Those who didn't have a relationship with God were doomed (Luke 3:9). They should produce "good fruit" in their lives. Spiritual fruit. Godly results. Three times in this scripture (in Luke 3:10, 12, and 14), the new converts asked "what should we do?". They wanted to know how to produce good spiritual fruit for God. They wanted to know what God wanted in this new relationship. John was happy to tell them.
Three examples of good spiritual fruit are listed in Luke 3:10-15. They are actions that God blesses. In Luke 3:11, John tells the crowd of believers to share their clothes and food with the needy. In Luke 3:13, John tells the Tax Collectors who repent not to cheat anymore. They should act justly and use their position to be fair, not taking advantage of others. Finally, to a group of soldiers, John reminded them not to steal or accuse people falsely. They also should be content with their wages. To each of these groups of believers, there were different requirements for what they should do. It depended on their weaknesses or power. Each challenge depended on who they were. BUT, notice that the newly repentant are NOT told to "be" something. They are told to "do" something. God doesn't want you just to "be" faithful. God wants you to "do" something with your true and sincere faith.
Do you bear fruit that befits repentance? Does your life bear good spiritual fruit for God? Are others touched by your giving, amazed at your fairness or honesty? Are you apt to cheat when you can get away with it? A true and faithful Christian does not just "say" they are Christian. They live like it. They are examples for God in their actions and work. They "do" what is needed by God.
In those moments in your life when you wonder, "What do I do now?", realize that your response is immensely important to God. Your life needs to reflect God's presence. Your actions will show if your faith is real. If you do not produce "good fruits" that reflect your faithfulness, what good are you to God? Luke 3:9 contains a warning that all those who do not produce good spiritual fruit will be treated like trees that do not produce fruit. They will be cut down and thrown into the fire. What do you think this means for your future?
What are you going to do with your day, today? How can you bear good spiritual fruit? What you "do" today will demonstrate just what it is you believe. God is watching for your decision in the matter.
Throughout history, people facing accidents, floods, fires, earthquakes and tsunamis, death or destruction have all said the same at some point. They too had to stop and wonder what to do. It may be overwhelming to ask or think, but in order to move on in life past the unfortunate times, these people had to start somewhere. They had to put their lives back in order. To accomplish that, they had to ask themselves and those they love, "What do we do now? Where do we start? How can we put our lives back in order?"
John the Baptist was preparing the world for Jesus (Luke 3:4). Many people came to hear John and responded to his preaching. They were searching for God, for redemption, for absolution. Some had fallen away from God. Some had sinned against God and now regretted the inevitable shame and guilt. Most were desperate to find solace in life or God's presence in difficult times. John the Baptist reminded the people of God's command to repent. Baptizing many, he urged them to change their ways as a sign of repentance saying, "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8). He wanted them to change their ways, start over in their relationship with God, live like people who have been given a second chance at life. What John did not want them to do is think they were saved and given grace because they were God's chosen people. Just because your ancestors believed in God doesn't mean you can live like you don't believe in God! John wanted the people to know that dark times were looming. Those who didn't have a relationship with God were doomed (Luke 3:9). They should produce "good fruit" in their lives. Spiritual fruit. Godly results. Three times in this scripture (in Luke 3:10, 12, and 14), the new converts asked "what should we do?". They wanted to know how to produce good spiritual fruit for God. They wanted to know what God wanted in this new relationship. John was happy to tell them.
Three examples of good spiritual fruit are listed in Luke 3:10-15. They are actions that God blesses. In Luke 3:11, John tells the crowd of believers to share their clothes and food with the needy. In Luke 3:13, John tells the Tax Collectors who repent not to cheat anymore. They should act justly and use their position to be fair, not taking advantage of others. Finally, to a group of soldiers, John reminded them not to steal or accuse people falsely. They also should be content with their wages. To each of these groups of believers, there were different requirements for what they should do. It depended on their weaknesses or power. Each challenge depended on who they were. BUT, notice that the newly repentant are NOT told to "be" something. They are told to "do" something. God doesn't want you just to "be" faithful. God wants you to "do" something with your true and sincere faith.
Do you bear fruit that befits repentance? Does your life bear good spiritual fruit for God? Are others touched by your giving, amazed at your fairness or honesty? Are you apt to cheat when you can get away with it? A true and faithful Christian does not just "say" they are Christian. They live like it. They are examples for God in their actions and work. They "do" what is needed by God.
In those moments in your life when you wonder, "What do I do now?", realize that your response is immensely important to God. Your life needs to reflect God's presence. Your actions will show if your faith is real. If you do not produce "good fruits" that reflect your faithfulness, what good are you to God? Luke 3:9 contains a warning that all those who do not produce good spiritual fruit will be treated like trees that do not produce fruit. They will be cut down and thrown into the fire. What do you think this means for your future?
What are you going to do with your day, today? How can you bear good spiritual fruit? What you "do" today will demonstrate just what it is you believe. God is watching for your decision in the matter.
September 3
“I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.”
(Psalm 119:60, NIV)
(Psalm 119:60, NIV)
I well remember my children going to school. That first day of school was always interesting, especially kindergarten. When mothers or fathers are dropping off their kids for kindergarten, half the kids are crying and it seems the other half are wondering, "Should I be crying, too?". The children are looking at their parents leaving and seem to be thinking, "Why are you leaving me here? How long will you be gone? Can I come home?" Some kids love to go back to school, to see friends, to start a new year with new opportunities. Other kids have to be dragged to school, kicking and screaming the whole way.
Christians can carry the same attitudes as children on their first day of school. Some Christians can't wait to do something new and different for God, to make a change, to repent. Others drag their feet against the changes, fighting God the whole way. Some Christians will hop to it when they feel God's tug. Others will procrastinate or find excuses to prolong the "inevitable". Which type of Christian are you?
When I first met Karen, I could tell she was a wonderful person. She was easy to get along with and very upbeat. She had an easy smile and a gentle, warm personality. Then, I had quite the shock when I met her husband. The two came to a potluck dinner one evening at the church. It was during the time of Lent. The potluck meal would be followed by an evening Lenten Worship service. Karen introduced Bill to me. He shook my hand, but his demeanor was off. We spoke for a few minutes. Bill was fidgety, distant. I noticed that when Karen went up the stairs to the sanctuary, Bill left the building.
A few days later, Karen came up to me to "apologize" for her husband's coldness. I told her that it didn't offend me. She told me how Bill was an angry man who had lost his parents at a young age. She believed that he blamed God for their deaths in a car accident. Karen prayed for Bill every day. She wanted him to see the God she believed in, a God who was loving and gracious. Bill's response every time she talked about God was silence or a grunt. For many years, Karen prayed for Bill. As he wallowed in his anger and resentment, she grew in faith and patience, love and hope. By the time I left that church, her loving grace toward her husband and God's persistent call upon his life ended up with Bill in church one Sunday. He still goes to this day. But, Bill is a changed man. He's warm and friendly, gracious though quiet. As for Karen, the beaming smile seems all the more bright.
Some people fight God all the way. For some, like Bill, they fight their beliefs and fight with the past. These caused him to fight the acceptance of God's grace and love. You might find a season in your life where you fight with God, fight what is right, struggle with the truth, or are too angry to own up to your failure. At these and many other times, you might find yourself kicking and screaming against God's blessing, God's forgiveness and grace, God's judgment, or God's call upon your life. You may even know it’s the wrong thing to do. Obstinately, you will do it anyway.
Psalm 119 begins by saying that the blameless, those who do right, are blessed by God (Psalm 119:1). In verse 60 of that Psalm, this author who is hopeful of doing the right thing said he "will hasten and not delay to obey God's commands". In his life, the author has found that fighting God just doesn't work. It causes you to feel "shame" (Psalm 119:6, 31) and pursue "wickedness" (Psalm 119:53). Being quick to obey God's commands, the author has instead found "comfort in affliction" (Psalm 119:50) and hope in difficult moments (Psalm 119:43, 49, 81, 114, 116 and 166!!!). To resist God puts off all the good God can give. It results in profound sadness, pain, loss of hope, sinfulness, wickedness and anger.
Is there something you are struggling with today? Do you have "issues" with something God is saying or doing? Are you a spiritual procrastinator? Do you fight with God about things you know you need to do? This scripture and this author want to contend with you today. Will you listen to their wisdom and trust what they see?
Christians can carry the same attitudes as children on their first day of school. Some Christians can't wait to do something new and different for God, to make a change, to repent. Others drag their feet against the changes, fighting God the whole way. Some Christians will hop to it when they feel God's tug. Others will procrastinate or find excuses to prolong the "inevitable". Which type of Christian are you?
When I first met Karen, I could tell she was a wonderful person. She was easy to get along with and very upbeat. She had an easy smile and a gentle, warm personality. Then, I had quite the shock when I met her husband. The two came to a potluck dinner one evening at the church. It was during the time of Lent. The potluck meal would be followed by an evening Lenten Worship service. Karen introduced Bill to me. He shook my hand, but his demeanor was off. We spoke for a few minutes. Bill was fidgety, distant. I noticed that when Karen went up the stairs to the sanctuary, Bill left the building.
A few days later, Karen came up to me to "apologize" for her husband's coldness. I told her that it didn't offend me. She told me how Bill was an angry man who had lost his parents at a young age. She believed that he blamed God for their deaths in a car accident. Karen prayed for Bill every day. She wanted him to see the God she believed in, a God who was loving and gracious. Bill's response every time she talked about God was silence or a grunt. For many years, Karen prayed for Bill. As he wallowed in his anger and resentment, she grew in faith and patience, love and hope. By the time I left that church, her loving grace toward her husband and God's persistent call upon his life ended up with Bill in church one Sunday. He still goes to this day. But, Bill is a changed man. He's warm and friendly, gracious though quiet. As for Karen, the beaming smile seems all the more bright.
Some people fight God all the way. For some, like Bill, they fight their beliefs and fight with the past. These caused him to fight the acceptance of God's grace and love. You might find a season in your life where you fight with God, fight what is right, struggle with the truth, or are too angry to own up to your failure. At these and many other times, you might find yourself kicking and screaming against God's blessing, God's forgiveness and grace, God's judgment, or God's call upon your life. You may even know it’s the wrong thing to do. Obstinately, you will do it anyway.
Psalm 119 begins by saying that the blameless, those who do right, are blessed by God (Psalm 119:1). In verse 60 of that Psalm, this author who is hopeful of doing the right thing said he "will hasten and not delay to obey God's commands". In his life, the author has found that fighting God just doesn't work. It causes you to feel "shame" (Psalm 119:6, 31) and pursue "wickedness" (Psalm 119:53). Being quick to obey God's commands, the author has instead found "comfort in affliction" (Psalm 119:50) and hope in difficult moments (Psalm 119:43, 49, 81, 114, 116 and 166!!!). To resist God puts off all the good God can give. It results in profound sadness, pain, loss of hope, sinfulness, wickedness and anger.
Is there something you are struggling with today? Do you have "issues" with something God is saying or doing? Are you a spiritual procrastinator? Do you fight with God about things you know you need to do? This scripture and this author want to contend with you today. Will you listen to their wisdom and trust what they see?
September 4
“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.”
(Proverbs 25:28, RSV)
(Proverbs 25:28, RSV)
Jericho was a veritable fortress in the days before Joshua and the army of Israel encamped against it. The city was surrounded by high walls and defended tenaciously by its inhabitants. Of all the cities the Israelites fought against, it seemed the strongest. But God knew something important about that city. It's walls were the only thing keeping the city safe. When the people of Israel came against that fortress city, God promised that it would soon belong to Israel (Joshua 6:2). At first, Joshua's armies were forbidden from fighting against the highly fortified city. Instead, God told Joshua and his army to march around the city for six days (Joshua 6:3). On the seventh day, the army was required to blast their trumpets while the people shouted. When the soldiers and Joshua did as God commanded, the walls of Jericho fell flat (Joshua 6:20). The result? The armies "took the city". The city could not defend itself without its walls.
A ranch house cannot stand without some form of walls to brace it. The walls of a cell keep it safe from invading pathogens. The levee walls in New Orleans are the only thing keeping the city from constant flooding. Without walls, many things in life are not defensible or protected. According to Proverbs 25:28, "self-control" is like a wall for human beings. You need "self-control" like the ancient city of Jericho needed its defensive walls. Without self-control, you will be defenseless against the temptations of life and the challenges of Satan. Self-control is crucial for the faithful.
1 Corinthians 7:5 states emphatically that Satan uses a person's weak self-control to tempt him or her. Galatians 5:23 lists self-control as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is a spiritual trait that is highly desirable and necessary in the life of the church. But in modern times, self-control is played down. Advertisers even attempt to get you to let down your guard and set aside your self-control. They know that without self-control, you are vulnerable to their ploys. Nike's advertising slogan is "Just do it!" In essence, they are suggesting that instead of thinking about something, you "just do it". McDonald's doesn't want you to exercise self-control with its fast food. A slogan at the company for years was "You deserve a break today!" This motto suggested that you should not bother with the hassle of preparing a healthy meal, taking time from your hectic schedule. You should take a break from all that. Let McDonald's cook for you! Pringles believes "Once you pop, you can't stop" in its advertisements. It is suggesting that self-control will be thrown out the window once you taste their potato chips. Sprite's motto is "Obey your thirst!". It suggests you let thirst for Sprite override everything else. Just obey it! These and many other slogans encourage people today to set aside self-control to let one's passions and desires have their way. But honestly, is it good to set aside your self-control? Where will that get you?
Against all odds, New Jersey native Evelyn Adams won the lottery in both 1985 and 1986. She was awarded over five million dollars for winning. She began her good fortune by throwing out all self-control. She went to Atlantic City and gambled. She made trips and purchases that she would normally not have done. Today, she lives in a trailer park and has no savings. ( http://www.businessinsider.com/how-lottery-winners-spend-winnings-2016-1) She's not the only lottery winner to suffer such a fate. Michael Carroll, the winner of a British lottery of over 14 million dollars in 2002, used to be a garbage collector. But after winning his millions, he bought a mansion, sought out expensive prostitutes, and began to heavily abuse alcohol and drugs. One article wrote that he would snort cocaine with a solid gold pen. The windfall of money destroyed his life (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/09/michael-carroll-lottery-works-cookie-factory_n_3568198.html?ncid=edlinkushpmg00000046&te=PopSugar). These two people along with many others have wrecked their lives by throwing out self-control when acquiring wealth. This dangerous move will always cost you.
Self-control is protective. It helps you. Despite what advertisements and slogans may suggest, self-control is needed in your life. It will keep you from self-destruction and financial ruin. It also will protect you spiritually. If you toss out self-control, you will inevitably wreck your relationship with God. As Jericho was destroyed without its protective walls, you will only find personal, moral, physical, financial, and spiritual self-destruction without self-control. So, don't look at self-control as holding you back from having fun in life. Instead, see self-control as a way to protect what you hold most dear.
Are there any areas of your life suffering from a loss of self-control? A weak self-control in one area of your life can damage another area of your life. It can wreck your diet, blow your budget, and keep you from a healthy spiritual life. It will spread its damage to other areas of your life. Keeping faithful requires strong self-control. That's why God blessed your life with self-control. That's why self-control is seen as a spiritual gift. God wants you protected. God wants you safe. That's how much God loves you!
A ranch house cannot stand without some form of walls to brace it. The walls of a cell keep it safe from invading pathogens. The levee walls in New Orleans are the only thing keeping the city from constant flooding. Without walls, many things in life are not defensible or protected. According to Proverbs 25:28, "self-control" is like a wall for human beings. You need "self-control" like the ancient city of Jericho needed its defensive walls. Without self-control, you will be defenseless against the temptations of life and the challenges of Satan. Self-control is crucial for the faithful.
1 Corinthians 7:5 states emphatically that Satan uses a person's weak self-control to tempt him or her. Galatians 5:23 lists self-control as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is a spiritual trait that is highly desirable and necessary in the life of the church. But in modern times, self-control is played down. Advertisers even attempt to get you to let down your guard and set aside your self-control. They know that without self-control, you are vulnerable to their ploys. Nike's advertising slogan is "Just do it!" In essence, they are suggesting that instead of thinking about something, you "just do it". McDonald's doesn't want you to exercise self-control with its fast food. A slogan at the company for years was "You deserve a break today!" This motto suggested that you should not bother with the hassle of preparing a healthy meal, taking time from your hectic schedule. You should take a break from all that. Let McDonald's cook for you! Pringles believes "Once you pop, you can't stop" in its advertisements. It is suggesting that self-control will be thrown out the window once you taste their potato chips. Sprite's motto is "Obey your thirst!". It suggests you let thirst for Sprite override everything else. Just obey it! These and many other slogans encourage people today to set aside self-control to let one's passions and desires have their way. But honestly, is it good to set aside your self-control? Where will that get you?
Against all odds, New Jersey native Evelyn Adams won the lottery in both 1985 and 1986. She was awarded over five million dollars for winning. She began her good fortune by throwing out all self-control. She went to Atlantic City and gambled. She made trips and purchases that she would normally not have done. Today, she lives in a trailer park and has no savings. ( http://www.businessinsider.com/how-lottery-winners-spend-winnings-2016-1) She's not the only lottery winner to suffer such a fate. Michael Carroll, the winner of a British lottery of over 14 million dollars in 2002, used to be a garbage collector. But after winning his millions, he bought a mansion, sought out expensive prostitutes, and began to heavily abuse alcohol and drugs. One article wrote that he would snort cocaine with a solid gold pen. The windfall of money destroyed his life (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/09/michael-carroll-lottery-works-cookie-factory_n_3568198.html?ncid=edlinkushpmg00000046&te=PopSugar). These two people along with many others have wrecked their lives by throwing out self-control when acquiring wealth. This dangerous move will always cost you.
Self-control is protective. It helps you. Despite what advertisements and slogans may suggest, self-control is needed in your life. It will keep you from self-destruction and financial ruin. It also will protect you spiritually. If you toss out self-control, you will inevitably wreck your relationship with God. As Jericho was destroyed without its protective walls, you will only find personal, moral, physical, financial, and spiritual self-destruction without self-control. So, don't look at self-control as holding you back from having fun in life. Instead, see self-control as a way to protect what you hold most dear.
Are there any areas of your life suffering from a loss of self-control? A weak self-control in one area of your life can damage another area of your life. It can wreck your diet, blow your budget, and keep you from a healthy spiritual life. It will spread its damage to other areas of your life. Keeping faithful requires strong self-control. That's why God blessed your life with self-control. That's why self-control is seen as a spiritual gift. God wants you protected. God wants you safe. That's how much God loves you!
September 5
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful...”
(Hebrews 10:23, NASB95)
(Hebrews 10:23, NASB95)
David had a terribly long day at work. After finishing a night shift, he was approached by the supervisor with bad news. Half of the next shift's workers were out with the flu. He would have to fill in extra hours to cover. Two of David's three kids were sick as well. It had been a hard three days between long hours at work and sick kids to care for at home. He hadn't slept well. He was bushed. As he finished the extra hours, he came out of the plant and began his ride home. The drive was only ten minutes long, but it was a quiet break. He never played the radio on the ride home.
As he rode home, passing the miles, he began to think about his family. At that precise moment, he realized that his daughter's first piano recital had been held three hours before. He missed it. As he walked in from the garage to the kitchen, he saw her sad eyes. Just before she went to sleep, he told her again how sorry he was. She gave him the words he hated to hear, "Dad, you promised." No amount of explaining could cover up the fact that he had promised to be there and he wasn't able to attend. He blew it.
Deadbeat parents are good at breaking their promises. Liars are good at breaking promises. Adulterers have broken their marriage vows. From the schoolyard to the graveyard, people have broken their promises to others since the beginning of time. You shouldn't make promises you can't keep, but you might be tempted to do it anyway. Maybe you want to look good. Maybe you had good intentions. Maybe something unforeseen happened, or there was an accident. One way or another, I bet everyone you know has broken at least a few promises in life. You probably have as well. From the scripture above, we can see that out of all the beings in the universe, God is the one you can count on to keep HIS promises every time.
We don't know who wrote Hebrews. Some have guessed at who it might be. What we do know is that the author knew about Jewish tradition and wrote from the Jewish perspective to the faithful who believed in Jesus. The author was raised knowing the Old Testament and quotes it often. A few verses before the reading for today, the author mentioned that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin so that we may enter into God's sanctuary (Hebrews 10:19). Like the blood of the lamb saved the Israelites in the days of the Passover (Exodus 12:21, See also Hebrews 11:28), Jesus' blood gives us the confidence of God's saving grace in the present time. We have hope that God will forgive us, redeem us, and deliver us, as in the days of Exodus. Even when our days are numbered and short, when we face death or the Day of Judgment, we have confidence that our lives have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:25). The reason for our "confidence"? Our hope is in the God who keeps promises, a God who is utterly and completely faithful (Hebrews 10:23).
Some people have forgotten that God always keeps HIS promises. They carelessly sin figuring God will ignore it or not remember it on the Day of Judgment (Jeremiah 23:24). But God always remembers. He has promised judgment for good and bad. You, on the other hand, are a child of God. You repent and forgive. You have made your commitments to God and followed God's command. In response, God remembers you…. “But the loving kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, … To those who keep His covenant ….” (Psalm 103:17–18). God keeps HIS promises of grace and love forever. God won't go back on his promises made to you… ever.
Two guys from the East Coast went through Marine Boot Camp at Parris Island during the 1960's. They ended up in the same platoon during the Vietnam War. One night, during intense fighting at a small clearing where the group was ambushed, the two ended up in a hastily dug fox hole waiting for relief forces to find them. Fearing the worst, the two made a pact. Since both were married, they each promised to care for the other's family if one made it back and the other didn't. Twenty-four hours later, one was dead. The other was determined to keep his promise. Upon returning to the states, he visited his friend's home and did what he could. When he got out of the service, he made sure the family was taken care of. He periodically checked in on them. He even began a college fund for the oldest child.
Years later, I happened to be at the funeral of that Vietnam Vet. I didn't know any of this history until the oldest child from that family he helped introduced herself to me. She filled me in on the promises that Marine had made and kept. I had a difficult time keeping the tears away through the whole service knowing that I watched over a faithful Marine placed into his final rest, a Marine who kept his promise to his buddy for the rest of his life.
It is a beautiful thing when an honorable and godly promise is kept. God blesses such commitment.
Are you a faithful promise keeper? When you give your word, do you come through? Isn't it great to know that God keeps all HIS promises forever? In your dark days and in the midst of your worries, remember that God keeps HIS promises forever. When you face a great challenge, have courage. God keeps HIS promises forever. When you are hurting or in pain, have hope. The pain will pass sometime, someday. But God's promises will never fade, never fall out of favor, never be revoked. Keep your relationship with God alive and God's Spirit will be your constant reminder that God will take care of everything you need in the end (Ephesians 1:13-14). God's promises are forever.
As he rode home, passing the miles, he began to think about his family. At that precise moment, he realized that his daughter's first piano recital had been held three hours before. He missed it. As he walked in from the garage to the kitchen, he saw her sad eyes. Just before she went to sleep, he told her again how sorry he was. She gave him the words he hated to hear, "Dad, you promised." No amount of explaining could cover up the fact that he had promised to be there and he wasn't able to attend. He blew it.
Deadbeat parents are good at breaking their promises. Liars are good at breaking promises. Adulterers have broken their marriage vows. From the schoolyard to the graveyard, people have broken their promises to others since the beginning of time. You shouldn't make promises you can't keep, but you might be tempted to do it anyway. Maybe you want to look good. Maybe you had good intentions. Maybe something unforeseen happened, or there was an accident. One way or another, I bet everyone you know has broken at least a few promises in life. You probably have as well. From the scripture above, we can see that out of all the beings in the universe, God is the one you can count on to keep HIS promises every time.
We don't know who wrote Hebrews. Some have guessed at who it might be. What we do know is that the author knew about Jewish tradition and wrote from the Jewish perspective to the faithful who believed in Jesus. The author was raised knowing the Old Testament and quotes it often. A few verses before the reading for today, the author mentioned that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin so that we may enter into God's sanctuary (Hebrews 10:19). Like the blood of the lamb saved the Israelites in the days of the Passover (Exodus 12:21, See also Hebrews 11:28), Jesus' blood gives us the confidence of God's saving grace in the present time. We have hope that God will forgive us, redeem us, and deliver us, as in the days of Exodus. Even when our days are numbered and short, when we face death or the Day of Judgment, we have confidence that our lives have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:25). The reason for our "confidence"? Our hope is in the God who keeps promises, a God who is utterly and completely faithful (Hebrews 10:23).
Some people have forgotten that God always keeps HIS promises. They carelessly sin figuring God will ignore it or not remember it on the Day of Judgment (Jeremiah 23:24). But God always remembers. He has promised judgment for good and bad. You, on the other hand, are a child of God. You repent and forgive. You have made your commitments to God and followed God's command. In response, God remembers you…. “But the loving kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, … To those who keep His covenant ….” (Psalm 103:17–18). God keeps HIS promises of grace and love forever. God won't go back on his promises made to you… ever.
Two guys from the East Coast went through Marine Boot Camp at Parris Island during the 1960's. They ended up in the same platoon during the Vietnam War. One night, during intense fighting at a small clearing where the group was ambushed, the two ended up in a hastily dug fox hole waiting for relief forces to find them. Fearing the worst, the two made a pact. Since both were married, they each promised to care for the other's family if one made it back and the other didn't. Twenty-four hours later, one was dead. The other was determined to keep his promise. Upon returning to the states, he visited his friend's home and did what he could. When he got out of the service, he made sure the family was taken care of. He periodically checked in on them. He even began a college fund for the oldest child.
Years later, I happened to be at the funeral of that Vietnam Vet. I didn't know any of this history until the oldest child from that family he helped introduced herself to me. She filled me in on the promises that Marine had made and kept. I had a difficult time keeping the tears away through the whole service knowing that I watched over a faithful Marine placed into his final rest, a Marine who kept his promise to his buddy for the rest of his life.
It is a beautiful thing when an honorable and godly promise is kept. God blesses such commitment.
Are you a faithful promise keeper? When you give your word, do you come through? Isn't it great to know that God keeps all HIS promises forever? In your dark days and in the midst of your worries, remember that God keeps HIS promises forever. When you face a great challenge, have courage. God keeps HIS promises forever. When you are hurting or in pain, have hope. The pain will pass sometime, someday. But God's promises will never fade, never fall out of favor, never be revoked. Keep your relationship with God alive and God's Spirit will be your constant reminder that God will take care of everything you need in the end (Ephesians 1:13-14). God's promises are forever.
September 6
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
(James 2:14–17, ESV)
(James 2:14–17, ESV)
A church in Ohio was having problems. Members were fighting among themselves. Some supported the new pastor, some didn't. Families were taking sides. Issues seemed to split the church. Finally, the leaders of the church called for a congregational meeting. After presenting some of the issues and problems, members began to express their feelings and frustrations, their anger and hope. Half an hour later, a woman got up to the microphone to speak. She said, "I've sat in this pew for fifty years now. I come practically every Sunday, unless I was sick. I believe we should kick out the preacher and bring in someone who can bring us as a church together." This strong statement earned her an ovation from several long-time members. When I heard about it, I wanted to throw up. Essentially, what she was saying is that a person who sits in worship is a strong Christian who should be heard. That, my friend, is a bunch of crap. The ones who should be heeded are those who worship on Sunday and then go out and do mission work, ministry, help the needy, and serve the poor the rest of the week. They are the ones who are humble in spirit and charitable in heart. They show love where others show hate. This woman from Ohio thought she should be respected and revered for sitting in a pew on Sunday. But its not the amount of times you sit in a pew that matters most to God. To God, what you DO with what you learn in that pew means everything.
Pew sitters hate me. Pew sitters are people who sit like a lump on a log on Sunday, most every Sunday. But they don't do God's work the rest of the time. Often, they want to be entertained. Sometimes, they want to be seen worshiping, as if that qualifies them for respect. I do believe worship attendance is crucially important. But if all you do for God is sit in a pew, you get no respect from God or me. The scripture for today hits at pew sitters. It is critical of their spiritual inaction.
The apostle James wrote in his letter to the faithful: "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed or lacking in food, and one of you says, 'Go in peace. Be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?" (James 2:15). James saw no "good" coming from sending a person in need away, even if you used kind words. James wanted to see action on the part of the faithful person. If a person was hungry, he should be fed. If a woman lacked adequate clothing, she should be helped. No matter how nice of a person you are, or what nice words you give, there are times when a person will need actual help. Words won't cut it in this instance. Action is required. James commanded that "faith by itself, it it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:17). To James, when action was required, faith needed works. Faith needed godly deeds. Sometimes, what true faith requires is not more talk, talk, talk. To sit quietly when action is needed shows a faith that is dying or dead. It is not alive and worthy. It is not filled with the Spirit.
Twenty-some years ago, I visited a family in my congregation. The mother was a hard worker. The family was active in the church. The two young girls in the family were sweet and very respectful. Because of divorce, the father was not in the picture. The family had hit hard times. The girls would sometimes go to bed hungry. When I visited them, I saw they had needs. To start, I helped them get help for the rent. I also secured for them someone to fix a few things in their apartment. Because they lived in a dangerous neighborhood, I worked with the landlord to get them better locks on the door. Altogether, a fund in the church set aside for needs such as this paid for about $300 in repairs and utilities and rent for the family. I knew it would go a long way and put them back on their feet.
Three months after the work was done, the bills came before a church leader. He was very upset that I had "thrown away" so much money on just one family in the church. He said I lacked discretion. Since the giving was anonymous and the family was not named, he pressed me to find out who deserved such extravagant giving. I did not tell him. That day I earned an enemy in the church. Whenever I asked for a vote for anything, he constantly voted against me because I would not tell him the family's name. I never did. But, I will tell you something I never told him, dear Christian friend. The family I helped were that leader's own daughter and granddaughters. I don't think he ever figured it out. What I did know was that the man was as stingy to me as he was to his own family. His daughter would not ask her own father for help, because she knew he would only tell her how bad she was. So, without my help, that family would have been hungry for months. I couldn't stand to watch it. I had to do something. I was roundly criticized for taking action in love. I gladly paid the penalty. What would you have done?
There are many reasons to sit and do nothing when something needs to be done. Your actions may hurt people's feelings. Your faithful help might cost money or require your time and effort. But, faith without works is dead. To do nothing when God obviously wants something done will cost something, too! It will cause God to lose respect for you. Why? Faith without works is dead (James 2:17).
Today, I want you to consider if something needs to be done somewhere in your life. Is the time of just talking over? Is it time to get up and do something? How can you help? Sometimes, words of comfort are God's best action. Sometimes, work and deeds surpass all talk. Faith requires words of comfort AND deeds accomplished with godly discretion. Faith requires both worship and work. God wants people who don’t just sit in a pew, but ones who will stand up and do what is required in that crucial moment. Are you all talk? What would it take for you to "do" something with your faith this week?
Pew sitters hate me. Pew sitters are people who sit like a lump on a log on Sunday, most every Sunday. But they don't do God's work the rest of the time. Often, they want to be entertained. Sometimes, they want to be seen worshiping, as if that qualifies them for respect. I do believe worship attendance is crucially important. But if all you do for God is sit in a pew, you get no respect from God or me. The scripture for today hits at pew sitters. It is critical of their spiritual inaction.
The apostle James wrote in his letter to the faithful: "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed or lacking in food, and one of you says, 'Go in peace. Be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?" (James 2:15). James saw no "good" coming from sending a person in need away, even if you used kind words. James wanted to see action on the part of the faithful person. If a person was hungry, he should be fed. If a woman lacked adequate clothing, she should be helped. No matter how nice of a person you are, or what nice words you give, there are times when a person will need actual help. Words won't cut it in this instance. Action is required. James commanded that "faith by itself, it it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:17). To James, when action was required, faith needed works. Faith needed godly deeds. Sometimes, what true faith requires is not more talk, talk, talk. To sit quietly when action is needed shows a faith that is dying or dead. It is not alive and worthy. It is not filled with the Spirit.
Twenty-some years ago, I visited a family in my congregation. The mother was a hard worker. The family was active in the church. The two young girls in the family were sweet and very respectful. Because of divorce, the father was not in the picture. The family had hit hard times. The girls would sometimes go to bed hungry. When I visited them, I saw they had needs. To start, I helped them get help for the rent. I also secured for them someone to fix a few things in their apartment. Because they lived in a dangerous neighborhood, I worked with the landlord to get them better locks on the door. Altogether, a fund in the church set aside for needs such as this paid for about $300 in repairs and utilities and rent for the family. I knew it would go a long way and put them back on their feet.
Three months after the work was done, the bills came before a church leader. He was very upset that I had "thrown away" so much money on just one family in the church. He said I lacked discretion. Since the giving was anonymous and the family was not named, he pressed me to find out who deserved such extravagant giving. I did not tell him. That day I earned an enemy in the church. Whenever I asked for a vote for anything, he constantly voted against me because I would not tell him the family's name. I never did. But, I will tell you something I never told him, dear Christian friend. The family I helped were that leader's own daughter and granddaughters. I don't think he ever figured it out. What I did know was that the man was as stingy to me as he was to his own family. His daughter would not ask her own father for help, because she knew he would only tell her how bad she was. So, without my help, that family would have been hungry for months. I couldn't stand to watch it. I had to do something. I was roundly criticized for taking action in love. I gladly paid the penalty. What would you have done?
There are many reasons to sit and do nothing when something needs to be done. Your actions may hurt people's feelings. Your faithful help might cost money or require your time and effort. But, faith without works is dead. To do nothing when God obviously wants something done will cost something, too! It will cause God to lose respect for you. Why? Faith without works is dead (James 2:17).
Today, I want you to consider if something needs to be done somewhere in your life. Is the time of just talking over? Is it time to get up and do something? How can you help? Sometimes, words of comfort are God's best action. Sometimes, work and deeds surpass all talk. Faith requires words of comfort AND deeds accomplished with godly discretion. Faith requires both worship and work. God wants people who don’t just sit in a pew, but ones who will stand up and do what is required in that crucial moment. Are you all talk? What would it take for you to "do" something with your faith this week?
September 7
“But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.””
(Ephesians 5:13–14, ESV)
(Ephesians 5:13–14, ESV)
Carly Jo was greatly loved by her parents. She was a great kid, intelligent, popular. Throughout her years in Elementary and Middle School, and most of her High School, Carly Jo (or "Jo" as her friends called her) was on the honor roll. She was active in many groups at school, her favorite being the school newspaper. She was the photographer.
In Jo's junior year at High School, she began to hang around a different crowd. They dressed in clothes that looked more "beat up". While looking down on "jocks" and "preppy losers", the group prided themselves in being more eclectic and discerning. Jo's new friends were a fringe group in the school that was known to take drugs. The more Jo got involved with them, the more her personality shifted. She became more confrontive. She got in more arguments at home. She began to rebel. After a couple of weekends where she came home drunk or high, her parents found her in bed at 11am one Saturday morning. She had a hangover again. Her clothes smelled strongly like marijuana. Jo's father woke her up, saying, "Jo! Jo! What are you doing? Why did you get drunk again?"
Her response was typically confrontive: "Get out of my room! Who said you could be in here?"
Her father's words as he stood up stated his feelings perfectly.. "Jo, you better wake up! These friends of yours are not good people. They will wreck you. I think its time you get your head on straight!"
Carly Jo was in a precarious time of her life. Depending on her choices that Saturday morning, her life could change for the better or fall apart. Her father saw this. He was trying to help. He wanted her to wake up from her recent dangerous lifestyle choices and get back on track.
Two common phrases these days are "wake up and smell the coffee" and "wake up and smell the roses". These phrases don't mean one needs to get out of bed, per se, but instead to metaphorically wake up from a stupor of bad choices or a poor lifestyle. Both phrases are meant as "wake up calls" to get a person to see something they've been missing in life.
Dr. Keith Webb is a Professional Certified Coach who has written several books on the topic of Christian leadership. On his web site, he wrote an article called "Are You Sleeping Through Your Life" in which he explains what he sees are common areas of life in which people are sleepwalking through decisions. Some people sleep through career choices. They choose a job based on what is convenient, not on what they want to be doing with their life (or God wants them doing with their life). Some people sleep through financial decisions. They "wake up" one morning full of debt and find it hard to keep financially afloat. Others, like Jo in the story above, sleep through friendships. They side with a wrong crowd or a friend who gets them in trouble, but don’t realize it until too late. Finally, Dr. Webb mentions that some even sleep through marriage. Taking a spouse for granted is no way to go through life. In the article, he ends up by asking his clients and readers to wake up to what is truly going on in life. They should make good decisions, change their focus, realign their reality.
Long ago, the apostle Paul suggested people "wake up" to the importance of having God in their lives. In the scripture from Ephesians written above, Paul talked about "exposing the light" of God's wisdom to the lives of all people (Ephesians 5:13). He wanted all the world to accept that Jesus was the light of the world. He wanted people to leave the darkness of their sin behind and move their lives into the light of God's presence (Ephesians 5:8-9). Just like light can show you what lies ahead in the darkness, the light of God's grace and wisdom can discern what is good from what is evil (Ephesians 5:8-11). He urged the faithful to "walk in the light", following God's leading (Ephesians 5:8). In the scripture for today, he ended the discussion with the words "Awake O Sleeper, arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you " (Ephesians 5:14). Paul's hope was that every person would wake up from sin's lies, leaving the darkness of evil behind. You need to walk in Christ's light of wisdom and grace.
Today, consider if you are indeed asleep at the wheel of your life. Are you aware of the consequences of your actions? Do you see with the light of God's light shining down upon you? Are there places of darkness in your life, where you are sleepwalking toward a bad place? Wake up! Make good choices. Enjoy the light of God's wisdom as you make your choices and take your steps. Wake up to your true potential as God sees it. Allow God to shine some needed light on some important areas of your life.
In Jo's junior year at High School, she began to hang around a different crowd. They dressed in clothes that looked more "beat up". While looking down on "jocks" and "preppy losers", the group prided themselves in being more eclectic and discerning. Jo's new friends were a fringe group in the school that was known to take drugs. The more Jo got involved with them, the more her personality shifted. She became more confrontive. She got in more arguments at home. She began to rebel. After a couple of weekends where she came home drunk or high, her parents found her in bed at 11am one Saturday morning. She had a hangover again. Her clothes smelled strongly like marijuana. Jo's father woke her up, saying, "Jo! Jo! What are you doing? Why did you get drunk again?"
Her response was typically confrontive: "Get out of my room! Who said you could be in here?"
Her father's words as he stood up stated his feelings perfectly.. "Jo, you better wake up! These friends of yours are not good people. They will wreck you. I think its time you get your head on straight!"
Carly Jo was in a precarious time of her life. Depending on her choices that Saturday morning, her life could change for the better or fall apart. Her father saw this. He was trying to help. He wanted her to wake up from her recent dangerous lifestyle choices and get back on track.
Two common phrases these days are "wake up and smell the coffee" and "wake up and smell the roses". These phrases don't mean one needs to get out of bed, per se, but instead to metaphorically wake up from a stupor of bad choices or a poor lifestyle. Both phrases are meant as "wake up calls" to get a person to see something they've been missing in life.
Dr. Keith Webb is a Professional Certified Coach who has written several books on the topic of Christian leadership. On his web site, he wrote an article called "Are You Sleeping Through Your Life" in which he explains what he sees are common areas of life in which people are sleepwalking through decisions. Some people sleep through career choices. They choose a job based on what is convenient, not on what they want to be doing with their life (or God wants them doing with their life). Some people sleep through financial decisions. They "wake up" one morning full of debt and find it hard to keep financially afloat. Others, like Jo in the story above, sleep through friendships. They side with a wrong crowd or a friend who gets them in trouble, but don’t realize it until too late. Finally, Dr. Webb mentions that some even sleep through marriage. Taking a spouse for granted is no way to go through life. In the article, he ends up by asking his clients and readers to wake up to what is truly going on in life. They should make good decisions, change their focus, realign their reality.
Long ago, the apostle Paul suggested people "wake up" to the importance of having God in their lives. In the scripture from Ephesians written above, Paul talked about "exposing the light" of God's wisdom to the lives of all people (Ephesians 5:13). He wanted all the world to accept that Jesus was the light of the world. He wanted people to leave the darkness of their sin behind and move their lives into the light of God's presence (Ephesians 5:8-9). Just like light can show you what lies ahead in the darkness, the light of God's grace and wisdom can discern what is good from what is evil (Ephesians 5:8-11). He urged the faithful to "walk in the light", following God's leading (Ephesians 5:8). In the scripture for today, he ended the discussion with the words "Awake O Sleeper, arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you " (Ephesians 5:14). Paul's hope was that every person would wake up from sin's lies, leaving the darkness of evil behind. You need to walk in Christ's light of wisdom and grace.
Today, consider if you are indeed asleep at the wheel of your life. Are you aware of the consequences of your actions? Do you see with the light of God's light shining down upon you? Are there places of darkness in your life, where you are sleepwalking toward a bad place? Wake up! Make good choices. Enjoy the light of God's wisdom as you make your choices and take your steps. Wake up to your true potential as God sees it. Allow God to shine some needed light on some important areas of your life.
September 8
“How the Lord in his anger has set the daughter of Zion under a cloud! He has cast down from heaven to earth the splendor of Israel; he has not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger.”
(Lamentations 2:1, RSV)
(Lamentations 2:1, RSV)
The book of Lamentations in the Christian Old Testament is full of sadness and longing. When it was written, the people of Jerusalem and Judah were in exile (Lamentations 1:3). The armies of Babylon had utterly destroyed Jerusalem and its beautiful temple. A time of great suffering and mourning had come upon the land of God's chosen people. The cause for the war, suffering, and exile was sin. The people had sinned against God. In truth, they had committed a "multitude of sins" (Lamentations 1:5). From priests to leaders to workers, the people had let sin take a hold in God's land. God could stand it no longer. Filled with anger at the sin, God planned to root out evil in the land. The book of Lamentations is rife with cries (lamentations!) of grief and suffering because of God's correction for the sin of the people.
Lamentations 2 begins with a very interesting statement about what happened when God turned against the people of Israel. In the reading for today, we are told that God's anger against the sin in the land caused Jerusalem and Judah (the daughter of Zion) to be put "under a cloud" (Lamentations 2:1). The people were humiliated and put to shame. They suffered. Nothing they did seemed to work. Until God's anger was abated and sin left the land, the "cloud" of God's judgment would prevail.
In 1940, during the Second World War, Germany's might was turned against England. The period was called "the blitz" because Hitler wanted to bring the "blitzkrieg" or "lightning war" upon the British homeland. Day and night German bombers dropped bombs on the aerodromes, cities, and military bases in England. Hundreds of planes at a time blanketed the skies. Smoke from bombs and fires billowed up into the air. Destruction prevailed. People of that time recall those days as "dark times" not only because of the smoke of the fires but also because of the planes and bombs that blotted out the sun. The citizens considered those "dark times" because of the shadow of war and uncertainty cast upon the land. People didn't know if there was going to be a future for their country. Their way of life was in peril.
Every person who has experienced troubles in life knows what its like to "live under a cloud" or experience "dark times". When challenges take their toll, you might feel overwhelmed. When financial difficulties arise, you might feel deprived and the future might seem bleak. In the midst of a war, a country might find itself struggling with supplies or reeling from deaths in battle. There may come a dark time upon your life, where everything you do feels difficult or saps your strength. It is important when those dark times come that you make sure that it is not because of sin that you experience them.
After a wedding I had performed, I was cleaning my office and shutting off the lights in the sanctuary. I checked that everything was ready for regular worship the following day. I thought everyone had left the church and was at the wedding reception. I was locking all the doors to the building, when I saw a woman sitting at a chair by one entrance. She was a visitor. I didn't know her name. She said to me as I came into view, "Pastor, do you have a moment?" I did. We sat across from each other in the entryway and she shared her story.
She was depressed and tearful. As she spoke, her hands shook. She relayed to me that her marriage was in trouble. We discussed what had caused her marriage to fall apart. All the while, I felt something was wrong. God kept nagging at me that she wasn't completely honest with me. Ever had one of those moments when you knew someone was holding something back, but God was whispering to you that there was more to the story? Well, that! Fifteen minutes later, her anger began to appear. I could see it burning. I asked her if she was always so angry. She responded that it was her husband's fault that she was angry. Using her fingers, she ticked off all the things wrong with him. She said living with him was like having a cloud over her head day and night.
Half an hour and much conversation later, I felt God telling me something. Being me, I did what God told me to do, no matter the consequences. I asked a question of her, "Is there a sin between you and God? Is there something that God sees as wrong in your life?" Since all her problems seemed to focus on her husband, she was shocked that I asked the question. I could see her mind racing. She was deep in thought. She answered, "I guess I don't forgive. I find it hard to let go of things." I said to her, "Maybe, God won't fix your situation because you won't forgive." We prayed together and she left.
Four years passed by and I saw this woman again. She was with her husband at a mall. I was shocked by their appearance. They actually looked happy together! As we passed, she noticed me and gave a small wave. She smiled as she looked at her husband. Then, she winked at me. She never had to speak. God filled in the rest. The two had worked things out. She no longer had that cloud of anger over her head. She had dealt with her sin. The love had returned.
What you think may be the problem in your life might be something else! It may be your own sin that is contributing to your attitude or situation. God might cause a "cloud" to hang over you until you realize your error. God doesn't cause every dark cloud to appear in your life. Your own failures and mistakes will give you dark times. Accidents can turn your life upside down. Health issues can pop up out of nowhere. But, sometimes, the cloud is sent by God. It will remain until your sins are dealt with. Lamentations 2:1 is proof that God can send a cloud to cast a shadow over your life.
The best way to see sunny skies every day is to deal with your sins right away. Don't let sins loom over you and darken your relationship with God. Is there a cloud in your life today? Is there an issue you need to work through with God? Are dark times on the horizon? If so, God's light is ready to shine upon you. God will show you what you need to do. Will you do what is required?
Lamentations 2 begins with a very interesting statement about what happened when God turned against the people of Israel. In the reading for today, we are told that God's anger against the sin in the land caused Jerusalem and Judah (the daughter of Zion) to be put "under a cloud" (Lamentations 2:1). The people were humiliated and put to shame. They suffered. Nothing they did seemed to work. Until God's anger was abated and sin left the land, the "cloud" of God's judgment would prevail.
In 1940, during the Second World War, Germany's might was turned against England. The period was called "the blitz" because Hitler wanted to bring the "blitzkrieg" or "lightning war" upon the British homeland. Day and night German bombers dropped bombs on the aerodromes, cities, and military bases in England. Hundreds of planes at a time blanketed the skies. Smoke from bombs and fires billowed up into the air. Destruction prevailed. People of that time recall those days as "dark times" not only because of the smoke of the fires but also because of the planes and bombs that blotted out the sun. The citizens considered those "dark times" because of the shadow of war and uncertainty cast upon the land. People didn't know if there was going to be a future for their country. Their way of life was in peril.
Every person who has experienced troubles in life knows what its like to "live under a cloud" or experience "dark times". When challenges take their toll, you might feel overwhelmed. When financial difficulties arise, you might feel deprived and the future might seem bleak. In the midst of a war, a country might find itself struggling with supplies or reeling from deaths in battle. There may come a dark time upon your life, where everything you do feels difficult or saps your strength. It is important when those dark times come that you make sure that it is not because of sin that you experience them.
After a wedding I had performed, I was cleaning my office and shutting off the lights in the sanctuary. I checked that everything was ready for regular worship the following day. I thought everyone had left the church and was at the wedding reception. I was locking all the doors to the building, when I saw a woman sitting at a chair by one entrance. She was a visitor. I didn't know her name. She said to me as I came into view, "Pastor, do you have a moment?" I did. We sat across from each other in the entryway and she shared her story.
She was depressed and tearful. As she spoke, her hands shook. She relayed to me that her marriage was in trouble. We discussed what had caused her marriage to fall apart. All the while, I felt something was wrong. God kept nagging at me that she wasn't completely honest with me. Ever had one of those moments when you knew someone was holding something back, but God was whispering to you that there was more to the story? Well, that! Fifteen minutes later, her anger began to appear. I could see it burning. I asked her if she was always so angry. She responded that it was her husband's fault that she was angry. Using her fingers, she ticked off all the things wrong with him. She said living with him was like having a cloud over her head day and night.
Half an hour and much conversation later, I felt God telling me something. Being me, I did what God told me to do, no matter the consequences. I asked a question of her, "Is there a sin between you and God? Is there something that God sees as wrong in your life?" Since all her problems seemed to focus on her husband, she was shocked that I asked the question. I could see her mind racing. She was deep in thought. She answered, "I guess I don't forgive. I find it hard to let go of things." I said to her, "Maybe, God won't fix your situation because you won't forgive." We prayed together and she left.
Four years passed by and I saw this woman again. She was with her husband at a mall. I was shocked by their appearance. They actually looked happy together! As we passed, she noticed me and gave a small wave. She smiled as she looked at her husband. Then, she winked at me. She never had to speak. God filled in the rest. The two had worked things out. She no longer had that cloud of anger over her head. She had dealt with her sin. The love had returned.
What you think may be the problem in your life might be something else! It may be your own sin that is contributing to your attitude or situation. God might cause a "cloud" to hang over you until you realize your error. God doesn't cause every dark cloud to appear in your life. Your own failures and mistakes will give you dark times. Accidents can turn your life upside down. Health issues can pop up out of nowhere. But, sometimes, the cloud is sent by God. It will remain until your sins are dealt with. Lamentations 2:1 is proof that God can send a cloud to cast a shadow over your life.
The best way to see sunny skies every day is to deal with your sins right away. Don't let sins loom over you and darken your relationship with God. Is there a cloud in your life today? Is there an issue you need to work through with God? Are dark times on the horizon? If so, God's light is ready to shine upon you. God will show you what you need to do. Will you do what is required?
September 9
“So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth...”
(Colossians 3:1–2, NRSV)
(Colossians 3:1–2, NRSV)
Daniel was always a hard-headed kid. When he made up his mind to do something, he usually did it. You couldn't talk him out of it. When he got married, his personality didn't change. He remained strong-willed and determined. During a worship service, Daniel and his wife Kristin watched a video on Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships Ministry takes older cruise ships or cargo ships and refits them as hospital ships. Then, they cruise the ships into a port in financially poor areas of the world and set up the ships to perform surgeries or do other work for the neediest of people. They have done reconstructive surgery, taken tumors off of suffering children, drilled water wells for those who need safe drinking water, and saved the lives of thousands. They do it all for free. They rely on volunteers and gifts from donors.
After seeing the video, Daniel told his wife that he was going to help Mercy Ships somehow. He organized a fund raiser at the church for Mercy Ships Ministry. Later, he visited one of the ships when it was in port. He got to know a few of the doctors and nurses. Two years later, he served aboard ship, volunteering where he could. Kelly is very proud of her husband's obsession with Mercy Ships. She had no idea that going to church one Sunday would so change their lives. But that's one thing about Daniel. When he sets his mind to do something, he usually does it. In the case of Mercy Ships, he set his mind to change the lives of hundreds of the poorest of the poor. And, he is still doing it today.
In some ways, are you like Daniel? Do you set your mind to do things? Are you good at making up your mind to do things for yourself or for God? Is your heart more focused on helping your situation or God's? How you "set your mind" and what you "seek" in life are very important to God and to our needy world.
Colossians 3 was written by the Apostle Paul. This chapter begins with Paul trying to convince the Christians in Colossae to "seek the things that are above"(Colossians 3:1); heavenly things like grace, forgiveness, love, sharing the faith, and giving. So many people in our world choose to focus their time and energies on "things that are on the earth" (Colossians 3:2); earthly things like getting the latest cell phone, attaining a high status, making lots of money, or driving the best truck with all the amenities. You might say that all people can be divided into two categories: those who "set their mind on things above or heavenly things" and those who "set their mind on earthly or worldly things". Where is this balance in your life? What percentage of your life is devoted to each?
Take a look at your prayers lately. What you pray for might give you a clue as to where your loyalties lie. If your prayers are a laundry list of more personal or professional wants and needs, maybe you are more concerned with earthly things. If your prayers are filled with issues and concerns about saving souls, helping people connect with God, reaching out to the hurting, and comforting the afflicted, maybe your mind is set on heavenly things. If your day is always set by your work schedule or your family life, it might be centered on earthly things. If your day is primarily determined by what you AND God see as most important, you definitely are into "things above". For example, Christmas and Easter Christians make sure to place importance on worship and faith for two days a year, focusing most of their time and energy on living their lives. True Christians put God at the center of every day.
A good way to test what your heart is seeking is to imagine you have only one week to live. If you knew for certain you would die one week from today, what would you do with that week? Would you look forward to meeting God or dread Judgment Day? Would you be remembered for your possessions or for your love? Would your obituary mention "things above" or "things on the earth"? What would you regret? What would go with you after death?
You have something that the dead do not have: time to do something with your life. You have choices. You have opportunities. God loves you so much, and even desires to talk with you today. All of heaven is watching to see what you will do with this day. You matter. Set your mind on things above. You won't regret it.
After seeing the video, Daniel told his wife that he was going to help Mercy Ships somehow. He organized a fund raiser at the church for Mercy Ships Ministry. Later, he visited one of the ships when it was in port. He got to know a few of the doctors and nurses. Two years later, he served aboard ship, volunteering where he could. Kelly is very proud of her husband's obsession with Mercy Ships. She had no idea that going to church one Sunday would so change their lives. But that's one thing about Daniel. When he sets his mind to do something, he usually does it. In the case of Mercy Ships, he set his mind to change the lives of hundreds of the poorest of the poor. And, he is still doing it today.
In some ways, are you like Daniel? Do you set your mind to do things? Are you good at making up your mind to do things for yourself or for God? Is your heart more focused on helping your situation or God's? How you "set your mind" and what you "seek" in life are very important to God and to our needy world.
Colossians 3 was written by the Apostle Paul. This chapter begins with Paul trying to convince the Christians in Colossae to "seek the things that are above"(Colossians 3:1); heavenly things like grace, forgiveness, love, sharing the faith, and giving. So many people in our world choose to focus their time and energies on "things that are on the earth" (Colossians 3:2); earthly things like getting the latest cell phone, attaining a high status, making lots of money, or driving the best truck with all the amenities. You might say that all people can be divided into two categories: those who "set their mind on things above or heavenly things" and those who "set their mind on earthly or worldly things". Where is this balance in your life? What percentage of your life is devoted to each?
Take a look at your prayers lately. What you pray for might give you a clue as to where your loyalties lie. If your prayers are a laundry list of more personal or professional wants and needs, maybe you are more concerned with earthly things. If your prayers are filled with issues and concerns about saving souls, helping people connect with God, reaching out to the hurting, and comforting the afflicted, maybe your mind is set on heavenly things. If your day is always set by your work schedule or your family life, it might be centered on earthly things. If your day is primarily determined by what you AND God see as most important, you definitely are into "things above". For example, Christmas and Easter Christians make sure to place importance on worship and faith for two days a year, focusing most of their time and energy on living their lives. True Christians put God at the center of every day.
A good way to test what your heart is seeking is to imagine you have only one week to live. If you knew for certain you would die one week from today, what would you do with that week? Would you look forward to meeting God or dread Judgment Day? Would you be remembered for your possessions or for your love? Would your obituary mention "things above" or "things on the earth"? What would you regret? What would go with you after death?
You have something that the dead do not have: time to do something with your life. You have choices. You have opportunities. God loves you so much, and even desires to talk with you today. All of heaven is watching to see what you will do with this day. You matter. Set your mind on things above. You won't regret it.
September 10
“So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.” (1 Corinthians 1:20, NLT)
You may not notice it, but whenever I feel called to write about the scripture for the day, I do one final thing after zeroing in on the verse(s). I choose the version of the Bible that seems to speak to the point God is showing me. One good way to study the Bible is by looking at different versions of the Bible to see how they interpret the original Greek and Hebrew languages when translating the Bible text. Insight can often be gleaned by seeing how the Biblical scholars used certain words to convey the meaning of God's word.
Today's scripture comes from the New Living Translation. I believe it best captures a modern interpretation of the original Greek. It doesn't do this by translating the original language word for word, but captures an interesting meaning of the verse by explanation using modern terms. After discussing the wisdom of the cross in previous verses, this scripture questions the reality of worldly wisdom. Paul writes that "philosophers, scholars and brilliant debaters" fail when it comes to understanding the wisdom of the cross. Where the worldly wise see Jesus' mission and purpose in this world as full of contradictions, God chose the "wisdom of the cross" to change the world. This seems like foolishness to the wise people of this world (1 Corinthians 1:18). The worldly wise just don't get the power of the cross. Many wise people I know think it was irrational or backward to let the Son of God to be put to death by human hands. They can't see the purpose. To some of them, it shows weakness. To others, the power of God comes to naught. The wisdom of this world doesn't get the value of Jesus' death on the cross. Where they see Jesus' death as weakness and shameful, God used Jesus death on a cross as an example of the "saving power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18-19). The cross displays for the world to see a "suffering Servant" (Isaiah 53:3-5). It shows God's power over death through the resurrection. It shows God's willingness to save us from sin. Paul in Galatians 6:14 even saw God's "glory in the cross". God displayed absolute power in perfect weakness (2 Corinthians 13:4). Worldly wisdom just doesn't get that.
Throughout history, scholars, philosophers and scientists have all struggled to explain reality, life, and meaning using worldly wisdom. Oftentimes, worldly wisdom doesn't cut it, where God's wisdom does. Worldly wisdom said the Titanic couldn't sink. It did. Worldly wisdom says that sexual experimentation is a good thing. I even was told about a psychologist who recommended one patient fool around in order to gain some self-worth. God's word believes sex is a holy thing between two people committed to each other. If you follow worldly wisdom, you are liable to get AIDS, a venereal disease, an unwanted pregnancy, or many other problems. If everyone followed God's prescription for sexuality, AIDS and many venereal diseases would die off. Worldly wisdom says buy whatever makes you happy. God's wisdom says you will never find true "happiness" in things. Worldly wisdom often speaks of the value of "white lies". God would rather we spoke the truth in love with one another. God's wisdom holds stealing, murdering, and coveting as wrong. Worldly wisdom believes that to murder millions in abortion is a good thing, stealing is OK if you really need it, and coveting makes you work harder to get what you want. I believe the apostle Paul is right. Worldly wisdom looks pretty foolish next to the wisdom of God.
As you can see by the above paragraph, God's wisdom often directly contradicts the wisdom of this world. You need to choose which wisdom you will follow. I believe that if you follow the wisdom of this world, it will always fail you in the end. It is often short-sighted and self-centered. Worldly wisdom changes with the times, is faddish, and can be manipulated by hype and political pressure. God-centered wisdom is the only type of wisdom that endures forever.
Diane's husband had bipolar disorder. As a consequence, he would sometimes overspend on things. He would go into a store and plan on buying a hammer for a job at home and instead come home with an entire new set of tools, which included a hammer. When in the manic stage, he could often be talked into spending extra money on things a salesman convinced him that he needed. Diana was the saver. She was the one who made sure the bills were paid on time. She was good with money and a budget.
After a month of poor financial decisions by her husband, Diana realized she couldn't make ends meet for the next few months until they caught up. In that predicament, she decided to "borrow" money from a fund at work. She knew the financial statements wouldn't be closely examined until the next quarter, so she paid off a few bills with checks from her work. She fully intended on paying it back. Six months later, the discrepancies were caught. Diana had paid back the money, but was prosecuted anyway. In the midst of the court battle, she said to me, "It wasn't stealing. I paid it back!"
I said to her, "If you follow the biblical definition of stealing, you did steal the money. You took the money without the knowledge of your bosses. The fact that you paid it back only shows you cared about making it right. I commend you for that. But you did steal the money. It was a sin, Diane. Let's work through it together."
She left the church and never spoke to me again.
I could have told her that her prosecution wasn't fair, but it was. She thought it wasn't stealing if she paid the money back, but she was wrong. Worldly wisdom encouraged her to pay her husband's debts instead of restricting his spending. Worldly wisdom suggested stealing wasn't stealing if you paid your debt back. Worldly wisdom caused her to leave the church, because worldly wisdom wanted me to agree with her choices and deny that any stealing occurred whatsoever. Do you see how worldly wisdom is in direct conflict with God's truth?
Are there areas of your life suffering from the illusions of worldly wisdom? God's wisdom will never fail you. It may be difficult to swallow at times, but it contains the real truth. I love you enough to tell you the truth in love. God loves you so much HE sent Jesus to speak the truth in love. Now, which wisdom will you live by? Which will you choose today?
Today's scripture comes from the New Living Translation. I believe it best captures a modern interpretation of the original Greek. It doesn't do this by translating the original language word for word, but captures an interesting meaning of the verse by explanation using modern terms. After discussing the wisdom of the cross in previous verses, this scripture questions the reality of worldly wisdom. Paul writes that "philosophers, scholars and brilliant debaters" fail when it comes to understanding the wisdom of the cross. Where the worldly wise see Jesus' mission and purpose in this world as full of contradictions, God chose the "wisdom of the cross" to change the world. This seems like foolishness to the wise people of this world (1 Corinthians 1:18). The worldly wise just don't get the power of the cross. Many wise people I know think it was irrational or backward to let the Son of God to be put to death by human hands. They can't see the purpose. To some of them, it shows weakness. To others, the power of God comes to naught. The wisdom of this world doesn't get the value of Jesus' death on the cross. Where they see Jesus' death as weakness and shameful, God used Jesus death on a cross as an example of the "saving power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18-19). The cross displays for the world to see a "suffering Servant" (Isaiah 53:3-5). It shows God's power over death through the resurrection. It shows God's willingness to save us from sin. Paul in Galatians 6:14 even saw God's "glory in the cross". God displayed absolute power in perfect weakness (2 Corinthians 13:4). Worldly wisdom just doesn't get that.
Throughout history, scholars, philosophers and scientists have all struggled to explain reality, life, and meaning using worldly wisdom. Oftentimes, worldly wisdom doesn't cut it, where God's wisdom does. Worldly wisdom said the Titanic couldn't sink. It did. Worldly wisdom says that sexual experimentation is a good thing. I even was told about a psychologist who recommended one patient fool around in order to gain some self-worth. God's word believes sex is a holy thing between two people committed to each other. If you follow worldly wisdom, you are liable to get AIDS, a venereal disease, an unwanted pregnancy, or many other problems. If everyone followed God's prescription for sexuality, AIDS and many venereal diseases would die off. Worldly wisdom says buy whatever makes you happy. God's wisdom says you will never find true "happiness" in things. Worldly wisdom often speaks of the value of "white lies". God would rather we spoke the truth in love with one another. God's wisdom holds stealing, murdering, and coveting as wrong. Worldly wisdom believes that to murder millions in abortion is a good thing, stealing is OK if you really need it, and coveting makes you work harder to get what you want. I believe the apostle Paul is right. Worldly wisdom looks pretty foolish next to the wisdom of God.
As you can see by the above paragraph, God's wisdom often directly contradicts the wisdom of this world. You need to choose which wisdom you will follow. I believe that if you follow the wisdom of this world, it will always fail you in the end. It is often short-sighted and self-centered. Worldly wisdom changes with the times, is faddish, and can be manipulated by hype and political pressure. God-centered wisdom is the only type of wisdom that endures forever.
Diane's husband had bipolar disorder. As a consequence, he would sometimes overspend on things. He would go into a store and plan on buying a hammer for a job at home and instead come home with an entire new set of tools, which included a hammer. When in the manic stage, he could often be talked into spending extra money on things a salesman convinced him that he needed. Diana was the saver. She was the one who made sure the bills were paid on time. She was good with money and a budget.
After a month of poor financial decisions by her husband, Diana realized she couldn't make ends meet for the next few months until they caught up. In that predicament, she decided to "borrow" money from a fund at work. She knew the financial statements wouldn't be closely examined until the next quarter, so she paid off a few bills with checks from her work. She fully intended on paying it back. Six months later, the discrepancies were caught. Diana had paid back the money, but was prosecuted anyway. In the midst of the court battle, she said to me, "It wasn't stealing. I paid it back!"
I said to her, "If you follow the biblical definition of stealing, you did steal the money. You took the money without the knowledge of your bosses. The fact that you paid it back only shows you cared about making it right. I commend you for that. But you did steal the money. It was a sin, Diane. Let's work through it together."
She left the church and never spoke to me again.
I could have told her that her prosecution wasn't fair, but it was. She thought it wasn't stealing if she paid the money back, but she was wrong. Worldly wisdom encouraged her to pay her husband's debts instead of restricting his spending. Worldly wisdom suggested stealing wasn't stealing if you paid your debt back. Worldly wisdom caused her to leave the church, because worldly wisdom wanted me to agree with her choices and deny that any stealing occurred whatsoever. Do you see how worldly wisdom is in direct conflict with God's truth?
Are there areas of your life suffering from the illusions of worldly wisdom? God's wisdom will never fail you. It may be difficult to swallow at times, but it contains the real truth. I love you enough to tell you the truth in love. God loves you so much HE sent Jesus to speak the truth in love. Now, which wisdom will you live by? Which will you choose today?
September 11
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their licentiousness, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words; from of old their condemnation has not been idle, and their destruction has not been asleep.”
(2 Peter 2:1–3, RSV)
(2 Peter 2:1–3, RSV)
I want to start off today with a warning. Be very careful in choosing a pastor or spiritual mentor. There are many "false prophets" in the world today, who claim to speak for God but manipulate their message for their own benefit. I warn you about this, because I am concerned about your relationship with God. If you follow the teaching of a "false prophet", you will never become close to God, and you may not ever understand why.
There have always been false prophets in the world. Not long after Christians began to worship God through Christ, false prophets began to infiltrate the leadership of the church. In Matthew 24:11 and two other places in Matthew alone, Jesus warned his disciples to beware of false prophets who would influence the faithful. Jesus considered them to be like "wolves among the sheep" (Matthew 7:15). They were to be considered dangerous to those who wanted to be truly faithful. In Peter's second letter to the churches, he too warned about false prophets and false teachers (2 Peter 2:1). Peter warned that they would bring in "destructive heresies", even ones that "denied the Master" (Jesus). He believed that these false leaders would try to undermine the truth of the gospel and in the process cause people to reject Jesus. It sounds incredible that Christians would deny Christ, but that has already happened numerous times in the history of the church.
Between 60 and 450 AD, Gnostic Christians infiltrated the church. They believed that Jesus never really died on the cross, because He was not really human. They believed Jesus was only divine, so therefore He couldn't really die. Christians officially rejected these beliefs claiming Jesus was both human and divine, but it took 400 years to do so. There are still people who believe this heresy today. Adoptionists believed that Jesus was not born the Son of God. They believed He did not exist at creation, despite what John chapter 1 teaches. It took hundreds of years to combat this belief in churches. Pelagianism arose in the fourth century AD. Pelagius taught that you get to heaven by good works instead of God's grace. Several all-church councils in the fifth century condemned this belief (as does Ephesians 2:8-9). However, some still believe this today. I could name a dozen heresies from false teachers that had infiltrated the church all before 1000 AD.
Heresies and false teachers are common today. Often, they will twist Bible passages to read what they want. Some may take certain Bible passages out of context to manipulate God's Word for their own purpose. There are pastors and scholars today who claim that Jesus was not God's Son, that same-sex marriage is biblical, that Jesus was not born of Mary, that Jesus' miracles are myths, that the exodus from Egypt never happened, and Moses never existed. These teachers claim that Jonah was never a prophet, Jesus was never resurrected, the Holy Spirit never came, and Paul was a male chauvinist who corrupted the early church. It is dangerous to be naive in the world today…. in the church as well.
How do you tell who is a false teacher? God, true prophets, and the Bible are your greatest helps. First, talk to God. Ask for God's Holy Spirit to guide you. Pray constantly (Philippians 4:6-7). Read the Bible and compare it to what you hear from the pulpit or in worship. Use the Bible as a guide to seeing what is true and false in the world. 1 John 4:1 says to "test the spirits to see whether they are of God". This verse teaches that faithful godly testing should be used to determine true from false prophets. It is also important that you find a true and godly prophet who will help you hear what God is saying. Using God, true prophets, and God's word as your guides, you will find the truth that you seek.
You might think that if you don't join a church or go to worship, you will never have to worry about following a false prophet or false teacher. That thinking is also wrong. If you never go to church, you might never follow a false prophet, but you will also not be worshiping God as the fourth commandment and Hebrews 10:25 both teach. Being faithful requires you to both worship regularly and to seek the truth of God. False prophets and teachers will pull you away from that endeavor. Don't be swayed. Remember, you NEED to know what God is saying in your life. A true prophet is CRUCIAL to understanding God's call upon your life.
The scripture for today reminds you of the future of false prophets. They will be "condemned" and their "destruction" is inevitable (2 Peter 2:3). God will bring swift judgment to their games and lies. Let God judge them. Your job is to seek the truth. Treat all pastors with the dignity and respect they deserve. It might be that you don't know they are true to God when they appear to you like a false prophet. The better you know God, the better you will be able to know God's honest truth when you see it. But be warned that spiritual pride and Satan will manipulate you and can deceive you no matter how spiritually strong you are. Then, you won't know a true prophet when you hear one.
All prophets are essentially people who hear God's voice or see what God is doing and share it. False prophets are usually misled. True prophets are spreading God's holy word. You, dear friend, need to figure out which is which. It won't be easy, but it is your responsibility. You are required to "test the spirits to see which are God's" (1 John 4:1). You are called to follow leaders sent from God (1 Corinthians 12:28). Have you tested the voices you are hearing using scripture and God's Spirit or do you blindly follow your leaders? Also, are you willing to follow true prophets or do you find yourself easily swayed by false prophets who will tell you what you want to hear? Mark my words… this meditation may seem like a bunch of deep words or concepts to you. But, I guarantee you that if you don't understand fully what I'm writing, you will NEVER, EVER get to know the real God in Christ. That's why Jesus, Peter, and John are still bringing you this warning today.
There have always been false prophets in the world. Not long after Christians began to worship God through Christ, false prophets began to infiltrate the leadership of the church. In Matthew 24:11 and two other places in Matthew alone, Jesus warned his disciples to beware of false prophets who would influence the faithful. Jesus considered them to be like "wolves among the sheep" (Matthew 7:15). They were to be considered dangerous to those who wanted to be truly faithful. In Peter's second letter to the churches, he too warned about false prophets and false teachers (2 Peter 2:1). Peter warned that they would bring in "destructive heresies", even ones that "denied the Master" (Jesus). He believed that these false leaders would try to undermine the truth of the gospel and in the process cause people to reject Jesus. It sounds incredible that Christians would deny Christ, but that has already happened numerous times in the history of the church.
Between 60 and 450 AD, Gnostic Christians infiltrated the church. They believed that Jesus never really died on the cross, because He was not really human. They believed Jesus was only divine, so therefore He couldn't really die. Christians officially rejected these beliefs claiming Jesus was both human and divine, but it took 400 years to do so. There are still people who believe this heresy today. Adoptionists believed that Jesus was not born the Son of God. They believed He did not exist at creation, despite what John chapter 1 teaches. It took hundreds of years to combat this belief in churches. Pelagianism arose in the fourth century AD. Pelagius taught that you get to heaven by good works instead of God's grace. Several all-church councils in the fifth century condemned this belief (as does Ephesians 2:8-9). However, some still believe this today. I could name a dozen heresies from false teachers that had infiltrated the church all before 1000 AD.
Heresies and false teachers are common today. Often, they will twist Bible passages to read what they want. Some may take certain Bible passages out of context to manipulate God's Word for their own purpose. There are pastors and scholars today who claim that Jesus was not God's Son, that same-sex marriage is biblical, that Jesus was not born of Mary, that Jesus' miracles are myths, that the exodus from Egypt never happened, and Moses never existed. These teachers claim that Jonah was never a prophet, Jesus was never resurrected, the Holy Spirit never came, and Paul was a male chauvinist who corrupted the early church. It is dangerous to be naive in the world today…. in the church as well.
How do you tell who is a false teacher? God, true prophets, and the Bible are your greatest helps. First, talk to God. Ask for God's Holy Spirit to guide you. Pray constantly (Philippians 4:6-7). Read the Bible and compare it to what you hear from the pulpit or in worship. Use the Bible as a guide to seeing what is true and false in the world. 1 John 4:1 says to "test the spirits to see whether they are of God". This verse teaches that faithful godly testing should be used to determine true from false prophets. It is also important that you find a true and godly prophet who will help you hear what God is saying. Using God, true prophets, and God's word as your guides, you will find the truth that you seek.
You might think that if you don't join a church or go to worship, you will never have to worry about following a false prophet or false teacher. That thinking is also wrong. If you never go to church, you might never follow a false prophet, but you will also not be worshiping God as the fourth commandment and Hebrews 10:25 both teach. Being faithful requires you to both worship regularly and to seek the truth of God. False prophets and teachers will pull you away from that endeavor. Don't be swayed. Remember, you NEED to know what God is saying in your life. A true prophet is CRUCIAL to understanding God's call upon your life.
The scripture for today reminds you of the future of false prophets. They will be "condemned" and their "destruction" is inevitable (2 Peter 2:3). God will bring swift judgment to their games and lies. Let God judge them. Your job is to seek the truth. Treat all pastors with the dignity and respect they deserve. It might be that you don't know they are true to God when they appear to you like a false prophet. The better you know God, the better you will be able to know God's honest truth when you see it. But be warned that spiritual pride and Satan will manipulate you and can deceive you no matter how spiritually strong you are. Then, you won't know a true prophet when you hear one.
All prophets are essentially people who hear God's voice or see what God is doing and share it. False prophets are usually misled. True prophets are spreading God's holy word. You, dear friend, need to figure out which is which. It won't be easy, but it is your responsibility. You are required to "test the spirits to see which are God's" (1 John 4:1). You are called to follow leaders sent from God (1 Corinthians 12:28). Have you tested the voices you are hearing using scripture and God's Spirit or do you blindly follow your leaders? Also, are you willing to follow true prophets or do you find yourself easily swayed by false prophets who will tell you what you want to hear? Mark my words… this meditation may seem like a bunch of deep words or concepts to you. But, I guarantee you that if you don't understand fully what I'm writing, you will NEVER, EVER get to know the real God in Christ. That's why Jesus, Peter, and John are still bringing you this warning today.
September 12
“And when he [Paul] had come to Jerusalem he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists; but they were seeking to kill him. And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus.” (Acts 9:26–30, RSV)
Now, let's see how good you are at reading and studying scripture. When you read the above scripture, what word describing Paul's preaching is used twice? Did you have to look above at the scripture again to see the answer? If you knew the answer right away, you may have the special spiritual gift of seeing connections in verses of the Bible. You can see parallels and word plays a little better than the average reader. If you read through it quickly, you may have missed that the word "boldly" was used twice to describe Paul's preaching. Barnabas saw Paul's "bold" preaching as convincing proof that Paul was a real Christian. The disciples, who knew Paul had been involved in killing Christians, were "afraid" of Paul (Acts 9:1,13, 26). Barnabas, who knew how God had changed Paul, was not.
In Acts 9, the apostle Paul wanted to meet and stay with the disciples in Jerusalem (Acts 9:26). Knowing Paul's motivations, he wanted to learn about the real Jesus from their lips. I'm sure he had lots of questions about Jesus' teaching and life, His death and resurrection. The disciples feared Paul. They knew Paul was directly involved in Stephen's death and was known to hate Christians (Acts 9:13). The disciples "did not believe that he [Paul] was a disciple" (Acts 9:26). Barnabas came to Paul's defense. He brought Paul to the apostles and declared how Paul had "seen the Lord [Jesus], who spoke to him"(Acts 9:27). Barnabas then explained to the disciples that he had personally seen Paul "preaching boldly in the name of Jesus" in Damascus. He also preached boldly in Jerusalem (Acts 9:28). Paul's preaching was so bold as to even anger the Hellenist groups in Jerusalem to the point they wanted to silence him by killing him (Acts 9:29). For Barnabas, Paul's "bold" preaching was a sign of God's Spirit working in him.
Let's look at you. How "bold" is your faith? Do you fail to talk about your faith because you are worried how others might take your words, or do you boldly speak about God in Christ when the time is right? Can others pick up on your faith due to what they see and hear? Do you feel insecure about talking of God? You shouldn't be. Insecurity in sharing your faith is a sign that God's Holy Spirit is being held back by your shyness. 2 Timothy 1:7 says that being timid is a poor sign of faith. Instead of timidity or shyness, others should see spiritual power, love, and a strong self-control as signs of your faith. For Barnabas, Paul was clearly a Christian leader because of his boldness in speaking about Jesus. Are you bold (not overbearing!) in your faith?
Believe it or not, I am personally kind of quiet. People who know me don’t often see that, because I can be very forthcoming and gregarious at times. Even in psychological testing, I am an introvert. I like to think things through before I speak. I would rather be quiet and listen than talk a lot. In psychological testing, it was mentioned that while I am quiet and introverted personally, I'm a professional extrovert and very open to share when in certain social situations. What this means is that when working for God, I open up and am forthcoming with my faith. I do not hide it. I like talking about God in Christ.
Last year, I was traveling home from Seattle via plane. At the airport, I sat in in a crowded section because of the lack of seats. Usually, I sit in the corner, quietly reading. As I waited for the plane to board, a woman started up a conversation with me. She mentioned that she was had been staying with her daughter and son-in-law. She loved spending time with her grandchildren. Not wanting to be discourteous, I listened and spoke a few words of encouragement. Then, I went back to my reading. I could tell the woman was a bit nervous about something. A few moments later, she engaged me in conversation again, wanting to share about a few things happening in her life. I listened again, and while smiling, made her feel at ease sharing her thoughts. I felt she needed to speak. I put the novel down and continued in the conversation. I could tell the woman in the wheelchair next to her was also listening. Soon, she began to talk with us about various subjects as well. At no time did I mention I was a pastor or that I was even a Christian.
Twenty minutes into the conversation at the Seattle airport, the woman turned to me and said, "I love singing. I love my church." The two women talked about their churches and the topic of faith was pursued. Both talked about spiritually challenging moments. One had a son who made fun of her faith. I shared in the conversation, encouraging them to keep talking. Then, the woman turned to me and said, "You are a Christian, aren't you?"
I said, "Yes".
She said, "I knew it. It was obvious. It shows."
The woman in the wheelchair chimed in and agreed. She shared, "I figured you were one of the faithful." I was surprised. At no time did I mention that I was a pastor or a Christian or even a church-goer. Then, I remembered the many times before that people had noticed God's Spirit in me. Though it isn't always obvious to me, God's Spirit shines through, becoming clear to others when we speak. Strangers can see God's Spirit strongly stirring with me, even when I am only listening.
Can others see God's Spirit strongly in you? Are you "bold" in the Lord, or is your faith invisible to others? Do you keep your faith "under the radar", afraid to share your spiritual knowledge and love of Christ? I have prayed that very soon you will be given a chance to speak boldly about your faith or love of God. I pray that God will give you a time to share your faith with a person or group in the next few days. I want you to "shine" in the light of God. I want others to get to know the faith that God has put in you. Will you be bold enough to share it? Do you trust that God will give you the words to speak? He will. He promised (Luke 12:11-12).
In Acts 9, the apostle Paul wanted to meet and stay with the disciples in Jerusalem (Acts 9:26). Knowing Paul's motivations, he wanted to learn about the real Jesus from their lips. I'm sure he had lots of questions about Jesus' teaching and life, His death and resurrection. The disciples feared Paul. They knew Paul was directly involved in Stephen's death and was known to hate Christians (Acts 9:13). The disciples "did not believe that he [Paul] was a disciple" (Acts 9:26). Barnabas came to Paul's defense. He brought Paul to the apostles and declared how Paul had "seen the Lord [Jesus], who spoke to him"(Acts 9:27). Barnabas then explained to the disciples that he had personally seen Paul "preaching boldly in the name of Jesus" in Damascus. He also preached boldly in Jerusalem (Acts 9:28). Paul's preaching was so bold as to even anger the Hellenist groups in Jerusalem to the point they wanted to silence him by killing him (Acts 9:29). For Barnabas, Paul's "bold" preaching was a sign of God's Spirit working in him.
Let's look at you. How "bold" is your faith? Do you fail to talk about your faith because you are worried how others might take your words, or do you boldly speak about God in Christ when the time is right? Can others pick up on your faith due to what they see and hear? Do you feel insecure about talking of God? You shouldn't be. Insecurity in sharing your faith is a sign that God's Holy Spirit is being held back by your shyness. 2 Timothy 1:7 says that being timid is a poor sign of faith. Instead of timidity or shyness, others should see spiritual power, love, and a strong self-control as signs of your faith. For Barnabas, Paul was clearly a Christian leader because of his boldness in speaking about Jesus. Are you bold (not overbearing!) in your faith?
Believe it or not, I am personally kind of quiet. People who know me don’t often see that, because I can be very forthcoming and gregarious at times. Even in psychological testing, I am an introvert. I like to think things through before I speak. I would rather be quiet and listen than talk a lot. In psychological testing, it was mentioned that while I am quiet and introverted personally, I'm a professional extrovert and very open to share when in certain social situations. What this means is that when working for God, I open up and am forthcoming with my faith. I do not hide it. I like talking about God in Christ.
Last year, I was traveling home from Seattle via plane. At the airport, I sat in in a crowded section because of the lack of seats. Usually, I sit in the corner, quietly reading. As I waited for the plane to board, a woman started up a conversation with me. She mentioned that she was had been staying with her daughter and son-in-law. She loved spending time with her grandchildren. Not wanting to be discourteous, I listened and spoke a few words of encouragement. Then, I went back to my reading. I could tell the woman was a bit nervous about something. A few moments later, she engaged me in conversation again, wanting to share about a few things happening in her life. I listened again, and while smiling, made her feel at ease sharing her thoughts. I felt she needed to speak. I put the novel down and continued in the conversation. I could tell the woman in the wheelchair next to her was also listening. Soon, she began to talk with us about various subjects as well. At no time did I mention I was a pastor or that I was even a Christian.
Twenty minutes into the conversation at the Seattle airport, the woman turned to me and said, "I love singing. I love my church." The two women talked about their churches and the topic of faith was pursued. Both talked about spiritually challenging moments. One had a son who made fun of her faith. I shared in the conversation, encouraging them to keep talking. Then, the woman turned to me and said, "You are a Christian, aren't you?"
I said, "Yes".
She said, "I knew it. It was obvious. It shows."
The woman in the wheelchair chimed in and agreed. She shared, "I figured you were one of the faithful." I was surprised. At no time did I mention that I was a pastor or a Christian or even a church-goer. Then, I remembered the many times before that people had noticed God's Spirit in me. Though it isn't always obvious to me, God's Spirit shines through, becoming clear to others when we speak. Strangers can see God's Spirit strongly stirring with me, even when I am only listening.
Can others see God's Spirit strongly in you? Are you "bold" in the Lord, or is your faith invisible to others? Do you keep your faith "under the radar", afraid to share your spiritual knowledge and love of Christ? I have prayed that very soon you will be given a chance to speak boldly about your faith or love of God. I pray that God will give you a time to share your faith with a person or group in the next few days. I want you to "shine" in the light of God. I want others to get to know the faith that God has put in you. Will you be bold enough to share it? Do you trust that God will give you the words to speak? He will. He promised (Luke 12:11-12).
September 13
““Thus says the Lord of hosts: This people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared. You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages earns wages to put them into a bag with holes.”
(Haggai 1:2–6, RSV)
(Haggai 1:2–6, RSV)
There are times when you just don't realize when you are taking advantage of God's goodness. God blesses you and you don't acknowledge God's gift. God forgives you and you don't even say a prayer of thanks. God grants you mercy when you sin, and your response is to repeat that same sin. God gives you a good job or income and you neglect to give a tithe back to God. Why would you ever want to shortchange God?
In the days of the prophet Haggai, the people of God were holding back. God had freed them from exile in Babylon and helped them prosper back in their homeland. The people were able to rebuild their homes and their lives in the Promised Land. The people were blessed in many ways. But, then, God began to see them change. Once they began to prosper, they stopped giving thanks to God. Prayers and worship were ignored. The covenant with God was honored less and less. The scriptures were not read. Even the temple remained in ruins from the war years before. While the people prospered, they held back from the God who helped them prosper. Finally, God had enough of it.
Through the prophet Haggai, God sent a message to the people that it was past time to rebuild the temple and restart their worship of God there (Haggai 1:2). God's judgment came upon the people. It was a dishonor to God when the people neglected their tithes and offerings and failed to build a suitable house of worship. God questioned why the people lived "in paneled houses while this house [the temple] lied in ruins…" (Haggai 1:4). God saw clearly that the people had been blessed with wonderful homes in the land, while God's house [the temple] remained in shambles from the old war. It was a slap in the face. God told Haggai to challenge the people to notice that blessings were being held back because they neglected God's work: "you have sown much, and harvested little, but you never have enough… he who earns wages puts them into a bag of holes" (Haggai 1:5-6). With these words, God declared to the people that it didn't matter how much money they had or food they ate, they would never have enough. They would feel discontent in their life as long as they failed to rebuild God's temple.
In many ways, Haggai's words continue to haunt us all today. When you neglect what God wants in your life, you too will feel discontent. You will eat, but not feel full. You will earn money, but it won't satisfy you. You will not be happy with what you have. Does this sound familiar? Our world today is richer than ever before in history. We have amenities and recreation galore! For centuries, people walked to work. Most of us can drive. It used to be that people had to work out calculations by hand in order to complete a job at work. Now, we have computers to aid us in that endeavor. We have vaccinations for many illnesses. Few people go hungry in our country. Yet, with all these blessings, it has been reported that millennials (youth younger than 20 for the most part) are one of the unhappiest generations on record. One day, I hope all of us will figure out that when we shortchange God, we will find the same feeling of discontent as in the days of Haggai. When God is placed on the back-burner, you will never have enough or never be satisfied with what you have. The only way you will ever feel true fulfillment in your life is when God and you are in sync.
After graduating from High School, John had five jobs in ten years. Though he was married, he drank too much and was not a very good father. Though blessed with three beautiful kids and a loving wife, he always felt angry and resentful that he didn't make enough. When his wife got a great job, making even more than he did, the family was able to buy a nice house. But, John wasn't happy. He had been blessed so much, but he was not enjoying his life. It was not until he was in his forties that he figured out what was wrong. One day, while listening to Billy Graham, he realized that he had neglected God in his life. There, before a TV set, he gave his life to Christ. Today, he tithes. He helps out a lot at his church. He is a warm and loving father. His wife adores him. God means everything to John, and it shows. But the one greatest thing John has found in his life is a deep contentment. He doesn't have to buy things to be happy. He doesn't have to jump out of planes to get a thrill. He and God are in sync. God blessed John, and John is a blessing to God.
If you ever feel discontented or unhappy with your life, ask yourself if you and God are "in sync". Are you doing what God wants you to do? Are you following God's direction for your life? Your income will seem like a bag full of holes (Haggai 1:6) until you find satisfaction with God in your life. You will not feel content until you and God make things right. God loves to be in sync with you. Got a hole in your life? God is ready to fill it, heal it, or explain it.
In the days of the prophet Haggai, the people of God were holding back. God had freed them from exile in Babylon and helped them prosper back in their homeland. The people were able to rebuild their homes and their lives in the Promised Land. The people were blessed in many ways. But, then, God began to see them change. Once they began to prosper, they stopped giving thanks to God. Prayers and worship were ignored. The covenant with God was honored less and less. The scriptures were not read. Even the temple remained in ruins from the war years before. While the people prospered, they held back from the God who helped them prosper. Finally, God had enough of it.
Through the prophet Haggai, God sent a message to the people that it was past time to rebuild the temple and restart their worship of God there (Haggai 1:2). God's judgment came upon the people. It was a dishonor to God when the people neglected their tithes and offerings and failed to build a suitable house of worship. God questioned why the people lived "in paneled houses while this house [the temple] lied in ruins…" (Haggai 1:4). God saw clearly that the people had been blessed with wonderful homes in the land, while God's house [the temple] remained in shambles from the old war. It was a slap in the face. God told Haggai to challenge the people to notice that blessings were being held back because they neglected God's work: "you have sown much, and harvested little, but you never have enough… he who earns wages puts them into a bag of holes" (Haggai 1:5-6). With these words, God declared to the people that it didn't matter how much money they had or food they ate, they would never have enough. They would feel discontent in their life as long as they failed to rebuild God's temple.
In many ways, Haggai's words continue to haunt us all today. When you neglect what God wants in your life, you too will feel discontent. You will eat, but not feel full. You will earn money, but it won't satisfy you. You will not be happy with what you have. Does this sound familiar? Our world today is richer than ever before in history. We have amenities and recreation galore! For centuries, people walked to work. Most of us can drive. It used to be that people had to work out calculations by hand in order to complete a job at work. Now, we have computers to aid us in that endeavor. We have vaccinations for many illnesses. Few people go hungry in our country. Yet, with all these blessings, it has been reported that millennials (youth younger than 20 for the most part) are one of the unhappiest generations on record. One day, I hope all of us will figure out that when we shortchange God, we will find the same feeling of discontent as in the days of Haggai. When God is placed on the back-burner, you will never have enough or never be satisfied with what you have. The only way you will ever feel true fulfillment in your life is when God and you are in sync.
After graduating from High School, John had five jobs in ten years. Though he was married, he drank too much and was not a very good father. Though blessed with three beautiful kids and a loving wife, he always felt angry and resentful that he didn't make enough. When his wife got a great job, making even more than he did, the family was able to buy a nice house. But, John wasn't happy. He had been blessed so much, but he was not enjoying his life. It was not until he was in his forties that he figured out what was wrong. One day, while listening to Billy Graham, he realized that he had neglected God in his life. There, before a TV set, he gave his life to Christ. Today, he tithes. He helps out a lot at his church. He is a warm and loving father. His wife adores him. God means everything to John, and it shows. But the one greatest thing John has found in his life is a deep contentment. He doesn't have to buy things to be happy. He doesn't have to jump out of planes to get a thrill. He and God are in sync. God blessed John, and John is a blessing to God.
If you ever feel discontented or unhappy with your life, ask yourself if you and God are "in sync". Are you doing what God wants you to do? Are you following God's direction for your life? Your income will seem like a bag full of holes (Haggai 1:6) until you find satisfaction with God in your life. You will not feel content until you and God make things right. God loves to be in sync with you. Got a hole in your life? God is ready to fill it, heal it, or explain it.
September 14
“I have glorified you on earth by completing the work that you have given me to do. And now, Father, you glorify me at your side with the glory that I had at your side before the world existed.” (John 17:4–5, LEB)
You were sent into this world with a purpose. Did you know that? Do you know what that purpose is? How do I know that God sent you in this world with a purpose? Look at the verses above. In them, Jesus is speaking to God the Father in a prayer. Not long after this prayer was uttered, Jesus died on a cross; His work completed. According to John 17:4, "completing the work God the Father sent Jesus to do" brought glory to the Father in Heaven. The same applies to you!
In 1 Chronicles 17:10, God mentioned how he had "appointed" judges to lead the Israelites to faith. According to Jeremiah 1:5, the prophet Jeremiah was "appointed" by God to lead the people back to faith. Even before Jeremiah was born, God had plans for Jeremiah's life. God had plans for Jesus' life as noted in John 17:4 above. Paul mentioned to the Ephesians that he was "destined" to bring the gospel to the Gentiles (Ephesians 1:5; 1:12). All these scriptures (and many others) talk about how God had plans for each of these people of faith. God had special work for them to do. What makes you think God doesn't also have plans and a special work for your life? I believe that based on these and many other verses of scripture that God has hopes and plans for your life. You were sent with a purpose into this world.
I stood at the side of a hospital bed years ago. I held the hand of a man who was dying. He wasn't going to last much longer. After living a long life, cancer was found in his body. In the days before he died, he spoke to me. We were alone. He said, "Pastor, as I look back on my life, I can see things more clearly. I can see now that God wanted me to take care of a few things and a few people in my life. It is clear as a bell. I never realized I was supposed to do all of this… until now." He was right. We talked about his life, his mistakes, God's call, forgiveness, and faith. We talked about death and dying. I left his room that day knowing he and God were very close. This dying man had been given a glimpse of God's work that was planned for his life. Upon completing his work and nearing the end of his life, he became thankful for all of it. He was joyful that when he saw God next, his work would be done and his new life would begin.
How about you? Do you know what God has for you to do yet? What work has God planned for this part of your life? According to John 17:4, when you complete the work God has for you, God is glorified. God is overjoyed. In turn, God will glorify you (John 17:5). God will bless you. If you were to look back over your life today, would God be thrilled over the work you have accomplished so far? Has your life given God glory?
I have held the hands of many while they were dying. I can say honestly that those who looked back on life and could see they had completed great things for God were those who died in peace. They didn't fear death. They looked forward to seeing God face to face. They felt grace and forgiveness. Those who were left behind were much more able to deal with the death of these faithful ones. I want you to be one of those who completes God's plans. I want you not only to bring God glory, but for God to glorify you as well. I want you to feel that heavenly peace in life and death. From my perspective, it feels very good knowing your work is done. Jesus said on the cross: "It is finished". His work was done. As for you, chances are your work is far from over. How might you complete a few things this week for the glory of God?
In 1 Chronicles 17:10, God mentioned how he had "appointed" judges to lead the Israelites to faith. According to Jeremiah 1:5, the prophet Jeremiah was "appointed" by God to lead the people back to faith. Even before Jeremiah was born, God had plans for Jeremiah's life. God had plans for Jesus' life as noted in John 17:4 above. Paul mentioned to the Ephesians that he was "destined" to bring the gospel to the Gentiles (Ephesians 1:5; 1:12). All these scriptures (and many others) talk about how God had plans for each of these people of faith. God had special work for them to do. What makes you think God doesn't also have plans and a special work for your life? I believe that based on these and many other verses of scripture that God has hopes and plans for your life. You were sent with a purpose into this world.
I stood at the side of a hospital bed years ago. I held the hand of a man who was dying. He wasn't going to last much longer. After living a long life, cancer was found in his body. In the days before he died, he spoke to me. We were alone. He said, "Pastor, as I look back on my life, I can see things more clearly. I can see now that God wanted me to take care of a few things and a few people in my life. It is clear as a bell. I never realized I was supposed to do all of this… until now." He was right. We talked about his life, his mistakes, God's call, forgiveness, and faith. We talked about death and dying. I left his room that day knowing he and God were very close. This dying man had been given a glimpse of God's work that was planned for his life. Upon completing his work and nearing the end of his life, he became thankful for all of it. He was joyful that when he saw God next, his work would be done and his new life would begin.
How about you? Do you know what God has for you to do yet? What work has God planned for this part of your life? According to John 17:4, when you complete the work God has for you, God is glorified. God is overjoyed. In turn, God will glorify you (John 17:5). God will bless you. If you were to look back over your life today, would God be thrilled over the work you have accomplished so far? Has your life given God glory?
I have held the hands of many while they were dying. I can say honestly that those who looked back on life and could see they had completed great things for God were those who died in peace. They didn't fear death. They looked forward to seeing God face to face. They felt grace and forgiveness. Those who were left behind were much more able to deal with the death of these faithful ones. I want you to be one of those who completes God's plans. I want you not only to bring God glory, but for God to glorify you as well. I want you to feel that heavenly peace in life and death. From my perspective, it feels very good knowing your work is done. Jesus said on the cross: "It is finished". His work was done. As for you, chances are your work is far from over. How might you complete a few things this week for the glory of God?
September 15
“So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
(John 10:7–10, NASB95)
(John 10:7–10, NASB95)
Imagine having a flock of sheep. They would have to live in a field. It would be best if the field were full of pastureland with lots of grass to graze in and maybe a small stream of fresh water. To protect those sheep, you'd want a barrier, a fence. This way, the sheep wouldn't wander off and get lost. The fence would also keep predators out. The only way into this protected area is through a gate. When open, the gate would provide entry for a shepherd, but if left open could provide a route for wolves or sheep-stealers to go in and take what they wanted. That fence needs to be secure. That gate needs protection.
In the scripture above, Jesus explains his mission and purpose for the world. He calls himself "the door of the sheep" in the New American Standard Bible (John 10:7). Other versions of the Bible don’t use the word "door", instead calling it a "gate". I prefer this word, as I don't know of any fenced in areas for sheep that have a door. All have a gate, though. In this scripture, Jesus describes his role as that of the door or gate to the sheep area. He is speaking allegorically. The sheep in the pasture are the followers who believe in Jesus. They were saved by Jesus and let into the fold, to be counted as one of the faithful. Since you believe in Jesus, you are in His flock. You are one of the fold in HIS spiritual pasture. Jesus is responsible for you. He guards the gate. He keeps you safe from spiritual predators, the proverbial wolves who are out to hunt you spiritually. He protects you from spiritual "thieves and robbers" who would steal your soul away and kill your spiritual life (John 10:8, 10). With Jesus at the gate, you are protected. Leave His fold and you are in spiritual danger. As long as you are in the pasture with Jesus at the gate, you will find all that you need. You will not just have life. You will be able to live life "abundantly" (John 10:10).
What does it mean to have an "abundant" life? Some have sought to explain this as having eternal life. When you enter eternal life, you can live an abundant existence, with eternal years ahead of you. I think this scripture is not only speaking about eternal life. I think its talking about your life with Jesus from the moment you accept Him as your Savior and enter His fold. From then on, you may have good and bad days, but you will find your life filled with spiritual food and drink. Spiritually, you will be protected by God in Christ. Spiritual thieves may attempt to get your soul; but as long as you are a part of Jesus' fold, you will be safe. You will able to thrive and grow and be spiritually fed. This is what it means to have an "abundant" life.
Recently, I was watching a teenager on a television show. After getting into trouble after school, he was grounded by his parents. They took away his computer and cell phone privileges. He was not allowed to play video games. After a day of this "torture", he responded to his parents: "Why are you doing this to me? I don't deserve it! I have no life!" Kept from his friends, forbidden from being entertained with his electronic toys, he felt bored and alone. He hated this existence. He couldn't enjoy the company of others. He was not free to do what he wanted. Life was miserable.
In contrast, Jesus wants you to not only have a life, but have it "abundantly". You won't just live. You will live free from the spiritual danger of spiritual thieves and robbers if you are in Jesus' fold. When in the care of Jesus, Satan may attempt to get at you; but Jesus controls the spiritual gates to your soul. Satan and other spiritual destroyers will have to go through Jesus to get to you. He guards the spiritual gate when you are part of his fold. With the spiritual protection of Jesus, you can grow spiritually without fear of being stolen. You can eat spiritual food to the full, without worry. Stay in the fold of Jesus and you will not only "have a life", but you will have an "abundant" spiritual life.
If you don't feel like you have an active and abundant spiritual life, you must ask if you are listening to the Good Shepherd Jesus (John 10:11). Are you following His lead? Are you eating and drinking enough spiritual nourishment? I looked up the word "abundant" and it means to "have more than enough". With Jesus, you will experience more than enough grace and peace, hope and joy. You will have more than enough spiritual food to grow and prosper. Are you taking advantage of the wonderful situations those sheep in the fold of Jesus have available to them? Jesus wants you to grow and mature spiritually. This is part of what it means to have an abundant life in Christ.
Pablo Casals was considered the greatest cellist to ever live. When he was 95 years old he was asked why he continued to practice 6 hours a day. He answered, “Because I think I’m making progress.” (from John Maxwell, Your Road Map for Success). It didn't matter than Casals was 95, he always saw possibilities for growth as a musician. Spiritually, I have found the same. Growth in my spiritual life is constantly taking place. I even learn from my mistakes and failures. It helps to be secure, with Jesus guarding the spiritual gates of my life. He keeps me on the straight and narrow. He guides me in my spiritual journey. I have an "abundant" spiritual life, even if I am disabled due to illness!
I have a great desire for you to have an "abundant" spiritual life. That's one of the reasons that I maintain this web site. I want you to realize who needs to control the spiritual gates to your life. I want you to grow in the Spirit. What would Jesus want most in your spiritual life today? Are you growing in faith? Do you feel close to God in Christ? You are protected in God's arms. You are precious in God's sight. Enjoy the journey with Jesus. He will take you to places you never knew you needed to see!
In the scripture above, Jesus explains his mission and purpose for the world. He calls himself "the door of the sheep" in the New American Standard Bible (John 10:7). Other versions of the Bible don’t use the word "door", instead calling it a "gate". I prefer this word, as I don't know of any fenced in areas for sheep that have a door. All have a gate, though. In this scripture, Jesus describes his role as that of the door or gate to the sheep area. He is speaking allegorically. The sheep in the pasture are the followers who believe in Jesus. They were saved by Jesus and let into the fold, to be counted as one of the faithful. Since you believe in Jesus, you are in His flock. You are one of the fold in HIS spiritual pasture. Jesus is responsible for you. He guards the gate. He keeps you safe from spiritual predators, the proverbial wolves who are out to hunt you spiritually. He protects you from spiritual "thieves and robbers" who would steal your soul away and kill your spiritual life (John 10:8, 10). With Jesus at the gate, you are protected. Leave His fold and you are in spiritual danger. As long as you are in the pasture with Jesus at the gate, you will find all that you need. You will not just have life. You will be able to live life "abundantly" (John 10:10).
What does it mean to have an "abundant" life? Some have sought to explain this as having eternal life. When you enter eternal life, you can live an abundant existence, with eternal years ahead of you. I think this scripture is not only speaking about eternal life. I think its talking about your life with Jesus from the moment you accept Him as your Savior and enter His fold. From then on, you may have good and bad days, but you will find your life filled with spiritual food and drink. Spiritually, you will be protected by God in Christ. Spiritual thieves may attempt to get your soul; but as long as you are a part of Jesus' fold, you will be safe. You will able to thrive and grow and be spiritually fed. This is what it means to have an "abundant" life.
Recently, I was watching a teenager on a television show. After getting into trouble after school, he was grounded by his parents. They took away his computer and cell phone privileges. He was not allowed to play video games. After a day of this "torture", he responded to his parents: "Why are you doing this to me? I don't deserve it! I have no life!" Kept from his friends, forbidden from being entertained with his electronic toys, he felt bored and alone. He hated this existence. He couldn't enjoy the company of others. He was not free to do what he wanted. Life was miserable.
In contrast, Jesus wants you to not only have a life, but have it "abundantly". You won't just live. You will live free from the spiritual danger of spiritual thieves and robbers if you are in Jesus' fold. When in the care of Jesus, Satan may attempt to get at you; but Jesus controls the spiritual gates to your soul. Satan and other spiritual destroyers will have to go through Jesus to get to you. He guards the spiritual gate when you are part of his fold. With the spiritual protection of Jesus, you can grow spiritually without fear of being stolen. You can eat spiritual food to the full, without worry. Stay in the fold of Jesus and you will not only "have a life", but you will have an "abundant" spiritual life.
If you don't feel like you have an active and abundant spiritual life, you must ask if you are listening to the Good Shepherd Jesus (John 10:11). Are you following His lead? Are you eating and drinking enough spiritual nourishment? I looked up the word "abundant" and it means to "have more than enough". With Jesus, you will experience more than enough grace and peace, hope and joy. You will have more than enough spiritual food to grow and prosper. Are you taking advantage of the wonderful situations those sheep in the fold of Jesus have available to them? Jesus wants you to grow and mature spiritually. This is part of what it means to have an abundant life in Christ.
Pablo Casals was considered the greatest cellist to ever live. When he was 95 years old he was asked why he continued to practice 6 hours a day. He answered, “Because I think I’m making progress.” (from John Maxwell, Your Road Map for Success). It didn't matter than Casals was 95, he always saw possibilities for growth as a musician. Spiritually, I have found the same. Growth in my spiritual life is constantly taking place. I even learn from my mistakes and failures. It helps to be secure, with Jesus guarding the spiritual gates of my life. He keeps me on the straight and narrow. He guides me in my spiritual journey. I have an "abundant" spiritual life, even if I am disabled due to illness!
I have a great desire for you to have an "abundant" spiritual life. That's one of the reasons that I maintain this web site. I want you to realize who needs to control the spiritual gates to your life. I want you to grow in the Spirit. What would Jesus want most in your spiritual life today? Are you growing in faith? Do you feel close to God in Christ? You are protected in God's arms. You are precious in God's sight. Enjoy the journey with Jesus. He will take you to places you never knew you needed to see!
September 16
“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” (Matthew 5:46, ESV)
I dedicate today's message to young Moriah. God will be very close to you. God has special plans for you. I felt that as I prayed today.
Generous acts of love can transform people. Words of love and caring can bring comfort in the midst of pain, hope where there is only sadness. True godly love changes everything.
During the 1990's, a wave of AIDS hit Africa. Because there were no medications available to the people, many thousands died. Some areas were so hard hit, that it was not uncommon for a mother and father to die of AIDS, leaving their children to fend for themselves. These children were called "AIDS orphans". The children often ended up begging for food and sleeping in the streets, or worse.
One little girl was found living in the bush. It is believed that Alicia Mwande was an AIDS orphan. She was filthy, malnourished, and sickly. A man from a neighboring village contacted some friends in Canada. Together, they cared for Alicia. The man and his wife provided a safe home and lots of love. The friends from Canada provided financial support and helped fund medical treatments that Alicia desperately needed. Alicia is a beautiful woman today with her own family. If she wouldn't have been taken in by the man that she now considers her "father", she may have ended up dead herself. If not for the love of her "father", his wife, and the couple in Canada, I doubt she would have ever seen the day when she had her own family. Love changed everything for Alicia.
To combat the crisis of AIDS orphans, a number of people have given lots of love in response. "AIDS grannies" are grandmothers who have taken in grandchildren to give them a home and love. Then there are people like Cherry Matimuna, a nurse from Zambia. She has taken in close to seventy AIDS orphans and cares for them with the help of others. Where would these children be without her love and care? Groups and organizations can provide logistical and medical support, but it’s the love of caregivers that gives these children true hope.
Love changes everything.
Jesus recognized the power of love long ago. He spoke a lot about love. He said things like "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). He taught us to "love one another" (John 13:34). Famously, he taught that we should "love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves" (Matthew 22:37-39). Jesus' ministry and life centered on that power of love.
In the scripture above, Jesus mentioned that how we use our love is important. Near the end of His "Sermon on the Mount", Jesus mentioned that true Christian love does not just involve loving one's friends. You don't just give love to those who love you already (Matthew 5:46). True godly love goes one step further; it goes the second mile. True godly love involves loving those who have not loved you, can't love you, can't give back, or might not care if you love them. Just two verses later, Jesus described this kind of love as "perfect" (Matthew 5:48).
A graceful, giving love is desperately needed in our world today. Sadly, our world has become a place where love is reserved for those who love you back or will give you what you want. Marriage has even been described as a "contract" where you give love because you get love back. When love goes missing for a while in a marriage, the marriage is too quickly discarded and a new mate is sought. There is no thought of giving love even when you will not be given love back in return. For many people today, godly love seems naive and backward. I believe it is anything but that.
To give a godly kind of love, you aren't looking to get something back. You give love freely, enjoying if that love comes back to you. But, true love doesn't require something given back. It is given with the hope that God will be blessed by its sharing. It is given as a gift to God. When was the last time you gave love, just because? When was the last time you gave love when a person couldn't or wouldn't give you something back? If you are a true Christian, you should be able to name a good number of examples. Love is a basic gift shared freely by true people of God. For today, who can you show a special godly love with no strings attached? Who may need it? Who would benefit the most from it?
Generous acts of love can transform people. Words of love and caring can bring comfort in the midst of pain, hope where there is only sadness. True godly love changes everything.
During the 1990's, a wave of AIDS hit Africa. Because there were no medications available to the people, many thousands died. Some areas were so hard hit, that it was not uncommon for a mother and father to die of AIDS, leaving their children to fend for themselves. These children were called "AIDS orphans". The children often ended up begging for food and sleeping in the streets, or worse.
One little girl was found living in the bush. It is believed that Alicia Mwande was an AIDS orphan. She was filthy, malnourished, and sickly. A man from a neighboring village contacted some friends in Canada. Together, they cared for Alicia. The man and his wife provided a safe home and lots of love. The friends from Canada provided financial support and helped fund medical treatments that Alicia desperately needed. Alicia is a beautiful woman today with her own family. If she wouldn't have been taken in by the man that she now considers her "father", she may have ended up dead herself. If not for the love of her "father", his wife, and the couple in Canada, I doubt she would have ever seen the day when she had her own family. Love changed everything for Alicia.
To combat the crisis of AIDS orphans, a number of people have given lots of love in response. "AIDS grannies" are grandmothers who have taken in grandchildren to give them a home and love. Then there are people like Cherry Matimuna, a nurse from Zambia. She has taken in close to seventy AIDS orphans and cares for them with the help of others. Where would these children be without her love and care? Groups and organizations can provide logistical and medical support, but it’s the love of caregivers that gives these children true hope.
Love changes everything.
Jesus recognized the power of love long ago. He spoke a lot about love. He said things like "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). He taught us to "love one another" (John 13:34). Famously, he taught that we should "love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves" (Matthew 22:37-39). Jesus' ministry and life centered on that power of love.
In the scripture above, Jesus mentioned that how we use our love is important. Near the end of His "Sermon on the Mount", Jesus mentioned that true Christian love does not just involve loving one's friends. You don't just give love to those who love you already (Matthew 5:46). True godly love goes one step further; it goes the second mile. True godly love involves loving those who have not loved you, can't love you, can't give back, or might not care if you love them. Just two verses later, Jesus described this kind of love as "perfect" (Matthew 5:48).
A graceful, giving love is desperately needed in our world today. Sadly, our world has become a place where love is reserved for those who love you back or will give you what you want. Marriage has even been described as a "contract" where you give love because you get love back. When love goes missing for a while in a marriage, the marriage is too quickly discarded and a new mate is sought. There is no thought of giving love even when you will not be given love back in return. For many people today, godly love seems naive and backward. I believe it is anything but that.
To give a godly kind of love, you aren't looking to get something back. You give love freely, enjoying if that love comes back to you. But, true love doesn't require something given back. It is given with the hope that God will be blessed by its sharing. It is given as a gift to God. When was the last time you gave love, just because? When was the last time you gave love when a person couldn't or wouldn't give you something back? If you are a true Christian, you should be able to name a good number of examples. Love is a basic gift shared freely by true people of God. For today, who can you show a special godly love with no strings attached? Who may need it? Who would benefit the most from it?
September 17
“Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them...”
(Ephesians 5:11, NASB95)
(Ephesians 5:11, NASB95)
A man from Illinois was involved heavily with the Jaycee's. He was very active in Democratic Party leadership and causes, even getting his picture taken with Rosalynn Carter, the wife of President Jimmy Carter. He was a prominent businessman who owned a construction business. In special public appearances, he would dress up as "Pogo the Clown" and entertain children of young ages. But this man kept many dark secrets that for years went unexposed. He was intrigued by death. He was attracted to young boys. He liked torture. By the time the police in Des Plaines, Illinois figured it all out, John Wayne Gacy had tortured, raped and murdered between 26 and 45 young boys and young men in Illinois. Many were buried in shallow graves under his home. Some of the bodies were tossed off the I-55 bridge into the Des Plaines River. For too long, police had no idea of the extent of his terrible acts. Often it was at night between 2am and 6am that he would strangle his victims to death and bury them. In the darkness, terrible things were done. By the light of day, they were hidden by this man who was a business leader and clown.
God knows of many terrible things in history that were subsequently hidden from view. Hidden murders, hushed lies, machinations and manipulations go unseen by the light of day. From the crematories at Auschwitz to the mass graves in Bosnia and Syria, we must be vigilant to expose evil in the world. As Christians, we are not only given the responsibility to keep free from sin. According to the scripture above, we are to "expose them" (Ephesians 5:11). As long as John Wayne Gacy's murders remained hidden, the bodies buried, he was free to continue his satanic evil. Once the lies and tortures and murders became public, he was kept from preying on boys and young men while behind bars in prison on death row. Part of being a Christian is to be willing to stop those who would hurt and injure others. We are responsible to expose evil and the sins of darkness in the world. We are called to end the suffering.
For some, when bad things are done, they tend to look the other way. Others, out of fear, will even lie to cover up a wrong. You might desire to remain silent in the face of abuse. God, however, will not. In the scripture above, the apostle Paul desires that you not participate in any way in the "deeds of darkness" (Ephesians 5:11). Instead, God desires that you "expose them". God doesn't side with the powers of darkness in this world… EVER. God sides with those who unjustly suffer. God sides with those who fight the darkness. God protects the vulnerable, and brings HIS vengeance upon the abusers.
Based on this scripture and many like it, I believe that God has special dispensation upon the police and soldiers and media and courts and judges and social workers and all those who help protect the vulnerable. I believe that God watches over and helps them in their duties as they protect others. I believe that God exposes the sins of evil perpetrators of darkness, while aiding those responsible for stopping them. God wishes to end all sinfulness.
So far, you might agree with me. You might be a champion for justice. However, don't forget that God also wants to expose any of your sins that are hidden. God wants them also dealt with. Part of following the scripture above means that you and I have to expose our own sins to God and seek repentance and forgiveness. You need to stop your sin from taking hold, and darkness from having its way with you. You need to reject any darkness in your life, whether it be a wrong thought or a hidden sin. Give each up to God. Seek reconciliation and redemption. Choose the light of Christ over the darkness of that sin.
You might find today's meditation morbid or negative. In fact, this meditation is meant to expose the prevalence of spiritual darkness in our world. You need to expose all spiritual darkness, bringing it to the light of Christ. To do so might put your life in danger. To hide or aid spiritual darkness is much worse. It will cause God to reject your faith. You need to choose today to side with the light of God. Otherwise, spiritual darkness will win. It should never win.
God knows of many terrible things in history that were subsequently hidden from view. Hidden murders, hushed lies, machinations and manipulations go unseen by the light of day. From the crematories at Auschwitz to the mass graves in Bosnia and Syria, we must be vigilant to expose evil in the world. As Christians, we are not only given the responsibility to keep free from sin. According to the scripture above, we are to "expose them" (Ephesians 5:11). As long as John Wayne Gacy's murders remained hidden, the bodies buried, he was free to continue his satanic evil. Once the lies and tortures and murders became public, he was kept from preying on boys and young men while behind bars in prison on death row. Part of being a Christian is to be willing to stop those who would hurt and injure others. We are responsible to expose evil and the sins of darkness in the world. We are called to end the suffering.
For some, when bad things are done, they tend to look the other way. Others, out of fear, will even lie to cover up a wrong. You might desire to remain silent in the face of abuse. God, however, will not. In the scripture above, the apostle Paul desires that you not participate in any way in the "deeds of darkness" (Ephesians 5:11). Instead, God desires that you "expose them". God doesn't side with the powers of darkness in this world… EVER. God sides with those who unjustly suffer. God sides with those who fight the darkness. God protects the vulnerable, and brings HIS vengeance upon the abusers.
Based on this scripture and many like it, I believe that God has special dispensation upon the police and soldiers and media and courts and judges and social workers and all those who help protect the vulnerable. I believe that God watches over and helps them in their duties as they protect others. I believe that God exposes the sins of evil perpetrators of darkness, while aiding those responsible for stopping them. God wishes to end all sinfulness.
So far, you might agree with me. You might be a champion for justice. However, don't forget that God also wants to expose any of your sins that are hidden. God wants them also dealt with. Part of following the scripture above means that you and I have to expose our own sins to God and seek repentance and forgiveness. You need to stop your sin from taking hold, and darkness from having its way with you. You need to reject any darkness in your life, whether it be a wrong thought or a hidden sin. Give each up to God. Seek reconciliation and redemption. Choose the light of Christ over the darkness of that sin.
You might find today's meditation morbid or negative. In fact, this meditation is meant to expose the prevalence of spiritual darkness in our world. You need to expose all spiritual darkness, bringing it to the light of Christ. To do so might put your life in danger. To hide or aid spiritual darkness is much worse. It will cause God to reject your faith. You need to choose today to side with the light of God. Otherwise, spiritual darkness will win. It should never win.
September 18
““I will stretch out my hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal and the name of the idolatrous priests; those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens; those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by Milcom; those who have turned back from following the Lord, who do not seek the Lord or inquire of him.”” (Zephaniah 1:4–6, RSV)
There will be moments of your spiritual life where God will answer your prayers with a definite "NO!". There might just come a time when God looks at something you are doing and will "stretch out HIS hand against you" (Zephaniah 1:4). God might push hard against you when sin has taken hold. You might find yourself held back from doing what you thought was a good thing. God might see it as a bad thing! God can see more than you can see. To protect you, God might raise a hand against you or affect your situation. God might close a door on an opportunity where you might end up going down the wrong road in life. In times like these, don't fight God. Seek HIS meaning. "Inquire" or ask in your prayers what God is doing (Zephaniah 1:6). Look for answers. When you hit that proverbial spiritual brick wall and God's hand is against you, God will be trying to communicate what is wrong in your life or exhibit what you are missing.
Last year, I met a man while at the hospital undergoing therapy. Joe was a nice guy, warm and friendly. We struck up a conversation in the physical therapy waiting room while awaiting our sessions. I was recovering from a fall. He was recovering from surgery. Seeing each other at rehab, it grew easier to talk and share. Awaiting our therapy session one day, Joe told me a surprising story. For months before his surgery, Joe had problem after problem. He fell a lot. He had headaches. Every now and then, he'd get tired and see double. He tended to complain about these problems as "getting old and falling apart". He grew frustrated at the physical problems he was having. Even in his prayer life, he complained about them. Once, he even fell coming out of church and was embarrassed about it. He harshly complained to an elder at his church about the entryway where he fell. He confessed, "Never once did I think God was trying to tell me something. I should have known better."
Months after all these warning signs that Joe missed, he had an automobile accident. While in the hospital for observation following the incident, he again complained to God about these problems in his life. Then, the doctor walked in with the results. He had a tumor on his brain. If not for the accident, they wouldn't have found it. Two weeks later, doctors removed the benign tumor. The headaches stopped. The double vision went away. He stopped falling. Throughout rehab, Joe realized that he wasn't listening to God nor his own body. Both were saying to him that something was wrong. Joe believes God had him fall at church as a sign that something was wrong, but he missed the meaning. He even believes the accident was God saying, "Wake up, Joe!". I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. The accident saved Joe's life. God saved Joe's life.
If you encounter accidents, trials, spiritual brick walls, problems, or unusual occurrences, seek God's purpose. It might be that some are not just coincidences. Sometimes, God will use obstacles to convey a meaning or direction for your life.
In the seventh century before Christ, the prophet Zephaniah spoke for the Lord. The Lord was angry at the idolatry that grew popular in the holy land. God sent the prophet Zephaniah to denounce this sin of the people. Despite worshiping Almighty God, the people had begun to dabble in the worship of other gods at the same time. They worshiped God while at the same time worshiping Baal, a Canaanite deity (Zephaniah 1:4). Others worshiped both God and Milcom, a god of the Ammonites (Zephaniah 1:5). Even the priests, who should know better, were involved in the idolatry. In response, God promised to "stretch out HIS hand against all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem" (Zephaniah 1:4). God was going to turn against Judah.
When God saw sin take hold in Judah as described in the scripture above, God caused problems to occur in the land. HIS hand moved against the people. Things would no longer go smoothly. The people would lose their heavenly protection. They would encounter difficulties and trials. Their prayers might be answered with silence or with a loud "NO!". Worship would be tainted. God's presence would not be felt. Blessings would be hard to come by. Things would fall apart spiritually for the people. All these were signals that something was wrong. Sin was in the land. Sin had corrupted the priests. It was time to repent.
If you are sinning, God's hand may stretch out against you. God wants to save you from that sin. If your habits are causing you to miss your prayers and neglect your Bible reading, don't be surprised if God removes a few blessings from you. It's not retaliation. It's God's way of saving your butt! God knows that when you begin to falter spiritually, you are susceptible to all manner of illnesses, trials, temptations, or problems. To turn you from a wrong in your life, God may have to stretch out HIS hand against you. That will be when you encounter things going wrong. That is the time to seek God's purpose in the matter, inquire of God's intention. If you desire to be truly faithful, God will show you which way to go, what to get rid of, or what changes to make. Just look for the signs HE gives you. Listen for HIS voice. Watch for HIS hand.
God didn't stretch out HIS hand against Judah and Jerusalem in the scripture above just to get revenge or show HIS power. God did it to save the nation and protect all the faithful people. At the time, it may have seemed like God's blessings had dried up. In reality, God's concern was seriously evident in the land. God's prophet Zephaniah explained what God was doing. The faithful responded.
I pray you are one of those who responds when God stretches out HIS hand in our land. I deeply desire for you to be one of those who inquires and seeks and watches for God. Then, you will be one of the few to whom God speaks directly. You will be like the prophet Zephaniah. You will see God's plan at work.
Has God's hand been stretching toward you lately? Is our country sinning? What is God wanting from you? Do you see what God is doing?
Last year, I met a man while at the hospital undergoing therapy. Joe was a nice guy, warm and friendly. We struck up a conversation in the physical therapy waiting room while awaiting our sessions. I was recovering from a fall. He was recovering from surgery. Seeing each other at rehab, it grew easier to talk and share. Awaiting our therapy session one day, Joe told me a surprising story. For months before his surgery, Joe had problem after problem. He fell a lot. He had headaches. Every now and then, he'd get tired and see double. He tended to complain about these problems as "getting old and falling apart". He grew frustrated at the physical problems he was having. Even in his prayer life, he complained about them. Once, he even fell coming out of church and was embarrassed about it. He harshly complained to an elder at his church about the entryway where he fell. He confessed, "Never once did I think God was trying to tell me something. I should have known better."
Months after all these warning signs that Joe missed, he had an automobile accident. While in the hospital for observation following the incident, he again complained to God about these problems in his life. Then, the doctor walked in with the results. He had a tumor on his brain. If not for the accident, they wouldn't have found it. Two weeks later, doctors removed the benign tumor. The headaches stopped. The double vision went away. He stopped falling. Throughout rehab, Joe realized that he wasn't listening to God nor his own body. Both were saying to him that something was wrong. Joe believes God had him fall at church as a sign that something was wrong, but he missed the meaning. He even believes the accident was God saying, "Wake up, Joe!". I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. The accident saved Joe's life. God saved Joe's life.
If you encounter accidents, trials, spiritual brick walls, problems, or unusual occurrences, seek God's purpose. It might be that some are not just coincidences. Sometimes, God will use obstacles to convey a meaning or direction for your life.
In the seventh century before Christ, the prophet Zephaniah spoke for the Lord. The Lord was angry at the idolatry that grew popular in the holy land. God sent the prophet Zephaniah to denounce this sin of the people. Despite worshiping Almighty God, the people had begun to dabble in the worship of other gods at the same time. They worshiped God while at the same time worshiping Baal, a Canaanite deity (Zephaniah 1:4). Others worshiped both God and Milcom, a god of the Ammonites (Zephaniah 1:5). Even the priests, who should know better, were involved in the idolatry. In response, God promised to "stretch out HIS hand against all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem" (Zephaniah 1:4). God was going to turn against Judah.
When God saw sin take hold in Judah as described in the scripture above, God caused problems to occur in the land. HIS hand moved against the people. Things would no longer go smoothly. The people would lose their heavenly protection. They would encounter difficulties and trials. Their prayers might be answered with silence or with a loud "NO!". Worship would be tainted. God's presence would not be felt. Blessings would be hard to come by. Things would fall apart spiritually for the people. All these were signals that something was wrong. Sin was in the land. Sin had corrupted the priests. It was time to repent.
If you are sinning, God's hand may stretch out against you. God wants to save you from that sin. If your habits are causing you to miss your prayers and neglect your Bible reading, don't be surprised if God removes a few blessings from you. It's not retaliation. It's God's way of saving your butt! God knows that when you begin to falter spiritually, you are susceptible to all manner of illnesses, trials, temptations, or problems. To turn you from a wrong in your life, God may have to stretch out HIS hand against you. That will be when you encounter things going wrong. That is the time to seek God's purpose in the matter, inquire of God's intention. If you desire to be truly faithful, God will show you which way to go, what to get rid of, or what changes to make. Just look for the signs HE gives you. Listen for HIS voice. Watch for HIS hand.
God didn't stretch out HIS hand against Judah and Jerusalem in the scripture above just to get revenge or show HIS power. God did it to save the nation and protect all the faithful people. At the time, it may have seemed like God's blessings had dried up. In reality, God's concern was seriously evident in the land. God's prophet Zephaniah explained what God was doing. The faithful responded.
I pray you are one of those who responds when God stretches out HIS hand in our land. I deeply desire for you to be one of those who inquires and seeks and watches for God. Then, you will be one of the few to whom God speaks directly. You will be like the prophet Zephaniah. You will see God's plan at work.
Has God's hand been stretching toward you lately? Is our country sinning? What is God wanting from you? Do you see what God is doing?
September 19
“When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.”
(Psalm 94:19, NASB95)
(Psalm 94:19, NASB95)
Every now and then, you can have a period in your life where everything seems to hit at once. In periods like that, life can spin out of control for a while.
When I was pastor of a church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, there was a lot of growth. Attendance grew so much that we needed to go to two worship services. Doing many new things, we had to call a part-time pastor to help with all the ministry needs. During one season of Lent, we had two worship services on Sunday, one on Wednesday, there were group meetings and shut-in visits and hospital visits. Plans were being made for Holy Week and Easter. I had a preschool and a ministry for special needs adults to watch over. With my plate full, I wanted everything to work out smoothly. Instead, everything hit at once.
On my only day off every week for seven straight weeks, there was a death among the members, a funeral, or emergencies. My children were needing me, my wife was trying to hold things together, and I was barely hanging on. My work load had increased to more than seventy hours a week. I sought help, but there was never enough. By the fourth week with no day off, my prayer life faltered. I wasn't exercising. I wasn't going for walks. I got up, went to work, answered phone calls, and did office hours. I went to meetings and met with hurting people, coming back home in the dark. I fell into bed at night. By the sixth week, I couldn't sleep well. I'd lie awake with thoughts of "What did I miss today?" or "I can't remember if I finished that article for the newsletter." Anxiety was taking hold. I needed a break. I was falling apart.
The author of Psalm 94 knew how I felt. He too had a life full of anxiety that was spinning out of control. He saw injustice (Psalm 94:15). Hurtful people committed acts of wickedness and evil against him and those he loved (Psalm 94:3,16). Arrogant people boasted about hurting others while in his presence (Psalm 94:4-6). The courts and political leaders were abusing their power (Psalm 94:20-21). In the midst of all these pressures and injustices in society, the author found one sure source of comfort: God Almighty. In our reading for today listed above, he wrote that whenever "anxious thoughts" grew rapidly, God would send "consolations" or "comfort" to his soul (Psalm 94: 19). Despite all the craziness in his life, the author sought God's peace within.
In my own situation at the church in Milwaukee, I too found comfort. After weeks of long hours and difficult stresses, a member came to me with a brochure. In that brochure was information about a hotel in Door County, Wisconsin. She asked if I wanted to get away for a couple of days. I said I couldn't do it right now, but was thankful. She responded that I needed some time away from the stress and that some members of the church were going to take care of everything for me. My secretary was going to coordinate the help. I was shocked but very thankful. I decided right then to get away.
I remember well those two and a half days in Door County. I visited a museum. I went for walks. There were no phone calls. The anxiety was eased just enough. I believe that through the faithful leaders who helped me carry the load and a generous gift of a place away, God was easing my soul and lifting my burdens and pressures. In the quiet nights with no phone calls, I spent time praying and read my Bible again. My soul rested.
When life goes spinning out of control, look for God to bring needed relief. See if God isn't sending someone to aid you or a friend to listen. Don't be afraid to delegate duties and trust in those God sends to help. When tense moments hit, settle into God's arms. Listen for HIS voice. Back off from your burdens and pressures enough to spend time with HIM. Even a few minutes can bring great relief.
God can soften your hard life in ways you can't imagine. God can ease burdens that others can't touch. The love of God can bring balm to your bones. God's Spirit can give you strength that overcomes. Being a child of God, don't be surprised when God brings comfort. Just ask for it, and watch what happens. Truly seek it, and let God control the resulting response. Cast your burdens on the Lord (Psalm 55:22). You just might find that you've been carrying them too long anyway!
When I was pastor of a church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, there was a lot of growth. Attendance grew so much that we needed to go to two worship services. Doing many new things, we had to call a part-time pastor to help with all the ministry needs. During one season of Lent, we had two worship services on Sunday, one on Wednesday, there were group meetings and shut-in visits and hospital visits. Plans were being made for Holy Week and Easter. I had a preschool and a ministry for special needs adults to watch over. With my plate full, I wanted everything to work out smoothly. Instead, everything hit at once.
On my only day off every week for seven straight weeks, there was a death among the members, a funeral, or emergencies. My children were needing me, my wife was trying to hold things together, and I was barely hanging on. My work load had increased to more than seventy hours a week. I sought help, but there was never enough. By the fourth week with no day off, my prayer life faltered. I wasn't exercising. I wasn't going for walks. I got up, went to work, answered phone calls, and did office hours. I went to meetings and met with hurting people, coming back home in the dark. I fell into bed at night. By the sixth week, I couldn't sleep well. I'd lie awake with thoughts of "What did I miss today?" or "I can't remember if I finished that article for the newsletter." Anxiety was taking hold. I needed a break. I was falling apart.
The author of Psalm 94 knew how I felt. He too had a life full of anxiety that was spinning out of control. He saw injustice (Psalm 94:15). Hurtful people committed acts of wickedness and evil against him and those he loved (Psalm 94:3,16). Arrogant people boasted about hurting others while in his presence (Psalm 94:4-6). The courts and political leaders were abusing their power (Psalm 94:20-21). In the midst of all these pressures and injustices in society, the author found one sure source of comfort: God Almighty. In our reading for today listed above, he wrote that whenever "anxious thoughts" grew rapidly, God would send "consolations" or "comfort" to his soul (Psalm 94: 19). Despite all the craziness in his life, the author sought God's peace within.
In my own situation at the church in Milwaukee, I too found comfort. After weeks of long hours and difficult stresses, a member came to me with a brochure. In that brochure was information about a hotel in Door County, Wisconsin. She asked if I wanted to get away for a couple of days. I said I couldn't do it right now, but was thankful. She responded that I needed some time away from the stress and that some members of the church were going to take care of everything for me. My secretary was going to coordinate the help. I was shocked but very thankful. I decided right then to get away.
I remember well those two and a half days in Door County. I visited a museum. I went for walks. There were no phone calls. The anxiety was eased just enough. I believe that through the faithful leaders who helped me carry the load and a generous gift of a place away, God was easing my soul and lifting my burdens and pressures. In the quiet nights with no phone calls, I spent time praying and read my Bible again. My soul rested.
When life goes spinning out of control, look for God to bring needed relief. See if God isn't sending someone to aid you or a friend to listen. Don't be afraid to delegate duties and trust in those God sends to help. When tense moments hit, settle into God's arms. Listen for HIS voice. Back off from your burdens and pressures enough to spend time with HIM. Even a few minutes can bring great relief.
God can soften your hard life in ways you can't imagine. God can ease burdens that others can't touch. The love of God can bring balm to your bones. God's Spirit can give you strength that overcomes. Being a child of God, don't be surprised when God brings comfort. Just ask for it, and watch what happens. Truly seek it, and let God control the resulting response. Cast your burdens on the Lord (Psalm 55:22). You just might find that you've been carrying them too long anyway!
September 20
“How long, Lord, must I cry for help? But you do not listen! I call out to you, “Violence!” But you do not intervene! Why do you force me to witness injustice? Why do you put up with wrongdoing? Destruction and violence confront me; conflict is present and one must endure strife. For this reason the law lacks power, and justice is never carried out. Indeed, the wicked intimidate the innocent. For this reason justice is perverted.” (Habakkuk 1:2–4, NET)
Around 600 BC, Habakkuk the prophet sought answers from God about what was going to happen to God's people in Judah. The people of Judah were sinning greatly. Society had broken down. The land was full of "injustice", "violence", and "wrongdoing" (Habakkuk 1:2,3). Laws and justice were being perverted. The wicked were "intimidating the innocent" (Habakkuk 1:4). In response to the sin and injustice in Judah, Habakkuk was upset. Three times in the opening four verses of this book, Habakkuk questioned God. He asked God in verse two, "How long must I cry for help?" and "Why do you force me to witness injustice?". He then asked God in verse three, "Why do you put up with wrongdoing?" In response to the prophet's questions, God promised the coming of the Babylonian armies (the Chaldeans in Habakkuk 1:6) to punish the people of Judah for their sins.
Did you notice that Habakkuk was not afraid to question what God was doing? Do you think that was presumptuous? Contrary to popular belief, it is normal to question God; not accuse God, but question what God is doing. God is secure enough that HE can certainly handle your musings and questions and wonder. God doesn’t mind questions as faithful people seek HIS wisdom. Just remember; you may not like God's answers!
Many years ago, a young lady named Karen stopped in her church during office hours. As she mulled around the office, her pastor came in. The conversation between Karen and the secretary became clipped and short. The Pastor kept his door open to the church office. He noticed Karen wandering the office and out in the hall. He watched her leaf through some pamphlets and newsletters. She seemed on edge. Finally, after five minutes of her wanderings, he stepped out of his office and said to her, "OK, Karen, what's up? I can see something is bothering you!"
With her head bowed, she asked to speak with him privately. He brought her into his office and closed the door. She sat down across from his desk. "What is it?" said the Pastor.
"I was wondering, Pastor, does God really love me even when I sin?"
They talked about this for a few minutes when her pastor asked, "Karen, have you asked God if he loves you?"
"No, I wouldn't do that! I don't question God!", Karen blurted out.
Her pastor calmly said, "Maybe it's time you should." Karen needed answers from her pastor and God. She needed comfort and assurance. It was time to seek answers not only from her pastor and her Bible, but from her Lord.
It really is okay to ask God questions, to seek God's purpose. You won't find some answers from God if you never ask questions. Habakkuk began his prophetic book by questioning God's intentions, asking three questions in the first four verses! He truly desired to hear God's answers to the dilemma of sin and violence in Judah. You also may need to seek God's answers for a few questions in your life. Are you okay with asking God some questions?
I once heard a theologian speak on God's power. The scholar had probed and studied the Bible on the topic of suffering. What he found was that when people were confronted with hard times, difficult situations, or pain, they often respond with questions for God. Like Habakkuk, they wondered what God was doing when things seemed to go wrong in the world. The theologian said most eloquently, "I think when we encounter problems, we need to ask God questions. God is big enough to handle our questions. I just wish people were big enough to ask them honestly!"
Do you ask God honest and forthright questions? When you are not sure what to do, do you ask God for direction? Do you trust God to answer your questions? Are you willing to heed God's answers? When you pray, don't be afraid to ask God difficult questions. Listen and look for God's response. The answers you seek may come in a quiet moment of reflection. The answers may come in a sermon or when you read a scripture. God's voice might come through as a family member speaks to you or a friend talks to you. God might answer your questions with a whisper such as happened to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:12. An answer might come as God shows you something unusual as happened to Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 5). One way or another, God has a lot to say. Do you need a few answers? Then, don’t be afraid to ask God some honest questions.
Did you notice that Habakkuk was not afraid to question what God was doing? Do you think that was presumptuous? Contrary to popular belief, it is normal to question God; not accuse God, but question what God is doing. God is secure enough that HE can certainly handle your musings and questions and wonder. God doesn’t mind questions as faithful people seek HIS wisdom. Just remember; you may not like God's answers!
Many years ago, a young lady named Karen stopped in her church during office hours. As she mulled around the office, her pastor came in. The conversation between Karen and the secretary became clipped and short. The Pastor kept his door open to the church office. He noticed Karen wandering the office and out in the hall. He watched her leaf through some pamphlets and newsletters. She seemed on edge. Finally, after five minutes of her wanderings, he stepped out of his office and said to her, "OK, Karen, what's up? I can see something is bothering you!"
With her head bowed, she asked to speak with him privately. He brought her into his office and closed the door. She sat down across from his desk. "What is it?" said the Pastor.
"I was wondering, Pastor, does God really love me even when I sin?"
They talked about this for a few minutes when her pastor asked, "Karen, have you asked God if he loves you?"
"No, I wouldn't do that! I don't question God!", Karen blurted out.
Her pastor calmly said, "Maybe it's time you should." Karen needed answers from her pastor and God. She needed comfort and assurance. It was time to seek answers not only from her pastor and her Bible, but from her Lord.
It really is okay to ask God questions, to seek God's purpose. You won't find some answers from God if you never ask questions. Habakkuk began his prophetic book by questioning God's intentions, asking three questions in the first four verses! He truly desired to hear God's answers to the dilemma of sin and violence in Judah. You also may need to seek God's answers for a few questions in your life. Are you okay with asking God some questions?
I once heard a theologian speak on God's power. The scholar had probed and studied the Bible on the topic of suffering. What he found was that when people were confronted with hard times, difficult situations, or pain, they often respond with questions for God. Like Habakkuk, they wondered what God was doing when things seemed to go wrong in the world. The theologian said most eloquently, "I think when we encounter problems, we need to ask God questions. God is big enough to handle our questions. I just wish people were big enough to ask them honestly!"
Do you ask God honest and forthright questions? When you are not sure what to do, do you ask God for direction? Do you trust God to answer your questions? Are you willing to heed God's answers? When you pray, don't be afraid to ask God difficult questions. Listen and look for God's response. The answers you seek may come in a quiet moment of reflection. The answers may come in a sermon or when you read a scripture. God's voice might come through as a family member speaks to you or a friend talks to you. God might answer your questions with a whisper such as happened to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:12. An answer might come as God shows you something unusual as happened to Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 5). One way or another, God has a lot to say. Do you need a few answers? Then, don’t be afraid to ask God some honest questions.
September 21
"“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.”"
(Luke 16:19–25, NIV84)
(Luke 16:19–25, NIV84)
An article I read recently concerned "Near Death Experiences". The author commented on the hundreds of cases of people who had died in various ways for a few short minutes in the hospital but were revived. During the time they stopped breathing or their heart stopped, some were transported to Heaven or a Heavenly place. However, a good number of people had been transported in a near death experience to Hell or Hades. Their view of life after death looked very different, very violent, like a place you never want to go. Some of these people changed their lives around in response to visiting Hell. Some became pastors or church leaders. Very few of these kept living lives full of sin. Very few continued to reject God.
In the 1970's, research was done on near death experiences. Scholars wanted to find out if these experiences were real or just figments of the imagination. Surprisingly, the studies concluded that as many as one in three people will have near death experiences. An example of those who were studied was George Ritchie, who was pronounced dead at a field hospital during World War 2. He contracted pneumonia and doctors couldn't save him. Nine minutes later he woke up shocked and afraid. For years, very few knew what he saw. Then in 1978, he published an account of his visit with God during his nine minutes of death. His talk with God and view of heaven were inspiring. He even confided that he wanted to stay forever in heaven. However, God also showed him a view of hell. There, George Ritchie saw people who were torturing and tortured. It was an awful existence. When people read his account, they were amazed. To many, it proved that not only did heaven exist, so did hell.
It surprises me that people believe there is no afterlife, no heaven, no hell. Our scripture for today has Jesus telling a story about heaven and hell. It is obvious that Jesus believed not only in the afterlife, but also that there was a real heaven as well as a real hell. In Luke 16:14-15, Jesus told the Pharisees that God knew what was in their hearts and was rejecting their love of money. A few verses later, Jesus tells the story of a rich man and poor Lazarus. The rich man lived in "luxury every day", dressed in "fine linen" clothes (Luke 16:19). Poor Lazarus was a "beggar" who often sat at the "gate" of the rich man, hungry and covered in "sores" (Luke 16:20). Both died. The rich man went to "hell" (Luke 16:23). Lazarus went to heaven escorted by angels, where he was comforted by Abraham (Luke 16:22). Heaven is described in these verses as a place of "comfort", where people are watched over and cared for. Hades or Hell is described as a place where people live in "torment" and "agony", their bodies constantly burned by "fire" (Luke 16:23-24). Hell is a place of suffering. The rich man is suffering so miserably, he begs for Abraham to send Lazarus to give him "water" to "cool his tongue" (Luke 16:24). It is forbidden to do so. The rich man will suffer in agony forever.
At this point, I want to mention that many people interpret this story wrongly. They read what happened and think that if the rich man had only shared with Lazarus, he would have not gone to hell. They also think that Lazarus got to heaven because he was poor. Nowhere in the entire story does it ever say this, but many people read into the scripture this way. I believe that to understand this story of the rich man and Lazarus, you need to step back a few verses and remember that Jesus had just warned the Pharisees about their love of money. I think Jesus included this story of heaven and hell to remind the Pharisees that those who love money more than God, more than the suffering people of this world, are not going to do well on Judgment Day. Their love of money, a sin of idolatry, will follow them into the afterlife. Lazarus didn't get to Heaven just because he was poor. He got to heaven because he didn't fall into the sin of idolatry against God.
Idolatry is a form of sin wherein you place something…. anything… above God. It could be an idol or graven image (Exodus 20:4). It could be a person, money, health, power, sex, drugs, alcohol, fame, or fortune. It could be a thought or emotion that you won't give up. It could be a habit. It can be anything, actually. To understand if you are committing idolatry, ask yourself this question, "What thought or thing would I NOT give up to help someone in need or if God requested it?" If something comes to mind that might be too hard to give up, that is your idol. That idol is what you really worship in life. It is what competes with God.
Jesus said that you must "love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, and ALL your soul, ALL your mind and ALL your strength." (Mark 12:30) You can NEVER do that if you have an idol in your life. The idol will distract you from God and keep you from Heaven.
As you go about your day, I want you to look around at the things and thoughts you have. Are any in danger of becoming an idol to you? Can you NOT live without something? Is something so valuable that you'd return into a blazing house fire to get it? Don't let anything in this life stop you from experiencing the comfort of angels and the love of God in Heaven. Fail this and you will have one hell of an existence!
(Shown below is an interview with George Ritchie about his meeting Christ in his near death experience)
In the 1970's, research was done on near death experiences. Scholars wanted to find out if these experiences were real or just figments of the imagination. Surprisingly, the studies concluded that as many as one in three people will have near death experiences. An example of those who were studied was George Ritchie, who was pronounced dead at a field hospital during World War 2. He contracted pneumonia and doctors couldn't save him. Nine minutes later he woke up shocked and afraid. For years, very few knew what he saw. Then in 1978, he published an account of his visit with God during his nine minutes of death. His talk with God and view of heaven were inspiring. He even confided that he wanted to stay forever in heaven. However, God also showed him a view of hell. There, George Ritchie saw people who were torturing and tortured. It was an awful existence. When people read his account, they were amazed. To many, it proved that not only did heaven exist, so did hell.
It surprises me that people believe there is no afterlife, no heaven, no hell. Our scripture for today has Jesus telling a story about heaven and hell. It is obvious that Jesus believed not only in the afterlife, but also that there was a real heaven as well as a real hell. In Luke 16:14-15, Jesus told the Pharisees that God knew what was in their hearts and was rejecting their love of money. A few verses later, Jesus tells the story of a rich man and poor Lazarus. The rich man lived in "luxury every day", dressed in "fine linen" clothes (Luke 16:19). Poor Lazarus was a "beggar" who often sat at the "gate" of the rich man, hungry and covered in "sores" (Luke 16:20). Both died. The rich man went to "hell" (Luke 16:23). Lazarus went to heaven escorted by angels, where he was comforted by Abraham (Luke 16:22). Heaven is described in these verses as a place of "comfort", where people are watched over and cared for. Hades or Hell is described as a place where people live in "torment" and "agony", their bodies constantly burned by "fire" (Luke 16:23-24). Hell is a place of suffering. The rich man is suffering so miserably, he begs for Abraham to send Lazarus to give him "water" to "cool his tongue" (Luke 16:24). It is forbidden to do so. The rich man will suffer in agony forever.
At this point, I want to mention that many people interpret this story wrongly. They read what happened and think that if the rich man had only shared with Lazarus, he would have not gone to hell. They also think that Lazarus got to heaven because he was poor. Nowhere in the entire story does it ever say this, but many people read into the scripture this way. I believe that to understand this story of the rich man and Lazarus, you need to step back a few verses and remember that Jesus had just warned the Pharisees about their love of money. I think Jesus included this story of heaven and hell to remind the Pharisees that those who love money more than God, more than the suffering people of this world, are not going to do well on Judgment Day. Their love of money, a sin of idolatry, will follow them into the afterlife. Lazarus didn't get to Heaven just because he was poor. He got to heaven because he didn't fall into the sin of idolatry against God.
Idolatry is a form of sin wherein you place something…. anything… above God. It could be an idol or graven image (Exodus 20:4). It could be a person, money, health, power, sex, drugs, alcohol, fame, or fortune. It could be a thought or emotion that you won't give up. It could be a habit. It can be anything, actually. To understand if you are committing idolatry, ask yourself this question, "What thought or thing would I NOT give up to help someone in need or if God requested it?" If something comes to mind that might be too hard to give up, that is your idol. That idol is what you really worship in life. It is what competes with God.
Jesus said that you must "love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, and ALL your soul, ALL your mind and ALL your strength." (Mark 12:30) You can NEVER do that if you have an idol in your life. The idol will distract you from God and keep you from Heaven.
As you go about your day, I want you to look around at the things and thoughts you have. Are any in danger of becoming an idol to you? Can you NOT live without something? Is something so valuable that you'd return into a blazing house fire to get it? Don't let anything in this life stop you from experiencing the comfort of angels and the love of God in Heaven. Fail this and you will have one hell of an existence!
(Shown below is an interview with George Ritchie about his meeting Christ in his near death experience)
September 22
“Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord: “I am with you, says the Lord!” So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, on September 21 of the second year of King Darius’s reign.”
(Haggai 1:13–15, NLT)
(Haggai 1:13–15, NLT)
Georgia was at the hospital. The family knew it. Few others did. The family didn't want the word getting out that Georgia was in a locked ward at the hospital, reserved for those with psychological problems. The family described Georgia's episode as a nervous breakdown. The doctors had special names for it that the family couldn't understand nor repeat, so the family just called it "the breakdown".
During the first days of her hospital stay, Georgia interacted decently well with the others in the ward. She didn't speak much and didn't share much, but she was cordial. Three days into her stay, that changed. Georgia was visibly upset and agitated. While putting together a jigsaw puzzle, she suddenly stood up and whisked all the puzzle pieces on the floor and trudged out of the room. Later, when asked why she had such an outburst, she responded, "As I placed the pieces in that jigsaw puzzle, I realized that I was trying to put my life back together. I was trying to put the pieces back together in my own personal life." Only then did Georgia realize the mess she had made of her life due to psychological illness.
Every now and then, you will have to put the pieces back together in your life. An illness, the loss of a job, moving, an accident, a death in the family, a financial setback, and many more things can upset everything in your life. Then, you have to find a reason and a way to put your life back together. Putting the pieces of your life back together may be one of the most difficult things you ever do.
In the Old Testament book of Haggai, the people of God were trying to restore their lives following the devastating war with Babylon decades before. The war had ravaged Judah. The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. Thousands had suffered hunger, slavery, and misery. In the days of King Darius of Media or Persia (it is disputed), the Israelites were allowed to return from exile to Jerusalem and Judah. A period of rebuilding occurred. People tried to rebuild their lives, their nation, their temple (Haggai 1:14). It was a difficult period for Judah. They struggled to put back together the pieces of their nation and faith.
During these difficult days, Haggai the prophet brought a new vision of hope to the people. He told them that the exile was over, and God's judgment for past sins had ended. God was again watching over and protecting the nation (Haggai 1:13). It was time to start over. The news of God's returning blessing brought "enthusiasm" back in the hearts of the people (Haggai 1:14). The leaders of the nation such as Haggai, Zerubbabel, and Jeshua got down to work. They sought God's direction and spurred the people to action.
Have you ever looked at the broken pieces of your life and struggled with enthusiasm? That's how God's people felt during the era after the exile. But then, God's prophet and the leaders felt God's presence and they found the enthusiasm to face their challenges and put their nation back together. They became excited again, and were willing to rebuild the shredded pieces of their lives. Look for God to give you the enthusiasm to put your life back together after a loss in your life. With God's strength, you can face the task. It may take a while, but God will be there with hope and direction. God will give you courage to overcome what you must. God will help. God doesn't want you to lie in a heaping mass of tears for long. After your mourning, God WILL bring healing. Joy will come again one day! Psalm 30:5 says "Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning!"
There will be periods in your life with sadness, weeping, mourning, and loss. Tears will flow freely, but God always wants you to find joy. God wants you to put back the pieces of your life. You may have to rearrange the pieces, but God will help you fit everything back together in the right order. In the days of Haggai the prophet, God did not leave the people utterly desolate. God brought joy again. God brought back the enthusiasm and hope. God gave the strength to rebuild. In your life, God will bring hope in the midst of your distress, peace in the midst of chaos, joy in the midst of suffering. God wants you to rise above the dark days. God wants HIS light to shine in your life.
Are you in a period of rebuilding? Do you feel like some of the pieces of your life have been broken or scattered? Look for God to bring you the strength to put your life back together. Look for God to bring healing and hope. Even in your darkest hour, God's light will be there if you look for it. Even in death, God will bring you home to the light of Heaven. Cheer up! You have a God who is not only powerful, but who loves you!
During the first days of her hospital stay, Georgia interacted decently well with the others in the ward. She didn't speak much and didn't share much, but she was cordial. Three days into her stay, that changed. Georgia was visibly upset and agitated. While putting together a jigsaw puzzle, she suddenly stood up and whisked all the puzzle pieces on the floor and trudged out of the room. Later, when asked why she had such an outburst, she responded, "As I placed the pieces in that jigsaw puzzle, I realized that I was trying to put my life back together. I was trying to put the pieces back together in my own personal life." Only then did Georgia realize the mess she had made of her life due to psychological illness.
Every now and then, you will have to put the pieces back together in your life. An illness, the loss of a job, moving, an accident, a death in the family, a financial setback, and many more things can upset everything in your life. Then, you have to find a reason and a way to put your life back together. Putting the pieces of your life back together may be one of the most difficult things you ever do.
In the Old Testament book of Haggai, the people of God were trying to restore their lives following the devastating war with Babylon decades before. The war had ravaged Judah. The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. Thousands had suffered hunger, slavery, and misery. In the days of King Darius of Media or Persia (it is disputed), the Israelites were allowed to return from exile to Jerusalem and Judah. A period of rebuilding occurred. People tried to rebuild their lives, their nation, their temple (Haggai 1:14). It was a difficult period for Judah. They struggled to put back together the pieces of their nation and faith.
During these difficult days, Haggai the prophet brought a new vision of hope to the people. He told them that the exile was over, and God's judgment for past sins had ended. God was again watching over and protecting the nation (Haggai 1:13). It was time to start over. The news of God's returning blessing brought "enthusiasm" back in the hearts of the people (Haggai 1:14). The leaders of the nation such as Haggai, Zerubbabel, and Jeshua got down to work. They sought God's direction and spurred the people to action.
Have you ever looked at the broken pieces of your life and struggled with enthusiasm? That's how God's people felt during the era after the exile. But then, God's prophet and the leaders felt God's presence and they found the enthusiasm to face their challenges and put their nation back together. They became excited again, and were willing to rebuild the shredded pieces of their lives. Look for God to give you the enthusiasm to put your life back together after a loss in your life. With God's strength, you can face the task. It may take a while, but God will be there with hope and direction. God will give you courage to overcome what you must. God will help. God doesn't want you to lie in a heaping mass of tears for long. After your mourning, God WILL bring healing. Joy will come again one day! Psalm 30:5 says "Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning!"
There will be periods in your life with sadness, weeping, mourning, and loss. Tears will flow freely, but God always wants you to find joy. God wants you to put back the pieces of your life. You may have to rearrange the pieces, but God will help you fit everything back together in the right order. In the days of Haggai the prophet, God did not leave the people utterly desolate. God brought joy again. God brought back the enthusiasm and hope. God gave the strength to rebuild. In your life, God will bring hope in the midst of your distress, peace in the midst of chaos, joy in the midst of suffering. God wants you to rise above the dark days. God wants HIS light to shine in your life.
Are you in a period of rebuilding? Do you feel like some of the pieces of your life have been broken or scattered? Look for God to bring you the strength to put your life back together. Look for God to bring healing and hope. Even in your darkest hour, God's light will be there if you look for it. Even in death, God will bring you home to the light of Heaven. Cheer up! You have a God who is not only powerful, but who loves you!
September 23
“Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9–13, RSV)
When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, Jesus taught them what we call now "The Lord's Prayer" from Matthew 6. It is a prayer that is more commonly repeated in Christendom than any other prayer. Some churches say "The Lord's Prayer" every time they gather for worship. Other churches reserve this prayer for special services, communion services, ordinations, or celebratory masses. This prayer is central to our faith.
I'd like you to look at the first line in this prayer of Jesus. Of all the words Jesus chose to begin a prototypical Christian prayer, He chose to begin the prayer by addressing "Our Father who art in heaven…"(Matthew 6:9). This line of the prayer is crucial to understanding Jesus' relationship with Heaven. Jesus, being human and divine, prayed to God the Father in Heaven while on earth. He was separate, distinct from God the Father. He was part of what Christians call the Trinity, three persons in one God. Though in communion with God the Father in Heaven, Jesus' mission was to show us the path to righteousness. He was "in every way" human, tempted with sin (Hebrews 4:15). He relied on God the Father just as we do. He showed us how to relate to the Father. In prayer, he prayed to "Our Father in Heaven".
I don't know if you aware of it, but for the past forty years or so, feminists have attempted to remove the word "Father" from the Lord's Prayer, some even praying to "Our Parent who art in Heaven". "Re-imaging Conferences" have sprung up in several denominations of the Christian church, mostly as ways for feminists to "re-image" God and the church in gender-neutral terms. A number of these conferences advocated getting rid of the term "God the Father", "Father God", or "Father in Heaven". They also did not want the slavish title of "Lord" for Jesus. They pronounced judgment upon these titles for God and Jesus as sexist and patriarchal remnants of a biased past. They wanted to emasculate God. But, God the Father does have masculine traits and a masculine name (and a few feminine traits as in Hosea where God is described as a mother bear who will defend her cubs- Hosea 13:8!). Out of all the titles Jesus could have used for God, HE chose "Father in Heaven" to begin the greatest prayer of the Bible. We shouldn't throw that title out to please feminism, feminists, or gender-neutral advocates.
At the largest re-imaging conference held in 1993, feminists advocated using the title "Sophia" (which means "wisdom" in Greek… a feminine noun in Greek) instead of "Father" for God. They also replaced bread and wine in their "communion", preferring to share milk and honey instead. They demanded removing all masculine pronouns for God from all versions of scripture. They advocated for homosexual, bisexual, and transgender people in the church and in ministry. They believed forms of violence in society were due to patriarchal influences in scripture. They believed that feminism cannot accept God as a Heavenly Father, even if Jesus did.
I believe that Jesus prayed to the Heavenly Father to emphasize our relationship with a God who has made us a family in Christ. We are brothers and sisters in the faith, with God as our Heavenly Father and Jesus as our Lord. We can't allow feminism to rewrite our Bible, getting rid of the title of "Heavenly Father". Sadly, in those churches that have bowed to feminism, they only pray to "God" and often don't define "which God" to whom they pray. Instead of God becoming the head of the family, God ends up being a nebulous being of questionable existence.
In this day and age, you and I are being bombarded with challenges to rewrite history. There are those who want to erase and retell history. They want to get rid of all the historical statues and monuments. They want to rewrite scripture to make it politically correct. They want to make gender "fluid". They want to get rid of terms for God and Jesus like "Heavenly Father" and "Lord". There are those who teach that the miracles of the Bible were not historical, some even believing that Jesus wasn't a human being but a myth. As for me, I will teach what the Bible says and let God sort it all out. I will teach scripture as it was written in the original language. I will pray to "God our Father in Heaven". I will maintain Jesus as my "Lord". Call me sexist, misogynist, or patriarchal. Fine. In the end, I will "love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and love my neighbor as well as myself" (Mark 12:30). I will even love my feminist friends who hate me for being who I am.
This is a difficult time to be a Christian, especially when Christians can't even agree to call God "Our Heavenly Father". Don't let this get you down. The world is constantly trying to "re-imagine" faith, erase history, and rewrite theological views or the Bible to fit the times. Will you let it? What will that do for future generations? Do you think there may come a time when people no longer will know who is "God the Father in Heaven"? I pray not!
I'd like you to look at the first line in this prayer of Jesus. Of all the words Jesus chose to begin a prototypical Christian prayer, He chose to begin the prayer by addressing "Our Father who art in heaven…"(Matthew 6:9). This line of the prayer is crucial to understanding Jesus' relationship with Heaven. Jesus, being human and divine, prayed to God the Father in Heaven while on earth. He was separate, distinct from God the Father. He was part of what Christians call the Trinity, three persons in one God. Though in communion with God the Father in Heaven, Jesus' mission was to show us the path to righteousness. He was "in every way" human, tempted with sin (Hebrews 4:15). He relied on God the Father just as we do. He showed us how to relate to the Father. In prayer, he prayed to "Our Father in Heaven".
I don't know if you aware of it, but for the past forty years or so, feminists have attempted to remove the word "Father" from the Lord's Prayer, some even praying to "Our Parent who art in Heaven". "Re-imaging Conferences" have sprung up in several denominations of the Christian church, mostly as ways for feminists to "re-image" God and the church in gender-neutral terms. A number of these conferences advocated getting rid of the term "God the Father", "Father God", or "Father in Heaven". They also did not want the slavish title of "Lord" for Jesus. They pronounced judgment upon these titles for God and Jesus as sexist and patriarchal remnants of a biased past. They wanted to emasculate God. But, God the Father does have masculine traits and a masculine name (and a few feminine traits as in Hosea where God is described as a mother bear who will defend her cubs- Hosea 13:8!). Out of all the titles Jesus could have used for God, HE chose "Father in Heaven" to begin the greatest prayer of the Bible. We shouldn't throw that title out to please feminism, feminists, or gender-neutral advocates.
At the largest re-imaging conference held in 1993, feminists advocated using the title "Sophia" (which means "wisdom" in Greek… a feminine noun in Greek) instead of "Father" for God. They also replaced bread and wine in their "communion", preferring to share milk and honey instead. They demanded removing all masculine pronouns for God from all versions of scripture. They advocated for homosexual, bisexual, and transgender people in the church and in ministry. They believed forms of violence in society were due to patriarchal influences in scripture. They believed that feminism cannot accept God as a Heavenly Father, even if Jesus did.
I believe that Jesus prayed to the Heavenly Father to emphasize our relationship with a God who has made us a family in Christ. We are brothers and sisters in the faith, with God as our Heavenly Father and Jesus as our Lord. We can't allow feminism to rewrite our Bible, getting rid of the title of "Heavenly Father". Sadly, in those churches that have bowed to feminism, they only pray to "God" and often don't define "which God" to whom they pray. Instead of God becoming the head of the family, God ends up being a nebulous being of questionable existence.
In this day and age, you and I are being bombarded with challenges to rewrite history. There are those who want to erase and retell history. They want to get rid of all the historical statues and monuments. They want to rewrite scripture to make it politically correct. They want to make gender "fluid". They want to get rid of terms for God and Jesus like "Heavenly Father" and "Lord". There are those who teach that the miracles of the Bible were not historical, some even believing that Jesus wasn't a human being but a myth. As for me, I will teach what the Bible says and let God sort it all out. I will teach scripture as it was written in the original language. I will pray to "God our Father in Heaven". I will maintain Jesus as my "Lord". Call me sexist, misogynist, or patriarchal. Fine. In the end, I will "love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and love my neighbor as well as myself" (Mark 12:30). I will even love my feminist friends who hate me for being who I am.
This is a difficult time to be a Christian, especially when Christians can't even agree to call God "Our Heavenly Father". Don't let this get you down. The world is constantly trying to "re-imagine" faith, erase history, and rewrite theological views or the Bible to fit the times. Will you let it? What will that do for future generations? Do you think there may come a time when people no longer will know who is "God the Father in Heaven"? I pray not!
September 24
“My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me. Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking. Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!”
(Psalm 55:4–6, NLT)
(Psalm 55:4–6, NLT)
John's grandmother was dying in the hospital. He ached to visit her once more before she died, but John hated hospitals. He was deathly afraid of them. He didn't like the smells nor the danger located there. John was the kind of guy to ignore pain and suffering. He didn't like to even talk about those difficult topics! But with his dear Granny dying, he had to visit her one last time. He got up the courage, drove over, walked in, and found her room. After spending ten grueling minutes watching her weakened eyes blink and hearing the machines keeping her alive, he could take no more. With the rest of the family wondering what happened, John hurried out of the room and ran down the hallway to the exit. Hours later, they found John in a coffee shop about two miles from the hospital. He was still shaking. His only words to the family who found him were, "I had to get away. I couldn't stand it."
Each of us has those things that can cause fear to ripple through our bodies and thoughts. It might be the fear of losing a spouse or parent, a job, a child, getting cancer, or going back to prison. There are a million things that can cause you to feel so much pain or emotion that you want to hightail out of there! You want to run away. Flee. Hide. The crazy thing in life is that sometimes when you feel overwhelmingly like you want to run away from something, you actually NEED to face it down. You MUST overcome it.
Psalm 55 was written by David as a Maskil (Psalm 55:1). A Maskil is a teaching psalm; a song that teaches a lesson. The word "Maskil" in Hebrew comes from a root word meaning "understand" or "ponder". Psalm 55 was written to help you to understand fearful situations. In our verses for today, the writer wants you to know what it is like to face a powerful fear. Psalm 55:4 mentions that fear will cause your "heart to pound in your chest". You will feel "terror". You might easily find yourself "trembling" and "can't stop shaking" (Psalm 55:5). In response to whatever it is that has shaken you to the core, your desire will be to "fly away and rest" (Psalm 55:6). You will want to get away, no matter what it takes.
Many a soldier has felt this type of fear before or during a battle. A police officer knows this feeling. Those who have been raped or assaulted know what it is like. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder patients will often relive their moment of terror in their dreams, and they will wake up screaming or with eyes wide open in fear. Every one of us will have these moments when we want to "fly away and rest". These difficult moments will require us to choose what is best at the time. You will have to find the courage to face down these "fear demons" in order to subdue them. Running away from a dangerous situation can be beneficial, but sometimes it is precisely what you must NOT do. There are fears you have to face. Sometimes, you can't just run away.
Later in Psalm 55, David mentioned what he often did when he felt like running away. He called upon God (Psalm 55:16). He looked for God's strength. He asked for God's help. With God as his Protector, David felt he could face whatever came his way. Even in the day of battle, he had courage knowing that God was with him. God "sustained" him when the fears became unbearable (Psalm 55:22).
Some day, you will find yourself in a moment of fear and terror.. It may be at a hospital or while you are holding your chest and gasping for breath. It might be while you are waiting for the ambulance to arrive. It might be on a spiritual battlefield. It may be when you are surrounded by a forest fire. Death or enemies may surround you. But with God on your side, you can face down any fear. Don't let the obstacle stop you from doing what is needed in that moment. God is your Protector, too. God will give you the courage and strength to overcome if you trust HIM enough.
Do you feel like running away today? Are there a few fears that are creeping into your mind or soul? Does God want you to stand up to those fears and face down your challenges? Have courage during difficult moments or frightening events. When you devote yourself to God, God will be your strength when you need HIM most.
Each of us has those things that can cause fear to ripple through our bodies and thoughts. It might be the fear of losing a spouse or parent, a job, a child, getting cancer, or going back to prison. There are a million things that can cause you to feel so much pain or emotion that you want to hightail out of there! You want to run away. Flee. Hide. The crazy thing in life is that sometimes when you feel overwhelmingly like you want to run away from something, you actually NEED to face it down. You MUST overcome it.
Psalm 55 was written by David as a Maskil (Psalm 55:1). A Maskil is a teaching psalm; a song that teaches a lesson. The word "Maskil" in Hebrew comes from a root word meaning "understand" or "ponder". Psalm 55 was written to help you to understand fearful situations. In our verses for today, the writer wants you to know what it is like to face a powerful fear. Psalm 55:4 mentions that fear will cause your "heart to pound in your chest". You will feel "terror". You might easily find yourself "trembling" and "can't stop shaking" (Psalm 55:5). In response to whatever it is that has shaken you to the core, your desire will be to "fly away and rest" (Psalm 55:6). You will want to get away, no matter what it takes.
Many a soldier has felt this type of fear before or during a battle. A police officer knows this feeling. Those who have been raped or assaulted know what it is like. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder patients will often relive their moment of terror in their dreams, and they will wake up screaming or with eyes wide open in fear. Every one of us will have these moments when we want to "fly away and rest". These difficult moments will require us to choose what is best at the time. You will have to find the courage to face down these "fear demons" in order to subdue them. Running away from a dangerous situation can be beneficial, but sometimes it is precisely what you must NOT do. There are fears you have to face. Sometimes, you can't just run away.
Later in Psalm 55, David mentioned what he often did when he felt like running away. He called upon God (Psalm 55:16). He looked for God's strength. He asked for God's help. With God as his Protector, David felt he could face whatever came his way. Even in the day of battle, he had courage knowing that God was with him. God "sustained" him when the fears became unbearable (Psalm 55:22).
Some day, you will find yourself in a moment of fear and terror.. It may be at a hospital or while you are holding your chest and gasping for breath. It might be while you are waiting for the ambulance to arrive. It might be on a spiritual battlefield. It may be when you are surrounded by a forest fire. Death or enemies may surround you. But with God on your side, you can face down any fear. Don't let the obstacle stop you from doing what is needed in that moment. God is your Protector, too. God will give you the courage and strength to overcome if you trust HIM enough.
Do you feel like running away today? Are there a few fears that are creeping into your mind or soul? Does God want you to stand up to those fears and face down your challenges? Have courage during difficult moments or frightening events. When you devote yourself to God, God will be your strength when you need HIM most.
September 25
““So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:2–4, NASB95)
There is a video that shows a gorilla attacking a glass that protects visitors to the zoo (I have included it below). Some have said it is proof positive that gorillas are vicious animals. But this thinking was wrong. In a reflection on the window, you can see there is a young girl who is beating her chest, trying to get the gorilla nearby to do the same, to beat its chest. What the young girl didn't realize was that her beating of her chest is saying to the other gorillas in who are in view that she is great and worthy of their respect. She is challenging their authority. She is saying, "Look at me. I'm the biggest, baddest person here. Look at me. I deserve your attention." The problem with her action was that the biggest, baddest gorilla felt challenged. The silverback felt as if she were saying she was better than he; that she was above him in the family group. Unwittingly, her actions actually threatened the order of the gorilla social organization.
"Look at me" is a common feeling among many today. People like to be "seen". That's why they take selfies. That's why the put on twitter their lunch menu and talk about which friend was with them during lunch. That's why people take pictures with celebrities; they want to be seen with the rich and famous. Many think they can elevate their status among their peers by "being seen" on TV, on the internet, or in a video. Celebrities will pay agents to make sure there are cameras and video recorders shooting scenes as they travel. Politicians even travel with press representatives and photographers who will keep the focus of the public. Political figures like to be seen helping, holding babies, and standing for certain causes. Do you like to be "seen", too?
Jesus was teaching various basics of faith in Matthew 5 and 6. In these chapters, Jesus covered many topics, such as prayer, love, hate, revenge, divorce, sin, adultery, and much more. Among these foundational topics, Jesus spoke in our scripture for today about giving alms (charity) to the poor. He mentioned an attitude that should NOT be found among faithful givers to those in need. He urged them not to show off by "sounding a trumpet before you" when giving to the poor (Matthew 6:2). This action was "hypocritical" in the mind of Jesus. He noted that those who enjoyed this "look at me" attitude while giving to the poor did so to be "honored by men" (Matthew 6:2). They would not be honored by God. Instead, Jesus urged the faithful to give "in secret", whereby God the Father would notice and give reward for their generosity (Matthew 6:4).
The world promotes a "look at me" attitude that is NOT blessed by God. God blesses those who give behind the scenes. It surprises me how often people and organizations do not follow Jesus' words. How many times have you seen a person on the news holding up a check the size of a sign to promote the "generous donation" of a company or group. You might read on the news of some group or organization giving a press conference to tell all about their great donation to a cause or non-profit group. Those who do such things are not doing it for God. They are doing it to be seen and "honored by men" (Matthew 6:2). They will not receive any reward from God for their generosity. Their "look at me" attitude surrounding their giving may display a desirable public image, but it shows nothing of their respect of God.
Just as the little girl beating her chest in front of the silverback's cage caused a negative reaction, so too a "look at me" attitude in our giving causes a negative reaction from God. According to these verses, God gives no reward to those who use such an attitude in their giving to the poor. But, let's take this a step further and let me ask a few questions. Like the girl challenged the silverback in the cage at the zoo by her "look at me" chest thumping, are we challenging God when we promote a "look at me" culture and world? When people fill their Facebook pages with self-absorbed, self-congratulatory praises, are they actually challenging God? When you take a "look at me" attitude, you are actually causing people to notice you, NOT GOD! Might not God take offense at this?
Are there areas of your life where you want more attention? Be careful. God is already noticing your faith, so why are you wanting even more attention? A "look at me" attitude can get you in more trouble than it's worth. It doesn't help your relationship with God. It doesn't show you care. It shows you need attention. You may just find that the attention you get when you play the "look at me" game isn't as great as the world makes it out to be.
"Look at me" is a common feeling among many today. People like to be "seen". That's why they take selfies. That's why the put on twitter their lunch menu and talk about which friend was with them during lunch. That's why people take pictures with celebrities; they want to be seen with the rich and famous. Many think they can elevate their status among their peers by "being seen" on TV, on the internet, or in a video. Celebrities will pay agents to make sure there are cameras and video recorders shooting scenes as they travel. Politicians even travel with press representatives and photographers who will keep the focus of the public. Political figures like to be seen helping, holding babies, and standing for certain causes. Do you like to be "seen", too?
Jesus was teaching various basics of faith in Matthew 5 and 6. In these chapters, Jesus covered many topics, such as prayer, love, hate, revenge, divorce, sin, adultery, and much more. Among these foundational topics, Jesus spoke in our scripture for today about giving alms (charity) to the poor. He mentioned an attitude that should NOT be found among faithful givers to those in need. He urged them not to show off by "sounding a trumpet before you" when giving to the poor (Matthew 6:2). This action was "hypocritical" in the mind of Jesus. He noted that those who enjoyed this "look at me" attitude while giving to the poor did so to be "honored by men" (Matthew 6:2). They would not be honored by God. Instead, Jesus urged the faithful to give "in secret", whereby God the Father would notice and give reward for their generosity (Matthew 6:4).
The world promotes a "look at me" attitude that is NOT blessed by God. God blesses those who give behind the scenes. It surprises me how often people and organizations do not follow Jesus' words. How many times have you seen a person on the news holding up a check the size of a sign to promote the "generous donation" of a company or group. You might read on the news of some group or organization giving a press conference to tell all about their great donation to a cause or non-profit group. Those who do such things are not doing it for God. They are doing it to be seen and "honored by men" (Matthew 6:2). They will not receive any reward from God for their generosity. Their "look at me" attitude surrounding their giving may display a desirable public image, but it shows nothing of their respect of God.
Just as the little girl beating her chest in front of the silverback's cage caused a negative reaction, so too a "look at me" attitude in our giving causes a negative reaction from God. According to these verses, God gives no reward to those who use such an attitude in their giving to the poor. But, let's take this a step further and let me ask a few questions. Like the girl challenged the silverback in the cage at the zoo by her "look at me" chest thumping, are we challenging God when we promote a "look at me" culture and world? When people fill their Facebook pages with self-absorbed, self-congratulatory praises, are they actually challenging God? When you take a "look at me" attitude, you are actually causing people to notice you, NOT GOD! Might not God take offense at this?
Are there areas of your life where you want more attention? Be careful. God is already noticing your faith, so why are you wanting even more attention? A "look at me" attitude can get you in more trouble than it's worth. It doesn't help your relationship with God. It doesn't show you care. It shows you need attention. You may just find that the attention you get when you play the "look at me" game isn't as great as the world makes it out to be.
September 26
“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him [God]; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
(Psalm 103:11–12, RSV)
(Psalm 103:11–12, RSV)
Have you ever repeatedly beaten yourself up for a mistake you made long ago? Do you tend to look at your past sins with continued shame and regret? Are you hard on others for sins long after they have been forgiven? Have you ever held a grudge? If you answered "Yes!" to any of these questions, this scripture for today was meant for you!
Carol Jean was a hard worker in the church. She was highly motivated and a trusted member in several groups. She could always be counted on to pitch in and help, no matter what the time or how hard the work. With her constant help, many pastors loved having her around. The pastors knew she could be trusted to complete any job to perfection. When I met Carol Jean, I saw her slightly differently. Where other pastors saw her as confident and capable, I saw her as over-compensating. They saw her as strong. I saw her as suffering in quiet. I knew in my heart that God was telling me that Carol Jean was hiding some insecurity, some flaw. I longed to help her overcome that issue so God could bless her even more.
On a Thursday morning, God gave me an opening to help Carol Jean. I was preparing for a weekly Bible Study Class when I heard someone in the church kitchen. Not knowing who was in there, I left the Bible Study area and went to the kitchen to find Carol Jean cleaning. That was not unusual. What was different this time were her red eyes. Within just a few moments and a few words, I said, "Carol Jean, what is wrong? Are you OK? Can I help?" She shrugged off my notice, thanking me, but explaining that she was just cleaning. Feeling God's prodding, I said, "As much as you do for God, I just wanted you to know that I and God are here for you if you want to talk. I will make time day or night; you just ask."
It took two months before she asked! I found out that Carol Jean's husband was overbearing. He was difficult to live with and crass. He would complain about Carol Jean's work at church, telling her to "do something that really matters". I asked Carol Jean why she allowed him to push her around while she never said a word. She responded, "I blame myself for his attitude. Twenty years ago, I was a drinker. I got drunk and drove our car into a tree on Highway W. I didn't know I was pregnant at the time and lost the baby in the accident. We haven't been able to have a child since."
For twenty years, Carol Jean had continued punishing herself over her mistake. She let others pile on. She kept silent at the demands of others, figuring that she deserved her suffering. It was no way to live. I asked her a crucial question, "Has God forgiven you for the accident?"
"I think so," she said hesitantly.
Immediately came my reply, "Have you forgiven yourself?" Then, the tears flowed powerfully. The healing was now beginning.
It is one thing to know that God loves and forgives people. It is another thing to allow God to forgive your big mistake and then forgive yourself. Some people have a hard time letting God forgive them, or even asking for that forgiveness so crucial to their faith life. Others will ask and receive God's forgiveness only to NEVER forgive themselves. If you make either of these mistakes, you will suffer from insecurities. You will not be truly happy nor at peace. By failing to let God forgive you or failing to to forgive yourself, the shame or guilt will cast a pall of sadness over your life. Your relationship with God will not grow as deeply. Your self-image and self-respect will suffer.
Psalm 103 is all about a God who "forgives ALL your iniquity" and is ready to bless you (Psalm 103:3). It is a song filled with the hope of redemption, steadfast love, and mercy (Psalm 103:4). God's steadfast love is repeated in our scripture for today, with the author noting God's love toward those who "fear" (respect) HIM (Psalm 103:11). As an example of that kind of steadfast love, Psalm 103:12 mentions that "as far as the east is from the west, so far does God remove our transgressions (sins) from us". When we repent of our sins and ask God to forgive us, God removes the effect of those sins from our relationship with HIM. In a show of mercy, he "removes" them far away. When verse 12 says God removes them as far as the east is from the west, this means that God removes them from our presence. If you face east, you can't be facing west. Thus, the sins are always removed from your face, from your presence. They are cast out of sight by God.
If God is willing to forgive and in HIS mercy to remove a sin, shouldn't we be willing to do the same? When God has forgiven a sin, it's over… put away. You should put it behind you, away from your thoughts. Its effects should not continue; its presence should not linger. There is no need to hold on to that sin, nor use a forgiven sin against another. If God was willing to forgive a sin and remove it from your sight, why aren't you? Why can't you allow a sin to be removed from your thoughts or your heart? Why would you want to continue to hold onto something God has demanded removed?
Grudges should not be found in the Christian life. Holding something against another or yourself that God has already forgiven is an affront to God. It's like saying to God, "I know you've forgiven that person God, but I haven't. I want him to continue to pay. I want to use this against him." This attitude can't be anything but sinful. God is the judge. You are not. When God forgives a sin, it is cast away "as far as the east is from the west". It is not to be used as fodder for gossip or the seed for manipulation. To do either is to risk the wrath of God.
To hold a forgiven sin against yourself is just as bad as holding a grudge. The only difference is that rather than making another person continue to suffer, you do it to yourself. Why? If God says something is forgiven, its forgiven. It's removed as far as the east is from the west. It's done. Who are you to undo what God has done? Let it go, or suffer the rejection of God.
If you ever want to feel truly joyful, thankful, peaceful, and faithful, you will have to learn to forgive as God forgives. You will have to let go of a sin God has forgiven. You will have to let God take your sins away from you presence, no matter how bad they are. Repent. Seek forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Then, when God pardons your sin, let it go. Let God have it. You shouldn't let the sin do any more damage than has already been done. God's steadfast love is all you need.
Is there a past sin that still haunts you? Is there a sin you hold over the head of another? Are you good at letting go of past mistakes? Do you allow God to forgive you? Do you forgive yourself? You will never have a good relationship with God if you allow sins to hang around and continue their damage. If God can remove a sin as far as east is from the west, you need to allow that to happen. Or suffer the consequences!
Carol Jean was a hard worker in the church. She was highly motivated and a trusted member in several groups. She could always be counted on to pitch in and help, no matter what the time or how hard the work. With her constant help, many pastors loved having her around. The pastors knew she could be trusted to complete any job to perfection. When I met Carol Jean, I saw her slightly differently. Where other pastors saw her as confident and capable, I saw her as over-compensating. They saw her as strong. I saw her as suffering in quiet. I knew in my heart that God was telling me that Carol Jean was hiding some insecurity, some flaw. I longed to help her overcome that issue so God could bless her even more.
On a Thursday morning, God gave me an opening to help Carol Jean. I was preparing for a weekly Bible Study Class when I heard someone in the church kitchen. Not knowing who was in there, I left the Bible Study area and went to the kitchen to find Carol Jean cleaning. That was not unusual. What was different this time were her red eyes. Within just a few moments and a few words, I said, "Carol Jean, what is wrong? Are you OK? Can I help?" She shrugged off my notice, thanking me, but explaining that she was just cleaning. Feeling God's prodding, I said, "As much as you do for God, I just wanted you to know that I and God are here for you if you want to talk. I will make time day or night; you just ask."
It took two months before she asked! I found out that Carol Jean's husband was overbearing. He was difficult to live with and crass. He would complain about Carol Jean's work at church, telling her to "do something that really matters". I asked Carol Jean why she allowed him to push her around while she never said a word. She responded, "I blame myself for his attitude. Twenty years ago, I was a drinker. I got drunk and drove our car into a tree on Highway W. I didn't know I was pregnant at the time and lost the baby in the accident. We haven't been able to have a child since."
For twenty years, Carol Jean had continued punishing herself over her mistake. She let others pile on. She kept silent at the demands of others, figuring that she deserved her suffering. It was no way to live. I asked her a crucial question, "Has God forgiven you for the accident?"
"I think so," she said hesitantly.
Immediately came my reply, "Have you forgiven yourself?" Then, the tears flowed powerfully. The healing was now beginning.
It is one thing to know that God loves and forgives people. It is another thing to allow God to forgive your big mistake and then forgive yourself. Some people have a hard time letting God forgive them, or even asking for that forgiveness so crucial to their faith life. Others will ask and receive God's forgiveness only to NEVER forgive themselves. If you make either of these mistakes, you will suffer from insecurities. You will not be truly happy nor at peace. By failing to let God forgive you or failing to to forgive yourself, the shame or guilt will cast a pall of sadness over your life. Your relationship with God will not grow as deeply. Your self-image and self-respect will suffer.
Psalm 103 is all about a God who "forgives ALL your iniquity" and is ready to bless you (Psalm 103:3). It is a song filled with the hope of redemption, steadfast love, and mercy (Psalm 103:4). God's steadfast love is repeated in our scripture for today, with the author noting God's love toward those who "fear" (respect) HIM (Psalm 103:11). As an example of that kind of steadfast love, Psalm 103:12 mentions that "as far as the east is from the west, so far does God remove our transgressions (sins) from us". When we repent of our sins and ask God to forgive us, God removes the effect of those sins from our relationship with HIM. In a show of mercy, he "removes" them far away. When verse 12 says God removes them as far as the east is from the west, this means that God removes them from our presence. If you face east, you can't be facing west. Thus, the sins are always removed from your face, from your presence. They are cast out of sight by God.
If God is willing to forgive and in HIS mercy to remove a sin, shouldn't we be willing to do the same? When God has forgiven a sin, it's over… put away. You should put it behind you, away from your thoughts. Its effects should not continue; its presence should not linger. There is no need to hold on to that sin, nor use a forgiven sin against another. If God was willing to forgive a sin and remove it from your sight, why aren't you? Why can't you allow a sin to be removed from your thoughts or your heart? Why would you want to continue to hold onto something God has demanded removed?
Grudges should not be found in the Christian life. Holding something against another or yourself that God has already forgiven is an affront to God. It's like saying to God, "I know you've forgiven that person God, but I haven't. I want him to continue to pay. I want to use this against him." This attitude can't be anything but sinful. God is the judge. You are not. When God forgives a sin, it is cast away "as far as the east is from the west". It is not to be used as fodder for gossip or the seed for manipulation. To do either is to risk the wrath of God.
To hold a forgiven sin against yourself is just as bad as holding a grudge. The only difference is that rather than making another person continue to suffer, you do it to yourself. Why? If God says something is forgiven, its forgiven. It's removed as far as the east is from the west. It's done. Who are you to undo what God has done? Let it go, or suffer the rejection of God.
If you ever want to feel truly joyful, thankful, peaceful, and faithful, you will have to learn to forgive as God forgives. You will have to let go of a sin God has forgiven. You will have to let God take your sins away from you presence, no matter how bad they are. Repent. Seek forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Then, when God pardons your sin, let it go. Let God have it. You shouldn't let the sin do any more damage than has already been done. God's steadfast love is all you need.
Is there a past sin that still haunts you? Is there a sin you hold over the head of another? Are you good at letting go of past mistakes? Do you allow God to forgive you? Do you forgive yourself? You will never have a good relationship with God if you allow sins to hang around and continue their damage. If God can remove a sin as far as east is from the west, you need to allow that to happen. Or suffer the consequences!
September 27
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, and cleaving to him; for that means life to you and length of days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”” (Deuteronomy 30:19–20, RSV)
God has given you the ability to make choices. It's part of you being human and being created in God's image. With that great ability comes necessary risk. You may choose wrongly and suffer for it. God is hoping the choices you make are the right ones. God has given you the Spirit, wisdom, and scripture to help you determine what is right. Still, you will need to make the choice to do what is right and carry that through in every situation. It's not easy to do. Choices can be difficult. Your way may not always be clear.
I was once placed in a terrible position. There seemed no good choice. I wonder what you would have done. I answered the telephone on a Sunday night to hear a crying teenager. She was a fifteen year old member of my youth group. We were close. She told me that her parents were forcing her to have an abortion. She obviously wasn't married, but was very much in love with her boyfriend. The parents were adamant; she had to abort the pregnancy. They gave her no option. Nothing she said could sway their decision. In response, she asked for one show of love from her parents. She wanted me to come and be with her through the whole procedure. This would place me in a tough situation.
I am against abortion, except when the mother's life is in danger or in various rare scenarios like an incestuous relationship or rape. Then, God will lead me in a case by case situation as to what is right. In this situation, the abortion was theologically wrong to me. BUT, I also love this young lady in Christ and wanted to be with her during this very traumatic ordeal. She really needed me. I can understand her parent's wishes, but knew they didn't want her to carry the child to term no matter what. I couldn't sway the parents into putting the child up for adoption, though I tried. I could reject the young girl's wishes and stay away from the abortion clinic, washing my hands of the whole affair. This is what the parents wanted me to do. They wanted for the whole mess to disappear. What would you have done if you were me?
Since I was her pastor, I chose to be with this young lady during her forced abortion. As the four of us walked into the abortion clinic, the protesters hurled insults at us. Some wrongly assumed I was the father of the child and swore at me. Some shouted scriptures. In the end, I brought God's presence to that family. I stayed there the whole time and showed kindness and God's love to each. Though disagreeing with the decision of the parents, my only choice was to be God's ambassador during a difficult day. I was there to minister; God was the ultimate judge. I told the family what I felt was right, but I could not force their choice. You may or may not agree with my decision. You weren't there. I will have to face God with my choice. To this day, I wonder if it was the right one. Some choices are just plain difficult. Some are so full of gray areas, it is tough to see right from wrong. In the end, I asked God to walk with me into that clinic. I was upset with my choice, though I was forced to make one.
Deuteronomy 30 contains God's final words to the Israelites just before entering the promised land. God needed Israel to know that from that moment on, their choices were being watched and judged by God and all creation. God began the scripture for today by stating that "heaven and earth" were going to be witnesses to the decisions that the Israelites were going to make in the years to come (Deuteronomy 30:19). The people of God had the choice to make good and bad decisions. Those choices would involve "life and death". The consequences would determine who was "blessed and cursed". Moses, who spoke these words, wanted the people to love God enough to choose what was right, to make the blessed choice, to find options that brought life not death. Sometimes, its hard to see what decision brings forth life and blessing. Sometimes, you can't see how a decision may bring forth death.
Decisions can be incredibly difficult. The consequences can sometimes be unforeseen. Despite that, you have choices to make in your life. God wants you to make the right choices. God wants to "cleave" to you during these times, being close enough to help with difficult decisions. God wants you to hear HIS voice and obey HIS commandments, so that you can choose what will inevitably bring life. Still, you have to make choices. You will be forced to make decisions. Look for God to help; but in the end, each decision will be up to you. You will have to live with that decision. You will be judged for that decision.
The truly faithful Christian will learn to make a decision with God's direction and influence. He or she will decide what God wills through the help of the Holy Spirit, scripture, and faithful friends. With every decision there will come life or death, blessing or curse. Please choose the blessing. Please find the choice that brings forth life. God will know the best way, so seek HIM. Pray to HIM. If you make a mistake, seek HIS grace and mercy. Life is hard. Choices can be difficult. You will be judged. I am thankful that we have a God who cares about every decision you make, every life you protect, every blessing you cause to happen.
I don't envy some of the decisions you will have to make in your life. You may have to decide whether to turn off a ventilator used by someone you love. Because of illness, you may have to choose a course of treatment for a child who will live or die based on your choice. If you are a soldier, you will have to decide when and how to pull that trigger. As a teacher, you will have to grade your student's progress and may have to hold a child back. Everyone makes decisions that affect life and blessings and can bring death and curses. Trust God to help. Lean on God for choices. Hold on to God during the consequences. There will always be consequences, some completely unforeseen.
I was once placed in a terrible position. There seemed no good choice. I wonder what you would have done. I answered the telephone on a Sunday night to hear a crying teenager. She was a fifteen year old member of my youth group. We were close. She told me that her parents were forcing her to have an abortion. She obviously wasn't married, but was very much in love with her boyfriend. The parents were adamant; she had to abort the pregnancy. They gave her no option. Nothing she said could sway their decision. In response, she asked for one show of love from her parents. She wanted me to come and be with her through the whole procedure. This would place me in a tough situation.
I am against abortion, except when the mother's life is in danger or in various rare scenarios like an incestuous relationship or rape. Then, God will lead me in a case by case situation as to what is right. In this situation, the abortion was theologically wrong to me. BUT, I also love this young lady in Christ and wanted to be with her during this very traumatic ordeal. She really needed me. I can understand her parent's wishes, but knew they didn't want her to carry the child to term no matter what. I couldn't sway the parents into putting the child up for adoption, though I tried. I could reject the young girl's wishes and stay away from the abortion clinic, washing my hands of the whole affair. This is what the parents wanted me to do. They wanted for the whole mess to disappear. What would you have done if you were me?
Since I was her pastor, I chose to be with this young lady during her forced abortion. As the four of us walked into the abortion clinic, the protesters hurled insults at us. Some wrongly assumed I was the father of the child and swore at me. Some shouted scriptures. In the end, I brought God's presence to that family. I stayed there the whole time and showed kindness and God's love to each. Though disagreeing with the decision of the parents, my only choice was to be God's ambassador during a difficult day. I was there to minister; God was the ultimate judge. I told the family what I felt was right, but I could not force their choice. You may or may not agree with my decision. You weren't there. I will have to face God with my choice. To this day, I wonder if it was the right one. Some choices are just plain difficult. Some are so full of gray areas, it is tough to see right from wrong. In the end, I asked God to walk with me into that clinic. I was upset with my choice, though I was forced to make one.
Deuteronomy 30 contains God's final words to the Israelites just before entering the promised land. God needed Israel to know that from that moment on, their choices were being watched and judged by God and all creation. God began the scripture for today by stating that "heaven and earth" were going to be witnesses to the decisions that the Israelites were going to make in the years to come (Deuteronomy 30:19). The people of God had the choice to make good and bad decisions. Those choices would involve "life and death". The consequences would determine who was "blessed and cursed". Moses, who spoke these words, wanted the people to love God enough to choose what was right, to make the blessed choice, to find options that brought life not death. Sometimes, its hard to see what decision brings forth life and blessing. Sometimes, you can't see how a decision may bring forth death.
Decisions can be incredibly difficult. The consequences can sometimes be unforeseen. Despite that, you have choices to make in your life. God wants you to make the right choices. God wants to "cleave" to you during these times, being close enough to help with difficult decisions. God wants you to hear HIS voice and obey HIS commandments, so that you can choose what will inevitably bring life. Still, you have to make choices. You will be forced to make decisions. Look for God to help; but in the end, each decision will be up to you. You will have to live with that decision. You will be judged for that decision.
The truly faithful Christian will learn to make a decision with God's direction and influence. He or she will decide what God wills through the help of the Holy Spirit, scripture, and faithful friends. With every decision there will come life or death, blessing or curse. Please choose the blessing. Please find the choice that brings forth life. God will know the best way, so seek HIM. Pray to HIM. If you make a mistake, seek HIS grace and mercy. Life is hard. Choices can be difficult. You will be judged. I am thankful that we have a God who cares about every decision you make, every life you protect, every blessing you cause to happen.
I don't envy some of the decisions you will have to make in your life. You may have to decide whether to turn off a ventilator used by someone you love. Because of illness, you may have to choose a course of treatment for a child who will live or die based on your choice. If you are a soldier, you will have to decide when and how to pull that trigger. As a teacher, you will have to grade your student's progress and may have to hold a child back. Everyone makes decisions that affect life and blessings and can bring death and curses. Trust God to help. Lean on God for choices. Hold on to God during the consequences. There will always be consequences, some completely unforeseen.
September 28
“You can’t wait for the Sabbath day to be over and the religious festivals to end so you can get back to cheating the helpless. You measure out grain with dishonest measures and cheat the buyer with dishonest scales. And you mix the grain you sell with chaff swept from the floor. Then you enslave poor people for one piece of silver or a pair of sandals.”
(Amos 8:5–6, NLT)
(Amos 8:5–6, NLT)
What would you say if I told you that a product on the market cannot be broken down in the environment, can release toxic and deadly fumes (dioxins) into the environment if burned, and can leach chemicals into your skin if worn? Would you call this product eco-friendly? Well, People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) does indeed call these products eco-friendly. In fact, PETA calls it Vegan, because it is not an animal byproduct in any way. This product is so-called "Vegan Leather". It is made most often by adding phthalates to PVC or through manufacturing polyurethanes to make clothing and accessories. To produce the Vegan Leather with these plastics, you even have to use toxic solvents. In an effort to sound environmentally friendly, PETA calls these plastic clothes "chic", "cruelty-free", and "easier on the planet". While I applaud PETA's wishes to stand against animal cruelty and against the toxic chemicals used in tanning, I guess human cruelty by lying about the safety and provenance of these materials is not part of their ethical code. Does this sound like "truth in advertising" to you? Vegan Leather….. really?
From corporations to social activist groups, people play with the truth in order to manipulate their image and take your money. In order to make a buck, manufacturers will hide flaws and defects in their products. Volkswagen manipulated the software of their diesel cars, making their pollutants appear less, and sold them as eco-friendly. Takata hid the defects in their airbags that on impact caused shrapnel that killed and maimed drivers and passengers in a number of accidents. The US and British governments long denied that Agent Orange defoliants were causing brain tumors, leukemia, birth defects, and many other health issues. They protected companies like Monsanto and Dow Chemical, who manufactured and sold them. Sadly, profits can often seem more important than people and business is held as more important than a safe environment. When people or companies or governments manipulate the consumer and hide the truth from the public, we all suffer.
The scripture for today from the prophet Amos carried a warning from God to those who considered money-making as more important than people or truth or justice. God saw this misuse of power as a religious issue. It began when people rejected or showed disrespect for God. In Amos 8:5, God condemned the feeling among many Israelites who wanted the religious observances to get over with more quickly so they could go back to unethical business practices. In their businesses, they would take advantage of the homeless. They would use "dishonest" procedures such as manipulating the weights of scales used to determine amounts bought or sold. The balances would always fall in the favor of the seller and against the buyer. They would add "chaff filler" from wheat to purchases, knowing full well that the chaff could not be eaten. Being indigestible, it would not add any nutrients to the diet. Still, the buyer paid for it. With their dishonest gains, the merchants would later buy slaves dirt cheap in order to take further advantage of their profits. The prophet Amos was critical of all these practices. He proclaimed that God would bring judgment upon the people for these sins. Not many years later, Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians in war. God's judgment was exacted.
Many people don't realize that when you take advantage of a situation to defraud people, God considers this as injustice. God does not sit idly by. God will always judge critically any unethical business practices. What most people do not realize is that when you take God out of a society, often immoral business will be a consequence. When people don't have to answer to a higher power, they often will manipulate and cheat those with whom they do business.
Popular among governments and main stream media, there is a desire to take the respect for God out of the public realm. These people do not realize that by doing so, it will encourage faulty and misleading business models and practices. When God's teachings of right and wrong are waylaid, people will inevitably use this atheistic atmosphere to take advantage of others. The scripture for today lays this out in detail. The first few verses talk about businessmen who couldn’t wait for the worship of God to pass. The result in the following verses was that people were defrauded and enslaved. Why doesn't our world see this connection?
I believe that when the respect for God is removed from a society, many things break down. Right and wrong are perverted. Ethical principles become diluted. Drugs and alcohol are abused. Governments become more controlling of the public. Media becomes biased. Businesses and corporations place profits above people. Without realizing the connection between the true worship of God and the ills of society, we will all be destined to suffer when the respect of God is removed from the public arena.
If you want to see our world flourish, God needs to be respected in all areas of life. If everyone believes that faith should only be a personal thing between you and God, the future doesn't look bright. When God's idea of right and wrong is removed from public presence, you never know how low some people will sink in their dealings with others. Every nation in history that strayed away from a public respect for God suffered violence and a breakdown of society . This should be a warning for us all today as in the days of Amos. But will it?
From corporations to social activist groups, people play with the truth in order to manipulate their image and take your money. In order to make a buck, manufacturers will hide flaws and defects in their products. Volkswagen manipulated the software of their diesel cars, making their pollutants appear less, and sold them as eco-friendly. Takata hid the defects in their airbags that on impact caused shrapnel that killed and maimed drivers and passengers in a number of accidents. The US and British governments long denied that Agent Orange defoliants were causing brain tumors, leukemia, birth defects, and many other health issues. They protected companies like Monsanto and Dow Chemical, who manufactured and sold them. Sadly, profits can often seem more important than people and business is held as more important than a safe environment. When people or companies or governments manipulate the consumer and hide the truth from the public, we all suffer.
The scripture for today from the prophet Amos carried a warning from God to those who considered money-making as more important than people or truth or justice. God saw this misuse of power as a religious issue. It began when people rejected or showed disrespect for God. In Amos 8:5, God condemned the feeling among many Israelites who wanted the religious observances to get over with more quickly so they could go back to unethical business practices. In their businesses, they would take advantage of the homeless. They would use "dishonest" procedures such as manipulating the weights of scales used to determine amounts bought or sold. The balances would always fall in the favor of the seller and against the buyer. They would add "chaff filler" from wheat to purchases, knowing full well that the chaff could not be eaten. Being indigestible, it would not add any nutrients to the diet. Still, the buyer paid for it. With their dishonest gains, the merchants would later buy slaves dirt cheap in order to take further advantage of their profits. The prophet Amos was critical of all these practices. He proclaimed that God would bring judgment upon the people for these sins. Not many years later, Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians in war. God's judgment was exacted.
Many people don't realize that when you take advantage of a situation to defraud people, God considers this as injustice. God does not sit idly by. God will always judge critically any unethical business practices. What most people do not realize is that when you take God out of a society, often immoral business will be a consequence. When people don't have to answer to a higher power, they often will manipulate and cheat those with whom they do business.
Popular among governments and main stream media, there is a desire to take the respect for God out of the public realm. These people do not realize that by doing so, it will encourage faulty and misleading business models and practices. When God's teachings of right and wrong are waylaid, people will inevitably use this atheistic atmosphere to take advantage of others. The scripture for today lays this out in detail. The first few verses talk about businessmen who couldn’t wait for the worship of God to pass. The result in the following verses was that people were defrauded and enslaved. Why doesn't our world see this connection?
I believe that when the respect for God is removed from a society, many things break down. Right and wrong are perverted. Ethical principles become diluted. Drugs and alcohol are abused. Governments become more controlling of the public. Media becomes biased. Businesses and corporations place profits above people. Without realizing the connection between the true worship of God and the ills of society, we will all be destined to suffer when the respect of God is removed from the public arena.
If you want to see our world flourish, God needs to be respected in all areas of life. If everyone believes that faith should only be a personal thing between you and God, the future doesn't look bright. When God's idea of right and wrong is removed from public presence, you never know how low some people will sink in their dealings with others. Every nation in history that strayed away from a public respect for God suffered violence and a breakdown of society . This should be a warning for us all today as in the days of Amos. But will it?
September 29
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23–24, NIV84)
In the verses above, Jesus was teaching about priorities to faithful people. He believed that offerings to God were important. In Matthew 5:23, Jesus noted that offering a gift to God at an altar was central to being a person of faith. Christians and Jews continue this practice today. Gifts to God are "offered" to God by placing them on an altar. But, in Matthew 5:24, Jesus gave a caveat to giving God an offering. If you have a break in a relationship with another in the faith, you should work through it and then offer your gift to God. Essentially, making things right with another person in the faith is so important to God that before you give a gift to God at the altar, you should make things right with anyone who has been hurt by your words or actions.
Read closely the scripture above. It doesn't say if YOU have something wrong with a brother in the faith, you should "reconcile" with that brother. It says, "if a brother has something AGAINST YOU", "first go and be reconciled"! Thus, when a person in the faith is upset with you, it is important that you go to that person and seek to make things right with that person. In Luke 17:3, Jesus continued this line of argument. He said that if a person sins against you, you should personally "rebuke" (correct) him or her, then repent and forgive that person. Both of these scriptures urge you to go to a person who is upset with you or sins against you to make things right (reconcile). Staying away from that person isn't the right course. Hiding from that person won't do. Waiting until that person comes around won't cut it. God wants you to go see that person with whom you have an issue. It doesn't say you need to do what they say. It doesn't say who is right. It just says you need to make an attempt to smooth things over. The reconciliation may never come, but God will notice your attempt at making things right.
Relationships today suffer from the inability of people to go to others with whom there is an issue or problem. Instead, some choose to blast that person on Facebook. They will rant and rave about how awful that person is or how they were wronged. God didn't suggest in scripture you rant and rave publicly about a wrong. God asked that you go to that person and make things right! I've seen others who held a grudge for a long time when there was an issue. Still others gave the silent treatment, sought revenge, or played the victim when a wrong was done. God doesn't desire any of these models to reconcile a problem. God wants people to speak to each other and work through their differences. Face to face, problems can be handled fairly. Don't use texts. Don't use social media. Don't use others to "get the word out" in a passive/aggressive style. Go see the person out of respect for God. You may find it earns you the respect of that person, and maybe that "enemy" may become your friend.
After the Civil War, General Ulysses S. Grant was involved in many post-war issues. He was aware that Jefferson Davis, as the President of the Confederacy, was to be jailed for treason in his involvement in the secession of the Southern States. The two men never had direct dealings with each other, and most people in America saw them as representing two resentful sides still enduring in the United States after the Civil War. But that view changed when their two wives met each other after the deaths of their husbands. On a June day in 1893, Varina Davis and Julia Dent Grant were introduced at an event they both attended. The public was very interested in their response to each other. Surprisingly, they didn't harbor hate at all. Instead, they slowly struck up a friendship. Reporters flocked to get an opinion from both, but there was not an ill word spoken. What has been mostly lost to history is that they ended up having cottages right next to each other in Coburg, Canada. They enjoyed many days together, talking under the pines in splendid company. The first thing Varina did after Julia died, was to drop on the spot and pray for her "dear friend". Many in the United States saw their relationship as a sign that it was time to heal all wounds following the Civil War. But what caused their friendship? A chance meeting face to face where they decided to listen and respect each other despite all the rights and wrongs that had occurred in the previous war.
Jesus wished for people to work things out. He blessed the "peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9). He believed God would only forgive the person who was forgiving to others (Mark 11:25). The apostle Paul added that God wanted people to bear one another's burdens as well as forgive one another (Colossians 3:13). Therefore, will you be one who causes splits and breaks in relationships or will you heal and reconcile them? God notices people who reconcile with others as much as God notices the offerings given on altars. God cares how you react when another person is upset with you. As a sign of your true faith, remember to seek out those who are upset. Show grace and mercy in the name of Jesus. Trust that God will notice and work through the rest. This is your responsibility to God. It is an offering to God of great worth.
Read closely the scripture above. It doesn't say if YOU have something wrong with a brother in the faith, you should "reconcile" with that brother. It says, "if a brother has something AGAINST YOU", "first go and be reconciled"! Thus, when a person in the faith is upset with you, it is important that you go to that person and seek to make things right with that person. In Luke 17:3, Jesus continued this line of argument. He said that if a person sins against you, you should personally "rebuke" (correct) him or her, then repent and forgive that person. Both of these scriptures urge you to go to a person who is upset with you or sins against you to make things right (reconcile). Staying away from that person isn't the right course. Hiding from that person won't do. Waiting until that person comes around won't cut it. God wants you to go see that person with whom you have an issue. It doesn't say you need to do what they say. It doesn't say who is right. It just says you need to make an attempt to smooth things over. The reconciliation may never come, but God will notice your attempt at making things right.
Relationships today suffer from the inability of people to go to others with whom there is an issue or problem. Instead, some choose to blast that person on Facebook. They will rant and rave about how awful that person is or how they were wronged. God didn't suggest in scripture you rant and rave publicly about a wrong. God asked that you go to that person and make things right! I've seen others who held a grudge for a long time when there was an issue. Still others gave the silent treatment, sought revenge, or played the victim when a wrong was done. God doesn't desire any of these models to reconcile a problem. God wants people to speak to each other and work through their differences. Face to face, problems can be handled fairly. Don't use texts. Don't use social media. Don't use others to "get the word out" in a passive/aggressive style. Go see the person out of respect for God. You may find it earns you the respect of that person, and maybe that "enemy" may become your friend.
After the Civil War, General Ulysses S. Grant was involved in many post-war issues. He was aware that Jefferson Davis, as the President of the Confederacy, was to be jailed for treason in his involvement in the secession of the Southern States. The two men never had direct dealings with each other, and most people in America saw them as representing two resentful sides still enduring in the United States after the Civil War. But that view changed when their two wives met each other after the deaths of their husbands. On a June day in 1893, Varina Davis and Julia Dent Grant were introduced at an event they both attended. The public was very interested in their response to each other. Surprisingly, they didn't harbor hate at all. Instead, they slowly struck up a friendship. Reporters flocked to get an opinion from both, but there was not an ill word spoken. What has been mostly lost to history is that they ended up having cottages right next to each other in Coburg, Canada. They enjoyed many days together, talking under the pines in splendid company. The first thing Varina did after Julia died, was to drop on the spot and pray for her "dear friend". Many in the United States saw their relationship as a sign that it was time to heal all wounds following the Civil War. But what caused their friendship? A chance meeting face to face where they decided to listen and respect each other despite all the rights and wrongs that had occurred in the previous war.
Jesus wished for people to work things out. He blessed the "peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9). He believed God would only forgive the person who was forgiving to others (Mark 11:25). The apostle Paul added that God wanted people to bear one another's burdens as well as forgive one another (Colossians 3:13). Therefore, will you be one who causes splits and breaks in relationships or will you heal and reconcile them? God notices people who reconcile with others as much as God notices the offerings given on altars. God cares how you react when another person is upset with you. As a sign of your true faith, remember to seek out those who are upset. Show grace and mercy in the name of Jesus. Trust that God will notice and work through the rest. This is your responsibility to God. It is an offering to God of great worth.
September 30
“And David was afraid because Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the Wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose, and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, “Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you; you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you; Saul my father also knows this.” And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord; David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.”
(1 Samuel 23:15–18, RSV)
(1 Samuel 23:15–18, RSV)
Have you ever run into a detour on the way to something important? How did it make you feel? When constrained by time, a detour can seem like a complete waste. The detour can force a short trip to take much longer. It can cause you to run late, drive extra miles, eat up your time. How do you handle spiritual detours when God puts you on a different path than planned or forces you to take more time to do something? Do you get impatient? Does it frustrate you? Sometimes, God sets up detours for very important reasons. Those detours can define your life, change your life, or give you needed perspective. Not all detours are a waste. Some detours can include the greatest of moments.
"The year was 1920. The scene was the examining board for selecting missionaries. Standing before the board was a young man named Oswald Smith, who had a dream to one day be a missionary. Over and over again, he prayed, "Lord, I want to go as a missionary for you. Open a door of service for me." But when the examination was over, the board turned Oswald Smith down. He did not meet their qualifications. Life gave him a detour. What would he do? As Oswald Smith prayed, God planted an idea in his heart. If he could not serve as a missionary, he would build a church which could send out missionaries. And that is what he did. Oswald Smith pastored The People's Church in Toronto, Canada, which sent out more missionaries than any other church at that time. Oswald Smith brought God into the situation, and God transformed his detour into a main thoroughfare of service." (Adapted from Rising Above the Crowd, Brian Harbour)
Some think that detours are stops or barriers or obstacles on the way to something greater. To God, spiritual detours can be something very different. If you are on the wrong road in life, God can use a spiritual detour to switch you over to the road you were meant to be on. God can use a spiritual detour to get you to pause and rest. A spiritual detour might give you time to regroup or pray in a different way. God uses spiritual detours very effectively all the time.
In the scripture for our meditation today, we find David stuck in the wilderness after a confrontation with King Saul. Saul had tried to kill David, had threatened David, and was dangerous at the time. When King Saul got in his "moods", he would resent David's fame and popularity among the people. Saul would then see David as a threat to his power. Because of this insecurity of King Saul, David was forced to hide in the "Wilderness of Ziph" during that period of his life (1 Samuel 23:15). David couldn't go home. He couldn't sleep in his own bed. In a real sense, it was a detour for David on the way to the throne in Israel. What would David do?
As David pondered his fate in the Wilderness of Ziph, King Saul's son Jonathan found him. Jonathan brought David good news and courage when he informed him that soon he would be king of Israel (1 Samuel 23:17). Nothing King Saul could do would stop God's plan. David and Jonathan even made a pact or covenant before the Lord. Jonathan was going to do everything in his power to support David.
Just when David was stuck in the wilderness, Jonathan was sent by God to encourage him and support him. On that seeming detour to the middle of nowhere, God brought comfort and hope to David. God confirmed through Jonathan that David was on the right path to kingship. That detour ended with a covenant and friendship between David and Jonathan that defined their relationship from then on. It was the best thing that could have happened for David.
Detours in life may not seem fun nor inviting. However, often God can be found working things out when you are down that other path in life. Spiritual detours can become defining moments in life, so don't overlook them. Don't get impatient and frustrated when spiritual or real detours in life happen upon you. There in that detour, you might find God doing extraordinary things.
"The year was 1920. The scene was the examining board for selecting missionaries. Standing before the board was a young man named Oswald Smith, who had a dream to one day be a missionary. Over and over again, he prayed, "Lord, I want to go as a missionary for you. Open a door of service for me." But when the examination was over, the board turned Oswald Smith down. He did not meet their qualifications. Life gave him a detour. What would he do? As Oswald Smith prayed, God planted an idea in his heart. If he could not serve as a missionary, he would build a church which could send out missionaries. And that is what he did. Oswald Smith pastored The People's Church in Toronto, Canada, which sent out more missionaries than any other church at that time. Oswald Smith brought God into the situation, and God transformed his detour into a main thoroughfare of service." (Adapted from Rising Above the Crowd, Brian Harbour)
Some think that detours are stops or barriers or obstacles on the way to something greater. To God, spiritual detours can be something very different. If you are on the wrong road in life, God can use a spiritual detour to switch you over to the road you were meant to be on. God can use a spiritual detour to get you to pause and rest. A spiritual detour might give you time to regroup or pray in a different way. God uses spiritual detours very effectively all the time.
In the scripture for our meditation today, we find David stuck in the wilderness after a confrontation with King Saul. Saul had tried to kill David, had threatened David, and was dangerous at the time. When King Saul got in his "moods", he would resent David's fame and popularity among the people. Saul would then see David as a threat to his power. Because of this insecurity of King Saul, David was forced to hide in the "Wilderness of Ziph" during that period of his life (1 Samuel 23:15). David couldn't go home. He couldn't sleep in his own bed. In a real sense, it was a detour for David on the way to the throne in Israel. What would David do?
As David pondered his fate in the Wilderness of Ziph, King Saul's son Jonathan found him. Jonathan brought David good news and courage when he informed him that soon he would be king of Israel (1 Samuel 23:17). Nothing King Saul could do would stop God's plan. David and Jonathan even made a pact or covenant before the Lord. Jonathan was going to do everything in his power to support David.
Just when David was stuck in the wilderness, Jonathan was sent by God to encourage him and support him. On that seeming detour to the middle of nowhere, God brought comfort and hope to David. God confirmed through Jonathan that David was on the right path to kingship. That detour ended with a covenant and friendship between David and Jonathan that defined their relationship from then on. It was the best thing that could have happened for David.
Detours in life may not seem fun nor inviting. However, often God can be found working things out when you are down that other path in life. Spiritual detours can become defining moments in life, so don't overlook them. Don't get impatient and frustrated when spiritual or real detours in life happen upon you. There in that detour, you might find God doing extraordinary things.