September 1
“The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” (Proverbs 22:3, ESV)
“In 1969, in Pass Christian, Mississippi, a group of people were preparing to have a "hurricane party" in the face of a storm named Camille. Were they ignorant of the dangers? Could they have been overconfident? Did they let their egos and pride influence their decision? We'll never know.
What we do know is that the wind was howling outside the posh Richelieu Apartments when Police Chief Jerry Peralta pulled up sometime after dark. Facing the Beach less than 250 feet from the surf, the apartments were directly in the line of danger. A man with a drink in his hand came out to the second-floor balcony and waved. Peralta yelled up, "You all need to clear out of here as quickly as you can. The storm's getting worse." But as others joined the man on the balcony, they just laughed at Peralta's order to leave. "This is my land," one of them yelled back. "If you want me off, you'll have to arrest me."
Peralta didn't arrest anyone, but he wasn't able to persuade them to leave either. He wrote down the names of the next of kin of the twenty or so people who gathered there to party through the storm. They laughed as he took their names. They had been warned, but they had no intention of leaving.
It was 10:15 p.m. when the front wall of the storm came ashore. Scientists clocked Camille's wind speed at more than 205 miles-per-hour, the strongest on record. Raindrops hit with the force of bullets, and waves off the Gulf Coast crested between twenty-two and twenty-eight feet high. News reports later showed that the worst damage came at the little settlement of motels, go-go bars, and gambling houses known as Pass Christian, Mississippi, where some twenty people were killed at a hurricane party in the Richelieu Apartments. Nothing was left of that three-story structure but the foundation; the only survivor was a five-year-old boy found clinging to a mattress the following day.” (Christian Values Quarterly, Spring/Summer 1994, p. 10)
Some people just don’t understand the dangers they are in. You might look at the situation of the people in the story above and figure them blind or dumb or foolish in the face of danger. However, don’t judge them too quickly! Have you ever been in spiritual danger and didn’t even recognize the sin that was gripping you or the thoughts that were overtaking you? Spiritual dangers may not be as obvious as hurricane clouds and wind, but spiritual dangers are just as deadly to the person and soul.
In Proverbs 22:3, we are introduced to a “prudent” or “wise” man and to “simple” people. The wise person “hides himself” from danger. He leaves the path of Hurricane Camille. He does not go into a dangerous part of town at night. The simple person who is unwise and unthinking will ignore the danger and “suffer for it.” I find it interesting that very religious people can become simpletons when facing spiritual dangers. They might see it as obvious to not go into a dangerous section of town at night, but think nothing of playing with a temptation. Is there a spiritual danger you’ve been ignorant of lately? Are you blind to the dangers of a habit or lifestyle you’ve been ignoring?
Spiritual dangers can sneak up on you like the calm before the storm. But, often, they can kill your spirit by the hurricane-force spiritual winds that damage your beautiful soul when the spiritual storms hit.
What we do know is that the wind was howling outside the posh Richelieu Apartments when Police Chief Jerry Peralta pulled up sometime after dark. Facing the Beach less than 250 feet from the surf, the apartments were directly in the line of danger. A man with a drink in his hand came out to the second-floor balcony and waved. Peralta yelled up, "You all need to clear out of here as quickly as you can. The storm's getting worse." But as others joined the man on the balcony, they just laughed at Peralta's order to leave. "This is my land," one of them yelled back. "If you want me off, you'll have to arrest me."
Peralta didn't arrest anyone, but he wasn't able to persuade them to leave either. He wrote down the names of the next of kin of the twenty or so people who gathered there to party through the storm. They laughed as he took their names. They had been warned, but they had no intention of leaving.
It was 10:15 p.m. when the front wall of the storm came ashore. Scientists clocked Camille's wind speed at more than 205 miles-per-hour, the strongest on record. Raindrops hit with the force of bullets, and waves off the Gulf Coast crested between twenty-two and twenty-eight feet high. News reports later showed that the worst damage came at the little settlement of motels, go-go bars, and gambling houses known as Pass Christian, Mississippi, where some twenty people were killed at a hurricane party in the Richelieu Apartments. Nothing was left of that three-story structure but the foundation; the only survivor was a five-year-old boy found clinging to a mattress the following day.” (Christian Values Quarterly, Spring/Summer 1994, p. 10)
Some people just don’t understand the dangers they are in. You might look at the situation of the people in the story above and figure them blind or dumb or foolish in the face of danger. However, don’t judge them too quickly! Have you ever been in spiritual danger and didn’t even recognize the sin that was gripping you or the thoughts that were overtaking you? Spiritual dangers may not be as obvious as hurricane clouds and wind, but spiritual dangers are just as deadly to the person and soul.
In Proverbs 22:3, we are introduced to a “prudent” or “wise” man and to “simple” people. The wise person “hides himself” from danger. He leaves the path of Hurricane Camille. He does not go into a dangerous part of town at night. The simple person who is unwise and unthinking will ignore the danger and “suffer for it.” I find it interesting that very religious people can become simpletons when facing spiritual dangers. They might see it as obvious to not go into a dangerous section of town at night, but think nothing of playing with a temptation. Is there a spiritual danger you’ve been ignorant of lately? Are you blind to the dangers of a habit or lifestyle you’ve been ignoring?
Spiritual dangers can sneak up on you like the calm before the storm. But, often, they can kill your spirit by the hurricane-force spiritual winds that damage your beautiful soul when the spiritual storms hit.
September 2
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;” (Ephesians 6:16, ESV)
When Juanita was arrested and placed into a locked facility, she could have fallen apart. Arrested for a crime she didn’t commit, it was unfair and terribly damaging to her reputation. What had she done? She was a faithful worker with a company called “Good Cleaning”. Her boss, Gerald Good, was known for being cheap, but Juanita had several friends who worked in the company. She enjoyed the work. She made barely $12 per hour, but the work was steady. Never arrested before, Juanita was frightened, but her faith was holding her together.
On the day she was arrested, a complaint had been filed against the company by a client. A gold earring set valued at over $500 had been stolen from the house that Juanita cleaned the day before. When the client complained, Juanita's boss immediately blamed Juanita. He called the police to have her arrested while the client was still in the office. I’m sure this made the client feel that the company was honest and forthright, but there was no evidence against Juanita. As she sat in the holding cell, she pondered what had happened. Though upset, she refused to let the arrest shake her. Every few minutes, she prayed to God for help and courage, peace and justice. Her faith was holding her together. She committed herself to rely on God.
Twenty-four hours later, Juanita was released to her family. A week later, they found out that a member of the client’s family had stolen the earring set. Juanita was cleared of all charges. Though her boss didn’t apologize, the arresting officer did. He also made it known among several of the officers that Juanita was unfairly treated by her boss. Several years later, Juanita called that arresting officer for help. He remembered her. He took care of her problem and made things right. Juanita’s faith gave her peace while incarcerated, hope for justice, and was a source of respect by others.
How strong is your faith? When thrown into bad situations, do you fall apart or does your faith shine brightly? Did you know that your faith can be a great source of strength and protection during spiritual warfare?
In Ephesians 6, Paul discussed spiritual warfare. Among the verses of that chapter is mentioned that the devil attacks those who are faithful to God (Ephesians 6:11). “Wickedness” or evil will always attack righteousness and goodness. When you are on God’s side, the devil will go after you. His minions will cause you problems, no doubt. However, God does not leave you defenseless in this spiritual fight. God gives you spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:13-18) to fight these spiritual battles. One of the weapons in your arsenal is the “shield of faith” (Exodus 6:16). Faith protects you during spiritual battles. It can “extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one”; ALL of them, not just a few. A strong faith is thus crucial during spiritual battles. Without it, you are not shielded. Lacking faith, you will be pummeled by evil.
Today, consider the extent of your faith. Has your faith stood up strong when you were weak? When temptation was thrown your way, did your faith crumble or remain steadfast? According to the verse for today, a strong faith protects you like a shield. If you doubt or lose faith or give up on God, you will be knocked around by spiritual forces that will attack and damage your soul. Like arrows can hurt and kill you, the spiritual flaming arrows of the evil one can hurt and kill your soul. You might want to give up or succumb to depression or wallow in regret. Many perfectly healthy people have been ruined by spiritual warfare. Though outwardly fit, inside they have a heart that is broken and beaten.
Commit yourself again to be strong in faith. Don’t back down from a spiritual battle. Instead, stand up for God. Hold up your shield of faith and protect yourself from the flaming arrows of the evil one. That shield will protect you as long as your faith remains steadfast before God. Don’t be afraid to use that shield of faith. God gave it to you for a reason.
On the day she was arrested, a complaint had been filed against the company by a client. A gold earring set valued at over $500 had been stolen from the house that Juanita cleaned the day before. When the client complained, Juanita's boss immediately blamed Juanita. He called the police to have her arrested while the client was still in the office. I’m sure this made the client feel that the company was honest and forthright, but there was no evidence against Juanita. As she sat in the holding cell, she pondered what had happened. Though upset, she refused to let the arrest shake her. Every few minutes, she prayed to God for help and courage, peace and justice. Her faith was holding her together. She committed herself to rely on God.
Twenty-four hours later, Juanita was released to her family. A week later, they found out that a member of the client’s family had stolen the earring set. Juanita was cleared of all charges. Though her boss didn’t apologize, the arresting officer did. He also made it known among several of the officers that Juanita was unfairly treated by her boss. Several years later, Juanita called that arresting officer for help. He remembered her. He took care of her problem and made things right. Juanita’s faith gave her peace while incarcerated, hope for justice, and was a source of respect by others.
How strong is your faith? When thrown into bad situations, do you fall apart or does your faith shine brightly? Did you know that your faith can be a great source of strength and protection during spiritual warfare?
In Ephesians 6, Paul discussed spiritual warfare. Among the verses of that chapter is mentioned that the devil attacks those who are faithful to God (Ephesians 6:11). “Wickedness” or evil will always attack righteousness and goodness. When you are on God’s side, the devil will go after you. His minions will cause you problems, no doubt. However, God does not leave you defenseless in this spiritual fight. God gives you spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:13-18) to fight these spiritual battles. One of the weapons in your arsenal is the “shield of faith” (Exodus 6:16). Faith protects you during spiritual battles. It can “extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one”; ALL of them, not just a few. A strong faith is thus crucial during spiritual battles. Without it, you are not shielded. Lacking faith, you will be pummeled by evil.
Today, consider the extent of your faith. Has your faith stood up strong when you were weak? When temptation was thrown your way, did your faith crumble or remain steadfast? According to the verse for today, a strong faith protects you like a shield. If you doubt or lose faith or give up on God, you will be knocked around by spiritual forces that will attack and damage your soul. Like arrows can hurt and kill you, the spiritual flaming arrows of the evil one can hurt and kill your soul. You might want to give up or succumb to depression or wallow in regret. Many perfectly healthy people have been ruined by spiritual warfare. Though outwardly fit, inside they have a heart that is broken and beaten.
Commit yourself again to be strong in faith. Don’t back down from a spiritual battle. Instead, stand up for God. Hold up your shield of faith and protect yourself from the flaming arrows of the evil one. That shield will protect you as long as your faith remains steadfast before God. Don’t be afraid to use that shield of faith. God gave it to you for a reason.
September 3
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” (Colossians 3:23–24, NLT)
During a youth mission trip years ago, one of the high-school girls came to me alone in the evening. While the rest were busy playing basketball, talking or writing home, Stacy sought me out. She asked to speak with me in private. We retreated a distance away from earshot and she looked up at me with sad eyes, saying: “I do not like Carol. She looks at me as if she is angry all the time, and I feel like I can’t do anything right around her. I’m supposed to work with her at the food pantry tomorrow. Instead, can I come with your group to clean out the food warehouse?”
I could tell that the relationship between Carol and Stacy was strained. I didn’t know why. I planned on talking to Carol about it later, but for now I needed an answer for Stacy. I finally said to her, “I’ll make you a deal. Read Colossians 3:23 and 24. Write me one paragraph about what it means and come back to me. If you do that, I’ll let you come with us to the food warehouse.” She agreed.
A half hour later, Stacy came up to me with sheepish eyes. She said to me, “I didn’t write a paragraph, Pastor Dave. After reading the scripture you gave me, I decided to just go with Carol’s group. I won’t go because of Carol. I’ll go because of God.” I was proud of Stacy. She understood the scripture so well that we didn’t have to discuss its meaning. That scripture changed Stacy’s attitude about working with Carol. At work the next day, the two even patched things up.
The scripture I gave Stacy to read is included above. The words were originally penned by the Apostle Paul. He was writing the church in Colossae, in Asia Minor. Paul implied in these verses that as a Christian, the work you do every day should be for the Lord’s benefit, not to please people. God rewards those who “work willingly, as though they were working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). God notices when you work hard for His benefit. Your good work pleases God.
Many people go through life working for other people. You probably have worked for many people in your life. You may want to please another with your work. You may be vying for a promotion. You might want to stand out from the staff or get good grades. Any way you do it, you are working for the benefit of others or yourself. But, sometimes, you must remember that ultimately you work for God. Because of this, your work is even more important. Instead of your goals including pleasing a boss or a professor, your main goal is to please God through your diligent work.
As you go through your work in the next few weeks, consider how God may want that work done. Would God want you to whine throughout the day? Does God shine through you if you lazily plod through your work content to do the least amount possible? As you work at your church, do you adjust your level of commitment based on who is watching or whom are your friends? How might God feel about your work attitude?
The first two words in the scripture for today say, “Work willingly”. The NIV Bible says to “work with all your heart”. The NET Bible says to “work with enthusiasm”. Any version of the Bible you read will tell you that this verse expects you to do good, hard work with passion. Laziness and a poor work ethic are not signs of a Christian work ethic. In truth, we don’t just work good and hard for the benefits that may provide. We work good and hard for God’s benefit. As others respect your work, they may just learn to respect the God who is behind your work attitude. By doing good and honest hard work for God, the glory will not just come back to you from others. God will notice your respect and dedication and will “reward” you (Colossians 3:24). Faithful dedication and hard work for the gospel will bring even more eternal benefits from a God who does notice your level of commitment.
I could tell that the relationship between Carol and Stacy was strained. I didn’t know why. I planned on talking to Carol about it later, but for now I needed an answer for Stacy. I finally said to her, “I’ll make you a deal. Read Colossians 3:23 and 24. Write me one paragraph about what it means and come back to me. If you do that, I’ll let you come with us to the food warehouse.” She agreed.
A half hour later, Stacy came up to me with sheepish eyes. She said to me, “I didn’t write a paragraph, Pastor Dave. After reading the scripture you gave me, I decided to just go with Carol’s group. I won’t go because of Carol. I’ll go because of God.” I was proud of Stacy. She understood the scripture so well that we didn’t have to discuss its meaning. That scripture changed Stacy’s attitude about working with Carol. At work the next day, the two even patched things up.
The scripture I gave Stacy to read is included above. The words were originally penned by the Apostle Paul. He was writing the church in Colossae, in Asia Minor. Paul implied in these verses that as a Christian, the work you do every day should be for the Lord’s benefit, not to please people. God rewards those who “work willingly, as though they were working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). God notices when you work hard for His benefit. Your good work pleases God.
Many people go through life working for other people. You probably have worked for many people in your life. You may want to please another with your work. You may be vying for a promotion. You might want to stand out from the staff or get good grades. Any way you do it, you are working for the benefit of others or yourself. But, sometimes, you must remember that ultimately you work for God. Because of this, your work is even more important. Instead of your goals including pleasing a boss or a professor, your main goal is to please God through your diligent work.
As you go through your work in the next few weeks, consider how God may want that work done. Would God want you to whine throughout the day? Does God shine through you if you lazily plod through your work content to do the least amount possible? As you work at your church, do you adjust your level of commitment based on who is watching or whom are your friends? How might God feel about your work attitude?
The first two words in the scripture for today say, “Work willingly”. The NIV Bible says to “work with all your heart”. The NET Bible says to “work with enthusiasm”. Any version of the Bible you read will tell you that this verse expects you to do good, hard work with passion. Laziness and a poor work ethic are not signs of a Christian work ethic. In truth, we don’t just work good and hard for the benefits that may provide. We work good and hard for God’s benefit. As others respect your work, they may just learn to respect the God who is behind your work attitude. By doing good and honest hard work for God, the glory will not just come back to you from others. God will notice your respect and dedication and will “reward” you (Colossians 3:24). Faithful dedication and hard work for the gospel will bring even more eternal benefits from a God who does notice your level of commitment.
September 5
“I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’” (Hosea 10:12, NLT)
Nathan worked at a Christian mission in a foreign country. He didn’t want to be there but was hired to help translate for a traveling mission group. His parents were Christian, but he was not. In years past, the only time he set foot in a church was for a wedding or funeral. While working with the mission group and helping translate for the local people, Nathan began to have feelings. His heart was stirred by the outreach at the mission. He was amazed at how hard everyone was working to help others. The worship services began to have meaning for the first time. While helping a nurse treat the illness of two local women, he felt really good about his own contribution to their care. Something was happening to his soul. It was coming alive.
During the last week of the trip, Nathan approached the youth pastor about his feelings. As they talked, Nathan was asked to read and reflect on the passage above. He read it earnestly. It took him a day or two to figure it out, but the passage helped him realize that the ground of his heart had been hardened. Nothing was growing there. To help his faith to grow, he needed to soften the ground, “plow up the hard ground of his heart” (Hosea 10:12). He needed to do things that were right, and thus “plant the good seeds of righteousness”. In time, God would water the seed in his heart, and he would grow in faith. His soul would then come to life and produce many benefits, including “a crop of love”.
I have met many people like Nathan over the years. They too began to feel God’s movement in their lives. Their soul came alive. They began to explore a relationship with God. For the first time, they began to feel a connection with the divine, began to feel God’s Holy Spirit moving around them.
When your life becomes filled with habits, illness, disruptions, stress and more, it is easy to forget to tend the ground of your soul. Your heart can harden. When this happens, you may become cynical or spiritually lazy. You might go for weeks or months without picking up a Bible, going to worship, praying, or feeling God’s presence. Over time, your soul will shrivel and begin to go dormant. You may not feel it at first, but your connection with God will weaken. You will go numb to the whispers of God’s Spirit in your life. You will not feel love in the same way. Hosea 10:12 is a remedy for all that is wrong. To reconnect with God, you will need to first “plow up the hard ground of your heart”. This occurs as you ask for forgiveness, seek repentance, and begin to pray again. Mission trips, Christian retreats, special faith events, and crusades are great places for God to help you begin to soften your heart. But, a good Bible study, a prayer event, or even a good heart to heart talk can begin the process. Through it all, correct the wrongs in your life. Do good. Do what is right or righteous before God. It won’t be long before God will be showering righteousness upon you, and you will hear God’s whispers again.
The scripture for today and the previous paragraphs reiterate that in order for your relationship with God to be fruitful, you need to do your part. You need to step up and ask forgiveness for any wrong, repent for your spiritual disconnections and sinful thoughts, and open your heart up to the voice of God. You need to do right by God. In response, God will open up to you. God will bring showers of righteousness. God will forgive and heal. God will soften the ground of your heart and you will feel true love.
A relationship with God is kind of like a dance. You need to seek out God and ask for His hand. You need to adapt your feet to His steps. You need to respond to the right beat of the music, following His lead. Only then can the dance be enjoyed. If you don’t ask for God’s hand, follow God’s lead, or adapt to the holy music, the dance can’t happen. It won’t be fun at all.
If you were honest about the ground of your heart, would you say it was producing good fruit, needing some weeding, or hard as a rock?
During the last week of the trip, Nathan approached the youth pastor about his feelings. As they talked, Nathan was asked to read and reflect on the passage above. He read it earnestly. It took him a day or two to figure it out, but the passage helped him realize that the ground of his heart had been hardened. Nothing was growing there. To help his faith to grow, he needed to soften the ground, “plow up the hard ground of his heart” (Hosea 10:12). He needed to do things that were right, and thus “plant the good seeds of righteousness”. In time, God would water the seed in his heart, and he would grow in faith. His soul would then come to life and produce many benefits, including “a crop of love”.
I have met many people like Nathan over the years. They too began to feel God’s movement in their lives. Their soul came alive. They began to explore a relationship with God. For the first time, they began to feel a connection with the divine, began to feel God’s Holy Spirit moving around them.
When your life becomes filled with habits, illness, disruptions, stress and more, it is easy to forget to tend the ground of your soul. Your heart can harden. When this happens, you may become cynical or spiritually lazy. You might go for weeks or months without picking up a Bible, going to worship, praying, or feeling God’s presence. Over time, your soul will shrivel and begin to go dormant. You may not feel it at first, but your connection with God will weaken. You will go numb to the whispers of God’s Spirit in your life. You will not feel love in the same way. Hosea 10:12 is a remedy for all that is wrong. To reconnect with God, you will need to first “plow up the hard ground of your heart”. This occurs as you ask for forgiveness, seek repentance, and begin to pray again. Mission trips, Christian retreats, special faith events, and crusades are great places for God to help you begin to soften your heart. But, a good Bible study, a prayer event, or even a good heart to heart talk can begin the process. Through it all, correct the wrongs in your life. Do good. Do what is right or righteous before God. It won’t be long before God will be showering righteousness upon you, and you will hear God’s whispers again.
The scripture for today and the previous paragraphs reiterate that in order for your relationship with God to be fruitful, you need to do your part. You need to step up and ask forgiveness for any wrong, repent for your spiritual disconnections and sinful thoughts, and open your heart up to the voice of God. You need to do right by God. In response, God will open up to you. God will bring showers of righteousness. God will forgive and heal. God will soften the ground of your heart and you will feel true love.
A relationship with God is kind of like a dance. You need to seek out God and ask for His hand. You need to adapt your feet to His steps. You need to respond to the right beat of the music, following His lead. Only then can the dance be enjoyed. If you don’t ask for God’s hand, follow God’s lead, or adapt to the holy music, the dance can’t happen. It won’t be fun at all.
If you were honest about the ground of your heart, would you say it was producing good fruit, needing some weeding, or hard as a rock?
September 6
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
(2 Timothy 2:15, RSV)
(2 Timothy 2:15, RSV)
In one of the churches that I served, the following conversation was overheard: “Did you know that Karen had a seance at her house last week? At least that’s what I heard. And, I just know based on who was there that there was a lot of bad things going on. After the seance, they drank alcohol until it was gone. Then, they sat around and talked about all the women in the church. They are planning something. Don’t you think this is awful? Something should be done about this. Aren’t these close friends of the pastor?” (Names were changed or withheld to protect the innocent and guilty!).
What actually happened (I went personally to Karen and asked) was that Karen had invited a few women in the church over to her home. The women were friends from the church women’s group. They had a quilting bee day at her house, then watched the movie “Ghost” together (It’s about a man who dies and wants to make things right after he dies. They didn’t talk to dead people!). They had rum cake (that’s where the alcohol reference came from!). And, they laughed and had fun. The person who spoke the words above was not invited to the party (probably because of her awful attitude). She was determined to play with the truth in order to slander those who were at Karen’s home. In this way, she could damage their reputations and increase her own status in the church. Yes, this was an actual word for word account of what happened.
Those who play with the truth are never to be trusted. They can manipulate the truth in order to make anyone look bad. You need to learn to be wary of everything they say, because truth and lies are mixed together in ways you may not know at the time. These people tend to be self-centered or vindictive or manipulative (or all three!). As one person told me in one church I served, these people love to set fires and watch everything burn. It’s true. I do not hold much hope for these individuals to do well on judgment day. Usually, they cause conflict and drama wherever they go.
The scripture for today is very interesting in how it speaks of the truth. Paul, speaking to Timothy in a second letter, wrote that he should “present himself to God as one approved” (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul told Timothy in the second half of this verse how to be “approved” by God; by “rightly handling the word of truth.” Paul desired that the truth be honestly told in all the churches. He didn’t like lies and gossip and manipulations of the truth. He was very critical of the Corinthian Christians causing divisions in the church (1 Corinthians 1). Paul despised the “false prophets” in the church who would play loosely with the word of God (2 Corinthians 11:9). He told the Ephesians to keep falsehood out of the church (Ephesians 4:25). Paul warned Titus of “deceivers” who were damaging the church (Titus 1:10). Over and over, early Christianity sought to expunge liars and deceivers and those who played with the truth (see also 2 John 1:7).
Paul saw the rightful “handing of the world of truth” as an important characteristic of all true Christians. This included the truthful telling of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul wanted the faithful to be careful with the telling of the gospel story, not watering the message down nor changing it to suit the times. Paul knew people who did such things in his day. He did not want this manipulation of the truth to distort the message of God in Christ.
Today, manipulations of the truth are commonplace. Snopes.com was founded to try and correct the many lies being told on the internet. Various organizations have sprung up to find out the truth and lies behind politicians’ words. Newspapers are constantly printing retractions for trusting lying sources and printing falsehoods. Even Congress recognizes that playing with the truth is so prevalent that they called Facebook, Google, and Twitter executives to explain their actions before the public (September 5, 2018). We are living in times when people constantly play with the truth for their benefit.
Do you believe the lies told around you? How well do you “handle the word of truth”? Don’t play with the truth or the gospel message in any way. Honor God by rightly handling the truth around you. In so doing, you may be “one approved” in the eyes of God.
What actually happened (I went personally to Karen and asked) was that Karen had invited a few women in the church over to her home. The women were friends from the church women’s group. They had a quilting bee day at her house, then watched the movie “Ghost” together (It’s about a man who dies and wants to make things right after he dies. They didn’t talk to dead people!). They had rum cake (that’s where the alcohol reference came from!). And, they laughed and had fun. The person who spoke the words above was not invited to the party (probably because of her awful attitude). She was determined to play with the truth in order to slander those who were at Karen’s home. In this way, she could damage their reputations and increase her own status in the church. Yes, this was an actual word for word account of what happened.
Those who play with the truth are never to be trusted. They can manipulate the truth in order to make anyone look bad. You need to learn to be wary of everything they say, because truth and lies are mixed together in ways you may not know at the time. These people tend to be self-centered or vindictive or manipulative (or all three!). As one person told me in one church I served, these people love to set fires and watch everything burn. It’s true. I do not hold much hope for these individuals to do well on judgment day. Usually, they cause conflict and drama wherever they go.
The scripture for today is very interesting in how it speaks of the truth. Paul, speaking to Timothy in a second letter, wrote that he should “present himself to God as one approved” (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul told Timothy in the second half of this verse how to be “approved” by God; by “rightly handling the word of truth.” Paul desired that the truth be honestly told in all the churches. He didn’t like lies and gossip and manipulations of the truth. He was very critical of the Corinthian Christians causing divisions in the church (1 Corinthians 1). Paul despised the “false prophets” in the church who would play loosely with the word of God (2 Corinthians 11:9). He told the Ephesians to keep falsehood out of the church (Ephesians 4:25). Paul warned Titus of “deceivers” who were damaging the church (Titus 1:10). Over and over, early Christianity sought to expunge liars and deceivers and those who played with the truth (see also 2 John 1:7).
Paul saw the rightful “handing of the world of truth” as an important characteristic of all true Christians. This included the truthful telling of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul wanted the faithful to be careful with the telling of the gospel story, not watering the message down nor changing it to suit the times. Paul knew people who did such things in his day. He did not want this manipulation of the truth to distort the message of God in Christ.
Today, manipulations of the truth are commonplace. Snopes.com was founded to try and correct the many lies being told on the internet. Various organizations have sprung up to find out the truth and lies behind politicians’ words. Newspapers are constantly printing retractions for trusting lying sources and printing falsehoods. Even Congress recognizes that playing with the truth is so prevalent that they called Facebook, Google, and Twitter executives to explain their actions before the public (September 5, 2018). We are living in times when people constantly play with the truth for their benefit.
Do you believe the lies told around you? How well do you “handle the word of truth”? Don’t play with the truth or the gospel message in any way. Honor God by rightly handling the truth around you. In so doing, you may be “one approved” in the eyes of God.
September 7
“And when they could not get near him [Jesus] because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.””
(Mark 2:4–5, ESV)
(Mark 2:4–5, ESV)
The paralytic man in the story above couldn’t walk to find Jesus. He couldn’t follow Jesus as he taught along the road to Jerusalem. He may not have been able to go hear Him speak by the Sea of Galilee at the Sermon on the Mount. He couldn’t get there. Some who cared about this man who could not walk, who was paralyzed, found a stretcher and carried him to see Jesus. I’m sure he begged to see the Savior who was healing so many. His friends carried him to a house where Jesus was healing people and teaching. There, they were blocked from going in. The crowds of those who wanted to hear or be healed were too many. The man who had begged to go in may have wept with the news. The friends, however, did their best. They found a way. They saw a way to get the man in through the roof of the house where Jesus healed. When they made an opening, they “let down the bed on which the paralytic lay” (Mark 2:4). Upon seeing the faith of the men who overcame all obstacles to get the man there, Jesus said to the man, “Son, your sins are forgiven,” and a few moments later the man walked again (Mark 2:12).
The faith of the men who carried their friend made all the difference in the world to the paralytic man. They were dedicated. They didn’t let crowds stop their mission. They found a way to help their friend get healed. Notice in the scripture that Jesus didn’t praise the paralytic man as much as the faith of the men who let their friend down through the roof. In fact, it seems by Jesus’ comment in Mark 2:5 that the healing occurred because of those who carried the man in, those who overcame the obstacles, those who found a way in to Jesus.
As I was reading this scripture today, I was encouraged by the ingenuity and determination of the men who carried their friend to Jesus. They were not going to be hindered by a few crowds, a few walls, or a challenge. How determined are you to get others to see Jesus? Are you hindered by obstacles in your quest to help others come to Christ? Do people of God see your determination? When was the last time you put your mind to really solving a problem for the needy?
When Frederic Ozanam was challenged by a person who said, “What do you do now?” to help the poor and needy, he began a huge movement to reach out to the hurting. You know it today as the St. Vincent de Paul Society. William Booth felt the need to bring the gospel to people on the streets, especially those hurting in society. His work began the Salvation Army. Over and over throughout history, people have thought of new and ingenious methods to overcome issues and deliver the gospel or help the needy in new and innovative ways. It’s faith like that which stirred Jesus to healing in today’s scripture.
My hope is that you are determined to help people see Jesus. When the situation calls for it, I hope you use ingenuity to overcome any obstacles to faith and healing. Centuries ago, it was not uncommon for people to walk miles to attend worship. Now, people can’t even be bothered with driving a car there! How might you change their minds?
If you have a friend who needs help today, put your mind and body to work to come up with ways to bring them to Jesus. If your church is struggling, consider how you might help them to overcome the apathy. Like those who found a way to get the paralytic to Jesus, be one of those who finds a way to bring those who need it to the feet of our Master!
The faith of the men who carried their friend made all the difference in the world to the paralytic man. They were dedicated. They didn’t let crowds stop their mission. They found a way to help their friend get healed. Notice in the scripture that Jesus didn’t praise the paralytic man as much as the faith of the men who let their friend down through the roof. In fact, it seems by Jesus’ comment in Mark 2:5 that the healing occurred because of those who carried the man in, those who overcame the obstacles, those who found a way in to Jesus.
As I was reading this scripture today, I was encouraged by the ingenuity and determination of the men who carried their friend to Jesus. They were not going to be hindered by a few crowds, a few walls, or a challenge. How determined are you to get others to see Jesus? Are you hindered by obstacles in your quest to help others come to Christ? Do people of God see your determination? When was the last time you put your mind to really solving a problem for the needy?
When Frederic Ozanam was challenged by a person who said, “What do you do now?” to help the poor and needy, he began a huge movement to reach out to the hurting. You know it today as the St. Vincent de Paul Society. William Booth felt the need to bring the gospel to people on the streets, especially those hurting in society. His work began the Salvation Army. Over and over throughout history, people have thought of new and ingenious methods to overcome issues and deliver the gospel or help the needy in new and innovative ways. It’s faith like that which stirred Jesus to healing in today’s scripture.
My hope is that you are determined to help people see Jesus. When the situation calls for it, I hope you use ingenuity to overcome any obstacles to faith and healing. Centuries ago, it was not uncommon for people to walk miles to attend worship. Now, people can’t even be bothered with driving a car there! How might you change their minds?
If you have a friend who needs help today, put your mind and body to work to come up with ways to bring them to Jesus. If your church is struggling, consider how you might help them to overcome the apathy. Like those who found a way to get the paralytic to Jesus, be one of those who finds a way to bring those who need it to the feet of our Master!
September 9
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV84)
Walking into a party at her dorm, Angela watched from a distance as her best friend laughed. Angela was jealous of her best friend, Carrie. Carrie was pretty and well-liked by the guys. She was outgoing and intelligent. Angela was more quiet and subdued but just as well-liked. As Angela watched a moment more, Carrie smiled up at Trent. Angela’s blood began to boil. Angela had told Carrie the week before about Trent. Angela confided in Carrie that she had always liked Trent. He might be “the one”. Now, as she watched Carrie interact with Trent, she just knew that Carrie was trying to woo him away from her. Angela was livid. She walked out of the building and wandered the campus for a couple of hours, then went to Carrie’s dorm room. She entered and was greeted by Carrie, who was furiously typing on her computer. It was finals week.
Standing there in Carrie's room, Angela had a thought. It was a fleeting thought; but nonetheless, it was a thought. She barely examined that thought but instead acted upon it. Walking over to where her best friend was hunched over a desk computer trying desperately to complete her final essay, she unplugged the power to the computer. Her best friend looked at the blank screen and began to cry out in shock. She had not saved the essay to the hard drive. The data was lost. Angela responded, “I felt you had it coming. I’m never talking to you again.”
What Angela didn’t know was that when Carrie talked to Trent that night, she was letting him know how great Angela was as a friend. She was telling him to treat Angela with the best of care. Like a good friend, Carrie was checking Trent out, making sure he was a good guy. Angela had misread the entire situation. When she walked into Carrie’s room, her anger took over. That one thought to unplug the computer out of spite, resulted in Carrie losing hours of work. Angela not only destroyed Carrie’s data, she damaged their relationship. That one thought of jealousy wrecked everything. Later, when Trent revealed the conversation with Carrie, Angela realized her mistake. She regretted her reaction, but it was too late. The damage was done, and it was very significant.
Wrongful thoughts, regrets, resentments, and emotions can capture you in a moment. They can push you to do what is wrong. They can cause you to do something rash or unpredictable, vindictive or punitive. I’ve known stray thoughts that were acted upon to damage marriages, cause suicide, and result in irreparable harm. If you let fleeting thoughts blow up your emotions, you never know what will become of them. They may initiate the greatest mistakes of your life.
While teaching the Corinthian Christians how to live out their faithful lives, Paul wrote the verse above. While attacking the prideful and arrogant philosophical and theological arguments of those who go “against the knowledge of God”, Paul cautioned the Christians in Corinth to “take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Using these words, Paul was urging those Christians to reject the Greek philosophies that reigned in his day. Philosophies may be filled with human wisdom, but sometimes they came in conflict with God. Human knowledge was limited. God’s wisdom was infinite. In order to act faithfully, Paul suggested those Christians “take captive every thought”. He did not want them to react rashly, without thinking or reflection. He wanted them to let their faith examine their thoughts and let Christ be the ultimate judge of what was good and bad. Paul knew that human thoughts can be influenced by emotions, situations, stress, and pressures. God’s perspective is eternal. If you let your thoughts influence your emotions, bad things can result. If Christ is your Lord, you should run your thoughts past His Holy Spirit. By doing so, you can be more confident that a fleeting thought will not lead you to sin.
Do you let a fleeting thought wreck your day? Ever let one small thought loom big in your mind, beating you into submission? Being faithful requires that Christ be in control of our life, your heart, your mind, and your thoughts. Let God filter your thoughts. Run your ideas past His divine throne. You might find that you don’t always have the best thoughts or ideas or intentions. But God does.
Standing there in Carrie's room, Angela had a thought. It was a fleeting thought; but nonetheless, it was a thought. She barely examined that thought but instead acted upon it. Walking over to where her best friend was hunched over a desk computer trying desperately to complete her final essay, she unplugged the power to the computer. Her best friend looked at the blank screen and began to cry out in shock. She had not saved the essay to the hard drive. The data was lost. Angela responded, “I felt you had it coming. I’m never talking to you again.”
What Angela didn’t know was that when Carrie talked to Trent that night, she was letting him know how great Angela was as a friend. She was telling him to treat Angela with the best of care. Like a good friend, Carrie was checking Trent out, making sure he was a good guy. Angela had misread the entire situation. When she walked into Carrie’s room, her anger took over. That one thought to unplug the computer out of spite, resulted in Carrie losing hours of work. Angela not only destroyed Carrie’s data, she damaged their relationship. That one thought of jealousy wrecked everything. Later, when Trent revealed the conversation with Carrie, Angela realized her mistake. She regretted her reaction, but it was too late. The damage was done, and it was very significant.
Wrongful thoughts, regrets, resentments, and emotions can capture you in a moment. They can push you to do what is wrong. They can cause you to do something rash or unpredictable, vindictive or punitive. I’ve known stray thoughts that were acted upon to damage marriages, cause suicide, and result in irreparable harm. If you let fleeting thoughts blow up your emotions, you never know what will become of them. They may initiate the greatest mistakes of your life.
While teaching the Corinthian Christians how to live out their faithful lives, Paul wrote the verse above. While attacking the prideful and arrogant philosophical and theological arguments of those who go “against the knowledge of God”, Paul cautioned the Christians in Corinth to “take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Using these words, Paul was urging those Christians to reject the Greek philosophies that reigned in his day. Philosophies may be filled with human wisdom, but sometimes they came in conflict with God. Human knowledge was limited. God’s wisdom was infinite. In order to act faithfully, Paul suggested those Christians “take captive every thought”. He did not want them to react rashly, without thinking or reflection. He wanted them to let their faith examine their thoughts and let Christ be the ultimate judge of what was good and bad. Paul knew that human thoughts can be influenced by emotions, situations, stress, and pressures. God’s perspective is eternal. If you let your thoughts influence your emotions, bad things can result. If Christ is your Lord, you should run your thoughts past His Holy Spirit. By doing so, you can be more confident that a fleeting thought will not lead you to sin.
Do you let a fleeting thought wreck your day? Ever let one small thought loom big in your mind, beating you into submission? Being faithful requires that Christ be in control of our life, your heart, your mind, and your thoughts. Let God filter your thoughts. Run your ideas past His divine throne. You might find that you don’t always have the best thoughts or ideas or intentions. But God does.
September 10
“They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”” (Numbers 20:3–5, NIV)
It was not easy for the Israelites to live in the wilderness on their way to the promised land. They had barely enough to survive, the land was harsh, and potable water was rare. As the people faced these conditions, some lashed out at Moses and Aaron and other leaders. The scripture above from the book of Numbers, contains a diatribe against Moses and Aaron from a group of Israelites. When confronted with a shortage of water, they railed at their leaders saying things like “Why did you bring us into the wilderness” (Numbers 20:4) and “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place” with “no grain or figs….” (Numbers 20:5). What the people had forgotten during those tough days was that God had been the one to bring them into the wilderness. Moses and Aaron were only following God’s lead.
When people get upset or they face trials, it is not unusual for them to resent and complain, lash out and blame. In a church, the Pastor follows God’s lead. When people get upset in the church, they often don’t blame God, but instead pour their frustration out on the Pastor. When a meeting doesn’t go well, they can blame the leader. When the economy takes a downturn and giving falters, the people may blame poor sermons, bad leaders, lazy youth, etc. Sadly, people don’t turn directly to God for help and sustenance. They’d rather complain and gripe, murmur and rebel against those who are following God’s leadership. Then, its very easy for Satan to waltz in and heap the pressure on the leadership, helping to fragment God’s holy people.
Through many years of ministry and leadership, I have found that the most faithful people of God are not those who complain and gripe and fume. They are the ones who cry to God when in need, when something needs to change, or when life hits hard. They don’t cause dissension and division. They tend to remind people that God is the one in control. When the people railed against Moses and Aaron in the scripture above, they did so as if those men were in ultimate control. However, in the wilderness as in life, this is never true. God is calling the shots. If people have issues with God, they should go directly to the source with their ideas and moans. However, many Israelites and many Christians do not. They go after the leaders. They put pressure on the leaders as if the leaders could fix anything. I thought God was in charge!
When you face difficult times, don’t lash out at others. Show the true colors of your valuable faith by going directly to God with your hurts and pains, trials and tribulations. True faith does not turn good leaders into punching bags for whiny and vengeful people. True faith holds tight to God during downturns. True faith reaches out and helps and comforts. Fake Christians may look like true Christians in worship, but their false beliefs always come out during times of stress and discomfort.
How well have you handled difficulties in your life? Were you prone to lash out and blame when things got challenging? Might not God use difficult moments to increase your faith in ways you are not aware?
When people get upset or they face trials, it is not unusual for them to resent and complain, lash out and blame. In a church, the Pastor follows God’s lead. When people get upset in the church, they often don’t blame God, but instead pour their frustration out on the Pastor. When a meeting doesn’t go well, they can blame the leader. When the economy takes a downturn and giving falters, the people may blame poor sermons, bad leaders, lazy youth, etc. Sadly, people don’t turn directly to God for help and sustenance. They’d rather complain and gripe, murmur and rebel against those who are following God’s leadership. Then, its very easy for Satan to waltz in and heap the pressure on the leadership, helping to fragment God’s holy people.
Through many years of ministry and leadership, I have found that the most faithful people of God are not those who complain and gripe and fume. They are the ones who cry to God when in need, when something needs to change, or when life hits hard. They don’t cause dissension and division. They tend to remind people that God is the one in control. When the people railed against Moses and Aaron in the scripture above, they did so as if those men were in ultimate control. However, in the wilderness as in life, this is never true. God is calling the shots. If people have issues with God, they should go directly to the source with their ideas and moans. However, many Israelites and many Christians do not. They go after the leaders. They put pressure on the leaders as if the leaders could fix anything. I thought God was in charge!
When you face difficult times, don’t lash out at others. Show the true colors of your valuable faith by going directly to God with your hurts and pains, trials and tribulations. True faith does not turn good leaders into punching bags for whiny and vengeful people. True faith holds tight to God during downturns. True faith reaches out and helps and comforts. Fake Christians may look like true Christians in worship, but their false beliefs always come out during times of stress and discomfort.
How well have you handled difficulties in your life? Were you prone to lash out and blame when things got challenging? Might not God use difficult moments to increase your faith in ways you are not aware?
September 11
““But if in spite of this you will not listen to me, but walk contrary to me, then I will walk contrary to you in fury, and I myself will discipline you sevenfold for your sins….And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you, and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste.” (Leviticus 26:27, 33, ESV)
One day, I was helping my grandmother in her garden when she gave me a bit of wisdom. I noticed that she had dumped some fruit rinds, coffee grounds, vegetable pieces, and other assorted leftovers on a section of her garden. It looked like rotting garbage to me. I asked her why she did that, cautioning her that it would stink. She told me, “Honey, that will turn into rich compost and feed the ground beautifully. It may look like garbage now, but in a short time, that will turn the soil rich with food. We must not waste what God gives.” Her words always resonated with me in my life. I don’t like to see things wasted. I believe in the importance of recycling. I would rather re-purpose things than toss them away. I would rather fix things than just cast them off. Wastefulness seems just wrong to me.
In our scripture for today, God is laying down the law for Moses and Israel. Within these words, God talks about the origins of waste. God wants Israel’s faithfulness. In exchange God will give protection and care. It seems like a wonderful arrangement; however, God knew the heart of humankind. We humans can all too easily go back on our promises. God said in Leviticus 26:27 that if the people would “not listen” and “walk contrary” to the will of God, God would “walk contrary” to them. God would “discipline the sinners seven-fold for their sins”. In that same paragraph, God declared that if the people went against God and lived in sin, their “cities shall be a waste”, and “the land shall be a desolation” (Leviticus 26:33). God would cause war to come to the sinful people. Their cities would lie in ruin, the refuse of war would litter the streets, and the land would not produce good crops. In this paragraph, God equates “cities in waste” with sinful living.
I want you to think about this for a moment. The promised land was viewed in scripture as a place flowing with milk and honey. There would be rich produce and farmlands producing enviable harvests. This contrasts with the scripture today where cities lie in ruin and waste. Siding with God brought beautiful fields and gleaming cities. Siding against God brought destruction, war, famine, death, and waste.
Between California and Hawaii lies “the great Pacific garbage patch”. It is estimated that between 1.15 and 2.41 million tons of plastic float in this garbage patch that is stuck in an eddy of the ocean. All that plastic came from runoff during tsunamis and storms as well as ruthless companies and individuals who thoughtlessly dumped garbage into the ocean. The garbage patch blocks the sunlight from large sections of ocean and kills valuable plankton, damaging the precious ocean ecosystem in the area. This week, a new cleanup effort is underway to capture this refuse. This time, a new autonomous cleanup ship is being tested. It is hoped that in the future this type of autonomous process can help heal the ocean environment and clean our hurting planet.
Human beings are wasteful in many ways. We create so much garbage wherever we go. However, we are also wasteful with our time, our efforts, and even our faith. Sometimes, we don’t even know when we are being wasteful and when we are not. Consider the following story from the 1800’s.
“Charles Francis Adams, the 19th century political figure and diplomat, kept a diary. One day he entered: "Went fishing with my son today--a day wasted." His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence. On that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: "Went fishing with my father--the most wonderful day of my life!" The father thought he was wasting his time while fishing with his son, but his son saw it as an investment of time. The only way to tell the difference between wasting and investing is to know one's ultimate purpose in life and to judge accordingly.” (Silas Shotwell, September 1987)
As you go throughout your day, let God teach you what is wasteful and what is not. Let God also direct your actions so that you do not let go to waste valuable time or things in your environment. God gave you a beautiful planet and beautiful days to share His blessing. Don’t let sin or apathy waste anything God has given!
In our scripture for today, God is laying down the law for Moses and Israel. Within these words, God talks about the origins of waste. God wants Israel’s faithfulness. In exchange God will give protection and care. It seems like a wonderful arrangement; however, God knew the heart of humankind. We humans can all too easily go back on our promises. God said in Leviticus 26:27 that if the people would “not listen” and “walk contrary” to the will of God, God would “walk contrary” to them. God would “discipline the sinners seven-fold for their sins”. In that same paragraph, God declared that if the people went against God and lived in sin, their “cities shall be a waste”, and “the land shall be a desolation” (Leviticus 26:33). God would cause war to come to the sinful people. Their cities would lie in ruin, the refuse of war would litter the streets, and the land would not produce good crops. In this paragraph, God equates “cities in waste” with sinful living.
I want you to think about this for a moment. The promised land was viewed in scripture as a place flowing with milk and honey. There would be rich produce and farmlands producing enviable harvests. This contrasts with the scripture today where cities lie in ruin and waste. Siding with God brought beautiful fields and gleaming cities. Siding against God brought destruction, war, famine, death, and waste.
Between California and Hawaii lies “the great Pacific garbage patch”. It is estimated that between 1.15 and 2.41 million tons of plastic float in this garbage patch that is stuck in an eddy of the ocean. All that plastic came from runoff during tsunamis and storms as well as ruthless companies and individuals who thoughtlessly dumped garbage into the ocean. The garbage patch blocks the sunlight from large sections of ocean and kills valuable plankton, damaging the precious ocean ecosystem in the area. This week, a new cleanup effort is underway to capture this refuse. This time, a new autonomous cleanup ship is being tested. It is hoped that in the future this type of autonomous process can help heal the ocean environment and clean our hurting planet.
Human beings are wasteful in many ways. We create so much garbage wherever we go. However, we are also wasteful with our time, our efforts, and even our faith. Sometimes, we don’t even know when we are being wasteful and when we are not. Consider the following story from the 1800’s.
“Charles Francis Adams, the 19th century political figure and diplomat, kept a diary. One day he entered: "Went fishing with my son today--a day wasted." His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence. On that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: "Went fishing with my father--the most wonderful day of my life!" The father thought he was wasting his time while fishing with his son, but his son saw it as an investment of time. The only way to tell the difference between wasting and investing is to know one's ultimate purpose in life and to judge accordingly.” (Silas Shotwell, September 1987)
As you go throughout your day, let God teach you what is wasteful and what is not. Let God also direct your actions so that you do not let go to waste valuable time or things in your environment. God gave you a beautiful planet and beautiful days to share His blessing. Don’t let sin or apathy waste anything God has given!
September 13
“Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” (Revelation 12:7–9, NIV)
The scripture above chronicles a great war in heaven. During that war, God’s angels fought and defeated “the dragon”. Michael, the archangel of lore, was at the forefront of the battle (Revelation 12:7). “Satan, who leads the world astray”, was “hurled” out of heaven. Not only did Satan lose the battle at which God didn’t even need to raise one hand, Satan’s angels were defeated with him.
It is very important that you read the last verse above carefully. It clearly delineates that Satan has his own angels fighting against God. I’ve met a good number of people who counseled that not only does Satan not exist but believed demonic forces don’t exist either. I’ve known liberal pastors and scholars who suggested that evil is only “the absence of the good”. They were convinced that there are no evil forces aligned against God, no demons, no malevolent spirits, no dark arts. This scripture, along with many others, offer up proof that they are incorrect. There is a spiritual war going on around us and you are a part of it.
In this spiritual war, there are two sides. According to the scripture for today, there is the side of God with angels and archangels like Michael on one side. On the other is arrayed all manner of evil, including Satan and his angels. These are the only two sides listed in the spiritual battle. It is clearly a battle between God and Satan, good and evil, heaven and hell. Caught in between, you and I are not only witnessing this spiritual contest, we are part of it. Satan and evil will attempt to sway you against God. God and his angels will try to protect you against Satan. Good and evil forces will come at you in life. You will be forced to pick a side, whether you want to or not.
Chuck Colson wrote about the fight between good and evil in his book Against the Night. He saw many ways in which secular humanism, apathy, sinfulness, and a rejection of God bring evil and darkness into the world. However, he cautioned people to reevaluate what evil looks like. Sometimes, it doesn’t look deadly, mean-spirited, or vindictive. He wrote: “The greatest evil is not done in those sordid 'dens of crime' that Dickens loved to paint...it is conceived and...moved, seconded, carried, and minuted...in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices” (P. 46, Chuck Colson, Against the Night). You may be in a meeting in which there is a huge spiritual battle between good and evil, but you may be clueless as to the extent or direction. While God will know the stakes, you may not be able to distinguish right from wrong. That’s why prayer is so important. When you pray, God can help you see what you might be missing.
Just as God’s angels can influence how you think and act, Satan’s angels are on the same mission. Where God might want to rescue you and send an angel on that mission, Satan’s angels want to see you wreck your life or the lives of others. God’s angels are not the only ones to watch over you. Satan’s angels are also lurking in the shadows, ready to bring doubt and meanness, unleashing hatred and envy or jealousy and strife.
I believe that when you know God intimately, God’s Holy Spirit resides in you. That Spirit will make you aware of Spiritual things going on around you. Not only can God’s Spirit instruct you in true faith, it can also warn you of satanic forces nearby. God’s Spirit can warn you away from a demonic entity or ward away an evil thought. That’s why it is very crucial that you ask for God’s Holy Spirit to “fill you”. You need as much protection in this spiritual fight as you can get! (Ephesians 6:11ff)
Have you ever felt the presence of evil? Could Satan get at you better by attacking you directly, making you rich, or tempting you away from the good? Make no mistake, there is a spiritual war going on around you. The question for the day is, “Are you going to do something about it?”
It is very important that you read the last verse above carefully. It clearly delineates that Satan has his own angels fighting against God. I’ve met a good number of people who counseled that not only does Satan not exist but believed demonic forces don’t exist either. I’ve known liberal pastors and scholars who suggested that evil is only “the absence of the good”. They were convinced that there are no evil forces aligned against God, no demons, no malevolent spirits, no dark arts. This scripture, along with many others, offer up proof that they are incorrect. There is a spiritual war going on around us and you are a part of it.
In this spiritual war, there are two sides. According to the scripture for today, there is the side of God with angels and archangels like Michael on one side. On the other is arrayed all manner of evil, including Satan and his angels. These are the only two sides listed in the spiritual battle. It is clearly a battle between God and Satan, good and evil, heaven and hell. Caught in between, you and I are not only witnessing this spiritual contest, we are part of it. Satan and evil will attempt to sway you against God. God and his angels will try to protect you against Satan. Good and evil forces will come at you in life. You will be forced to pick a side, whether you want to or not.
Chuck Colson wrote about the fight between good and evil in his book Against the Night. He saw many ways in which secular humanism, apathy, sinfulness, and a rejection of God bring evil and darkness into the world. However, he cautioned people to reevaluate what evil looks like. Sometimes, it doesn’t look deadly, mean-spirited, or vindictive. He wrote: “The greatest evil is not done in those sordid 'dens of crime' that Dickens loved to paint...it is conceived and...moved, seconded, carried, and minuted...in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices” (P. 46, Chuck Colson, Against the Night). You may be in a meeting in which there is a huge spiritual battle between good and evil, but you may be clueless as to the extent or direction. While God will know the stakes, you may not be able to distinguish right from wrong. That’s why prayer is so important. When you pray, God can help you see what you might be missing.
Just as God’s angels can influence how you think and act, Satan’s angels are on the same mission. Where God might want to rescue you and send an angel on that mission, Satan’s angels want to see you wreck your life or the lives of others. God’s angels are not the only ones to watch over you. Satan’s angels are also lurking in the shadows, ready to bring doubt and meanness, unleashing hatred and envy or jealousy and strife.
I believe that when you know God intimately, God’s Holy Spirit resides in you. That Spirit will make you aware of Spiritual things going on around you. Not only can God’s Spirit instruct you in true faith, it can also warn you of satanic forces nearby. God’s Spirit can warn you away from a demonic entity or ward away an evil thought. That’s why it is very crucial that you ask for God’s Holy Spirit to “fill you”. You need as much protection in this spiritual fight as you can get! (Ephesians 6:11ff)
Have you ever felt the presence of evil? Could Satan get at you better by attacking you directly, making you rich, or tempting you away from the good? Make no mistake, there is a spiritual war going on around you. The question for the day is, “Are you going to do something about it?”
September 15
“But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3, ESV)
Years ago, I spoke with a person who had untreated Attention Deficit Disorder. This psychological disorder affects her ability to keep on task. To explain her illness, she told me the following example. “My mind just can’t focus on one thing and stay there. I’m constantly jumping from one shiny thing to another. First, I’m thinking about a job I need to do. Then, after beginning the job, I think about something I forgot to do yesterday, so I start that. Then, while doing that job, I notice a squirrel outside and laugh at its antics. While laughing, I remember a day on my bike when I almost hit a squirrel. At that point, I find myself in the garage saying to myself, ‘Now, why did I want to ride a bike?’” This woman constantly found her thoughts led astray by something bright, fun, shiny, or intriguing. Because of this, she seldom completed her tasks. Her house was filled with at least fifty half-completed projects. She seldom felt a real peace.
There are many Christians who have a spiritual Attention Deficit Disorder. They too can’t keep their spiritual minds and hearts in one place. Their attention is constantly roaming from one new commitment or spiritual fad to another. During the 1970’s, many Christians left mainline churches and joined new evangelical churches. During the 1990’s, when nondenominational churches flourished, many Christians left evangelical church to join these. Church-hopping since the 1970’s has increased exponentially, with people going from one church to another seeking a better preacher, a nicer building, contemporary music, spiritual fulfillment, and so much more. One friend of mine has been a member of five different churches in fifteen years. He joins one until he is bored or doesn’t like what someone says, and then he moves on to the next church. He loves being the “new member” at the center of attention. Sadly, his faith is very shallow. He likes being entertained in worship. His spiritual Attention Deficit Disorder makes him unable to develop a meaningful relationship with God nor deep accountable spiritual friendships.
Writing the Corinthian church, Paul mentioned how some of the faithful in that church had been “led astray” (2 Corinthians 11:3). “Their sincere and pure devotion to Christ” was weakened by preachers who swayed them from the real gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4). Their thoughts would not remain steadfast to Christ. These slick-tongued preachers talked them out of a true biblical commitment. Their faith faltered. In the scripture above, Paul equated these other preachers to “the serpent” or Satan. In the garden of Eden, the serpent deceived Eve with “his cunning”. He was able to lure her away from faithfulness to God with sly words carefully conceived. In the same way, Paul noticed itinerant preachers who did the same thing to the faithful in Corinth. The faithful were led astray by slick words and cunning anecdotes. They were lured away from true faith in Christ.
I once heard of a car salesman who was very convinced in his abilities. Every now and then, he would remark to his friends that he could “sell a glass of water to a drowning man” or “sell ice to an eskimo”. He could size up a man coming onto the car lot and figure his weakness in just a few sentences or with one look over his appearance. Like this salesman, there are many in the world who are ready to sway your thoughts or manipulate your intentions. You need to be very secure in your faith to stand up to these subtle manipulations. It is surprising how easily slick talkers can sway a person’s thoughts.
Are you easily swayed from your convictions? Do you lose attention to important spiritual matters? Can slick talking captivate you? Are you swayed by the latest spiritual fads? It is crucial that you are not “led astray” from the true gospel only to lose a close relationship with God. What kinds of subtle manipulations get to you?
There are many Christians who have a spiritual Attention Deficit Disorder. They too can’t keep their spiritual minds and hearts in one place. Their attention is constantly roaming from one new commitment or spiritual fad to another. During the 1970’s, many Christians left mainline churches and joined new evangelical churches. During the 1990’s, when nondenominational churches flourished, many Christians left evangelical church to join these. Church-hopping since the 1970’s has increased exponentially, with people going from one church to another seeking a better preacher, a nicer building, contemporary music, spiritual fulfillment, and so much more. One friend of mine has been a member of five different churches in fifteen years. He joins one until he is bored or doesn’t like what someone says, and then he moves on to the next church. He loves being the “new member” at the center of attention. Sadly, his faith is very shallow. He likes being entertained in worship. His spiritual Attention Deficit Disorder makes him unable to develop a meaningful relationship with God nor deep accountable spiritual friendships.
Writing the Corinthian church, Paul mentioned how some of the faithful in that church had been “led astray” (2 Corinthians 11:3). “Their sincere and pure devotion to Christ” was weakened by preachers who swayed them from the real gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4). Their thoughts would not remain steadfast to Christ. These slick-tongued preachers talked them out of a true biblical commitment. Their faith faltered. In the scripture above, Paul equated these other preachers to “the serpent” or Satan. In the garden of Eden, the serpent deceived Eve with “his cunning”. He was able to lure her away from faithfulness to God with sly words carefully conceived. In the same way, Paul noticed itinerant preachers who did the same thing to the faithful in Corinth. The faithful were led astray by slick words and cunning anecdotes. They were lured away from true faith in Christ.
I once heard of a car salesman who was very convinced in his abilities. Every now and then, he would remark to his friends that he could “sell a glass of water to a drowning man” or “sell ice to an eskimo”. He could size up a man coming onto the car lot and figure his weakness in just a few sentences or with one look over his appearance. Like this salesman, there are many in the world who are ready to sway your thoughts or manipulate your intentions. You need to be very secure in your faith to stand up to these subtle manipulations. It is surprising how easily slick talkers can sway a person’s thoughts.
Are you easily swayed from your convictions? Do you lose attention to important spiritual matters? Can slick talking captivate you? Are you swayed by the latest spiritual fads? It is crucial that you are not “led astray” from the true gospel only to lose a close relationship with God. What kinds of subtle manipulations get to you?
September 16
“So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant…”
(Mark 10:42–43, NLT)
(Mark 10:42–43, NLT)
Carl held absolute sway in the office. He was head of the large newspaper editorial staff, and his word was law in that building. If you followed his lead, you did well. If you did not come through with a timely story or write it as instructed, he made your days a living hell. People literally broke out in a sweat when he shouted their name, ordering them to his office. In his domain, he strutted like a giant peacock. If he left his office to roam the floor, his secretary and aide followed behind him like toadies, ready to do his bidding. While walking the floor, people would get busy immediately, or face the consequences. Everyone knew not to go up against Carl. His glance might meet with approval after the completion of a story that increased sales. His grimace usually meant you had a bad day. Carl had no friends in the office. He wasn’t the friend type of person. He was ruler of the office. Behind his back, they had another word for him: “tyrant”.
You probably know a few “tyrants”, don’t you? They are the kind of people who enjoy having authority and usually flaunt it. They believe their purpose in life is to dominate discussions, crush dissent, and tell other people how to live. Despite the warning against earthly power in the scripture for today, there are Christians who enjoy the role of tyrant. Going against the spirit of Jesus’ words in Mark 10:42, they revel in their real or perceived power and authority.
Candace was very active in her church. For three generations, her family had attended that same church, and she loved the place. She was head of the women’s group for two decades. She was on three committees. She led the staff committee, often directing the staff operations. Despite her level of commitment, Candace was never a deep Christian. She liked attending church events. She enjoyed the way that members revered her power and her family. However, Candace never led prayer. That was beneath her. She never taught in the Sunday School, for she had no patience for teaching. She was interested in running the church. She received her power in the church due to her last name. Her family had controlled events in that church for most of a century. Candace was content to let others think they could offer suggestions and help in leadership; but to Candace, they were peons. Even her pastor was afraid of her power.
Tyrants are a menace to society. They cause fear and conflict in the workplace. They enjoy crushing resistance to their ideas. They manipulate others, bending them to their will. Those who have good self-awareness will find their blood pressure increasing, their heart rate rising, around a tyrant. Tyrants always jockey for more power and control. They are not afraid to use intimidation and threats, implied or otherwise. Does this sound like a person who is a Christian?
Jesus was very clear about the type of leadership He desired in the faithful church. He did not want worldly types of leadership, with those who “lord it over” others (Mark 10:42). He did not believe faithful people should be led by “officials who flaunt their authority over those under them”. Jesus made it clear in the scripture for today that faithful leaders would be good servants (Mark 10:43). They wouldn’t be people who jockeyed for power, but instead were people who looked for ways to help. They were good at serving others, giving a helping hand, sharing ideas, listening to suggestions, offering their time or prayers willingly. Strong and faithful churches all have a good portion of able servants among them. Dying churches often have fewer and fewer strong servants in attendance.
Within you, there will always be a struggle between using your authority and being a good servant. These two traits will often come in conflict. For Jesus, this was normal. There were times that he had to exercise his authority, such as when he overturned the tables in the temple or when he exorcised a demon. However, he constantly exhibited blessed servanthood. He did this by healing the sick, praying with His disciples, and showing love for others. With His power, Jesus could have been a King in Jerusalem. His mission from God the Father was more subtle. No palace would be His home. He was called to serve others, to be among the needy. I have found that the greatest of Christians are at home while helping the needy. They enjoy being servants of the Most High God!
How well have you handled authority in your life? Do you love being a servant? Have you shunned the chance to be a leader when God needed you? To be faithful implies the need to be both authoritative and true servant. How well have you dealt with this dichotomy? Do others fear you or respect you? Do people come to you for help or to pay their homage?
You probably know a few “tyrants”, don’t you? They are the kind of people who enjoy having authority and usually flaunt it. They believe their purpose in life is to dominate discussions, crush dissent, and tell other people how to live. Despite the warning against earthly power in the scripture for today, there are Christians who enjoy the role of tyrant. Going against the spirit of Jesus’ words in Mark 10:42, they revel in their real or perceived power and authority.
Candace was very active in her church. For three generations, her family had attended that same church, and she loved the place. She was head of the women’s group for two decades. She was on three committees. She led the staff committee, often directing the staff operations. Despite her level of commitment, Candace was never a deep Christian. She liked attending church events. She enjoyed the way that members revered her power and her family. However, Candace never led prayer. That was beneath her. She never taught in the Sunday School, for she had no patience for teaching. She was interested in running the church. She received her power in the church due to her last name. Her family had controlled events in that church for most of a century. Candace was content to let others think they could offer suggestions and help in leadership; but to Candace, they were peons. Even her pastor was afraid of her power.
Tyrants are a menace to society. They cause fear and conflict in the workplace. They enjoy crushing resistance to their ideas. They manipulate others, bending them to their will. Those who have good self-awareness will find their blood pressure increasing, their heart rate rising, around a tyrant. Tyrants always jockey for more power and control. They are not afraid to use intimidation and threats, implied or otherwise. Does this sound like a person who is a Christian?
Jesus was very clear about the type of leadership He desired in the faithful church. He did not want worldly types of leadership, with those who “lord it over” others (Mark 10:42). He did not believe faithful people should be led by “officials who flaunt their authority over those under them”. Jesus made it clear in the scripture for today that faithful leaders would be good servants (Mark 10:43). They wouldn’t be people who jockeyed for power, but instead were people who looked for ways to help. They were good at serving others, giving a helping hand, sharing ideas, listening to suggestions, offering their time or prayers willingly. Strong and faithful churches all have a good portion of able servants among them. Dying churches often have fewer and fewer strong servants in attendance.
Within you, there will always be a struggle between using your authority and being a good servant. These two traits will often come in conflict. For Jesus, this was normal. There were times that he had to exercise his authority, such as when he overturned the tables in the temple or when he exorcised a demon. However, he constantly exhibited blessed servanthood. He did this by healing the sick, praying with His disciples, and showing love for others. With His power, Jesus could have been a King in Jerusalem. His mission from God the Father was more subtle. No palace would be His home. He was called to serve others, to be among the needy. I have found that the greatest of Christians are at home while helping the needy. They enjoy being servants of the Most High God!
How well have you handled authority in your life? Do you love being a servant? Have you shunned the chance to be a leader when God needed you? To be faithful implies the need to be both authoritative and true servant. How well have you dealt with this dichotomy? Do others fear you or respect you? Do people come to you for help or to pay their homage?
September 18
“For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”” (Luke 19:10, RSV)
While getting my jacket on for school during fourth grade, I noticed that one glove was missing. That wasn’t good, as the weather outside was frightful. The temperature was in the teens and I was cold just thinking about being without both my gloves on the walk to school. I asked my mother where my glove might be, and she told me to check the “Lost and Found” when I got to school. Maybe I had dropped it there.
When I got to school, I only had about five minutes to spare. I went to the school office and looked around for the “Lost and Found” box. It was in the corner near the secretary’s desk. There were piled in that box all manner of mittens, gloves, scarves, combs, hairpins, and school supplies. My glove was not in the big box of lost things, so I was out of luck. However, I was surprised at how many things were in that box. It was heaping with things that were lost. Over the next months, every time I heard of something that was missing, I’d think back if I saw it in the “Lost and Found” box. For some reason, I felt it was partly my job to locate the owners for things in that box. As I look back on that feeling now, I’m convinced that I don’t like things to be lost or wasted or thrown away needlessly. In the same way, I don’t like lost souls. I like for people to find their way to God, back to their original owner!
According to the scripture for today listed above, Jesus’ mission in this life was ”to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). God’s plan was to save people from sin and evil, from self-destruction and spiritual suffering. With divine wisdom, Jesus was sent to reach out and save all those lost souls who would never find their way back to God. The divine plan was to help the lost find their way back to God, to faith, to salvation, and ultimately to Heaven. That mission continues today.
If Jesus was sent to seek and save the lost, don’t you think that the church should consider that work their prime mission as well? I do believe this is true. Jesus wasn’t the only one meant to seek and save the lost…. you were, too! When was the last time you reached out to a lost soul? When was the last time you prayed for one? When studying churches while working on my doctorate, I noticed that dying churches often became self-absorbed. They didn’t have outreach programs. They had few missions. Most of their money was spent on their own building and programs. When young families started disappearing, they didn’t reach out to the souls of the young. Instead, they concentrated all their efforts on the long-term members or life members, neglecting the lost souls in the neighborhoods around them.
One of the most egregious examples of the lack of mission outreach to save souls occurred at a church I once served. There, a group of people in the church complained that the children who came from the neighborhood for Vacation Bible School were too messy for the church. They felt the church should limit its outreach to neighborhood children to “save money”. One person said, “They are too messy anyway. On rainy days, we have to mop the floors when they traipse in mud. Some of them aren’t even clean! The teachers are constantly needing hand cleaner! Let’s take the money this year dedicated for Vacation Bible School and fix that chandelier in the foyer and look inviting to people who want to join a church!” What????
The member who suggested buying a new chandelier instead of putting on a Vacation Bible School was a long-time member of the church. He felt his goal was to protect the savings of the church. What he was actually doing was cutting off its future. He forgot that Jesus’ mission was to seek and save the lost. Jesus didn’t seek to protect the church building or save the church budget.
Do you still seek and save the lost? Is your church interested in saving souls or in other pursuits? We are told that God rejoices when a lost soul is found (Remember the Prodigal Son in Luke 15?). Do you?
When I got to school, I only had about five minutes to spare. I went to the school office and looked around for the “Lost and Found” box. It was in the corner near the secretary’s desk. There were piled in that box all manner of mittens, gloves, scarves, combs, hairpins, and school supplies. My glove was not in the big box of lost things, so I was out of luck. However, I was surprised at how many things were in that box. It was heaping with things that were lost. Over the next months, every time I heard of something that was missing, I’d think back if I saw it in the “Lost and Found” box. For some reason, I felt it was partly my job to locate the owners for things in that box. As I look back on that feeling now, I’m convinced that I don’t like things to be lost or wasted or thrown away needlessly. In the same way, I don’t like lost souls. I like for people to find their way to God, back to their original owner!
According to the scripture for today listed above, Jesus’ mission in this life was ”to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). God’s plan was to save people from sin and evil, from self-destruction and spiritual suffering. With divine wisdom, Jesus was sent to reach out and save all those lost souls who would never find their way back to God. The divine plan was to help the lost find their way back to God, to faith, to salvation, and ultimately to Heaven. That mission continues today.
If Jesus was sent to seek and save the lost, don’t you think that the church should consider that work their prime mission as well? I do believe this is true. Jesus wasn’t the only one meant to seek and save the lost…. you were, too! When was the last time you reached out to a lost soul? When was the last time you prayed for one? When studying churches while working on my doctorate, I noticed that dying churches often became self-absorbed. They didn’t have outreach programs. They had few missions. Most of their money was spent on their own building and programs. When young families started disappearing, they didn’t reach out to the souls of the young. Instead, they concentrated all their efforts on the long-term members or life members, neglecting the lost souls in the neighborhoods around them.
One of the most egregious examples of the lack of mission outreach to save souls occurred at a church I once served. There, a group of people in the church complained that the children who came from the neighborhood for Vacation Bible School were too messy for the church. They felt the church should limit its outreach to neighborhood children to “save money”. One person said, “They are too messy anyway. On rainy days, we have to mop the floors when they traipse in mud. Some of them aren’t even clean! The teachers are constantly needing hand cleaner! Let’s take the money this year dedicated for Vacation Bible School and fix that chandelier in the foyer and look inviting to people who want to join a church!” What????
The member who suggested buying a new chandelier instead of putting on a Vacation Bible School was a long-time member of the church. He felt his goal was to protect the savings of the church. What he was actually doing was cutting off its future. He forgot that Jesus’ mission was to seek and save the lost. Jesus didn’t seek to protect the church building or save the church budget.
Do you still seek and save the lost? Is your church interested in saving souls or in other pursuits? We are told that God rejoices when a lost soul is found (Remember the Prodigal Son in Luke 15?). Do you?
September 19
“There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36–38, NRSV)
When Jesus was born, His parents followed the traditions of the day. They took Him to be circumcised, as was the custom for male Jews (Luke 2:21). This occurred eight days after Jesus’ birth. Later, they took Jesus to the temple for the Rite of Purification. This was both a dedication of the child, and a purification ritual for Mary (Luke 2:23-24). All this was customary for a child born to a Jewish family. However, while at the temple for these two special events, a prophet and a prophetess were encountered. The prophet was named Simeon. He was “looking for the consolation of Israel” and believed Jesus to be part of this plan of God (Luke 2:25). A prophetess who spoke during the Rite of Purification was named Anna (Luke 2:26). She believed Jesus was sent for all who were “looking for the redemption of Jerusalem”. Both the prophet and prophetess were “looking for” God’s plan of salvation for the Jewish people. Both were “looking for” a sign from God. Both saw this sign in Jesus.
I believe that spiritual people of God often are “looking for” things on a spiritual dimension. Their soul drives them to find something that God will use to bless them in special ways. One woman I know is right now on a pilgrimage in Spain. She is walking a path that is said to bring a person closer to God. Another woman close to my heart is praying for her church. She feels something is missing from her church, and she wants to be a part of her church finding a renewed spiritual passion. A young man I know is searching for love, not realizing that this involves God and his soul as much as anything. What you are looking for in life can affect what you see and experience. It can change you. It can consume you. Some people are looking for the wrong things in life. Some, like Anna in our scripture for today, are looking for the right things.
“Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over our nation's deserts. All vultures see is rotting meat, because that is what they look for. They thrive on that diet. But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of desert plants. The vultures live on what was. They live on the past. They fill themselves with what is dead and gone. But hummingbirds live on what is. They seek new life. They fill themselves with freshness and life. Each bird finds what it is looking for. We all do.” (Steve Goodier, Reader’s Digest, May, 1990. Can you perceive how the hummingbird and the vulture in this story are parables for your life?
Anna the prophetess, longed to see a sign of God’s redemption. She was given a glimpse into that future when Jesus was brought into the Temple. She realized quickly that the Christ child was to be a special gift from God to Jerusalem and to all Israel. She fasted and prayed at the temple for a long time, searching for a sign from God. She found what she was searching for in Jesus.
Does God have you looking for something in your spiritual life? Are you searching for the right things in life or the wrong things? When you feel a spiritual longing in your heart, don’t be surprised if God isn’t pushing you to look for some special holy thing your soul needs. You might just be a part of a spiritual quest, where God wants you to find something in yourself or to impart a new ability to your spiritual quiver. If you ever find yourself with a spiritual hole in your life, make sure you look for the right things in response. Seek God’s help in that quest. You might just be surprised where it leads you. It may renew your heart, bring you hope, or cause you to praise God in a new way (Luke 2:38).
I believe that spiritual people of God often are “looking for” things on a spiritual dimension. Their soul drives them to find something that God will use to bless them in special ways. One woman I know is right now on a pilgrimage in Spain. She is walking a path that is said to bring a person closer to God. Another woman close to my heart is praying for her church. She feels something is missing from her church, and she wants to be a part of her church finding a renewed spiritual passion. A young man I know is searching for love, not realizing that this involves God and his soul as much as anything. What you are looking for in life can affect what you see and experience. It can change you. It can consume you. Some people are looking for the wrong things in life. Some, like Anna in our scripture for today, are looking for the right things.
“Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over our nation's deserts. All vultures see is rotting meat, because that is what they look for. They thrive on that diet. But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of desert plants. The vultures live on what was. They live on the past. They fill themselves with what is dead and gone. But hummingbirds live on what is. They seek new life. They fill themselves with freshness and life. Each bird finds what it is looking for. We all do.” (Steve Goodier, Reader’s Digest, May, 1990. Can you perceive how the hummingbird and the vulture in this story are parables for your life?
Anna the prophetess, longed to see a sign of God’s redemption. She was given a glimpse into that future when Jesus was brought into the Temple. She realized quickly that the Christ child was to be a special gift from God to Jerusalem and to all Israel. She fasted and prayed at the temple for a long time, searching for a sign from God. She found what she was searching for in Jesus.
Does God have you looking for something in your spiritual life? Are you searching for the right things in life or the wrong things? When you feel a spiritual longing in your heart, don’t be surprised if God isn’t pushing you to look for some special holy thing your soul needs. You might just be a part of a spiritual quest, where God wants you to find something in yourself or to impart a new ability to your spiritual quiver. If you ever find yourself with a spiritual hole in your life, make sure you look for the right things in response. Seek God’s help in that quest. You might just be surprised where it leads you. It may renew your heart, bring you hope, or cause you to praise God in a new way (Luke 2:38).
September 20
“One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. “Listen to this dream,” he said. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them.” (Genesis 37:5–8, NLT)
In the scripture chosen for today, Joseph had a dream. The dream was a premonition of things to come. In that dream, Joseph saw bundles of grain from his brothers bowed down before his own. His brothers took this as silly dreaming of a young boy who wanted to be greater than his brothers. However, this premonition was sent from God. It foretold that in the future, Joseph’s brothers would come to him and respect him. They would one day need him. The brothers tormented Joseph for the dream, “hating him” for the premonitions (Genesis 37:8).
What the brothers of Joseph did not realize was that God was behind all the dreams. God was going to use Joseph to save the family of Israel and protect the future of the faith. Joseph was crucial in this plan of God. The dream, the premonition, was God’s way of preparing Joseph for what lie ahead. In Joseph’s time, there were other dreams and premonitions that he had to interpret. He predicted the coming death of a chief butler to Pharaoh (Genesis 37:20). He also predicted seven years of famine. With the knowledge from that dream of famine given by God, Joseph saved many lives (Genesis 41).
Throughout the pages of the Bible, many others had premonitions. Peter dreamed of a new ministry to the Gentiles (Acts 10:13). Paul had a premonition of his ship being wrecked, and this premonition saved the lives of his fellow travelers (Acts 27:10). Jesus had a premonition that Peter was going to deny him three times, and that Satan was going to attack his special disciple (Luke 22:31-34). John of Patmos had a good number of premonitions of what was going to happen in the future during the end times (Revelation 1:9-19). Don’t be surprised if God sends you premonitions of what is to come. The premonitions serve to remind you that God has plans for your life, and HE knows the future.
“One afternoon in 1865, President Lincoln's Cabinet entered a council room for a meeting and found the President seated at the head of the table, his face buried in his hands. Presently he raised his head. His face was grave and worn. "Gentlemen," he said, "before long you will have important news."
Someone inquired, "Have you bad news, Mr. President? Is it something serious?"
"I have heard nothing; I've had no news," he replied. "But last night I had a dream. I dreamed I was in a boat, alone. I had no oars, no rudder. I was helpless in a boundless ocean." There was silence for a moment. Then the President added: "I have had that dream many times during the war. And each time, some great battle came within a day or two. Yes, gentlemen, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps in just a few hours, you will have important news."
Five hours later, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.” (Bits and Pieces, March 1990).
Has God ever spoken to you through a dream or premonition? Did you see that message for what it was at the time?
I have learned that sometimes premonitions are sent by God to prepare us for what is ahead. We should not fear these premonitions, but use them to inform our decisions. These premonitions can help you to prepare for what is to come, to make things right, to make amends, and to remind you that God is watching over your future even in this moment.
What the brothers of Joseph did not realize was that God was behind all the dreams. God was going to use Joseph to save the family of Israel and protect the future of the faith. Joseph was crucial in this plan of God. The dream, the premonition, was God’s way of preparing Joseph for what lie ahead. In Joseph’s time, there were other dreams and premonitions that he had to interpret. He predicted the coming death of a chief butler to Pharaoh (Genesis 37:20). He also predicted seven years of famine. With the knowledge from that dream of famine given by God, Joseph saved many lives (Genesis 41).
Throughout the pages of the Bible, many others had premonitions. Peter dreamed of a new ministry to the Gentiles (Acts 10:13). Paul had a premonition of his ship being wrecked, and this premonition saved the lives of his fellow travelers (Acts 27:10). Jesus had a premonition that Peter was going to deny him three times, and that Satan was going to attack his special disciple (Luke 22:31-34). John of Patmos had a good number of premonitions of what was going to happen in the future during the end times (Revelation 1:9-19). Don’t be surprised if God sends you premonitions of what is to come. The premonitions serve to remind you that God has plans for your life, and HE knows the future.
“One afternoon in 1865, President Lincoln's Cabinet entered a council room for a meeting and found the President seated at the head of the table, his face buried in his hands. Presently he raised his head. His face was grave and worn. "Gentlemen," he said, "before long you will have important news."
Someone inquired, "Have you bad news, Mr. President? Is it something serious?"
"I have heard nothing; I've had no news," he replied. "But last night I had a dream. I dreamed I was in a boat, alone. I had no oars, no rudder. I was helpless in a boundless ocean." There was silence for a moment. Then the President added: "I have had that dream many times during the war. And each time, some great battle came within a day or two. Yes, gentlemen, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps in just a few hours, you will have important news."
Five hours later, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.” (Bits and Pieces, March 1990).
Has God ever spoken to you through a dream or premonition? Did you see that message for what it was at the time?
I have learned that sometimes premonitions are sent by God to prepare us for what is ahead. We should not fear these premonitions, but use them to inform our decisions. These premonitions can help you to prepare for what is to come, to make things right, to make amends, and to remind you that God is watching over your future even in this moment.
September 21
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”” (Matthew 9:13, NIV)
On a day when Jesus was sitting “among tax collectors and sinners”, the Pharisees began to ridicule Him (Matthew 9:10). These religious leaders were quick to make fun of Jesus being surrounded by those whom they considered as inferior due to their sinful behavior. Their disdain of Jesus was palpable. They even challenged the disciples, saying, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Matthew 9:11). The disciples did not answer them as far as we know. However, Jesus did answer these religious leaders. In our scripture for today, Jesus asked these spiritual elites to learn what it meant to “desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13). Jesus then told all those in attendance that His mission was to reach out to “sinners” with the gospel. He wanted to call them back to God.
The disdain shown by the Pharisees toward Jesus’ actions is clearly evident in scripture. They believed sinners were to be shunned and rejected. They believed eating with tax collectors made one unclean. Rebuffing Jesus’ ministry, they saw themselves as above these lower-class inferiors around Jesus. The Pharisees saw themselves as highly religious and Biblically correct. While it is true that they cared deeply for God’s law and faithfulness, they failed to reach out to sinners. In thinking themselves superior to the sinful, they lacked basic spiritual humility. While keeping themselves ritually pure, they rejected God’s outreach toward the lost sheep in the house of Israel. Their elitism caused Jesus to question their true faith. Though good at giving sacrifices at the Temple and sacrificing many hours to learn the scriptures, they lacked mercy. This, to Jesus, was a fatal spiritual flaw.
In preparation for today’s meditation, I looked up the meaning of “mercy”. In the dictionary, mercy is defined as “compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.” The Pharisees knew that sinners had caused God harm. The Pharisees responded in kind with rejection and resentment. They made sinners feel uncomfortable in holy places. They promoted ritual purity and faithful sacrifice, while neglecting holy mercy and grace. Sadly, this meant that mercy and forgiveness and atonement and repentance were all deemed inappropriate when dealing with sinners. The Pharisees sought only punishment for breaking God’s laws.
Every Christian must balance the value of God’s law and spiritual sacrifice with the need for mercy and grace. When spiritual sacrifices and rituals are promoted while mercy and grace and forgiveness are rejected, sin will result. On the other hand, where mercy and grace result in watering down God’s commandments and expectations, sin will also result. The faithful Christian must balance a healthy respect for God’s commandments with a good dose of mercy and grace to compensate. If your spiritual life leans too much one way or another, sin will ensue. How well do you keep faithful to both God’s law and God’s mercy?
To explain the challenge of being faithful to both God’s law and God’s mercy, let me show you two examples where a person sinned by failing to keep both in perspective.
Jill was miserable in her marriage. Her husband’s alcoholism caused many arguments, sleepless nights, and health problems. Jill was a Christian. Her response to her husband’s alcoholism was to “forgive him”. When he drank too much, she cared for him. She never complained or forced him to get help for his obvious illness. She asked him to stop drinking too much. It didn’t help. Her children were suffering due to the sickness. Her response was to pray to God for help and never get upset so her husband didn’t drink more. In so doing, Jill became an enabler. While seemingly full of grace, her response to her husband’s drinking was sinful. She made things worse.
On the other hand, there is Kevin. He made the opposite mistake. When his son got divorced, Kevin was highly critical of the divorce. He constantly ridiculed his son’s failure in marriage. The two could hardly carry on a conversation without Kevin bringing up his son’s failures at sports in high school, his dropping out of college, and his financial mistakes. Though Kevin’s son had failed at some big things in his life, Kevin was failing to offer any mercy or grace to his son. Kevin saw grace and forgiveness as spiritual weakness. He wasn’t going to let his son see any weakness in his father. Thus, Kevin was sinning by offering his son no grace for mistakes in his life. Kevin’s hard-headed attitude was destroying his son’s self-worth. Kevin’s ridicule also helped his son reject the faith of his father. His son despised Christians.
You must learn to find a healthy relationship with both faithfulness and mercy, with God’s law and God’s grace. If you do not, sin will result. Jesus’ harsh words to the Pharisees may seem like a complete rejection of the Pharisaic ways. I do not think so. I believe Jesus was trying to save the Pharisees from their own lack of mercy and spiritual humility. Is there some attitude Jesus might try to save you from today?
The disdain shown by the Pharisees toward Jesus’ actions is clearly evident in scripture. They believed sinners were to be shunned and rejected. They believed eating with tax collectors made one unclean. Rebuffing Jesus’ ministry, they saw themselves as above these lower-class inferiors around Jesus. The Pharisees saw themselves as highly religious and Biblically correct. While it is true that they cared deeply for God’s law and faithfulness, they failed to reach out to sinners. In thinking themselves superior to the sinful, they lacked basic spiritual humility. While keeping themselves ritually pure, they rejected God’s outreach toward the lost sheep in the house of Israel. Their elitism caused Jesus to question their true faith. Though good at giving sacrifices at the Temple and sacrificing many hours to learn the scriptures, they lacked mercy. This, to Jesus, was a fatal spiritual flaw.
In preparation for today’s meditation, I looked up the meaning of “mercy”. In the dictionary, mercy is defined as “compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.” The Pharisees knew that sinners had caused God harm. The Pharisees responded in kind with rejection and resentment. They made sinners feel uncomfortable in holy places. They promoted ritual purity and faithful sacrifice, while neglecting holy mercy and grace. Sadly, this meant that mercy and forgiveness and atonement and repentance were all deemed inappropriate when dealing with sinners. The Pharisees sought only punishment for breaking God’s laws.
Every Christian must balance the value of God’s law and spiritual sacrifice with the need for mercy and grace. When spiritual sacrifices and rituals are promoted while mercy and grace and forgiveness are rejected, sin will result. On the other hand, where mercy and grace result in watering down God’s commandments and expectations, sin will also result. The faithful Christian must balance a healthy respect for God’s commandments with a good dose of mercy and grace to compensate. If your spiritual life leans too much one way or another, sin will ensue. How well do you keep faithful to both God’s law and God’s mercy?
To explain the challenge of being faithful to both God’s law and God’s mercy, let me show you two examples where a person sinned by failing to keep both in perspective.
Jill was miserable in her marriage. Her husband’s alcoholism caused many arguments, sleepless nights, and health problems. Jill was a Christian. Her response to her husband’s alcoholism was to “forgive him”. When he drank too much, she cared for him. She never complained or forced him to get help for his obvious illness. She asked him to stop drinking too much. It didn’t help. Her children were suffering due to the sickness. Her response was to pray to God for help and never get upset so her husband didn’t drink more. In so doing, Jill became an enabler. While seemingly full of grace, her response to her husband’s drinking was sinful. She made things worse.
On the other hand, there is Kevin. He made the opposite mistake. When his son got divorced, Kevin was highly critical of the divorce. He constantly ridiculed his son’s failure in marriage. The two could hardly carry on a conversation without Kevin bringing up his son’s failures at sports in high school, his dropping out of college, and his financial mistakes. Though Kevin’s son had failed at some big things in his life, Kevin was failing to offer any mercy or grace to his son. Kevin saw grace and forgiveness as spiritual weakness. He wasn’t going to let his son see any weakness in his father. Thus, Kevin was sinning by offering his son no grace for mistakes in his life. Kevin’s hard-headed attitude was destroying his son’s self-worth. Kevin’s ridicule also helped his son reject the faith of his father. His son despised Christians.
You must learn to find a healthy relationship with both faithfulness and mercy, with God’s law and God’s grace. If you do not, sin will result. Jesus’ harsh words to the Pharisees may seem like a complete rejection of the Pharisaic ways. I do not think so. I believe Jesus was trying to save the Pharisees from their own lack of mercy and spiritual humility. Is there some attitude Jesus might try to save you from today?
September 22
“For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.”
(John 3:34, ESV)
(John 3:34, ESV)
Near the beginning of His ministry, Jesus had to explain the purpose of His mission. He needed to explain who He was and His place in the plan of God. Throughout John chapter 3, this happens. Jesus utters the famous, “For God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The idea that Jesus is sent to save the lost world is a common theme in John. In fact, Jesus being “sent” by God the Father is mentioned thirty-nine times in the gospel of John alone. This is reiterated today in our chosen scripture.
While explaining His ministry, Jesus mentions in the scripture above that “He whom God has sent utters the words of God” (John 3:34). Also, Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit was to be given “beyond measure” as a consequence of His ministry. As I thought about God’s plan to send Jesus to save all people, I began to look more closely at this verse of the Bible. I began to see something in the words Jesus used here.
If you look carefully at the scripture for today, Jesus calls himself the one “whom God has sent” who “utters the words of God.” I think it is important that you realize that Jesus was not the only one who ever uttered the words of God. Though His words are incredibly important, prophets and priests and even donkeys have “uttered the words of God” in scripture. It is important for you to realize that the uttered words of God did not end with Jesus. They continue today. In your life, someone may utter the words of God you need to hear. You also may speak the words of God that help or save another. These “words of God” are life-changing.
At a hospital in Los Angeles, a nurse was pressed with emergencies. There was a trauma patient from a car accident in bed one. Bed two and three held gunshot victims. Bed five and eight both held patients who were probably suffering a heart attack. Bed ten contained a drunk whose name was Owen. Owen had been at the hospital dozens of times for alcohol addiction related illnesses. He lost most of his money over the years due to his drinking and poor choices. As Owen lay there, barely able to keep down the contents of his stomach, Jackie walked in. She was on duty and not glad to see Owen. With all the real emergencies, she was not thrilled to care for Owen. She turned to him and said, “Owen, when are you going to get your life together? You have so much more to offer. You have got to stop your drinking. Is there nothing you have to live for?” Nobody had spoken to Owen like this. Nobody dared. As Jackie finished, she checked Owen’s vitals. He would be OK. His blood work looked good, though the alcoholism was affecting his liver counts. She gave him a disgusted look and left the room. Later, feeling guilty, she returned to Owen’s room. Jackie wanted to apologize for her outburst, borne from overwork and frustration. Owen didn’t deserve that. However, when she returned, Owen was gone. He had up and left the hospital.
Two years later, Owen walked in the hospital emergency room area. He had been sober for twenty-four months straight. When he saw Jackie, he pulled her aside. When she heard his name and saw him offer up a hand to shake, Jackie blurted out, “Owen, you look wonderful! What a difference!” Jackie hugged Owen. It was then that Owen related that Jackie’s dressing-down in the Emergency Room two years before had changed his life. Owen realized that he did have something to live for. Jackie’s words had changed his life that day.
I believe that God sends people into our lives with words directly from Heaven. I believe these words have the power to change lives, heal, bring hope in the midst of darkness, and save the empty soul. When words of God are uttered, they carry God’s Spirit with them. They touch the heart and soul in ways we can’t explain. They may at times be harsh, but they are perfect for the moment. And God is behind every one of the words.
You may utter the words of God at various times in your life. You may do it while praying, when teaching, or standing at the bedside of a drunk. Those words from God will come at a crucial moment, a moment you may not even recognize as pivotal. But God knows differently. God knows when the time is right. God knows the right words for the right event (Ecclesiastes 3). God’s Spirit moves us to share those “words of God” in perfect ways.
Will you notice when you utter the words of God in that perfect moment? Jesus knew the power of those words. He knew when they carried extreme importance. You and I may not. Consider well the words you choose to speak. You never know when they may be the words of God. Consider also the words you hear. The words uttered by another may be the words of God for you. They may change everything.
While explaining His ministry, Jesus mentions in the scripture above that “He whom God has sent utters the words of God” (John 3:34). Also, Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit was to be given “beyond measure” as a consequence of His ministry. As I thought about God’s plan to send Jesus to save all people, I began to look more closely at this verse of the Bible. I began to see something in the words Jesus used here.
If you look carefully at the scripture for today, Jesus calls himself the one “whom God has sent” who “utters the words of God.” I think it is important that you realize that Jesus was not the only one who ever uttered the words of God. Though His words are incredibly important, prophets and priests and even donkeys have “uttered the words of God” in scripture. It is important for you to realize that the uttered words of God did not end with Jesus. They continue today. In your life, someone may utter the words of God you need to hear. You also may speak the words of God that help or save another. These “words of God” are life-changing.
At a hospital in Los Angeles, a nurse was pressed with emergencies. There was a trauma patient from a car accident in bed one. Bed two and three held gunshot victims. Bed five and eight both held patients who were probably suffering a heart attack. Bed ten contained a drunk whose name was Owen. Owen had been at the hospital dozens of times for alcohol addiction related illnesses. He lost most of his money over the years due to his drinking and poor choices. As Owen lay there, barely able to keep down the contents of his stomach, Jackie walked in. She was on duty and not glad to see Owen. With all the real emergencies, she was not thrilled to care for Owen. She turned to him and said, “Owen, when are you going to get your life together? You have so much more to offer. You have got to stop your drinking. Is there nothing you have to live for?” Nobody had spoken to Owen like this. Nobody dared. As Jackie finished, she checked Owen’s vitals. He would be OK. His blood work looked good, though the alcoholism was affecting his liver counts. She gave him a disgusted look and left the room. Later, feeling guilty, she returned to Owen’s room. Jackie wanted to apologize for her outburst, borne from overwork and frustration. Owen didn’t deserve that. However, when she returned, Owen was gone. He had up and left the hospital.
Two years later, Owen walked in the hospital emergency room area. He had been sober for twenty-four months straight. When he saw Jackie, he pulled her aside. When she heard his name and saw him offer up a hand to shake, Jackie blurted out, “Owen, you look wonderful! What a difference!” Jackie hugged Owen. It was then that Owen related that Jackie’s dressing-down in the Emergency Room two years before had changed his life. Owen realized that he did have something to live for. Jackie’s words had changed his life that day.
I believe that God sends people into our lives with words directly from Heaven. I believe these words have the power to change lives, heal, bring hope in the midst of darkness, and save the empty soul. When words of God are uttered, they carry God’s Spirit with them. They touch the heart and soul in ways we can’t explain. They may at times be harsh, but they are perfect for the moment. And God is behind every one of the words.
You may utter the words of God at various times in your life. You may do it while praying, when teaching, or standing at the bedside of a drunk. Those words from God will come at a crucial moment, a moment you may not even recognize as pivotal. But God knows differently. God knows when the time is right. God knows the right words for the right event (Ecclesiastes 3). God’s Spirit moves us to share those “words of God” in perfect ways.
Will you notice when you utter the words of God in that perfect moment? Jesus knew the power of those words. He knew when they carried extreme importance. You and I may not. Consider well the words you choose to speak. You never know when they may be the words of God. Consider also the words you hear. The words uttered by another may be the words of God for you. They may change everything.
September 24
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,” (Ephesians 5:1, NRSV)
A young woman was hurting. Her heart ached. As she stood there, her best friend came up and threw his arms around her in a great bear hug. The tears let loose only then.
In the next town over, a man was asleep on the couch. It was a long day of work. His body was so worn out, he just fell into a deep sleep with his head in his wife's lap. She smiled down upon him and softly rubbed his cheek.
Far across the ocean, in the same minute, a young lady waited at the train station for her boyfriend. They had been absent for months. Video chats just couldn't replace their empty arms when they missed each other. But this moment was not to be filled with loneliness. As he got off the train, she spied his frame. As he walked to the station, he saw her smile. The embrace was memorable, beautiful. It felt so good to be in each other's arms.
Each of these people above found comfort in the arms or presence of another. They felt cared for, loved, at peace. The hugs brought reassurance and hope, love and warmth. The comfort they felt in each other's presence made life seem that much better. There is something to be said for the comfort of someone you care deeply about. That kind of comfort can't be replaced easily. It is rare and wonderful. It makes life worth living!
In the scripture for today, the Apostle Paul wrote about God's love. He wrote the Thessalonians about the "eternal comfort" God gives along with "good hope through grace" (2 Thessalonians 2:16). He repeated the word "comfort" in both verses, writing about how God will "comfort the hearts" of the faithful, encouraging them toward "good work and word" (2 Thessalonians 2:17). In scripture, we read about the many sides of God. God is Judge and Lord, Redeemer and Savior. God is associated with lightning and thunder, plagues and death. But this scripture reaffirms that God is also intimately associated with comfort, even "eternal comfort". God's arms will one day wrap around you to show that comfort and love.
It's sometimes hard to wrap our minds around the fact that the same God who created the universe also desires to comfort you! The Lord of all the Earth will bring comfort in the midst of your pain and hurting. Like those in my first three paragraphs, God wishes to be the one you run to when lonely and the one you need to hold onto when hurting. Are you going to let him bring comfort to you?
I am sometimes surprised by those who find no comfort in life. Some are never satisfied. Some harbor resentment or regret and do not allow themselves to feel love. Due to past sins, there are many who will not feel real joy or peace or comfort in life. They won't even let God enclose them with eternal arms. They have chosen hurt over comfort, regret and depression over God. Many have not repented. Some have not let go of bitterness. Don't be one of those who can't feel comfort and love, even from God.
Decades ago, I was talking with a young lady on a dark night. It was at a church camp. She expressed to me her agony at being abused. We talked. We prayed. She cried. After many tense moments, she finally let it go. She gave me a genuine hug in the end. After the hug, I knew for certain. She would now let God comfort her. In the next weeks, I saw a real smile appear on her lips and a genuine laugh come to voice. She hugged others, some for the first time ever. Her friends could see she was different. God's grace and comfort found a home in her heart.
You can physically see it when a person is willing to be comforted by another or by God. The ease with which they open their arms, smile, or listen makes all the difference in the world. Are you one with whom others can feel the comfort and love of God? I bet so. I hope so. Our world is desperately in need of you to bring God's comfort and assurance and love. Our world is desperately in need of the faith so rare in your heart. Share that comfort where you can …. in honor of the God who loves you. It makes live worth living.
In the next town over, a man was asleep on the couch. It was a long day of work. His body was so worn out, he just fell into a deep sleep with his head in his wife's lap. She smiled down upon him and softly rubbed his cheek.
Far across the ocean, in the same minute, a young lady waited at the train station for her boyfriend. They had been absent for months. Video chats just couldn't replace their empty arms when they missed each other. But this moment was not to be filled with loneliness. As he got off the train, she spied his frame. As he walked to the station, he saw her smile. The embrace was memorable, beautiful. It felt so good to be in each other's arms.
Each of these people above found comfort in the arms or presence of another. They felt cared for, loved, at peace. The hugs brought reassurance and hope, love and warmth. The comfort they felt in each other's presence made life seem that much better. There is something to be said for the comfort of someone you care deeply about. That kind of comfort can't be replaced easily. It is rare and wonderful. It makes life worth living!
In the scripture for today, the Apostle Paul wrote about God's love. He wrote the Thessalonians about the "eternal comfort" God gives along with "good hope through grace" (2 Thessalonians 2:16). He repeated the word "comfort" in both verses, writing about how God will "comfort the hearts" of the faithful, encouraging them toward "good work and word" (2 Thessalonians 2:17). In scripture, we read about the many sides of God. God is Judge and Lord, Redeemer and Savior. God is associated with lightning and thunder, plagues and death. But this scripture reaffirms that God is also intimately associated with comfort, even "eternal comfort". God's arms will one day wrap around you to show that comfort and love.
It's sometimes hard to wrap our minds around the fact that the same God who created the universe also desires to comfort you! The Lord of all the Earth will bring comfort in the midst of your pain and hurting. Like those in my first three paragraphs, God wishes to be the one you run to when lonely and the one you need to hold onto when hurting. Are you going to let him bring comfort to you?
I am sometimes surprised by those who find no comfort in life. Some are never satisfied. Some harbor resentment or regret and do not allow themselves to feel love. Due to past sins, there are many who will not feel real joy or peace or comfort in life. They won't even let God enclose them with eternal arms. They have chosen hurt over comfort, regret and depression over God. Many have not repented. Some have not let go of bitterness. Don't be one of those who can't feel comfort and love, even from God.
Decades ago, I was talking with a young lady on a dark night. It was at a church camp. She expressed to me her agony at being abused. We talked. We prayed. She cried. After many tense moments, she finally let it go. She gave me a genuine hug in the end. After the hug, I knew for certain. She would now let God comfort her. In the next weeks, I saw a real smile appear on her lips and a genuine laugh come to voice. She hugged others, some for the first time ever. Her friends could see she was different. God's grace and comfort found a home in her heart.
You can physically see it when a person is willing to be comforted by another or by God. The ease with which they open their arms, smile, or listen makes all the difference in the world. Are you one with whom others can feel the comfort and love of God? I bet so. I hope so. Our world is desperately in need of you to bring God's comfort and assurance and love. Our world is desperately in need of the faith so rare in your heart. Share that comfort where you can …. in honor of the God who loves you. It makes live worth living.
September 25
““What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.””
(Mark 9:23, NLT)
(Mark 9:23, NLT)
Recently, I set up a family member by saying, “What’s the chances of a small class B high school winning a state championship in volleyball?”
Surprised, he looked up from what he was reading and said, “Very little. The competition is stiff.”
“Ok,” I replied, “What’s the odds of a small class B high school winning a state championship in volleyball twice?”
He turned to me and called me stupid for even thinking it could happen. Then, he said, “The chances would be astronomical.” Just then, he began to wonder why I said such a thing and that maybe I knew something he didn’t. With that questioning look on his face, I could keep the suspense no longer.
A few years ago, the “volleyball team at Dayville High School in Oregon ran off a string of 65 victories before losing. What made this streak so appealing is that Dayville High had only 18 girl students: 16 are on the volleyball squad and the 17th keeps score. Although Dayville was one of the smallest Class B high schools in the state, it won the Class A volleyball championship for three years running. Part of its success must be due to its unbridled optimism. The letter that brought word of the winning streak said that after the defeat, ‘The team rebounded and has a winning streak of one.’” (Sports Illustrated). This team of unlikely state volleyball champions didn’t look at their numbers and regret their chances. They made their mark. They believed their victories were possible, and it gave them impetus to go for it.
Sometimes, we limit ourselves or our thinking to what we think is possible. We don’t even consider what God may do in a situation. We don’t realize all that is possible with God! You might be tempted to go into a situation and limit your potential simply by giving yourself limits or disabilities that God never intended. I’ve seen teachers who apprised a student and determined in the first week whether that student could succeed for the year! In church meetings, I’ve heard people say things like, “Well, we need this, but can only afford so much”. They don’t even consider what God might provide through prayer, the work of the Holy Spirit, or the ingenuity of faithful followers!
In the scripture for today, the disciples had failed to cast out an evil spirit from a child (Mark 9:18). Try as they might, they failed to help the boy. At wits end, the father decided to come to Jesus directly to help with the spirit. The father asked Jesus “if he could do anything” for the boy. Jesus, incredulous at the inability of everyone to help the boy and stop the evil spirit, responded in the New Living Translation of the Bible by saying, “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Then Jesus explained for all to hear, “Anything is possible if a person believes.” By doing so, Jesus reiterated that the disciples needed a strong faith to cast out the evil spirit. The father was exited at the possibility of his son being healed and said he believed Jesus could do the healing required (Mark 9:24). Jesus immediately exorcised the evil spirit responsible for the boy’s suffering (Mark 9:25).
The disciples thought they had come up against an evil spirit that could not be defeated. Jesus knew otherwise. He knew the power of faith and prayer to overcome evil.
Let’s be honest. There are probably times you have backed down from a challenge because you figured the odds weren’t worth the fight! However, when God is in the fight, the odds don’t matter! As a person of faith, you need to be spiritually strong enough to see what God can do in any situation. You need to look for God’s potential to help. Don’t be put off at the beginning with the difficulty of the endeavor. If God is for you, what can stop you from doing what God needs done? (Romans 8:31)
Surprised, he looked up from what he was reading and said, “Very little. The competition is stiff.”
“Ok,” I replied, “What’s the odds of a small class B high school winning a state championship in volleyball twice?”
He turned to me and called me stupid for even thinking it could happen. Then, he said, “The chances would be astronomical.” Just then, he began to wonder why I said such a thing and that maybe I knew something he didn’t. With that questioning look on his face, I could keep the suspense no longer.
A few years ago, the “volleyball team at Dayville High School in Oregon ran off a string of 65 victories before losing. What made this streak so appealing is that Dayville High had only 18 girl students: 16 are on the volleyball squad and the 17th keeps score. Although Dayville was one of the smallest Class B high schools in the state, it won the Class A volleyball championship for three years running. Part of its success must be due to its unbridled optimism. The letter that brought word of the winning streak said that after the defeat, ‘The team rebounded and has a winning streak of one.’” (Sports Illustrated). This team of unlikely state volleyball champions didn’t look at their numbers and regret their chances. They made their mark. They believed their victories were possible, and it gave them impetus to go for it.
Sometimes, we limit ourselves or our thinking to what we think is possible. We don’t even consider what God may do in a situation. We don’t realize all that is possible with God! You might be tempted to go into a situation and limit your potential simply by giving yourself limits or disabilities that God never intended. I’ve seen teachers who apprised a student and determined in the first week whether that student could succeed for the year! In church meetings, I’ve heard people say things like, “Well, we need this, but can only afford so much”. They don’t even consider what God might provide through prayer, the work of the Holy Spirit, or the ingenuity of faithful followers!
In the scripture for today, the disciples had failed to cast out an evil spirit from a child (Mark 9:18). Try as they might, they failed to help the boy. At wits end, the father decided to come to Jesus directly to help with the spirit. The father asked Jesus “if he could do anything” for the boy. Jesus, incredulous at the inability of everyone to help the boy and stop the evil spirit, responded in the New Living Translation of the Bible by saying, “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Then Jesus explained for all to hear, “Anything is possible if a person believes.” By doing so, Jesus reiterated that the disciples needed a strong faith to cast out the evil spirit. The father was exited at the possibility of his son being healed and said he believed Jesus could do the healing required (Mark 9:24). Jesus immediately exorcised the evil spirit responsible for the boy’s suffering (Mark 9:25).
The disciples thought they had come up against an evil spirit that could not be defeated. Jesus knew otherwise. He knew the power of faith and prayer to overcome evil.
Let’s be honest. There are probably times you have backed down from a challenge because you figured the odds weren’t worth the fight! However, when God is in the fight, the odds don’t matter! As a person of faith, you need to be spiritually strong enough to see what God can do in any situation. You need to look for God’s potential to help. Don’t be put off at the beginning with the difficulty of the endeavor. If God is for you, what can stop you from doing what God needs done? (Romans 8:31)
September 26
“My inward parts are in turmoil and never still; days of affliction come to meet me.”
(Job 30:27, ESV)
(Job 30:27, ESV)
In 1948, two researchers named Dr. Barbara Betz and Dr. Caroline Thomas classified 45 Johns Hopkins medical students in three personality groups on the basis of psychological tests and questionnaires. The students were listed either as "alphas," described as cautious, reserved, quiet and undemanding; "betas," spontaneous, active and outgoing; or "gammas," moody, emotional and either over- or under-demanding. Thirty years later, Betz and Thomas looked at the health records of the former students. They found that 77.3 percent of the gamma group suffered from major disorders, including cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and emotional disturbances. The incidence of disorders was only 25 percent in the alpha group and 26.7 percent in the betas. The doctors repeated the study on another group of 127 male students from the classes of 1949 through 1964 with similar results. "Too often, gamma people get lost in their own emotions," says Betz. (Quoted in Reader’s Digest, November 1979.)
The study quoted above makes clear that out-of-control emotions can trigger disease and illness in your body. When your emotions get out of whack, your whole body suffers. I have also found that when a family member loses control of his or her emotions through depression, mental illness, grief, personal or professional drama, or other real or perceived issues; other members of the family often suffer illness or psychological or emotional distress in response.
While suffering from the machinations of Satan, the prophet Job grew increasingly distressed. At times, his emotions took over. He had bouts of anger and depression, grief and loneliness. Suffering from all these emotions, Job quoted in the scripture for today that his “inward parts” were in a state of constant “turmoil” (Job 30:27). The emotional stress caused “days of affliction” to come upon him. His spiritual battles caused pressures in his mind. His suffering mind caused his heart to be full of turmoil and upheaval. In the end, disease wracked his body. Job’s explanations of his sufferings display for all generations the connections between Satanic influence, spiritual trauma, emotional distress, and physical illness. When your soul suffers, your body suffers. When strong emotions overtake you, your soul and body feel the effects. This can be a vicious cycle where body, mind, spirit, and soul all suffer the consequences when pressures and emotions get out of control.
To counter the emotional, spiritual, and physical distress one may be subjected to in life, scripture mentions the peace that a relationship with God can bring. God doesn’t just leave you to suffer without comfort. In John 14, Jesus mentions that he brings all his followers a “peace that the world cannot give”. He urges his disciples to reach out for God, to let God’s Spirit bring peace to their chaotic world. Jesus told his disciples that with this holy peace, their hearts “should not be troubled” and they should not be filled with fear. Thus, holy peace calms a troubled heart and eases any fear. Holy peace settles your soul. It soothes your mind. It heals your body. You need holy peace in your life.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:4 that God “comforts us in all our afflictions”. The Holy Spirit was called a “comforter” in the gospel of John. When emotions batter you, when spiritual battles consume your thoughts, when the troubles of this world come crashing in, just know that God means to bring comfort to your soul, heart, mind and body. God wants to alleviate your suffering. That holy peace God brings is a precious and wonderful antidote for a world that can go stark raving crazy!
The study quoted above makes clear that out-of-control emotions can trigger disease and illness in your body. When your emotions get out of whack, your whole body suffers. I have also found that when a family member loses control of his or her emotions through depression, mental illness, grief, personal or professional drama, or other real or perceived issues; other members of the family often suffer illness or psychological or emotional distress in response.
While suffering from the machinations of Satan, the prophet Job grew increasingly distressed. At times, his emotions took over. He had bouts of anger and depression, grief and loneliness. Suffering from all these emotions, Job quoted in the scripture for today that his “inward parts” were in a state of constant “turmoil” (Job 30:27). The emotional stress caused “days of affliction” to come upon him. His spiritual battles caused pressures in his mind. His suffering mind caused his heart to be full of turmoil and upheaval. In the end, disease wracked his body. Job’s explanations of his sufferings display for all generations the connections between Satanic influence, spiritual trauma, emotional distress, and physical illness. When your soul suffers, your body suffers. When strong emotions overtake you, your soul and body feel the effects. This can be a vicious cycle where body, mind, spirit, and soul all suffer the consequences when pressures and emotions get out of control.
To counter the emotional, spiritual, and physical distress one may be subjected to in life, scripture mentions the peace that a relationship with God can bring. God doesn’t just leave you to suffer without comfort. In John 14, Jesus mentions that he brings all his followers a “peace that the world cannot give”. He urges his disciples to reach out for God, to let God’s Spirit bring peace to their chaotic world. Jesus told his disciples that with this holy peace, their hearts “should not be troubled” and they should not be filled with fear. Thus, holy peace calms a troubled heart and eases any fear. Holy peace settles your soul. It soothes your mind. It heals your body. You need holy peace in your life.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:4 that God “comforts us in all our afflictions”. The Holy Spirit was called a “comforter” in the gospel of John. When emotions batter you, when spiritual battles consume your thoughts, when the troubles of this world come crashing in, just know that God means to bring comfort to your soul, heart, mind and body. God wants to alleviate your suffering. That holy peace God brings is a precious and wonderful antidote for a world that can go stark raving crazy!
September 27
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1–2, RSV)
After finishing an entire chapter devoted to people who had great faith (Hebrews 11), the author of Hebrews moves on to state four steps to take in your life in response. The first two steps mentioned are intertwined. They both include sins or problems that weight upon you right now. To explain, let the following story resound.
When Simone was in High School, she wanted desperately to fit in. She would hang around popular girls. She would dress in the latest fashions. During her sophomore year, she was swept off her feet by a senior who offered her lots of attention. Deciding that he was the one, Simone had sex with him on multiple occasions. After dating for more than a year, Simone became pregnant. She approached her boyfriend about it, but he mentioned that they could not have the baby. They both wanted to go to college. Without telling any other family or friend, Simone had an abortion. A month later, she and her boyfriend broke up. For years since, Simone has not married. She never went to college. She has been on depression medicines for years, and now has many regrets. It weighs upon her heart that she is now forty and the abortion took her only child. She regrets the fight that caused the breakup with her boyfriend in high school. She has always loved him. He never married either. But lately, Simone’s life has taken a turn. She now mutilates herself and smokes two packs a day. She has closed herself off from friends and believes the world would be better off without her.
In the scripture for today, the first two steps required of true Christians are to “lay aside every weight” and the deal with the “sin that clings so closely”. In Simone’s situation, her mistake in having a deep sexual relationship in High School and the resulting mess it caused is a weight that bears upon her every day. The abortion is a sin that haunts her. Regrets and recriminations have weighed her down still further with depression, Borderline Personality Disorder, and thoughts of self-loathing and suicide. She gave up her faith long ago. She feels she has nothing to live for. However, this scripture urges her to lay aside the weight and sin that bears upon her day and night (Hebrews 12:1). It urges her to persevere through faith and set her sights on Jesus to help her out of this mess. Her first steps to finding peace involve her realizing the weights and sins clinging to her soul.
Simone’s future will lie with her ability to persevere through all the weight of her mistakes, to find forgiveness and love in Christ, and to begin to persevere through a renewed faith. “Perseverance” and holding tight to Jesus, “the pioneer and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2), can give hope to Simone during these troubled times. Grasping the hand of Jesus may in fact give her the best chance of experiencing joy in her life. I just hope its not too late for her.
There are many, many people who are drowning in the weight of past mistakes, haunted by sins which cling so closely. These terrible memories and mistakes have taken their toll. However, the last two steps mentioned in our scripture are adopting a faith that perseveres and looking to the Lord Jesus who walks down the path of redemption with you. I believe it is incredibly important to choose faith in your life. I also believe that your faith requires you to grasp on to Jesus as you persevere through the trials of your life. Your faith must overcome the “flaming darts” of doubt and shame and regret that Satan will throw at you (Ephesians 6:16). The best way to make it through is to look to Jesus for help. Be forgiven, then forgive yourself. Realize that you need saving. Realize that you are worth saving. These last two steps will necessitate your redemption and salvation.
I pray in the days ahead, you continue to remember this scripture. You never know when life may lay a big weight upon your heart or mind or body. You may be caught up in a sin that beats you down or tears you apart inside. Mistakes in life do happen. You may not even recognize your sin until its already eating away at your soul. Despite it all, Jesus is ready for you. Look to Him, so you can figure out how to make things right. You won’t regret it. True faith will save you in ways you may not even recognize. True faith may be your only chance at real joy.
The Four Steps to Faith in Hebrews 12:1-2
1)Lay aside “every weight” that bears upon your heart, soul, and mind. Give it to Jesus.
2)Lay aside any “sin which clings so closely”. Give up the sin out of respect and love for Jesus.
3)Persevere through the difficulties of Steps one and two, trust in God and God’s Word.
4) Look to Jesus for help, forgiveness, salvation, and redemption.
When Simone was in High School, she wanted desperately to fit in. She would hang around popular girls. She would dress in the latest fashions. During her sophomore year, she was swept off her feet by a senior who offered her lots of attention. Deciding that he was the one, Simone had sex with him on multiple occasions. After dating for more than a year, Simone became pregnant. She approached her boyfriend about it, but he mentioned that they could not have the baby. They both wanted to go to college. Without telling any other family or friend, Simone had an abortion. A month later, she and her boyfriend broke up. For years since, Simone has not married. She never went to college. She has been on depression medicines for years, and now has many regrets. It weighs upon her heart that she is now forty and the abortion took her only child. She regrets the fight that caused the breakup with her boyfriend in high school. She has always loved him. He never married either. But lately, Simone’s life has taken a turn. She now mutilates herself and smokes two packs a day. She has closed herself off from friends and believes the world would be better off without her.
In the scripture for today, the first two steps required of true Christians are to “lay aside every weight” and the deal with the “sin that clings so closely”. In Simone’s situation, her mistake in having a deep sexual relationship in High School and the resulting mess it caused is a weight that bears upon her every day. The abortion is a sin that haunts her. Regrets and recriminations have weighed her down still further with depression, Borderline Personality Disorder, and thoughts of self-loathing and suicide. She gave up her faith long ago. She feels she has nothing to live for. However, this scripture urges her to lay aside the weight and sin that bears upon her day and night (Hebrews 12:1). It urges her to persevere through faith and set her sights on Jesus to help her out of this mess. Her first steps to finding peace involve her realizing the weights and sins clinging to her soul.
Simone’s future will lie with her ability to persevere through all the weight of her mistakes, to find forgiveness and love in Christ, and to begin to persevere through a renewed faith. “Perseverance” and holding tight to Jesus, “the pioneer and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2), can give hope to Simone during these troubled times. Grasping the hand of Jesus may in fact give her the best chance of experiencing joy in her life. I just hope its not too late for her.
There are many, many people who are drowning in the weight of past mistakes, haunted by sins which cling so closely. These terrible memories and mistakes have taken their toll. However, the last two steps mentioned in our scripture are adopting a faith that perseveres and looking to the Lord Jesus who walks down the path of redemption with you. I believe it is incredibly important to choose faith in your life. I also believe that your faith requires you to grasp on to Jesus as you persevere through the trials of your life. Your faith must overcome the “flaming darts” of doubt and shame and regret that Satan will throw at you (Ephesians 6:16). The best way to make it through is to look to Jesus for help. Be forgiven, then forgive yourself. Realize that you need saving. Realize that you are worth saving. These last two steps will necessitate your redemption and salvation.
I pray in the days ahead, you continue to remember this scripture. You never know when life may lay a big weight upon your heart or mind or body. You may be caught up in a sin that beats you down or tears you apart inside. Mistakes in life do happen. You may not even recognize your sin until its already eating away at your soul. Despite it all, Jesus is ready for you. Look to Him, so you can figure out how to make things right. You won’t regret it. True faith will save you in ways you may not even recognize. True faith may be your only chance at real joy.
The Four Steps to Faith in Hebrews 12:1-2
1)Lay aside “every weight” that bears upon your heart, soul, and mind. Give it to Jesus.
2)Lay aside any “sin which clings so closely”. Give up the sin out of respect and love for Jesus.
3)Persevere through the difficulties of Steps one and two, trust in God and God’s Word.
4) Look to Jesus for help, forgiveness, salvation, and redemption.
September 28
““Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.””
(John 4:48, NIV84)
(John 4:48, NIV84)
I stood in the Emergency Room waiting area, then paced. A man was being brought in by ambulance. His heart had stopped multiple times that morning. They were taking him right to the surgery area. I happened to arrive at the hospital before the family, even before the ambulance got there. The truth was, I was only a few blocks away when I got the call.
As I paced in the waiting area, I prayed. I asked God to reach out and be with the man. I felt God powerfully present in that moment, there in a special way. Despite the grim odds of the man surviving, I was at peace in that moment. God’s Spirit in my heart was telling me good things. When I prayed with the man, laying hands upon him, I felt God powerfully at work.
In the days after the emergency surgery to save the man’s life, I visited and prayed. Our congregation prayed. Many people related to the family prayed. Despite the terrible odds of surviving, the man did live. He lived for many years after, in fact. I still remember talking to his wife. She said with large open eyes, “It is a miracle he is alive! I believe the prayers made a great difference.” In the months following the man’s miracle, he spoke to many about the life-changing event. The miracle gave him a renewed confidence and brought him closer to God. In fact, many people were affected spiritually by his explanation of the events surrounding his miracle.
As I related this miracle to a man at a wedding a few years later, the man said to me, “He was lucky to have a miracle in his life. I have never had one, so I don’t believe in miracles. I don’t much believe in God, either.” It surprised me that he said this. Based on his thinking, the only people who would ever believe in God would be ones to whom a miracle happened. For the rest, faith was an illogical step. For him, a miracle could bring faith in God, but without a miracle to experience, there was no need to worship God. God didn’t exist without miracles.
Jesus met a good share of people with this same problem. They too wouldn’t believe in Him unless a miracle occurred, or divine intervention was witnessed or proven. In John 6:30, Jesus heard from some of these “miracle believers”. They promised to believe in Jesus IF he performed a miracle for them. I find it interesting that Satan also asked Jesus to perform a miracle to show true Lordship (Twice in Matthew 4:3 and 4:6!). Many like to view miracles so they may respond to them. Sadly, this means people often respond to the miracle itself and not to God. Do you want to have faith in a miracle or faith in God?
In the scripture for today, Jesus spoke critical words to those who need to have miracles justify faith. He told all in attendance “unless you see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe” (John 4:48). This wasn’t a statement of observation, it was a criticism. Jesus didn’t want them to base their whole faith on miracles. He wanted the people to have faith in God, learn from God’s words as well as God’s actions. He desired the people to follow God based on belief, not based on miraculous powers.
Years ago, they used to have tent meetings where evangelists and healers would speak of God’s power and greatness. These tent meetings could be hours long. During them, people would pray, hymns would be sung, altar calls would occur, and often people would come forward for healing or a blessing. It was noted among many of the evangelists and faith healers that some people came only to be excited about the healings. They traveled from tent meeting to tent meeting, anxious to see a healing or miracle performed. But there was something common among these “tent meeting devotees”. Almost all had very little faith in God. They didn’t found churches or begin missions. Many just liked the entertainment value or the high they received from watching a miracle occur.
True faith in God should never be based on a miracle alone. Do you have to get shocked with electricity to believe it runs in wires? Do you need to witness a car accident to believe they happen all the time? Miracles don’t produce faith, otherwise the tent meeting devotees would have been the most faithful of all people. They weren’t. Faith grows when a person clings to God, learns God’s words, seeks God’s side in spiritual battles, and discovers the power of true prayer. Faith grows as the Holy Spirit empowers one with gifts of grace and gifts of the Spirit. Faith can be enhanced by miracles, but it never comes from only watching a miracle occur.
Miracles do happen. They can be powerful moments. However, miracles shouldn’t be the reason you believe in God. Otherwise, if you don’t see a miracle for a while, you may think God is not present. This would be a terrible mistake. God is much bigger than the miracles HE performs. Don’t worship miracles in your life. Worship the Heavenly Father who loves you so much HE sent Jesus to redeem your life.
As I paced in the waiting area, I prayed. I asked God to reach out and be with the man. I felt God powerfully present in that moment, there in a special way. Despite the grim odds of the man surviving, I was at peace in that moment. God’s Spirit in my heart was telling me good things. When I prayed with the man, laying hands upon him, I felt God powerfully at work.
In the days after the emergency surgery to save the man’s life, I visited and prayed. Our congregation prayed. Many people related to the family prayed. Despite the terrible odds of surviving, the man did live. He lived for many years after, in fact. I still remember talking to his wife. She said with large open eyes, “It is a miracle he is alive! I believe the prayers made a great difference.” In the months following the man’s miracle, he spoke to many about the life-changing event. The miracle gave him a renewed confidence and brought him closer to God. In fact, many people were affected spiritually by his explanation of the events surrounding his miracle.
As I related this miracle to a man at a wedding a few years later, the man said to me, “He was lucky to have a miracle in his life. I have never had one, so I don’t believe in miracles. I don’t much believe in God, either.” It surprised me that he said this. Based on his thinking, the only people who would ever believe in God would be ones to whom a miracle happened. For the rest, faith was an illogical step. For him, a miracle could bring faith in God, but without a miracle to experience, there was no need to worship God. God didn’t exist without miracles.
Jesus met a good share of people with this same problem. They too wouldn’t believe in Him unless a miracle occurred, or divine intervention was witnessed or proven. In John 6:30, Jesus heard from some of these “miracle believers”. They promised to believe in Jesus IF he performed a miracle for them. I find it interesting that Satan also asked Jesus to perform a miracle to show true Lordship (Twice in Matthew 4:3 and 4:6!). Many like to view miracles so they may respond to them. Sadly, this means people often respond to the miracle itself and not to God. Do you want to have faith in a miracle or faith in God?
In the scripture for today, Jesus spoke critical words to those who need to have miracles justify faith. He told all in attendance “unless you see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe” (John 4:48). This wasn’t a statement of observation, it was a criticism. Jesus didn’t want them to base their whole faith on miracles. He wanted the people to have faith in God, learn from God’s words as well as God’s actions. He desired the people to follow God based on belief, not based on miraculous powers.
Years ago, they used to have tent meetings where evangelists and healers would speak of God’s power and greatness. These tent meetings could be hours long. During them, people would pray, hymns would be sung, altar calls would occur, and often people would come forward for healing or a blessing. It was noted among many of the evangelists and faith healers that some people came only to be excited about the healings. They traveled from tent meeting to tent meeting, anxious to see a healing or miracle performed. But there was something common among these “tent meeting devotees”. Almost all had very little faith in God. They didn’t found churches or begin missions. Many just liked the entertainment value or the high they received from watching a miracle occur.
True faith in God should never be based on a miracle alone. Do you have to get shocked with electricity to believe it runs in wires? Do you need to witness a car accident to believe they happen all the time? Miracles don’t produce faith, otherwise the tent meeting devotees would have been the most faithful of all people. They weren’t. Faith grows when a person clings to God, learns God’s words, seeks God’s side in spiritual battles, and discovers the power of true prayer. Faith grows as the Holy Spirit empowers one with gifts of grace and gifts of the Spirit. Faith can be enhanced by miracles, but it never comes from only watching a miracle occur.
Miracles do happen. They can be powerful moments. However, miracles shouldn’t be the reason you believe in God. Otherwise, if you don’t see a miracle for a while, you may think God is not present. This would be a terrible mistake. God is much bigger than the miracles HE performs. Don’t worship miracles in your life. Worship the Heavenly Father who loves you so much HE sent Jesus to redeem your life.
September 29
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him [the Lord], and delivers them.”
(Psalm 34:7, NRSV)
(Psalm 34:7, NRSV)
Every parent knows that there are times when you need to be close to a young child. With a little one running a fever or developing symptoms of an illness, it is not uncommon for the parent to hover around the child. It might require that the parent gets a few sleepless nights as he or she keeps watch over the child, making sure the illness doesn’t cause any trauma. In the same way, God’s angels are known to hover close to a faithful one in a crucial moment. When Elijah was alone and depressed, an angel came to watch over and feed him (1 Kings 19:5). Angels from God protected the Israelites after they left Egypt and traveled through the deep wilderness (Exodus 14:19). An angel of the Lord visited and sat with Gideon when he began his holy work cleansing the nation from idols (Judges 6:11). Throughout the scriptures, God sent angels to guard and protect and watch over the faithful.
In today’s scripture, we read about David’s belief in protective angels. In Psalm 34, David mentioned that “the angel of the Lord” was not far from those who fear (respect) God (Psalm 34:7). In fact, the angels sent by the Lord are known to “encamp” around the faithful. The Hebrew word used for the English word “encamp” means to “make a tent” or “set up a temporary dwelling”. God’s angels may not just pop in and out of your life. There are crucial moments when God may send an angel to “encamp” with you. This may mean that the angel travels with you, guards you no matter where you sleep, and watches your back as you go about your holy work.
Recently, I watched a television show that purported to speak about angels watching over the faithful. The angels were summoned with incantations and forced to stay at one location. The angel was bound to that location and not allowed to leave it. This view of God’s angels is faulty according to the scripture for today. Angels are not bound by human incantations or spells. God is in control of them. The angels are free to travel (“encamp”) wherever they need to be in order to protect you. I find it interesting that the angel of the Lord doesn’t protect an area or house or field. The angel is sent to protect certain people who are important to God. The angel sets up a tent figuratively, wherever the person who is protected by God travels. The angel is not bound by spells but assigned to a person. That person is important to God.
The final words of the scripture for today reveals that the purpose of the angel of the Lord is to “deliver” the faithful. This word in the original Hebrew means “to equip a person like for a fight”, “to strengthen”, “to prepare”. Angels don’t just fight all your battles for you. They also equip you for spiritual and temporal challenges. They strengthen you for any obstacles you will face. They not only guard and protect you, but help you grow spiritually stronger.
Recently, I read about a man in a dangerous job. People have died doing what he does. He needs to be vigilant while working. One day, as he was working, the area in which he was working caught on fire. An explosion temporarily incapacitated him. When he came to, a strong man was pulling him from the fire. The strong man saved his life. On reviewing the fire on cameras, the security team found no “strong man” in the area of the fire. The security footage revealed that the man was alone. However, that man has told countless friends what he believes; an angel was there with him that day. He felt the hands of the strong man drag him from danger. He is completely convinced that he was not alone in there. I am not surprised that the man is a strong Christian. He knows God has angels that can be sent in crucial moments to deliver you.
There is a danger in telling stories about angels saving people. Sadly, there are some who worship the angels instead of the Lord who sent them. There are people who even pray to angels, seeking their protection. Do they not realize that God may take offense at the worship of angels, especially when HE was their sender?
In the coming days, do not be surprised if God sends an angel to “encamp” with you for a while. When you are in need of deliverance, God knows it. Angels are signs of God’s protection and love, God’s deliverance and grace. When they are around, there is hope. God is on watch!
In today’s scripture, we read about David’s belief in protective angels. In Psalm 34, David mentioned that “the angel of the Lord” was not far from those who fear (respect) God (Psalm 34:7). In fact, the angels sent by the Lord are known to “encamp” around the faithful. The Hebrew word used for the English word “encamp” means to “make a tent” or “set up a temporary dwelling”. God’s angels may not just pop in and out of your life. There are crucial moments when God may send an angel to “encamp” with you. This may mean that the angel travels with you, guards you no matter where you sleep, and watches your back as you go about your holy work.
Recently, I watched a television show that purported to speak about angels watching over the faithful. The angels were summoned with incantations and forced to stay at one location. The angel was bound to that location and not allowed to leave it. This view of God’s angels is faulty according to the scripture for today. Angels are not bound by human incantations or spells. God is in control of them. The angels are free to travel (“encamp”) wherever they need to be in order to protect you. I find it interesting that the angel of the Lord doesn’t protect an area or house or field. The angel is sent to protect certain people who are important to God. The angel sets up a tent figuratively, wherever the person who is protected by God travels. The angel is not bound by spells but assigned to a person. That person is important to God.
The final words of the scripture for today reveals that the purpose of the angel of the Lord is to “deliver” the faithful. This word in the original Hebrew means “to equip a person like for a fight”, “to strengthen”, “to prepare”. Angels don’t just fight all your battles for you. They also equip you for spiritual and temporal challenges. They strengthen you for any obstacles you will face. They not only guard and protect you, but help you grow spiritually stronger.
Recently, I read about a man in a dangerous job. People have died doing what he does. He needs to be vigilant while working. One day, as he was working, the area in which he was working caught on fire. An explosion temporarily incapacitated him. When he came to, a strong man was pulling him from the fire. The strong man saved his life. On reviewing the fire on cameras, the security team found no “strong man” in the area of the fire. The security footage revealed that the man was alone. However, that man has told countless friends what he believes; an angel was there with him that day. He felt the hands of the strong man drag him from danger. He is completely convinced that he was not alone in there. I am not surprised that the man is a strong Christian. He knows God has angels that can be sent in crucial moments to deliver you.
There is a danger in telling stories about angels saving people. Sadly, there are some who worship the angels instead of the Lord who sent them. There are people who even pray to angels, seeking their protection. Do they not realize that God may take offense at the worship of angels, especially when HE was their sender?
In the coming days, do not be surprised if God sends an angel to “encamp” with you for a while. When you are in need of deliverance, God knows it. Angels are signs of God’s protection and love, God’s deliverance and grace. When they are around, there is hope. God is on watch!
October 30
“And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9–10, RSV)
Some things in life are related. If you affect one, it will affect the other. If you change one, you will change the other. There are millions of examples of this. If you change out dead batteries in a toy for new ones, the toy will come to life again. If you move the thermostat setting up two degrees, the house will warm as the furnace kicks in. When you take the fall leaves out of a blocked gutter, the water should be able to flow through it again. In your spiritual life, there are also related elements that affect one another. Our scripture for today shows some of these elements and how they work together to mold a person into a more effective and beloved child of God.
Colossians 1:9 mentions Paul's intention to pray for the Colossian Christians. He was a founding leader of their church and cared deeply about their connection with God. In the letter of Colossians, Paul wrote that his prayers include the desire that God fill the Colossian Christians with "all spiritual wisdom and understanding". With spiritual wisdom and understanding, Paul knew that the faithful in that church would begin to "lead a life worthy of the Lord" (Colossians 1:9). If this spiritual wisdom was God-inspired, Paul knew that the people would then "please God". Then, they would bear spiritual "fruit" by both doing "good works" and "increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). There is a spiritual progression dependent on the connections in these two verses. By growing in spiritual wisdom and an understanding of God in Jesus Christ, you then will begin to live a life "worthy of the Lord". This worthy life when continued will "please God". In response to God's blessing, you will then bear fruit in service and worship, increasing in the knowledge of God. Do you see the progression here?
The first step to pleasing God and growing close to God involves increasing your wisdom and knowledge about spiritual things. This is where a few things come into play. Worship is important to help you grow in the knowledge of God's will and purpose in the world. By saying prayers, you connect with God. Learning about the Bible and God's commands and promises, you will grow in a spiritual understanding about life. Through faithful interactions that develop with time, you will grow to understand your spiritual journey in life and God's purpose for the world. You will increasingly become familiar with spiritual feelings, the knowledge of the Bible, and an understanding of your salvation through Jesus Christ. Your relationship with God should strengthen. In response, you will please God. Then, with the blessing and help of God, you will move out to do good works and grow more deeply in your faith. All these elements found in Colossians 1:9-10 come into play. They are related. One affects the other.
Jane and Timothy wanted to get married. Coming from Christian families, they decided to have Jane's pastor do their wedding. Neither was close to Jane's pastor, but it was traditional in both families to get married in a church. It seemed the right thing to do, and it was. However, Jane's pastor was not very motivated. He was laid back and rather forgetful. He didn't require any pre-marital classes or any kind of reflection on their marriage as it relates to God and scripture. He just went through a "normal" wedding service, told them where to stand and what to say, and set the date. In the entire process, there was little interaction and no genuine conversation about faithful marriage. After the wedding ceremony, the couple thanked the pastor for the service, and went about their lives, never to darken the door of the church again.
What went wrong is that the pastor and church never really took the first step found in our scripture today. The pastor never helped the couple explore their spiritual knowledge. He never imparted God-given wisdom. He just went through the motions, said the appropriate words, and went back to his study to sign the civil documents. In many churches today, spiritual knowledge and wisdom are not imparted. Thus, many people are not making those important connections with God. Ultimately, they never please God, participate in good works, or grow in the knowledge of God. The relationship never blooms between many people and God, because those who have the spiritual wisdom aren't imparting it. Those who have grown in spiritual knowledge aren't putting that knowledge to work in actions of faith. God is never pleased. Spiritual depth never occurs. The connections with God wither on the vine.
Where are you on this spiritual progression? Are you still at the initial stages where you are still trying to grow in spiritual wisdom and faithful knowledge? Have you pleased God by growing closer to HIM? Are your good works increasing? Is your connection with God growing stronger? These things all affect each other. This spiritual progression is crucial if you ever want to grow close to God. Most of you have progressed to the point of great works and a great depth of Spirit. Some of you are still just starting out and have yet to please God. A good share of you not only please God, but you are taking your first steps into committed faithful works and Spiritual growth is growing. The Bible is becoming more alive for all of you. Your prayers will be increasingly deep and meaningful.
No matter where you are in this spiritual progression, I KNOW your life will always be better the farther along in this godly journey you are. God will not only be fully active in your life, you will learn the depths of love and compassion and repentance and salvation. This Spiritual walk will define your life and bless those around you. Of that, I have no doubt!
Colossians 1:9 mentions Paul's intention to pray for the Colossian Christians. He was a founding leader of their church and cared deeply about their connection with God. In the letter of Colossians, Paul wrote that his prayers include the desire that God fill the Colossian Christians with "all spiritual wisdom and understanding". With spiritual wisdom and understanding, Paul knew that the faithful in that church would begin to "lead a life worthy of the Lord" (Colossians 1:9). If this spiritual wisdom was God-inspired, Paul knew that the people would then "please God". Then, they would bear spiritual "fruit" by both doing "good works" and "increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). There is a spiritual progression dependent on the connections in these two verses. By growing in spiritual wisdom and an understanding of God in Jesus Christ, you then will begin to live a life "worthy of the Lord". This worthy life when continued will "please God". In response to God's blessing, you will then bear fruit in service and worship, increasing in the knowledge of God. Do you see the progression here?
The first step to pleasing God and growing close to God involves increasing your wisdom and knowledge about spiritual things. This is where a few things come into play. Worship is important to help you grow in the knowledge of God's will and purpose in the world. By saying prayers, you connect with God. Learning about the Bible and God's commands and promises, you will grow in a spiritual understanding about life. Through faithful interactions that develop with time, you will grow to understand your spiritual journey in life and God's purpose for the world. You will increasingly become familiar with spiritual feelings, the knowledge of the Bible, and an understanding of your salvation through Jesus Christ. Your relationship with God should strengthen. In response, you will please God. Then, with the blessing and help of God, you will move out to do good works and grow more deeply in your faith. All these elements found in Colossians 1:9-10 come into play. They are related. One affects the other.
Jane and Timothy wanted to get married. Coming from Christian families, they decided to have Jane's pastor do their wedding. Neither was close to Jane's pastor, but it was traditional in both families to get married in a church. It seemed the right thing to do, and it was. However, Jane's pastor was not very motivated. He was laid back and rather forgetful. He didn't require any pre-marital classes or any kind of reflection on their marriage as it relates to God and scripture. He just went through a "normal" wedding service, told them where to stand and what to say, and set the date. In the entire process, there was little interaction and no genuine conversation about faithful marriage. After the wedding ceremony, the couple thanked the pastor for the service, and went about their lives, never to darken the door of the church again.
What went wrong is that the pastor and church never really took the first step found in our scripture today. The pastor never helped the couple explore their spiritual knowledge. He never imparted God-given wisdom. He just went through the motions, said the appropriate words, and went back to his study to sign the civil documents. In many churches today, spiritual knowledge and wisdom are not imparted. Thus, many people are not making those important connections with God. Ultimately, they never please God, participate in good works, or grow in the knowledge of God. The relationship never blooms between many people and God, because those who have the spiritual wisdom aren't imparting it. Those who have grown in spiritual knowledge aren't putting that knowledge to work in actions of faith. God is never pleased. Spiritual depth never occurs. The connections with God wither on the vine.
Where are you on this spiritual progression? Are you still at the initial stages where you are still trying to grow in spiritual wisdom and faithful knowledge? Have you pleased God by growing closer to HIM? Are your good works increasing? Is your connection with God growing stronger? These things all affect each other. This spiritual progression is crucial if you ever want to grow close to God. Most of you have progressed to the point of great works and a great depth of Spirit. Some of you are still just starting out and have yet to please God. A good share of you not only please God, but you are taking your first steps into committed faithful works and Spiritual growth is growing. The Bible is becoming more alive for all of you. Your prayers will be increasingly deep and meaningful.
No matter where you are in this spiritual progression, I KNOW your life will always be better the farther along in this godly journey you are. God will not only be fully active in your life, you will learn the depths of love and compassion and repentance and salvation. This Spiritual walk will define your life and bless those around you. Of that, I have no doubt!
October 31
“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.”
(1 John 4:1–3, NLT)
(1 John 4:1–3, NLT)
When you make a commitment to God through Jesus Christ, you become a Christian. As you live out the promises and obedience given that relationship, you become a faithful and true Christian. The basis for the word "Christian" is Christ, the Messiah. Thus, when you live for Jesus' sake, you become a "Christian" through that relationship with Jesus. An "Serbian" owes a commitment to Serbia. A "Mohammedan" is an ancient term for one who follows Mohammed. A "Christian" owes his or her life to Christ. That relationship should be the center of one's life and form the crux of who you are.
After becoming a true Christian with a deep relationship with Christ, it is important to follow the scripture above. 1 John 4:1 warns us "not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit". There are many spiritual and religious people in the world, but not all of them are of God. Not all of them have a true commitment to Christ. In the days in which this scripture was originally written, there were people who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but they did not believe he was "born of Mary". He did not suffer and die on a cross. He was a spiritual being, but not a physical one. These people were mostly Gnostics. They believed they knew Jesus, but they could not accept his real death on a cross. When John wrote the words above, he asked the real Christians to "test" others who spoke about our faith. John wanted them to make sure that the "spirit they have comes from God" (1 John 4:2). He even targets the Gnostics by writing: "if a person claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3). In verse 2 above, the false prophets (Gnostics) denied Jesus had a "real body". Thus, they were not of God. They were from the "Antichrist" (1 John 4:3), sent to mess up the connection with the believer and the real Christ Jesus.
According to the scripture above, you can have a "Spirit of God" or you can have the "spirit of the Antichrist". Your job is to "test the spirits". An important aspect of being faithful to Jesus Christ involves checking to make sure that those you trust spiritually are those who have the Spirit of God. From priests to pastors to spiritual mentors and friends, you need to spiritually steer clear of those who do not have the "Spirit of God" in them. They can be friends, but not Christian friends. They can give advice, but not godly advice. God can work through them, but God is not in them.
Carolyn was always a spiritual person. She grew up attending worship in a Catholic Church. During her teens, she drifted away from the Catholic Church, remaining a Christian in name only. She was a wonderful person who was well liked by her friends. She had lots of friends. In her early twenties, Carolyn fell in love with a Peter, whom she met at a concert. The two hit it off and became inseparable. They married in 1969 and began a beautiful life together.
Seven years into the marriage, Carolyn and Peter began to have marriage problems. They fought the same old fights over and over. Wondering what to do, Carolyn expressed her frustration to her closest friend. This friend stated that men are born to cheat. They aren't wired like women. She talked about men being biologically antithetical to marriage. Can you tell her best friend was divorced? Carolyn began to drift away from her husband, spending more time with her best friend. After divorcing her husband, Carolyn began to get involved with an Eastern Meditation group. They taught that life was all spiritual and the purpose of life was to become one with "the spirit". The group met together regularly, some even moving in together in a large commune. Carolyn loved her new life, and highly respected the gurus who taught the group.
Ten years later, Carolyn's life was a mess. After her closest friend died, she began to question her life choices. She was poor and desperate. All her time and money was spent supporting the spiritual group she had migrated into. Desperately seeking some help, she visited a Catholic mission not far away. There, she met a priest who took her under his wing. He helped her find housing. A congregation helped her re-acclimate to her new life. A husband and wife stopped in often to check on her. For the first time in a long time, Carolyn felt spiritually connected again. To this day, she is very active in her parish in California.
There were many spiritual voices in Carolyn's life. Some weren't from God. Some were. Sadly, she wandered away from the people sent by God. She took spiritual advice and counseling from those who were not bearing the "Spirit of God". Many years of her life were wasted because of those who did not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular thinking, all religions and spiritual groups are NOT the same. True Christianity saves lives. I thank God for the priest who gave Carolyn a connection with God, for the people from her parish who took her in, for those who showed her love, and for Christ who redeemed her.
If you listen to spiritual advice from those who do not have the "Spirit of God", you will find yourself drifting away from God. Your life will suffer for the loss of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You were meant to be godly. You were meant to rely on the "Spirit of God". God ordained your life to have a relationship with Jesus. God sends HIS Spirit to comfort and direct you. Before you make your choices in life or listen to spiritual advice, you NEED to find those who have the "Spirit of God" in them. The person with the "spirit of the Antichrist" is always ready to give spiritual advice and lead you down the wrong paths in life. According to this scripture, you need to figure out which spiritual people are trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
I celebrate the Spirit of God that is in you and brought you to reading this. I'm excited about what wonderful additions you will bring to God's work and world. God will bless you and protect you as you walk this spiritual walk of life. Just be wise in taking advice. You want the advice to come from God, not from somewhere else!
After becoming a true Christian with a deep relationship with Christ, it is important to follow the scripture above. 1 John 4:1 warns us "not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit". There are many spiritual and religious people in the world, but not all of them are of God. Not all of them have a true commitment to Christ. In the days in which this scripture was originally written, there were people who claimed to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but they did not believe he was "born of Mary". He did not suffer and die on a cross. He was a spiritual being, but not a physical one. These people were mostly Gnostics. They believed they knew Jesus, but they could not accept his real death on a cross. When John wrote the words above, he asked the real Christians to "test" others who spoke about our faith. John wanted them to make sure that the "spirit they have comes from God" (1 John 4:2). He even targets the Gnostics by writing: "if a person claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3). In verse 2 above, the false prophets (Gnostics) denied Jesus had a "real body". Thus, they were not of God. They were from the "Antichrist" (1 John 4:3), sent to mess up the connection with the believer and the real Christ Jesus.
According to the scripture above, you can have a "Spirit of God" or you can have the "spirit of the Antichrist". Your job is to "test the spirits". An important aspect of being faithful to Jesus Christ involves checking to make sure that those you trust spiritually are those who have the Spirit of God. From priests to pastors to spiritual mentors and friends, you need to spiritually steer clear of those who do not have the "Spirit of God" in them. They can be friends, but not Christian friends. They can give advice, but not godly advice. God can work through them, but God is not in them.
Carolyn was always a spiritual person. She grew up attending worship in a Catholic Church. During her teens, she drifted away from the Catholic Church, remaining a Christian in name only. She was a wonderful person who was well liked by her friends. She had lots of friends. In her early twenties, Carolyn fell in love with a Peter, whom she met at a concert. The two hit it off and became inseparable. They married in 1969 and began a beautiful life together.
Seven years into the marriage, Carolyn and Peter began to have marriage problems. They fought the same old fights over and over. Wondering what to do, Carolyn expressed her frustration to her closest friend. This friend stated that men are born to cheat. They aren't wired like women. She talked about men being biologically antithetical to marriage. Can you tell her best friend was divorced? Carolyn began to drift away from her husband, spending more time with her best friend. After divorcing her husband, Carolyn began to get involved with an Eastern Meditation group. They taught that life was all spiritual and the purpose of life was to become one with "the spirit". The group met together regularly, some even moving in together in a large commune. Carolyn loved her new life, and highly respected the gurus who taught the group.
Ten years later, Carolyn's life was a mess. After her closest friend died, she began to question her life choices. She was poor and desperate. All her time and money was spent supporting the spiritual group she had migrated into. Desperately seeking some help, she visited a Catholic mission not far away. There, she met a priest who took her under his wing. He helped her find housing. A congregation helped her re-acclimate to her new life. A husband and wife stopped in often to check on her. For the first time in a long time, Carolyn felt spiritually connected again. To this day, she is very active in her parish in California.
There were many spiritual voices in Carolyn's life. Some weren't from God. Some were. Sadly, she wandered away from the people sent by God. She took spiritual advice and counseling from those who were not bearing the "Spirit of God". Many years of her life were wasted because of those who did not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular thinking, all religions and spiritual groups are NOT the same. True Christianity saves lives. I thank God for the priest who gave Carolyn a connection with God, for the people from her parish who took her in, for those who showed her love, and for Christ who redeemed her.
If you listen to spiritual advice from those who do not have the "Spirit of God", you will find yourself drifting away from God. Your life will suffer for the loss of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. You were meant to be godly. You were meant to rely on the "Spirit of God". God ordained your life to have a relationship with Jesus. God sends HIS Spirit to comfort and direct you. Before you make your choices in life or listen to spiritual advice, you NEED to find those who have the "Spirit of God" in them. The person with the "spirit of the Antichrist" is always ready to give spiritual advice and lead you down the wrong paths in life. According to this scripture, you need to figure out which spiritual people are trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
I celebrate the Spirit of God that is in you and brought you to reading this. I'm excited about what wonderful additions you will bring to God's work and world. God will bless you and protect you as you walk this spiritual walk of life. Just be wise in taking advice. You want the advice to come from God, not from somewhere else!