September 3
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” (Proverbs 4:23, NLT)
When you do Bible study, it is important to understand what you are reading. Some scriptures can use language that is so esoteric or flowery or unclear, that their meaning in your life is not immediately apparent. Proverbs 4:23 in the NRSV states that you should “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” What does it mean to “keep your heart”? What are the “springs of life”? I looked at ten different versions of the Bible to figure this verse out. In the end, I appreciated the way that the New Living Translation of the Bible translated this verse. Instead of asking you to “keep your heart”, it suggested “guard your heart”. In today’s vernacular, I think this adds to the meaning. According to this reading, my heart needs guarding. And to what end? That is also clarified by the NLT… “guard your heart…. for it determines the course of your life”. This sounds very important to me. This verse of the Bible urges you to guard your heart so that the direction of your life may go well.
In the Old Testament times, the heart was the seat of thought. It wasn’t usually considered just a thing that beat in your chest. It was the place where your emotions and feelings were worked out. The mind was a place of knowledge and wisdom and learning. But the heart was where one’s knowledge was brought to play through emotions, experiences, reminiscences, and feelings. The heart would determine what you felt was right and wrong, good and bad, hurtful or helpful. The mind would influence the heart, but the thoughts of one’s heart could overpower the wisdom of one’s mind. In the same way that you can do something wrong even while you know what is right, the heart can overrule the mind’s wisdom and knowledge in any given situation. The heart, being the seat of thought, is very important in determining the fate of your life.
Joanne had a big heart. She was thoughtful and constantly helped others. She was highly empathetic and easy to talk with. If you wanted to be encouraged, you sought out Joanne. If you wanted a smile or a hug, Joanne was the person to visit. However, Joanne’s big heart had one fatal flaw: her wayward son Jeremy. He was constantly in trouble. In High School, he was often put on detention for one infraction or another. He got into fights and was often the source of contention. Joanne’s best friend described Jeremy to me as “a kid who was one step away from a life of crime”.
During Jeremy’s senior year in High School, he arrived drunk at a dance. His speech was slurred, and he was itching for conflict. An hour later, he got into a fight in the school parking lot. Police were called, and Jeremy was arrested. In the weeks that followed, Jeremy was arraigned at court. Because Joanne got him the best lawyer in town, Jeremy got off with a lot of warnings. He paid a small fine and nothing more seemed to come of his arrest. However, over the next two years, Jeremy repeatedly was arrested. Each time, Joanne felt it important to step in and fix things for him. This caused a lot of contention in her family and among her friends. The friends saw Jeremy as a bully who manipulated his mother into getting out of all his missteps. Joanne saw herself as a good mother who kept her son out of jail and kept his record clear.
Three years after his first arrest, Jeremy died in a car accident. He was racing on a highway, lost control of his car and hit a tree at 80 mph. People tried desperately to comfort Joanne, but her heart was broken. Her smile was gone. Her rosy cheeks weren’t as noticeable as her many worry lines. She aged ten years within months. Many say that Jeremy’s death not only destroyed his mother but wrecked her marriage and friendships. Today, Joanne is a lonely woman, with bad memories and regrets that eat at her peace. She no longer is sought out for her smile or warmth or big heart.
I believe that people like Joanne fail at keeping the meaning of Proverbs 4:23. They do not guard their heart. They have a big heart when life goes well, but that heart is easily damaged by wrong thoughts that can mess up life. Joanne, for example, placed her love of her son above what was right by God. Her son deserved punishment and strict control. He was a danger to himself and others. However, Joanne’s big heart thought her son could be saved by giving him everything he needed, including lawyers to get him off the hook and comfort when he needed correction. Joanne did not guard her heart from the person who could hurt her most deeply. Now, she is praying the price and will be for the rest of her life.
You can know what is right but refuse to do it. You can know right from wrong but be manipulated or goaded into making a mistake. Your emotions can push you to react one way when your mind knows it is the wrong path. Your heart is the seat of your thoughts. If your heart strays from God, is too concerned about appearances, or cares more about looks than character, it will corrupt your decision-making. It will take you down roads you don’t want to go. I’ve met those who were highly intelligent but whose anger made them reckless. There are young people who want desperately to fit in, so they do what was wrong in order to make friends. I’ve met people with hard hearts who were evil. I’ve met people with soft hearts who let themselves be controlled. There are millions of people who run away to get married ignoring the risks involved. There are billions of ways that you can fail to guard your heart and mess up your life. The best way to guard that heart is to invite God to be in there, watching over your decisions, guiding your choices. Life will always involve risk. Just make sure your heart is right before you take that leap!
Look to God’s Spirit and scripture to help guide your heart. Don’t let emotions take control over your life. Wisdom and knowledge are great, but the heart can negate all your learning with just a few bad thoughts or ideas. Don’t forget that your heart needs guarding. I wouldn’t let another person be responsible for this. Let God’s Spirit in your heart to direct your steps. Be careful who you listen to and trust. Be watchful over your heart. It will “determine the course of your life” without a doubt (Proverbs 4:23).
In the Old Testament times, the heart was the seat of thought. It wasn’t usually considered just a thing that beat in your chest. It was the place where your emotions and feelings were worked out. The mind was a place of knowledge and wisdom and learning. But the heart was where one’s knowledge was brought to play through emotions, experiences, reminiscences, and feelings. The heart would determine what you felt was right and wrong, good and bad, hurtful or helpful. The mind would influence the heart, but the thoughts of one’s heart could overpower the wisdom of one’s mind. In the same way that you can do something wrong even while you know what is right, the heart can overrule the mind’s wisdom and knowledge in any given situation. The heart, being the seat of thought, is very important in determining the fate of your life.
Joanne had a big heart. She was thoughtful and constantly helped others. She was highly empathetic and easy to talk with. If you wanted to be encouraged, you sought out Joanne. If you wanted a smile or a hug, Joanne was the person to visit. However, Joanne’s big heart had one fatal flaw: her wayward son Jeremy. He was constantly in trouble. In High School, he was often put on detention for one infraction or another. He got into fights and was often the source of contention. Joanne’s best friend described Jeremy to me as “a kid who was one step away from a life of crime”.
During Jeremy’s senior year in High School, he arrived drunk at a dance. His speech was slurred, and he was itching for conflict. An hour later, he got into a fight in the school parking lot. Police were called, and Jeremy was arrested. In the weeks that followed, Jeremy was arraigned at court. Because Joanne got him the best lawyer in town, Jeremy got off with a lot of warnings. He paid a small fine and nothing more seemed to come of his arrest. However, over the next two years, Jeremy repeatedly was arrested. Each time, Joanne felt it important to step in and fix things for him. This caused a lot of contention in her family and among her friends. The friends saw Jeremy as a bully who manipulated his mother into getting out of all his missteps. Joanne saw herself as a good mother who kept her son out of jail and kept his record clear.
Three years after his first arrest, Jeremy died in a car accident. He was racing on a highway, lost control of his car and hit a tree at 80 mph. People tried desperately to comfort Joanne, but her heart was broken. Her smile was gone. Her rosy cheeks weren’t as noticeable as her many worry lines. She aged ten years within months. Many say that Jeremy’s death not only destroyed his mother but wrecked her marriage and friendships. Today, Joanne is a lonely woman, with bad memories and regrets that eat at her peace. She no longer is sought out for her smile or warmth or big heart.
I believe that people like Joanne fail at keeping the meaning of Proverbs 4:23. They do not guard their heart. They have a big heart when life goes well, but that heart is easily damaged by wrong thoughts that can mess up life. Joanne, for example, placed her love of her son above what was right by God. Her son deserved punishment and strict control. He was a danger to himself and others. However, Joanne’s big heart thought her son could be saved by giving him everything he needed, including lawyers to get him off the hook and comfort when he needed correction. Joanne did not guard her heart from the person who could hurt her most deeply. Now, she is praying the price and will be for the rest of her life.
You can know what is right but refuse to do it. You can know right from wrong but be manipulated or goaded into making a mistake. Your emotions can push you to react one way when your mind knows it is the wrong path. Your heart is the seat of your thoughts. If your heart strays from God, is too concerned about appearances, or cares more about looks than character, it will corrupt your decision-making. It will take you down roads you don’t want to go. I’ve met those who were highly intelligent but whose anger made them reckless. There are young people who want desperately to fit in, so they do what was wrong in order to make friends. I’ve met people with hard hearts who were evil. I’ve met people with soft hearts who let themselves be controlled. There are millions of people who run away to get married ignoring the risks involved. There are billions of ways that you can fail to guard your heart and mess up your life. The best way to guard that heart is to invite God to be in there, watching over your decisions, guiding your choices. Life will always involve risk. Just make sure your heart is right before you take that leap!
Look to God’s Spirit and scripture to help guide your heart. Don’t let emotions take control over your life. Wisdom and knowledge are great, but the heart can negate all your learning with just a few bad thoughts or ideas. Don’t forget that your heart needs guarding. I wouldn’t let another person be responsible for this. Let God’s Spirit in your heart to direct your steps. Be careful who you listen to and trust. Be watchful over your heart. It will “determine the course of your life” without a doubt (Proverbs 4:23).
September 4
“Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.” (Genesis 13:12–13, NRSV)
Your surroundings can have a great impact upon your life choices. Being around good people can make you a better person. Surrounding yourself with friends who get into trouble can be an omen for bad things to come. It surprises me how some find it difficult to envision how a friend may be a good influence or a bad influence depending on their moral and spiritual beliefs. Today’s scripture is clear proof of the impact of your living environment upon your spiritual life.
In Genesis 13, Abram and Lot decided to live in different areas in and around Canaan. Their flocks had grown tremendously, and they needed more land to cultivate. Abram gave Lot the first choice in where to live. Lot chose the fertile Jordan valley area, lush and green. Abram moved further west into central Canaan. I’m sure Lot was pleased with his choice. The land was perfect for cultivating crops and feeding the flocks. I’m sure he thought it would be the perfect place to live. Lot settled down near the city of Sodom, there pitching his tent (Genesis 13:12).
When Lot settled near Sodom, the lush green land and nearby Jordan River were great draws. They provided wonderful opportunities to someone looking to plant fields and gather a great harvest. The land would provide a perfect breeding ground for the flocks. However, while Lot looked only at the lush green land for his opportunity, he did not perceive how sinful were the people living there. Genesis 13:13 describes the people of that area as “wicked, great sinners against the Lord.” Genesis 19 describes clearly the perils of living there. Lot urged visiting angels not to sleep out in the open (Genesis 19:2); it was that dangerous of a place. During that night, Lot and his travelers were threatened and harassed. In the end, the entire cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were leveled due to their sin (Genesis 19:24). Lot barely escaped with his life.
Lot suffered in many ways while living in and near Sodom. His lost his home and wealth. His land and flocks were destroyed. His wife died in the move. His daughters got Lot drunk and took advantage of him. His life was damaged almost beyond repair. The influence and sinfulness of Sodom stole much from Lot. Living near there affected him, his wife, his family, and their future in terribly negative ways. What seemed like a lush and wonderful place to build a life became a place of suffering and death. No blessing is mentioned of Lot ever again in scripture. Theodore Cuyler said it this way: “Lot moved into Sodom, and before long Sodom moved into him”. Sodom changed his life.
Where you choose to put down roots, the friends you keep, and the environment you live will all affect your future. They affect your decisions, your choices, your hopes and dreams. Your living environment even affects your relationship with God. How is your living environment affecting your spiritual life?
After Terry’s wife died, he went into a tailspin. He was in his early fifties and was not expecting to be a widow so early in his life. His grown children tried to help. His daughter would stop over often and asked him over for dinner several times a week. His son stopped in every few days to check on him. Despite his loving family, Terry began to have issues grieving. He became depressed. To cope, he would sometimes stop at a bar near his house for a drink after work. After a year or two of this, his drinking became more frequent. Then, Terry met a woman at the bar who was divorced. After a couple of months, they began to live together. She was a partier. She was a drinker. The two began to attend more drinking parties and joined a dart league at the bar. They soon had many friends there. Terry’s son and daughter did not like the situation. They were upset about the choices Terry had made. In response, Terry and his girlfriend pushed the kids further out of his life. Would it surprise you to know that to this day Terry has not been back to his church?
To cope with grieving, Terry chose to surround himself with alcohol, a live-in girlfriend, and bar-mates. Because of this, he no longer feels comfortable with God. Terry’s choices and surroundings have greatly influenced his relationships with family, friends, and Heaven. In the same way, your choices and friendships and living environment can nourish or destroy your spiritual life. A faithful friend sent by God can help you overcome great setbacks. A drinking buddy can numb you for a while. A tryst can make you feel younger for a few hours or days. An old friend can make you nostalgic. A new friend can bring new ideas into your life. The living environment around you and friends you choose all will greatly affect your attitude, your faith, your relationships, and your future.
Dr. John Geddie went to Aneityum, Vanuatu in 1848 and worked there as a missionary for God for 24 years. On the tablet erected to his memory these words are inscribed: “When he landed, in 1848, there were no Christians. When he left, in 1872, there were no heathen.” (J.O. Sanders, Spiritual Leadership, p. 24) The spiritual life in Aneityum was forever changed by the positive Christ-like attitude of Geddie. Their whole community was changed for the good. It is amazing how one person can so wonderfully bless an entire area!
Take a healthy look at your living environment. Does it strengthen your relationship with God? Are you healthier because of it? Does it help you make better choices? Do you feel true love there? Are there temptations in that environment that are dangerous to your future? Lot’s move to Sodom affected everything in his life. What is affecting your home and attitude today? Is there something that needs changing? What might bring you closer to God?
In Genesis 13, Abram and Lot decided to live in different areas in and around Canaan. Their flocks had grown tremendously, and they needed more land to cultivate. Abram gave Lot the first choice in where to live. Lot chose the fertile Jordan valley area, lush and green. Abram moved further west into central Canaan. I’m sure Lot was pleased with his choice. The land was perfect for cultivating crops and feeding the flocks. I’m sure he thought it would be the perfect place to live. Lot settled down near the city of Sodom, there pitching his tent (Genesis 13:12).
When Lot settled near Sodom, the lush green land and nearby Jordan River were great draws. They provided wonderful opportunities to someone looking to plant fields and gather a great harvest. The land would provide a perfect breeding ground for the flocks. However, while Lot looked only at the lush green land for his opportunity, he did not perceive how sinful were the people living there. Genesis 13:13 describes the people of that area as “wicked, great sinners against the Lord.” Genesis 19 describes clearly the perils of living there. Lot urged visiting angels not to sleep out in the open (Genesis 19:2); it was that dangerous of a place. During that night, Lot and his travelers were threatened and harassed. In the end, the entire cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were leveled due to their sin (Genesis 19:24). Lot barely escaped with his life.
Lot suffered in many ways while living in and near Sodom. His lost his home and wealth. His land and flocks were destroyed. His wife died in the move. His daughters got Lot drunk and took advantage of him. His life was damaged almost beyond repair. The influence and sinfulness of Sodom stole much from Lot. Living near there affected him, his wife, his family, and their future in terribly negative ways. What seemed like a lush and wonderful place to build a life became a place of suffering and death. No blessing is mentioned of Lot ever again in scripture. Theodore Cuyler said it this way: “Lot moved into Sodom, and before long Sodom moved into him”. Sodom changed his life.
Where you choose to put down roots, the friends you keep, and the environment you live will all affect your future. They affect your decisions, your choices, your hopes and dreams. Your living environment even affects your relationship with God. How is your living environment affecting your spiritual life?
After Terry’s wife died, he went into a tailspin. He was in his early fifties and was not expecting to be a widow so early in his life. His grown children tried to help. His daughter would stop over often and asked him over for dinner several times a week. His son stopped in every few days to check on him. Despite his loving family, Terry began to have issues grieving. He became depressed. To cope, he would sometimes stop at a bar near his house for a drink after work. After a year or two of this, his drinking became more frequent. Then, Terry met a woman at the bar who was divorced. After a couple of months, they began to live together. She was a partier. She was a drinker. The two began to attend more drinking parties and joined a dart league at the bar. They soon had many friends there. Terry’s son and daughter did not like the situation. They were upset about the choices Terry had made. In response, Terry and his girlfriend pushed the kids further out of his life. Would it surprise you to know that to this day Terry has not been back to his church?
To cope with grieving, Terry chose to surround himself with alcohol, a live-in girlfriend, and bar-mates. Because of this, he no longer feels comfortable with God. Terry’s choices and surroundings have greatly influenced his relationships with family, friends, and Heaven. In the same way, your choices and friendships and living environment can nourish or destroy your spiritual life. A faithful friend sent by God can help you overcome great setbacks. A drinking buddy can numb you for a while. A tryst can make you feel younger for a few hours or days. An old friend can make you nostalgic. A new friend can bring new ideas into your life. The living environment around you and friends you choose all will greatly affect your attitude, your faith, your relationships, and your future.
Dr. John Geddie went to Aneityum, Vanuatu in 1848 and worked there as a missionary for God for 24 years. On the tablet erected to his memory these words are inscribed: “When he landed, in 1848, there were no Christians. When he left, in 1872, there were no heathen.” (J.O. Sanders, Spiritual Leadership, p. 24) The spiritual life in Aneityum was forever changed by the positive Christ-like attitude of Geddie. Their whole community was changed for the good. It is amazing how one person can so wonderfully bless an entire area!
Take a healthy look at your living environment. Does it strengthen your relationship with God? Are you healthier because of it? Does it help you make better choices? Do you feel true love there? Are there temptations in that environment that are dangerous to your future? Lot’s move to Sodom affected everything in his life. What is affecting your home and attitude today? Is there something that needs changing? What might bring you closer to God?
September 6
“In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” (Luke 15:10, NLT)
“In May of 1948 three men robbed a bank in Hoyt, Kansas, getting away with $1,000. Shortly thereafter two men were killed in a car wreck, and police thought they were the robbers and the case was closed. Four years later, however, something unusual happened. On a Sunday morning at the Seward Avenue Baptist Church a young man named Al Johnson stepped to the pulpit and revealed to the congregation that the day before he had gone to the district attorney and confessed his role in the crime.
“I thought about the bank robbery many times,” Johnson, who was a teenager when the crime occurred, said, “I prayed about it and asked the Lord to give me an answer. It seemed that He would give me only one answer and that was to give myself up.” Johnson also revealed that he had borrowed the money to repay the bank his share of the stolen funds. The statute of limitations had expired, but Johnson said that even if it meant going to prison, he could not keep the secret any longer.” (Lewiston Evening Journal, May 5, 1952)
When some people become church members, there is not much of a change. The saving grace of God does not take hold. Simply coming to church does not change their attitude nor way of life. When a person is truly saved, there is an immediate and powerful change in attitude, responsibility, hope, forgiveness and so much more. Essentially, their core beliefs and attitudes change. They become true to their word. They speak the truth in love. They follow God’s will. I also believe that a true person of God repents honestly and forthrightly. Their repentance is a real turning away from sin and a move closer to God. They don’t do it for show; they do it for God. They aren’t filled with vengeance or anger or resentment. God’s forgiveness and grace settles into all the areas of heart and soul and mind.
Like Billy Graham, I believe that true repentance changes the holy person. It shows. It matters. When you confess and come clean about some misstep or error or sin, God will be moved with forgiveness and grace. However, there are too many people who fake their guilt, lie about their willingness to repent, or cover up their sin. Where true repentance is a life-changing action, many “fake Christians” make repentance an act instead of a cleansing. How good are you at repentance? Do you hold back from true repentance? When you say you are sorry, are you only going through the motions or will something change in your heart and soul?
In the scripture for today, Luke wrote that when even one sinner repents, heaven sees “joy in the presence of God’s angels” (Luke 15:10). True repentance is recognized by heaven for the powerful and joyful action that sets it apart from fake versions of atonement. As I read this verse of the Bible today, I was shocked to see how even one person who repents can bring joy to all of heaven, ALL OF HEAVEN! It’s that powerful of a spiritual action. Why would anyone not want to repent?
I have met with so many people who kept sin bottled up inside. The sin had festered and multiplied with age. I often said to myself, “Why don’t people just "fess up" and repent? It would be so much better for the soul!” That’s because I’ve seen the damage from festering sin. Repentance is God’s remedy for the fallen soul. Jesus spoke the words written in Luke 15:10. He wanted people to take advantage of the powerful spiritual life-giving power of repentance mixed with grace and forgiveness. He wants you to know that repentance is a life-changer. Its effects reach all the way into Heaven.
Is there a sin holding you captive? Are you afraid of confessing your mistakes and failures and misdeeds? Don’t be a fake Christian with bottled up sins and malicious secrets. Repent with your whole heart and cause rejoicing in Heaven today!
“I thought about the bank robbery many times,” Johnson, who was a teenager when the crime occurred, said, “I prayed about it and asked the Lord to give me an answer. It seemed that He would give me only one answer and that was to give myself up.” Johnson also revealed that he had borrowed the money to repay the bank his share of the stolen funds. The statute of limitations had expired, but Johnson said that even if it meant going to prison, he could not keep the secret any longer.” (Lewiston Evening Journal, May 5, 1952)
When some people become church members, there is not much of a change. The saving grace of God does not take hold. Simply coming to church does not change their attitude nor way of life. When a person is truly saved, there is an immediate and powerful change in attitude, responsibility, hope, forgiveness and so much more. Essentially, their core beliefs and attitudes change. They become true to their word. They speak the truth in love. They follow God’s will. I also believe that a true person of God repents honestly and forthrightly. Their repentance is a real turning away from sin and a move closer to God. They don’t do it for show; they do it for God. They aren’t filled with vengeance or anger or resentment. God’s forgiveness and grace settles into all the areas of heart and soul and mind.
Like Billy Graham, I believe that true repentance changes the holy person. It shows. It matters. When you confess and come clean about some misstep or error or sin, God will be moved with forgiveness and grace. However, there are too many people who fake their guilt, lie about their willingness to repent, or cover up their sin. Where true repentance is a life-changing action, many “fake Christians” make repentance an act instead of a cleansing. How good are you at repentance? Do you hold back from true repentance? When you say you are sorry, are you only going through the motions or will something change in your heart and soul?
In the scripture for today, Luke wrote that when even one sinner repents, heaven sees “joy in the presence of God’s angels” (Luke 15:10). True repentance is recognized by heaven for the powerful and joyful action that sets it apart from fake versions of atonement. As I read this verse of the Bible today, I was shocked to see how even one person who repents can bring joy to all of heaven, ALL OF HEAVEN! It’s that powerful of a spiritual action. Why would anyone not want to repent?
I have met with so many people who kept sin bottled up inside. The sin had festered and multiplied with age. I often said to myself, “Why don’t people just "fess up" and repent? It would be so much better for the soul!” That’s because I’ve seen the damage from festering sin. Repentance is God’s remedy for the fallen soul. Jesus spoke the words written in Luke 15:10. He wanted people to take advantage of the powerful spiritual life-giving power of repentance mixed with grace and forgiveness. He wants you to know that repentance is a life-changer. Its effects reach all the way into Heaven.
Is there a sin holding you captive? Are you afraid of confessing your mistakes and failures and misdeeds? Don’t be a fake Christian with bottled up sins and malicious secrets. Repent with your whole heart and cause rejoicing in Heaven today!
September 9
“For the Lord will not abandon His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance.” (Psalm 94:14, NASB95)
“During WWII six Navy pilots left their aircraft carrier on a mission. After searching the seas for enemy submarines, they tried to return to their ship shortly after dark. But the captain had ordered a blackout of all lights on the ship. Over and over the frantic pilots radioed, asking for just one light so they could see to land. But the pilots were told that the blackout could not be lifted. After several appeals and denials of their request, the ship's operator turned the switch to break radio contact--and the pilots were forced to ditch in the ocean…” (“Today in the Word”, MBI, October 1991, p. 12). It is a horrible thing to picture these lost aircrews having to face their bleak fate alone, abandoned, without hope. Their death on bitter, dark, dangerous seas still hurts my soul to this day just thinking about it.
Abandonment is a terribly lonely and awful feeling. I remember talking to a woman recently at a funeral. With tears in her eyes, she said softly so that only I could hear, “Now, I’ve lost my mother and father to death. For the first time in my life, I feel so alone.” There are many people in the world who feel alone. I’ve seen people die alone in a hospital bed, no relatives in the room. There are children who are orphaned and feel bereft, lost in the adoption system or tired from foraging through third-world dumpsters for food. Throughout scripture, God is seen protecting widows and orphans and needy people. That is why the prophet Zechariah warned people not to oppress widows, orphans, or the poor (Zechariah 7:10). In the epistle of James, the early Christians were reminded that to be pure before God, one needed to “visit orphans and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27). Our God considers it very important to comfort those who feel abandoned or lost. That is because God wants to be with the faithful. God wants to protect the vulnerable. That’s who God is. Is that who you are?
At a camping program for young children, a thunderstorm blew up from the west. The children were sent to their cabins until the storm died down. A counselor left his cabin to get some something to drink from the mess hall. As he entered the building, he went off to the kitchen area to raid the refrigerator to see if some leftover lemonade was available. Walking toward the kitchen, he overhead a small sob. He followed the sound to find a young boy under one of the tables in the middle of the mess hall. The counselor slowly approached the boy so as not to frighten him. After a few words, the counselor found out that the boy was so afraid of the storm that he never went back to his cabin. The counselor sat with him under the table for a while, then coaxed him into the kitchen for some lemonade. After some time, the boy felt better. He actually smiled. The counselor then escorted the boy back to his cabin. Years later, that counselor relayed to me how frightened that boy looked under that table. The counselor told me, “When I first saw that boy, all I saw was his fear and loneliness. I had to sit with him. I couldn’t ignore those tears! I absolutely couldn’t let him be alone!”
It is also a part of God’s character to be with those who feel alone, lost, or abandoned. Remember, God created Eve for Adam, so he wouldn’t be alone (Genesis 2)! God sent an angel to comfort Elijah when he was depressed and, in the desert, alone (1 Kings 19). Our God has a special place in his heart for the lost and alone, the grieving and depressed, those who feel abandoned. The scripture for today is further proof of this character trait of God. Psalm 94:14 proclaims that the Lord “will not abandon His people”. God will not forsake His nation. God will watch over them and comfort them and be with them.
When Jesus suffered on the cross, he stated, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?”(Mark 15:34). Jesus, dying on the cross, felt so alone. His disciples had abandoned him. One of his disciples had betrayed him. One of his disciples had denied him three times. He felt so vulnerable. However, God the Father was there. The Heavenly Father watched over Jesus’ death and raised Him from the dead. Jesus felt alone, but He was not. God the Father was preparing for the future, watching to see what humankind would do in the face of Jesus’ suffering.
Being human, Jesus felt alone and abandoned on the cross. There will be times you too, feel alone and abandoned. Just as God the Father was there for Jesus, God will be there for you. If you are a faithful one, God will be there. If you call out to God with your whole heart, God will be there. It may not feel like it, but you will never be alone. God doesn’t ever abandon His people. God doesn’t ignore the plight of the vulnerable.
Is there someone who feels alone nearby? What will you do if you see him or her? What would God do? Do you feel alone today? Don’t be surprised if somehow, some way, God gives you a little sign of His presence. Look for it. Trust it will be there.
Abandonment is a terribly lonely and awful feeling. I remember talking to a woman recently at a funeral. With tears in her eyes, she said softly so that only I could hear, “Now, I’ve lost my mother and father to death. For the first time in my life, I feel so alone.” There are many people in the world who feel alone. I’ve seen people die alone in a hospital bed, no relatives in the room. There are children who are orphaned and feel bereft, lost in the adoption system or tired from foraging through third-world dumpsters for food. Throughout scripture, God is seen protecting widows and orphans and needy people. That is why the prophet Zechariah warned people not to oppress widows, orphans, or the poor (Zechariah 7:10). In the epistle of James, the early Christians were reminded that to be pure before God, one needed to “visit orphans and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27). Our God considers it very important to comfort those who feel abandoned or lost. That is because God wants to be with the faithful. God wants to protect the vulnerable. That’s who God is. Is that who you are?
At a camping program for young children, a thunderstorm blew up from the west. The children were sent to their cabins until the storm died down. A counselor left his cabin to get some something to drink from the mess hall. As he entered the building, he went off to the kitchen area to raid the refrigerator to see if some leftover lemonade was available. Walking toward the kitchen, he overhead a small sob. He followed the sound to find a young boy under one of the tables in the middle of the mess hall. The counselor slowly approached the boy so as not to frighten him. After a few words, the counselor found out that the boy was so afraid of the storm that he never went back to his cabin. The counselor sat with him under the table for a while, then coaxed him into the kitchen for some lemonade. After some time, the boy felt better. He actually smiled. The counselor then escorted the boy back to his cabin. Years later, that counselor relayed to me how frightened that boy looked under that table. The counselor told me, “When I first saw that boy, all I saw was his fear and loneliness. I had to sit with him. I couldn’t ignore those tears! I absolutely couldn’t let him be alone!”
It is also a part of God’s character to be with those who feel alone, lost, or abandoned. Remember, God created Eve for Adam, so he wouldn’t be alone (Genesis 2)! God sent an angel to comfort Elijah when he was depressed and, in the desert, alone (1 Kings 19). Our God has a special place in his heart for the lost and alone, the grieving and depressed, those who feel abandoned. The scripture for today is further proof of this character trait of God. Psalm 94:14 proclaims that the Lord “will not abandon His people”. God will not forsake His nation. God will watch over them and comfort them and be with them.
When Jesus suffered on the cross, he stated, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?”(Mark 15:34). Jesus, dying on the cross, felt so alone. His disciples had abandoned him. One of his disciples had betrayed him. One of his disciples had denied him three times. He felt so vulnerable. However, God the Father was there. The Heavenly Father watched over Jesus’ death and raised Him from the dead. Jesus felt alone, but He was not. God the Father was preparing for the future, watching to see what humankind would do in the face of Jesus’ suffering.
Being human, Jesus felt alone and abandoned on the cross. There will be times you too, feel alone and abandoned. Just as God the Father was there for Jesus, God will be there for you. If you are a faithful one, God will be there. If you call out to God with your whole heart, God will be there. It may not feel like it, but you will never be alone. God doesn’t ever abandon His people. God doesn’t ignore the plight of the vulnerable.
Is there someone who feels alone nearby? What will you do if you see him or her? What would God do? Do you feel alone today? Don’t be surprised if somehow, some way, God gives you a little sign of His presence. Look for it. Trust it will be there.
September 11
““Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”” (Genesis 3:11–13, NLT)
In Discipleship Journal, Don McCullough wrote: "John Killinger tells about the manager of a minor league baseball team who was so disgusted with his center fielder's performance that he ordered him to the dugout and assumed the position himself. The first ball that came into center field took a bad hop and hit the manager in the mouth. The next one was a high fly ball, which he lost in the glare of the sun--until it bounced off his forehead. The third was a tough line drive that he charged with outstretched arms; unfortunately, it flew between is hands and smacked his eye. Furious, he ran back to the dugout, grabbed the center fielder by the uniform, and shouted. 'You idiot! You've got center field so messed up that even I can't do a thing with it!’” (Don McCullough, “Discipleship Journal Magazine”) This humorous occurrence displays wonderfully the lengths some people will go to blame another for their own failure.
In our scripture for today from Genesis 3, there’s a lot of blaming going on as well! When Adam and Eve had covered their nakedness as if they were ashamed, God knew they had sinned. This was the inevitable result of eating of the tree in the Garden which God had commanded them not to eat. Upon seeing their shame, God asked Adam if he had eaten the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:11). Adam’s reply was classic blame: “the woman you gave me … gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” (Genesis 3:12). This shifts the blame to Eve AND to God. If you look at Adam’s response, he is even saying that if God hadn’t put Eve in his life, he wouldn’t have sinned! As if God was the guilty party! As if Adam had not sinned by his own choice! As if Adam didn’t know that fruit was forbidden! Eve played the same blame game. She didn’t blame God. Instead, she blamed Satan by saying, “the serpent deceived me!” (Genesis 3:13). Both Adam and Eve tried to shift the blame for their sin to someone else. That’s a common response for many people. They do not take responsibility for their sin. They blame someone else for the mistake or failure. That’s not how God sees it. God knows when you are to blame. Adam and Eve were punished for their sin. Their blame didn’t help at all!
It is very common for people to blame others when they sin or fail or falter. It is almost a “go-to” for some people. It’s what they do best. When you try to shift the blame for your own sin to another, you are essentially trying to get out of the punishment, transfer the guilt, get someone else to shoulder the responsibility. When you do this, it won’t help you at all. It won’t help your relationship with God. It won’t stop the punishment or inevitable fallout. You may think it helps, but it won’t.
I have met with many people in counseling who tried to shift the blame for their sin or failure upon someone else. A wife may blame her husband for marriage problems, without seeing her own responsibility in their relationship decline. A teen may blame his friend for getting into trouble. A person might try to blame the circumstances or temptations for a spiritual fall or moral infidelity. You will never make things better by blaming. You won’t take responsibility or face the consequences or move toward repentance if you shift blame. If you do this, healing may not occur, forgiveness may never happen, your relationship with God or another may be irrevocably damaged.
Shifting the blame did not help Adam and Eve in the least. It only displayed an all-too-common method of playing the blame game in the psychology of humans. I implore you to refrain from shifting blame when you sin or fail or make a mistake. It is always best to face the consequences and move on. I have found that those who shift blame are prone to lying, deception, and more guilt. Shifting the blame can blunt the healing effect of repentance and forgiveness and reconciliation.
It takes a true Christian to face the consequences of his or her actions. Righteousness demands you not blame others for your own misdeeds. Some Christians have fallen from grace because of their inability to take responsibility for failure. Don’t be counted among those who have failed God through shifting the blame. It won’t end well.
In our scripture for today from Genesis 3, there’s a lot of blaming going on as well! When Adam and Eve had covered their nakedness as if they were ashamed, God knew they had sinned. This was the inevitable result of eating of the tree in the Garden which God had commanded them not to eat. Upon seeing their shame, God asked Adam if he had eaten the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:11). Adam’s reply was classic blame: “the woman you gave me … gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” (Genesis 3:12). This shifts the blame to Eve AND to God. If you look at Adam’s response, he is even saying that if God hadn’t put Eve in his life, he wouldn’t have sinned! As if God was the guilty party! As if Adam had not sinned by his own choice! As if Adam didn’t know that fruit was forbidden! Eve played the same blame game. She didn’t blame God. Instead, she blamed Satan by saying, “the serpent deceived me!” (Genesis 3:13). Both Adam and Eve tried to shift the blame for their sin to someone else. That’s a common response for many people. They do not take responsibility for their sin. They blame someone else for the mistake or failure. That’s not how God sees it. God knows when you are to blame. Adam and Eve were punished for their sin. Their blame didn’t help at all!
It is very common for people to blame others when they sin or fail or falter. It is almost a “go-to” for some people. It’s what they do best. When you try to shift the blame for your own sin to another, you are essentially trying to get out of the punishment, transfer the guilt, get someone else to shoulder the responsibility. When you do this, it won’t help you at all. It won’t help your relationship with God. It won’t stop the punishment or inevitable fallout. You may think it helps, but it won’t.
I have met with many people in counseling who tried to shift the blame for their sin or failure upon someone else. A wife may blame her husband for marriage problems, without seeing her own responsibility in their relationship decline. A teen may blame his friend for getting into trouble. A person might try to blame the circumstances or temptations for a spiritual fall or moral infidelity. You will never make things better by blaming. You won’t take responsibility or face the consequences or move toward repentance if you shift blame. If you do this, healing may not occur, forgiveness may never happen, your relationship with God or another may be irrevocably damaged.
Shifting the blame did not help Adam and Eve in the least. It only displayed an all-too-common method of playing the blame game in the psychology of humans. I implore you to refrain from shifting blame when you sin or fail or make a mistake. It is always best to face the consequences and move on. I have found that those who shift blame are prone to lying, deception, and more guilt. Shifting the blame can blunt the healing effect of repentance and forgiveness and reconciliation.
It takes a true Christian to face the consequences of his or her actions. Righteousness demands you not blame others for your own misdeeds. Some Christians have fallen from grace because of their inability to take responsibility for failure. Don’t be counted among those who have failed God through shifting the blame. It won’t end well.
September 13
“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” (Isaiah 30:15, NIV)
Just before the death of actor W.C. Fields, a friend visited Fields' hospital room and was surprised to find him thumbing through a Bible. Asked what he was doing with a Bible, Fields replied, "I'm looking for loopholes."
Loopholes are like escape clauses. They allow people to escape their responsibility or to look for an easy way out of a situation, even when it’s not good to do. Many people look for loopholes. Some look for loopholes in the tax code to shield their money from taxes. A lawyer may look for loopholes in the law so that a client may be exonerated. When in a bet, a person might try to find a loophole so as not to lose. Good people hate it when others find loopholes and shirk their responsibilities. Bad people hate it when loopholes give the edge to their enemies. Loopholes don’t seem fair or right, no matter who uses them.
Many people don’t know it, but loopholes were common in the middle ages. They weren’t escape clauses, however. They were slits in the walls used to shoot arrows upon an unsuspecting person. They were used as a sneaky way to defend a building or to shoot at someone behind good cover. Bad guys were very wary of loopholes in buildings of the middle ages. Today, bad guys tend to love loopholes in the law. They love to use the law to their advantage. In the right hands, a loophole from the middle ages might provide protection from an attack. In the wrong hands, a loophole today might be used to take advantage of unsuspecting citizens.
In the days of Isaiah, the people of Israel and Judah were using loopholes to find a way around following God in full faith. A priest might worship God at the Temple one day to follow the law, while praying at night to a fertility god at home (2 Chronicles 33:15). A wealthy property owner might take advantage of a poor person, abusing God’s laws concerning fair labor (Jeremiah 8:10). More major and minor prophets were sent to the people of Israel and Judah from the eighth to the sixth century BC than any other time in history. Why? Because the people of God had found ways around following God, ways to do what was wrong and call it right, ways to manipulate God’s law, ways to take advantage of others. When they wouldn’t listen, this resulted in the destruction of Israel by Assyria and the Temple by the Babylonians. During those centuries thousands died. God begged them to repent, but they would not. God begged them to be faithful, but they were intent on skirting righteousness.
In the scripture above from the prophet Isaiah, we have a perfect example of God’s demand for the people to stop sinning and return to true faith. Isaiah spoke for God “the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel”. Isaiah demanded the wayward people come back to God through repentance and holy rest. He told them to trust in God. Their response was made clear in this verse: “they would have none of it” (Isaiah 30:15). For decades, they had acted holy, but sinned on the sly. They had talked openly about their faith and God’s providence but fooled around with other gods and idols. They were hypocrites, liars, frauds of the faith.
God loves it when you keep your faithful word. A true Christian who is righteous and just is seen as a blessing in the eyes of God. Others can trust a person who remains faithful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18-22). It is very important that you keep your word to God and not seek loopholes to dodge what is right. It is crucial that others can trust your promises. Would you trust a friend or enemy who liked to find loopholes in their responsibilities? How would God feel while you are looking for loopholes instead of doing what you know is right?
Loopholes are like escape clauses. They allow people to escape their responsibility or to look for an easy way out of a situation, even when it’s not good to do. Many people look for loopholes. Some look for loopholes in the tax code to shield their money from taxes. A lawyer may look for loopholes in the law so that a client may be exonerated. When in a bet, a person might try to find a loophole so as not to lose. Good people hate it when others find loopholes and shirk their responsibilities. Bad people hate it when loopholes give the edge to their enemies. Loopholes don’t seem fair or right, no matter who uses them.
Many people don’t know it, but loopholes were common in the middle ages. They weren’t escape clauses, however. They were slits in the walls used to shoot arrows upon an unsuspecting person. They were used as a sneaky way to defend a building or to shoot at someone behind good cover. Bad guys were very wary of loopholes in buildings of the middle ages. Today, bad guys tend to love loopholes in the law. They love to use the law to their advantage. In the right hands, a loophole from the middle ages might provide protection from an attack. In the wrong hands, a loophole today might be used to take advantage of unsuspecting citizens.
In the days of Isaiah, the people of Israel and Judah were using loopholes to find a way around following God in full faith. A priest might worship God at the Temple one day to follow the law, while praying at night to a fertility god at home (2 Chronicles 33:15). A wealthy property owner might take advantage of a poor person, abusing God’s laws concerning fair labor (Jeremiah 8:10). More major and minor prophets were sent to the people of Israel and Judah from the eighth to the sixth century BC than any other time in history. Why? Because the people of God had found ways around following God, ways to do what was wrong and call it right, ways to manipulate God’s law, ways to take advantage of others. When they wouldn’t listen, this resulted in the destruction of Israel by Assyria and the Temple by the Babylonians. During those centuries thousands died. God begged them to repent, but they would not. God begged them to be faithful, but they were intent on skirting righteousness.
In the scripture above from the prophet Isaiah, we have a perfect example of God’s demand for the people to stop sinning and return to true faith. Isaiah spoke for God “the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel”. Isaiah demanded the wayward people come back to God through repentance and holy rest. He told them to trust in God. Their response was made clear in this verse: “they would have none of it” (Isaiah 30:15). For decades, they had acted holy, but sinned on the sly. They had talked openly about their faith and God’s providence but fooled around with other gods and idols. They were hypocrites, liars, frauds of the faith.
God loves it when you keep your faithful word. A true Christian who is righteous and just is seen as a blessing in the eyes of God. Others can trust a person who remains faithful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18-22). It is very important that you keep your word to God and not seek loopholes to dodge what is right. It is crucial that others can trust your promises. Would you trust a friend or enemy who liked to find loopholes in their responsibilities? How would God feel while you are looking for loopholes instead of doing what you know is right?
September 15
“Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.” (Jeremiah 29:5–6, ESV)
Sometimes, God will give you a glimpse of hope in the midst of troubles. It is God’s way of encouraging you or giving you renewed hope during trials or temptations. Prayer time and meditation time can help you see or appreciate those little sparks of hope. Those little glimmers of light in the darkness can bring strength and peace despite all the negativity or shattered remnants around you. “As we blink and squint in the light that emerges after a storm, we marvel that the sun was there all along and we just couldn’t see it. The same is true during times of difficulty. When we’re in pain or worried, it seems impossible to find God, but in retrospect, it always seems obvious: God was there all along.” (John D. Barry, Connect the Testaments).
Jeremiah 2:8 told how, despite God’s blessing, the people of Israel worshiped Baal and lived unholy lives. They would not serve God (Jeremiah 2:20). This resulted in the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the suffering of war at the hands of the Assyrians and Babylonians, and ultimately the period of the exile. Jeremiah chronicled the sinfulness of the people that resulted in the exile and separation from God. However, despite all the judgment coming upon Israel and Judah, Jeremiah would now and then explain that God wanted the people to return to faith. God wanted His people to repent and believe. Our scripture for today from Jeremiah 29 contains some of that desire for the future. As the people suffered during the wars and exile, there was “a glimpse of the light that comes after: “Build houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and father sons and daughters … and multiply there, and you must not be few” (Jeremiah 29:5–6).
“Even in exile, God will continue to guide His people. Because of their sins, they have endured (and lost) war and have been driven away from the land that God gave them; but God remains with them, nonetheless. They may need to experience the pain of exile to understand the consequences of turning away from God, but God still plans to be good to them. He will provide for them” (John D. Barry).
Sherry screwed up big time. After falling in love with a boy while attending college, she quit school and ran away with him. At first, it seemed so freeing and exciting. After a while, the enormity of her mistakes began to haunt her. Then, six months into her new life, she found out she was pregnant. A few months later, her boyfriend left. Sherry was alone. With a poor income and unhealthy living environment, Sherry called home. She begged to come back. Her mother and father agreed. She was so thankful to have somewhere to go. Upon looking back at her life, Sherry realized that everything she had done in the past year had led to her life being a mess. It was time to go home, face her parents, and start over. Doing all that while pregnant and alone was daunting to say the least!
After a month at home, Sherry realized all the hurt she had caused. When running off with her boyfriend, she had abandoned her parents and family and friends. Sherry looked for a job, began to prepare for the birth of her child, and wanted badly to repair her relationships. There were many dark days at first. Friends kept their distance. Her mother and father felt betrayed. There were so many responsibilities with pregnancy. There was so much rebuilding needing to be done and so little time to do it. The baby was coming soon!
During the next few months, Sherry was surprised by a few precious moments. When she went to church with her parents, the pastor noted her obvious pregnancy. He hugged her and welcomed her back. He visited her. He prayed with her. They were wonderful, tender moments of God’s love. Then, a month before her baby was born, her best friend paid for the two to have a girls’ weekend away at a spa. Sherry reveled in the renewed friendship. She was so overjoyed at the way her best friend forgave her. Though the days were difficult, Sherry saw some bright moments in those dark times. In the quiet of a night a year later, she thanked God for all those little bits of grace thrown her way. She felt blessed. She asked God to return fully into her heart.
At crucial moments, you might be that ray of hope in a person’s life. When suffering from illness, a person may feel renewed strength in a short moment of prayer with you. Holding the hand of a child may bring comfort to that little soul. Giving that small gift to a friend at church would make a huge impact. There are many ways you can bring to your world a little light in the midst of darkness. God will do the same for you. You have been in relationship with Him for some time. Your promises to God have been noted. Though you may have failed or gone astray, God will shine a little light your way to show you HE is still there. HE still cares.
When was the last time you saw a glimmer of God’s grace? Are you too buried in worldly pressures to see God's light? When was the last time you were a sign of hope to another? Don’t overlook God's power to break through with grace during dreadful moments.
Jeremiah 2:8 told how, despite God’s blessing, the people of Israel worshiped Baal and lived unholy lives. They would not serve God (Jeremiah 2:20). This resulted in the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the suffering of war at the hands of the Assyrians and Babylonians, and ultimately the period of the exile. Jeremiah chronicled the sinfulness of the people that resulted in the exile and separation from God. However, despite all the judgment coming upon Israel and Judah, Jeremiah would now and then explain that God wanted the people to return to faith. God wanted His people to repent and believe. Our scripture for today from Jeremiah 29 contains some of that desire for the future. As the people suffered during the wars and exile, there was “a glimpse of the light that comes after: “Build houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and father sons and daughters … and multiply there, and you must not be few” (Jeremiah 29:5–6).
“Even in exile, God will continue to guide His people. Because of their sins, they have endured (and lost) war and have been driven away from the land that God gave them; but God remains with them, nonetheless. They may need to experience the pain of exile to understand the consequences of turning away from God, but God still plans to be good to them. He will provide for them” (John D. Barry).
Sherry screwed up big time. After falling in love with a boy while attending college, she quit school and ran away with him. At first, it seemed so freeing and exciting. After a while, the enormity of her mistakes began to haunt her. Then, six months into her new life, she found out she was pregnant. A few months later, her boyfriend left. Sherry was alone. With a poor income and unhealthy living environment, Sherry called home. She begged to come back. Her mother and father agreed. She was so thankful to have somewhere to go. Upon looking back at her life, Sherry realized that everything she had done in the past year had led to her life being a mess. It was time to go home, face her parents, and start over. Doing all that while pregnant and alone was daunting to say the least!
After a month at home, Sherry realized all the hurt she had caused. When running off with her boyfriend, she had abandoned her parents and family and friends. Sherry looked for a job, began to prepare for the birth of her child, and wanted badly to repair her relationships. There were many dark days at first. Friends kept their distance. Her mother and father felt betrayed. There were so many responsibilities with pregnancy. There was so much rebuilding needing to be done and so little time to do it. The baby was coming soon!
During the next few months, Sherry was surprised by a few precious moments. When she went to church with her parents, the pastor noted her obvious pregnancy. He hugged her and welcomed her back. He visited her. He prayed with her. They were wonderful, tender moments of God’s love. Then, a month before her baby was born, her best friend paid for the two to have a girls’ weekend away at a spa. Sherry reveled in the renewed friendship. She was so overjoyed at the way her best friend forgave her. Though the days were difficult, Sherry saw some bright moments in those dark times. In the quiet of a night a year later, she thanked God for all those little bits of grace thrown her way. She felt blessed. She asked God to return fully into her heart.
At crucial moments, you might be that ray of hope in a person’s life. When suffering from illness, a person may feel renewed strength in a short moment of prayer with you. Holding the hand of a child may bring comfort to that little soul. Giving that small gift to a friend at church would make a huge impact. There are many ways you can bring to your world a little light in the midst of darkness. God will do the same for you. You have been in relationship with Him for some time. Your promises to God have been noted. Though you may have failed or gone astray, God will shine a little light your way to show you HE is still there. HE still cares.
When was the last time you saw a glimmer of God’s grace? Are you too buried in worldly pressures to see God's light? When was the last time you were a sign of hope to another? Don’t overlook God's power to break through with grace during dreadful moments.
September 17
“Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.”
(Acts 8:22, ESV)
(Acts 8:22, ESV)
In Acts 8, the apostles Peter and John ran across a man named Simon. This guy had an entrepreneur’s heart. He saw a way to make a lot of money. He witnessed Peter and John lay hands on people who then received the Holy Spirit. Healings occurred. Miracles happened. When Simon saw the changed lives and the miracles, he believed it was due to some ability of Peter and John. Simon wanted access to that miraculous power. He wanted to buy it. He could even try to sell it to make a lot of money. He approached Peter and said, “Give me this power…” (Acts 8:19). However, Simon didn’t want this power so that others may receive God’s Spirit or healing. He wanted this power to profit from it. Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money... your heart is not right before God” (Acts 8:21,22). Simon wanted to use money to obtain and control God’s awesome power. He saw the power of God's healing and wanted to profit from it. It was a sinful attitude. Simon was motivated by greed and money. He was not motivated by the love of God to share the gospel and God’s Holy Spirit. In the scripture I’ve chosen for today, Peter also told Simon to “Repent of this wickedness of yours… and pray… that the intent of your heart may be forgiven you” (Acts 8:22). Simon thought his desire to buy spiritual power and make money off it was not wrong. Everyone needs to have a living, right? However, it was sinful. His goal was to use God’s power to enrich himself. His soul was set on using money to obtain and profit from spiritual gifts.
Simon had no idea that his motivation was sinful. He thought he found a great way to become more powerful. Along the way, he could also heal people. To him, this seemed a win-win for everyone. However, “the intent of his heart” was not right before God. This made his thoughts “wicked” and “sinful”. It is very important that you constantly look at “the intent of your heart”. Sometimes, your thoughts and feelings may not be holy before God. You may think that a thought or feeling is innocent or “normal” when in fact God has deemed it sinful.
Mary belonged to her neighborhood church her entire life. She grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. Her parents brought her to the neighborhood church for the first time only weeks after she was born. She was baptized there. She attended Sunday School there. She was married there. Her church was like her second home. For years, Mary was an important part of her church’s life. She was active in various groups and organizations. She was a “matriarch of the church”. Her leadership and presence carried great authority, for she was highly respected. However, after Mary’s husband died in his fifties, Mary’s attitude and spiritual life changed. She became bitter. Her leadership at her church changed form. Mary was no longer a respected leader as much as a force to be reckoned with.
One Sunday morning, a new family visited the church. Mary greeted them, but they were reserved and didn’t say much in return. Over the next few weeks, the new family came back twice. Mary noticed the wife talking animatedly to another woman of the church. In her heart, Mary took offense. She felt slighted. Why hadn’t the woman talked so freely with her? This started a bitter rivalry in that church that ultimately caused many people to leave. To Mary, the church was better off without the new family, because the wife was “not friendly”. For months, Mary’s resentment toward the wife grew. I still remember the look on Mary’s face one Sunday. As the new family arrived for the eighth or ninth time and I celebrated their attendance at worship, I looked to Mary. Her eyes were narrowed; her face almost a sneer. I felt in my heart in that very moment God telling me that Mary’s connection with God was strained to breaking… all over a small slight that was entirely innocent.
When you have unholy motivations, thoughts, or emotions, they can damage your spiritual life. They can eat away at your peace. They poison your ability to see a person for who she really is. Those feelings can put up a wall to God’s Spirit, keeping God’s grace or healing from occurring. The “intent of your heart” carries great weight with God. It betrays your true feelings. It shows what you believe.
Simon’s motivation to use money to control God’s Spirit carried great consequences. His spiritual “wickedness” jeopardized his relationship with God. Simon didn’t even realize how bad was his sin. Sometimes, your thoughts can be just as damaging to your soul or your relationship with God. That little lie you tell yourself can become a seed of discontent before God. That resentment you carry can become a force that keeps you from an intimate relationship with God. That negative attitude you harbor deep in the back of your mind can push you away from doing what God needs done in your life.
Be very careful when “the intent of your heart” becomes filled with jealousy or envy, resentment or negativity. Be careful when your motivation for doing things becomes self-serving or self-righteous. Given enough time, even a good thought or good heart can be twisted into a wicked, torturous thing. That’s one of Satan’s best games to play in your mind.
Simon had no idea that his motivation was sinful. He thought he found a great way to become more powerful. Along the way, he could also heal people. To him, this seemed a win-win for everyone. However, “the intent of his heart” was not right before God. This made his thoughts “wicked” and “sinful”. It is very important that you constantly look at “the intent of your heart”. Sometimes, your thoughts and feelings may not be holy before God. You may think that a thought or feeling is innocent or “normal” when in fact God has deemed it sinful.
Mary belonged to her neighborhood church her entire life. She grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. Her parents brought her to the neighborhood church for the first time only weeks after she was born. She was baptized there. She attended Sunday School there. She was married there. Her church was like her second home. For years, Mary was an important part of her church’s life. She was active in various groups and organizations. She was a “matriarch of the church”. Her leadership and presence carried great authority, for she was highly respected. However, after Mary’s husband died in his fifties, Mary’s attitude and spiritual life changed. She became bitter. Her leadership at her church changed form. Mary was no longer a respected leader as much as a force to be reckoned with.
One Sunday morning, a new family visited the church. Mary greeted them, but they were reserved and didn’t say much in return. Over the next few weeks, the new family came back twice. Mary noticed the wife talking animatedly to another woman of the church. In her heart, Mary took offense. She felt slighted. Why hadn’t the woman talked so freely with her? This started a bitter rivalry in that church that ultimately caused many people to leave. To Mary, the church was better off without the new family, because the wife was “not friendly”. For months, Mary’s resentment toward the wife grew. I still remember the look on Mary’s face one Sunday. As the new family arrived for the eighth or ninth time and I celebrated their attendance at worship, I looked to Mary. Her eyes were narrowed; her face almost a sneer. I felt in my heart in that very moment God telling me that Mary’s connection with God was strained to breaking… all over a small slight that was entirely innocent.
When you have unholy motivations, thoughts, or emotions, they can damage your spiritual life. They can eat away at your peace. They poison your ability to see a person for who she really is. Those feelings can put up a wall to God’s Spirit, keeping God’s grace or healing from occurring. The “intent of your heart” carries great weight with God. It betrays your true feelings. It shows what you believe.
Simon’s motivation to use money to control God’s Spirit carried great consequences. His spiritual “wickedness” jeopardized his relationship with God. Simon didn’t even realize how bad was his sin. Sometimes, your thoughts can be just as damaging to your soul or your relationship with God. That little lie you tell yourself can become a seed of discontent before God. That resentment you carry can become a force that keeps you from an intimate relationship with God. That negative attitude you harbor deep in the back of your mind can push you away from doing what God needs done in your life.
Be very careful when “the intent of your heart” becomes filled with jealousy or envy, resentment or negativity. Be careful when your motivation for doing things becomes self-serving or self-righteous. Given enough time, even a good thought or good heart can be twisted into a wicked, torturous thing. That’s one of Satan’s best games to play in your mind.
September 19
“I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’” (Acts 7:34, ESV)
Michael Corcoris had a discussion with his church youth group in which they could ask any question and he would do his best to answer using Biblical wisdom. After numerous questions, their time came to a close. Just before the end of the meeting, one eighteen-year-old teen raised her hand and asked, “The Bible says God loves everybody. Then it says that God sends people to hell. How can a loving God do that?" He told her what the Bible says. She countered. He tried to show her the truth of scripture. She began an argument. He argued back. He didn’t convince her and felt bad about the way their discussion had devolved. Instead of just ending it there or letting the disagreement poison their time, he ended the session. Everyone left but Cocoris and the young woman. He approached the teen and asked for her forgiveness, saying he really did not want an argument. Then, he shared Romans 3:23 which says that all of us are sinners. He said this to show he had failed her. However, her response was amazing. She broke into tears. Then, she admitted to having an affair with a married man. Years later, he wrote in a book on Evangelism: “The one thing she needed was forgiveness. When I finished the presentation of the gospel, she trusted Christ. The reason she did not believe in hell was because she was going there. In her heart she knew she had sinned. Her conscience condemned her, but rather than face the fact of her guilt, she simply denied any future judgment or future hell.” (Michael Corcoris, Evangelism: A Biblical Approach, p. 163).
Like the young woman in the story above, there are many people who hide their sin or failures. Most live in denial of the consequences. They may argue about one thing, but the reason for their anger and regret is based on something hidden in the heart. People are very good at hiding their guilt and shame, their feelings and emotions, their regrets and motives. However, God sees it all. God knows. God will act upon what is hidden. You can’t run away from it. God is not blind nor one to sit on the sidelines.
Feeling rejected by her best friend in High School, Jill was so angry that she vowed to herself to get even. She went home and hatched a plan. She was going to make her best friend suffer. She told a classmate on social media about an embarrassing moment in her best friend’s life. It was supposed to be a secret. Jill used that secret to smear her best friend and cause her great anguish. Because Jill did all this behind the scenes, she figured she was protected from any fallout. To this day, Jill still feels regret for the way she handled her anger. Every time someone makes fun of her best friend in front of her, it haunts her. What she doesn’t know is that God is the one who is pushing her to confess her sin and atone for the suffering she caused. Jill thinks she is in the clear, because nobody knows she was involved. God knows. God sees. God is not going to let Jill get by with it. God will pursue Jill until she repents. Jill may think its just her conscience feeling guilty. It isn’t. God is behind her guilt and regret, pushing her to confess and make things right with her best friend.
In the scripture for today from Acts 7, Stephen preached about why God called Moses to go to Egypt and free the people of Israel from bondage. Stephen mentioned that the impetus for the entire exodus was brought about by God who had “surely seen the affliction” of the people in Egypt (Acts 7:34). God even heard their “groaning”, heard their suffering. God was going to use Moses to “deliver them”. God knew the incredible suffering caused by the Egyptians upon the people of Israel. The Egyptians figured that they were free to cause suffering, because nobody had the power to change anything. They learned later that God DOES have the power. God saw and heard everything. God wasn’t going to let it go.
If you aren’t willing to fix some sins in your life, God will not just let it go. God will respond. If you cause the suffering of an innocent, God will take notice and do something about it. God does not sit idly by while sin occurs. God will take action one way or another. If you find yourself suffering, understand that God is aware of your pain. If you cause suffering, God will also be aware of the damage you have brought upon another. It’s plain and simple… God sees things. God is aware of who is responsible. God works behind the scenes and openly to correct the effects of sin in the world. Sooner or later, God will react. Sometimes on earth. Sometimes in Heaven. Sometimes with hell.
What has God seen in your heart lately? Are there hidden sins nagging at your conscience? Is God wanting to bring healing for past wounds? Don’t ever doubt that God sees everything. Don’t forget that God may cause you to face what you want to hide. The scripture for today is a reminder of God’s omniscient wisdom and sight. Nothing gets past HIS eternal eyes.
Like the young woman in the story above, there are many people who hide their sin or failures. Most live in denial of the consequences. They may argue about one thing, but the reason for their anger and regret is based on something hidden in the heart. People are very good at hiding their guilt and shame, their feelings and emotions, their regrets and motives. However, God sees it all. God knows. God will act upon what is hidden. You can’t run away from it. God is not blind nor one to sit on the sidelines.
Feeling rejected by her best friend in High School, Jill was so angry that she vowed to herself to get even. She went home and hatched a plan. She was going to make her best friend suffer. She told a classmate on social media about an embarrassing moment in her best friend’s life. It was supposed to be a secret. Jill used that secret to smear her best friend and cause her great anguish. Because Jill did all this behind the scenes, she figured she was protected from any fallout. To this day, Jill still feels regret for the way she handled her anger. Every time someone makes fun of her best friend in front of her, it haunts her. What she doesn’t know is that God is the one who is pushing her to confess her sin and atone for the suffering she caused. Jill thinks she is in the clear, because nobody knows she was involved. God knows. God sees. God is not going to let Jill get by with it. God will pursue Jill until she repents. Jill may think its just her conscience feeling guilty. It isn’t. God is behind her guilt and regret, pushing her to confess and make things right with her best friend.
In the scripture for today from Acts 7, Stephen preached about why God called Moses to go to Egypt and free the people of Israel from bondage. Stephen mentioned that the impetus for the entire exodus was brought about by God who had “surely seen the affliction” of the people in Egypt (Acts 7:34). God even heard their “groaning”, heard their suffering. God was going to use Moses to “deliver them”. God knew the incredible suffering caused by the Egyptians upon the people of Israel. The Egyptians figured that they were free to cause suffering, because nobody had the power to change anything. They learned later that God DOES have the power. God saw and heard everything. God wasn’t going to let it go.
If you aren’t willing to fix some sins in your life, God will not just let it go. God will respond. If you cause the suffering of an innocent, God will take notice and do something about it. God does not sit idly by while sin occurs. God will take action one way or another. If you find yourself suffering, understand that God is aware of your pain. If you cause suffering, God will also be aware of the damage you have brought upon another. It’s plain and simple… God sees things. God is aware of who is responsible. God works behind the scenes and openly to correct the effects of sin in the world. Sooner or later, God will react. Sometimes on earth. Sometimes in Heaven. Sometimes with hell.
What has God seen in your heart lately? Are there hidden sins nagging at your conscience? Is God wanting to bring healing for past wounds? Don’t ever doubt that God sees everything. Don’t forget that God may cause you to face what you want to hide. The scripture for today is a reminder of God’s omniscient wisdom and sight. Nothing gets past HIS eternal eyes.
September 21
“Whoever serves me MUST FOLLOW ME; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”
(John 12:26, NIV84)
(John 12:26, NIV84)
In the gospel of John, Jesus described a flock of sheep. Then, he described a shepherd who would watch over the sheep. In the form of a parable, the sheep described those who believed in Jesus. The Shepherd was Jesus. When explaining the relationship between Shepherd and sheep, Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”. Taken in the spirit given, this parable by Jesus makes clear that faithful souls must “follow” Jesus. They can’t just listen to His words or only respect His teachings. They must follow His voice. They must follow His leadership and direction. The problem with many Christians today is that they do not want to “follow the leader” Jesus. Instead, they want to call the shots.
S. I. McMillen, in his book None of These Diseases, tells a story of a young woman who wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application blank that asked, "Are you a leader?" Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, "No," and returned the application, expecting the worst. To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: "Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower."
Though the above story by S.I. McMillen is humorous, it displays the clear point that many people today desire to be leaders. They want the power. They want the control. They want to be in charge and make the important decisions. However, in your spiritual life, the relationship with Jesus is made clear in scripture. You are never to be the ultimate leader. That leadership belongs to Jesus. God is in control. You are not. I have found that just like many people desire to be leaders in the church, too few are good followers. They enjoy the power of leadership, but do not like the meekness of a true follower. Though Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek” (Matthew 5:5), there are too many who see the obedience of following Jesus as stifling. They like being in charge, deciding right and wrong, leading the pack.
You must be different. You must be a follower of Jesus. When you start running the show in your faith, making your own decisions without consulting your Lord, your pride will get in the way of you being a good follower of Jesus. This is not to say that you shouldn’t take a position of leadership and respect in the church. Instead, it is to remind you that ultimately God in Christ is in charge of your spiritual life. You must answer to HIM. You need to watch your attitude and decisions to make sure that you don’t become the ultimate arbiter of your fate. That is God’s job. Jesus is your Lord and Master. You are the follower.
In our scripture reading for today from John 12:26, Jesus spoke about the importance of being a faithful servant. The true servant will be near Jesus. The true servant will serve Jesus. The Heavenly Father will “honor” the faithful servant. However, the most trusted and faithful servant “MUST FOLLOW” Jesus. That’s what this verse states. Following Jesus is not optional. It is a MUST. If you are not willing to let Jesus determine your direction in life, you are not a true follower of Jesus. He is not your Lord. You aren’t a faithful servant.
If I told you to follow me down to the school, would you stay close to me? Yes. You’d want to follow closely as to not lose your way. If I told you to follow me down to the school, would you walk out in front and lead me? No. You’d let me lead you. Taken in a spiritual context, a true follower of Jesus will stay close to His steps. The true follower of Jesus will not take the reins from Jesus. God will make the important decisions and direct one’s steps.
Are you truly following the will of your Lord Jesus? Do you submit to the Lord’s direction for your life? Are you quick to tell others what to do in your church? Do you ever feel like others in the church should do what you say? Is that what Jesus says?
I have met many good and bad leaders in the church over my lifetime. I have met good and bad followers of Jesus. I have found that true Christians are more willing to follow Jesus than pridefully control situations or people.
S. I. McMillen, in his book None of These Diseases, tells a story of a young woman who wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application blank that asked, "Are you a leader?" Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, "No," and returned the application, expecting the worst. To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: "Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower."
Though the above story by S.I. McMillen is humorous, it displays the clear point that many people today desire to be leaders. They want the power. They want the control. They want to be in charge and make the important decisions. However, in your spiritual life, the relationship with Jesus is made clear in scripture. You are never to be the ultimate leader. That leadership belongs to Jesus. God is in control. You are not. I have found that just like many people desire to be leaders in the church, too few are good followers. They enjoy the power of leadership, but do not like the meekness of a true follower. Though Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek” (Matthew 5:5), there are too many who see the obedience of following Jesus as stifling. They like being in charge, deciding right and wrong, leading the pack.
You must be different. You must be a follower of Jesus. When you start running the show in your faith, making your own decisions without consulting your Lord, your pride will get in the way of you being a good follower of Jesus. This is not to say that you shouldn’t take a position of leadership and respect in the church. Instead, it is to remind you that ultimately God in Christ is in charge of your spiritual life. You must answer to HIM. You need to watch your attitude and decisions to make sure that you don’t become the ultimate arbiter of your fate. That is God’s job. Jesus is your Lord and Master. You are the follower.
In our scripture reading for today from John 12:26, Jesus spoke about the importance of being a faithful servant. The true servant will be near Jesus. The true servant will serve Jesus. The Heavenly Father will “honor” the faithful servant. However, the most trusted and faithful servant “MUST FOLLOW” Jesus. That’s what this verse states. Following Jesus is not optional. It is a MUST. If you are not willing to let Jesus determine your direction in life, you are not a true follower of Jesus. He is not your Lord. You aren’t a faithful servant.
If I told you to follow me down to the school, would you stay close to me? Yes. You’d want to follow closely as to not lose your way. If I told you to follow me down to the school, would you walk out in front and lead me? No. You’d let me lead you. Taken in a spiritual context, a true follower of Jesus will stay close to His steps. The true follower of Jesus will not take the reins from Jesus. God will make the important decisions and direct one’s steps.
Are you truly following the will of your Lord Jesus? Do you submit to the Lord’s direction for your life? Are you quick to tell others what to do in your church? Do you ever feel like others in the church should do what you say? Is that what Jesus says?
I have met many good and bad leaders in the church over my lifetime. I have met good and bad followers of Jesus. I have found that true Christians are more willing to follow Jesus than pridefully control situations or people.
September 23
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.” (Psalm 91:14, ESV)
Lorrie Anderson, missionary to the head-shrinking Candoshi Shapra Indians of Peru, was looking for a quiet place for her daily time of Bible reading and prayer, so she went down by the edge of the river. After reading the Bible, she took up her prayer list. Eyes closed, she did not see the deadly anaconda weaving through the water until it struck, burying its fangs into her flesh. It withdrew to strike, hitting her arm again and again as it held her, screaming, in its coils. It reared up for the death blows. Then suddenly the giant snake, never known to release its prey, relaxed its grip and slithered off through the water. While Lorrie was being treated, a witch doctor from a nearby village burst into the hut and stared at her. She couldn’t believe Lorrie had survived. She said her son-in-law, also a witch doctor, had chanted to the spirit of the anaconda that morning and sent it to kill the young missionary. “I’m certain,” Lorrie said, “that except for the protection of God, it would have worked.” (Our Daily Bread, August 13, 1990)
There are many and various ways that God protects the faithful. You may be under the protection of God in this very moment and not even aware of it. While that snake attacked missionary Lorrie Anderson, she probably did not realize the extent to which God was watching over her, fighting nearby evil, protecting her life. When you place your life and soul in God’s hands, your future is also under God’s watchful oversight.
The scripture for today contains God’s promise of protection to faithful souls. Psalm 91 begins with the explanation that it was written about the one who trusts in God (Psalm 91:2). It concerns itself with the one who is willing to find “refuge” in the arms of God (Psalm 91:9). Those who place their life in God’s hands receive special dispensation from God. Among other things, they are protected by God’s almighty power. Psalm 91:14 teaches that a faithful person who “holds fast to God in love” is delivered and protected by God. The one who “knows God’s name”, meaning puts his or her life in God’s hand, is watched over and redeemed. God protects his or her life in a special way. The faithful are not like other people. God has given them special priority. Are you truly one of them? Have you put your whole life in God’s hand? Then, you are special to God, AND you are protected by God.
A middle-aged woman came into my office one morning in 1999. She looked frazzled. I could tell something was wrong. I asked her if everything was all right. Catching her breath, she told me that she had to come and tell me right away of something that had just occurred. She had prayed that morning, then left in her car to see a family member. On the way, she felt this strong spiritual pull as if something was wrong. She explained to me that it felt like someone was screaming at her. Though alone in the car, she could swear she heard a loud voice telling her to stop now. She did so. In the spot where she pulled over, she closed her eyes and began to pray. Just a few seconds later, she heard a big bang. Right in front of her an accident happened at nearly the same time when she would have been at that intersection, if not for that voice. She immediately prayed for those involved. Then, she continued her prayer with thanks to God for keeping her from harm.
Don’t ever overlook the FACT that God watches over the faithful. God is watching over you right now. You may not know or see or feel all the times God’s hand delivers you from harm, but it does happen. God does affect your life. God’s watchful eyes are looking your way. When you “know God’s name” and “hold fast to God”, your life carries greater meaning to God. You become part of a special class of people who are given special protection by the Almighty. God’s angels may be sent to guard you. God’s Spirit will guide you down safe paths and through the wilderness of life.
Make sure you continue to hold fast to God. It does make a difference. When you do, enjoy the protection that God gives. Whether you see it or not, it is most certainly there. It is certainly available to you. God sent an angel to protect Daniel in the Lion’s Den. God sent a pillar of fire to protect the Israelites at the Red Sea. God sent an angel to feed Elijah in the wilderness when his life was threatened by Jezebel. None of these people knew that God’s was shielding them. All of them did experience God’s providence and protection. If you love God, you will too. It’s a promise of God found especially in the scripture for today.
There are many and various ways that God protects the faithful. You may be under the protection of God in this very moment and not even aware of it. While that snake attacked missionary Lorrie Anderson, she probably did not realize the extent to which God was watching over her, fighting nearby evil, protecting her life. When you place your life and soul in God’s hands, your future is also under God’s watchful oversight.
The scripture for today contains God’s promise of protection to faithful souls. Psalm 91 begins with the explanation that it was written about the one who trusts in God (Psalm 91:2). It concerns itself with the one who is willing to find “refuge” in the arms of God (Psalm 91:9). Those who place their life in God’s hands receive special dispensation from God. Among other things, they are protected by God’s almighty power. Psalm 91:14 teaches that a faithful person who “holds fast to God in love” is delivered and protected by God. The one who “knows God’s name”, meaning puts his or her life in God’s hand, is watched over and redeemed. God protects his or her life in a special way. The faithful are not like other people. God has given them special priority. Are you truly one of them? Have you put your whole life in God’s hand? Then, you are special to God, AND you are protected by God.
A middle-aged woman came into my office one morning in 1999. She looked frazzled. I could tell something was wrong. I asked her if everything was all right. Catching her breath, she told me that she had to come and tell me right away of something that had just occurred. She had prayed that morning, then left in her car to see a family member. On the way, she felt this strong spiritual pull as if something was wrong. She explained to me that it felt like someone was screaming at her. Though alone in the car, she could swear she heard a loud voice telling her to stop now. She did so. In the spot where she pulled over, she closed her eyes and began to pray. Just a few seconds later, she heard a big bang. Right in front of her an accident happened at nearly the same time when she would have been at that intersection, if not for that voice. She immediately prayed for those involved. Then, she continued her prayer with thanks to God for keeping her from harm.
Don’t ever overlook the FACT that God watches over the faithful. God is watching over you right now. You may not know or see or feel all the times God’s hand delivers you from harm, but it does happen. God does affect your life. God’s watchful eyes are looking your way. When you “know God’s name” and “hold fast to God”, your life carries greater meaning to God. You become part of a special class of people who are given special protection by the Almighty. God’s angels may be sent to guard you. God’s Spirit will guide you down safe paths and through the wilderness of life.
Make sure you continue to hold fast to God. It does make a difference. When you do, enjoy the protection that God gives. Whether you see it or not, it is most certainly there. It is certainly available to you. God sent an angel to protect Daniel in the Lion’s Den. God sent a pillar of fire to protect the Israelites at the Red Sea. God sent an angel to feed Elijah in the wilderness when his life was threatened by Jezebel. None of these people knew that God’s was shielding them. All of them did experience God’s providence and protection. If you love God, you will too. It’s a promise of God found especially in the scripture for today.
September 25
“…and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through.”
(1 Thessalonians 3:2–3, NLT)
(1 Thessalonians 3:2–3, NLT)
In the days of the apostles, there were many trials and challenges. The New Testament times were not easy. Apostles like Stephen were murdered for the faith. Paul was beaten and tortured and stoned on multiple occasions. Peter was jailed for sharing the gospel. Many of those who believed suffered persecution. However, those who suffered were not alone. Prayers on their behalf were given constantly. Where there was intense persecution, believers met in secret to encourage one another. The widows and orphans of believers who died because of persecution were cared for and helped. Collections of donations were used for outreach. Faithful people looked out for other faithful people. Prayers were sent to God constantly on their behalf. No Christian lived or died alone. God was with each one. Faithful people prayed for them. Whenever possible, visits were made to them. Christians worshiped together, shared their money when needed, and watched out for each other (See Acts 2:44-47). The suffering of Christians made them closer, stronger in faith, and more loving.
In the scripture for today several apostles wrote to the Philippian church about persecutions that were occurring in the area. Knowing they would need to be strong in the face of such trials, the apostles sent Timothy to help (1 Thessalonians 3:1). His goals were simple. He was to “strengthen” the faithful, “encourage their faith”, and keep them from “being shaken by the troubles they were going through” (1 Thessalonians 3:3). In this meditation for today, I want you to consider the purpose of Timothy’s goals for being sent to Philippi. His goals were to protect the precious faith of the people during troubles by strengthening and encouraging their faith. In the face of trials, this would be their comfort. By strengthening and encouraging their faith, they would grow stronger during the troubles ahead. They would find encouragement during their dark times.
It is incredibly important when you are facing troubles in your life to find ways to strengthen your faith. Just as important, when another person is facing troubles, you might be the one God sends to strengthen and encourage them. A strong faith is necessary to overcome big challenges in life. It is a necessary weapon in your arsenal in order to defeat evil in the spiritual battles of life. Faith helps you to overcome suffering and trials, fear and pain. Faith is very powerful. A strong faith is so important, the apostles sent Timothy to a very dangerous area where Christians were being threatened, just to strengthen and encourage said faith.
Marion Gilbert wrote this heart-warming story. “One morning I opened the door to get the newspaper and was surprised to see a strange little dog with our paper in his mouth. Delighted with this unexpected "delivery service," I fed him some treats. The following morning, I was horrified to see the same dog sitting in front of our door, wagging his tail, surrounded by eight newspapers. I spent the rest of that morning returning the papers to their owners.” (“Reminisce”, Reader’s Digest, February 1994, p. 12) That little dog was so encouraged by the treats, he wanted to do all he could for Marion Gilbert. However, its not just dogs that respond to encouragement. Christians crave and desire encouragement as well. Dare I say all of us are hungry for good encouragement? How well do you give encouragement to others?
A strong faith was necessary for the early Christians to overcome persecutions. Whenever you or your faith are being persecuted, whether by evil or suffering or loss, faithful people need to be around you to encourage and strengthen your heart and soul. Faithful Christians can ease your mind and allay your fears when troubles come. Have you ever had a faithful person strengthen and encourage your faith? Has God ever wanted you to strengthen and encourage the faith of another?
If your faith is true, know that God will send encouragement and strength to you during trying times. It is God’s way. If someone near you is suffering, what kind of encouragement and strength can your faith provide? Times of trouble are challenging. You should not have to face them alone. Look for God to send help or angels or apostles or friends to help. Then, just soak up the encouragement and hope in whatever form God gives! You are going to need it!
In the scripture for today several apostles wrote to the Philippian church about persecutions that were occurring in the area. Knowing they would need to be strong in the face of such trials, the apostles sent Timothy to help (1 Thessalonians 3:1). His goals were simple. He was to “strengthen” the faithful, “encourage their faith”, and keep them from “being shaken by the troubles they were going through” (1 Thessalonians 3:3). In this meditation for today, I want you to consider the purpose of Timothy’s goals for being sent to Philippi. His goals were to protect the precious faith of the people during troubles by strengthening and encouraging their faith. In the face of trials, this would be their comfort. By strengthening and encouraging their faith, they would grow stronger during the troubles ahead. They would find encouragement during their dark times.
It is incredibly important when you are facing troubles in your life to find ways to strengthen your faith. Just as important, when another person is facing troubles, you might be the one God sends to strengthen and encourage them. A strong faith is necessary to overcome big challenges in life. It is a necessary weapon in your arsenal in order to defeat evil in the spiritual battles of life. Faith helps you to overcome suffering and trials, fear and pain. Faith is very powerful. A strong faith is so important, the apostles sent Timothy to a very dangerous area where Christians were being threatened, just to strengthen and encourage said faith.
Marion Gilbert wrote this heart-warming story. “One morning I opened the door to get the newspaper and was surprised to see a strange little dog with our paper in his mouth. Delighted with this unexpected "delivery service," I fed him some treats. The following morning, I was horrified to see the same dog sitting in front of our door, wagging his tail, surrounded by eight newspapers. I spent the rest of that morning returning the papers to their owners.” (“Reminisce”, Reader’s Digest, February 1994, p. 12) That little dog was so encouraged by the treats, he wanted to do all he could for Marion Gilbert. However, its not just dogs that respond to encouragement. Christians crave and desire encouragement as well. Dare I say all of us are hungry for good encouragement? How well do you give encouragement to others?
A strong faith was necessary for the early Christians to overcome persecutions. Whenever you or your faith are being persecuted, whether by evil or suffering or loss, faithful people need to be around you to encourage and strengthen your heart and soul. Faithful Christians can ease your mind and allay your fears when troubles come. Have you ever had a faithful person strengthen and encourage your faith? Has God ever wanted you to strengthen and encourage the faith of another?
If your faith is true, know that God will send encouragement and strength to you during trying times. It is God’s way. If someone near you is suffering, what kind of encouragement and strength can your faith provide? Times of trouble are challenging. You should not have to face them alone. Look for God to send help or angels or apostles or friends to help. Then, just soak up the encouragement and hope in whatever form God gives! You are going to need it!
September 27
“All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” (Acts 1:14, RSV)
The scripture for today contains a picture of the earliest Christian church. Only weeks after Jesus died, Acts chapter 1 explains what happened to his followers. The scripture above gives a glimpse. The followers of Jesus “with one accord devoted themselves to prayer”. There were men and women, Jesus’ relatives and disciples. They all came together after the death and resurrection of Jesus to pray for direction and purpose. They tried to remember what He said and began to find the courage to live a missionary life. This closeness among the early followers of Jesus is noted many times in scripture. Even though there were major differences in the earliest church, at many points the church came together “with one accord”.
If you read the book of Acts closely, you will notice this little phrase, “with one accord”, popping up from time to time. Six times it is used to describe the early church. On the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, it mentions that the disciples and followers of Jesus were gathered in Jerusalem and that “they were all with one accord in one place”. Later in that same chapter, it is written that the followers of Jesus “continued with one accord” while in the Temple, worshiping, and eating together. Again, in Acts 4:24, the people lifted their voices to God “in one accord in adoration, worshiping and praising God.” Over and over, we read the earliest followers of Jesus were in accord with one another. Usually, this phrase is used with mention that the early church people were praying together. Their praying together brought them into one accord. Seeking God’s direction as a group gave them clearer spiritual vision and united their souls with God.
In his book, Something Happens When Churches Pray, Warren Wiersbe wrote the following: “In Acts 4:12 we read: “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch).” They were in one accord in their association; no divisions, no backbiting, no criticizing. Acts 15:25 contains another reference to “one accord”: “It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul.” They were in one accord in their determination.”” (Something Happens When Churches Pray, W. Wiersbe, pp. 18ff).
Being “with one accord” and praying go hand in hand. Now, imagine what happens when husband and wife pray together! Picture what happens when churches pray together earnestly for direction! What would happen if a family prayed together while facing important decisions? There is great power not just in prayer, but in united corporate prayer. When people pray together, great things happen. When people are united in true and faithful prayer, amazing things occur: worship is empowered, church splits falter, signs and wonders multiply, and souls are saved. It makes me wonder why modern Christians think that praying alone is “good enough”. It isn’t. We need prayer “with one accord” among groups of Christians. It multiplies the blessings and power of God!
In the Old and New Testaments, there were faithful ones who practiced the “laying on of hands” with prayer to heal people, to fill others with the Holy Spirit, to destroy demons, and to anoint kings. Today, people are often encouraged “not to touch others”. It is considered a forbidden social act. Teachers are taught to keep their hands away from children and never hug or touch them, for fear of a lawsuit. Pastors are now encouraged not to touch people of the opposite sex to protect against a “Me-Too” situation. How can you do a laying on of hands without touching another person? The woman with the flow of blood was healed by touching Jesus’ robe. Should we stop praying together, hugging, touching another in a laying on of hands, and more? Is it no surprise that the Holy Spirit is stifled in this present time?
People are split about the idea of hugging or laying on of hands. Churches are split due to hardheadedness and the spirit of dissension. Children are raised by parents who are afraid to hug them and pray with them. Teens are taught to keep people at arms-length at all times. In the scripture for today, the faithful followers, “with one accord”, prayed together. They gathered. They cared. They watched out for one another. The results ended with earth-shattering spiritual events. If you find people getting separated and split up around you, maybe its time you prayed with them “in one accord”. If your church is having problems, maybe its time for a corporate prayer meeting. If your family seems distracted or split up, prayer might be the perfect medicine. Just do it together “with one accord”, not in separate rooms or while texting, please!
I still remember counseling a young woman. She looked at me through tears after a long heart-felt talk and said, “Don’t touch me!”. I wanted to pray with her. She was a sexual assault victim. After the threat for me not to touch her, I replied… “I won’t touch you if you don’t want. Would you do the honors of holding my hand and praying with me?” She did. She was healed. Prayer together, God-blessed touch, and the power of the Holy Spirit can mend the most broken of hearts.
If you read the book of Acts closely, you will notice this little phrase, “with one accord”, popping up from time to time. Six times it is used to describe the early church. On the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, it mentions that the disciples and followers of Jesus were gathered in Jerusalem and that “they were all with one accord in one place”. Later in that same chapter, it is written that the followers of Jesus “continued with one accord” while in the Temple, worshiping, and eating together. Again, in Acts 4:24, the people lifted their voices to God “in one accord in adoration, worshiping and praising God.” Over and over, we read the earliest followers of Jesus were in accord with one another. Usually, this phrase is used with mention that the early church people were praying together. Their praying together brought them into one accord. Seeking God’s direction as a group gave them clearer spiritual vision and united their souls with God.
In his book, Something Happens When Churches Pray, Warren Wiersbe wrote the following: “In Acts 4:12 we read: “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch).” They were in one accord in their association; no divisions, no backbiting, no criticizing. Acts 15:25 contains another reference to “one accord”: “It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul.” They were in one accord in their determination.”” (Something Happens When Churches Pray, W. Wiersbe, pp. 18ff).
Being “with one accord” and praying go hand in hand. Now, imagine what happens when husband and wife pray together! Picture what happens when churches pray together earnestly for direction! What would happen if a family prayed together while facing important decisions? There is great power not just in prayer, but in united corporate prayer. When people pray together, great things happen. When people are united in true and faithful prayer, amazing things occur: worship is empowered, church splits falter, signs and wonders multiply, and souls are saved. It makes me wonder why modern Christians think that praying alone is “good enough”. It isn’t. We need prayer “with one accord” among groups of Christians. It multiplies the blessings and power of God!
In the Old and New Testaments, there were faithful ones who practiced the “laying on of hands” with prayer to heal people, to fill others with the Holy Spirit, to destroy demons, and to anoint kings. Today, people are often encouraged “not to touch others”. It is considered a forbidden social act. Teachers are taught to keep their hands away from children and never hug or touch them, for fear of a lawsuit. Pastors are now encouraged not to touch people of the opposite sex to protect against a “Me-Too” situation. How can you do a laying on of hands without touching another person? The woman with the flow of blood was healed by touching Jesus’ robe. Should we stop praying together, hugging, touching another in a laying on of hands, and more? Is it no surprise that the Holy Spirit is stifled in this present time?
People are split about the idea of hugging or laying on of hands. Churches are split due to hardheadedness and the spirit of dissension. Children are raised by parents who are afraid to hug them and pray with them. Teens are taught to keep people at arms-length at all times. In the scripture for today, the faithful followers, “with one accord”, prayed together. They gathered. They cared. They watched out for one another. The results ended with earth-shattering spiritual events. If you find people getting separated and split up around you, maybe its time you prayed with them “in one accord”. If your church is having problems, maybe its time for a corporate prayer meeting. If your family seems distracted or split up, prayer might be the perfect medicine. Just do it together “with one accord”, not in separate rooms or while texting, please!
I still remember counseling a young woman. She looked at me through tears after a long heart-felt talk and said, “Don’t touch me!”. I wanted to pray with her. She was a sexual assault victim. After the threat for me not to touch her, I replied… “I won’t touch you if you don’t want. Would you do the honors of holding my hand and praying with me?” She did. She was healed. Prayer together, God-blessed touch, and the power of the Holy Spirit can mend the most broken of hearts.
September 29
“When he [Jesus] went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34, ESV)
God has a great, great capacity for compassion. God’s heart is constantly reaching out to those HE loves. God’s love and mercy are related to His compassion. God seeks to connect with you, reach out to you, watch over you, and comfort you all because of His great compassion. How well do you give AND receive compassion in return?
In Romans 9:15, Paul remarked on God’s desire to give and reserve compassion depending on the faith of the individual and God’s great mercy. God’s compassion is legendary. In Colossians 3:12, followers of Christ are told to clothe themselves with “compassion” among other things. Because of this, faithful people like you and me are required to be like God. We also must have a compassion that is life changing. In our scripture reading for today, we see another example of compassion in the Bible. Jesus left a boat at the shore of the Sea of Galilee. There, Jesus saw “a great crowd” of people waiting for Him, hoping to be taught, helped, and healed by Him. To Jesus, these people looked so lost and alone, “like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). Many scriptures, like today’s chosen one, talk about the character of God and Jesus as one of compassion. They also teach that you, as a follower of God, must have compassion as one of your personal characteristics.
Max Lucado considered what it meant to be a father and what it taught him about the compassion of God. In his book, The Applause of Heaven, he wrote: “My child’s feelings are hurt. I tell her she’s special. My child is injured. I do whatever it takes to make her feel better.My child is afraid. I won’t go to sleep until she is secure.
I’m not a hero .… I’m a parent. When a child hurts, a parent does what comes naturally. He helps.…
Why don’t I let my [Heavenly] Father do for me what I am more than willing to do for my own children?
I’m learning.… Being a father is teaching me that when I am criticized, injured, or afraid, there is a Father who is ready to comfort me. There is a Father who will hold me until I’m better, help me until I can live with the hurt, and who won’t go to sleep when I’m afraid of waking up and seeing the dark.
Ever.” (Grace for the Moment, Max Lucado, p, 342)
With these words above, Lucado is questioning his own ability to accept comfort and discipline and compassion from his heavenly Father. I want you to consider the same.
“James Garfield was a lay preacher and principal of his denominational college. They say he was ambidextrous and could simultaneously write Greek, with one hand and Latin with the other.
In l880, he was elected president of the United States, but after only six months in office, he was shot in the back with a revolver. He never lost consciousness. At the hospital, the doctor probed the wound with his little finger to seek the bullet. He couldn't find it, so he tried a silver-tipped probe. Still he couldn't locate the bullet.
They took Garfield back to Washington, D.C. Despite the summer heat, they tried to keep him comfortable. He was growing very weak. Teams of doctors tried to locate the bullet, probing the wound over and over. In desperation they asked Alexander Graham Bell, who was working on a little device called the telephone, to see if he could locate the metal inside the president's body. He came, he sought, and he too failed. The president hung on through July, through August, but in September he finally died-not from the wound, but from infection. The repeated probing, which the physicians thought would help the man, eventually, killed him. So it is with people who dwell too long on their sin and refuse to release it to God.” (Sen. Mark Hatfield relayed by Roger Thompson)
When you do not allow God to heal past sins, when you beat yourself up over the past, it is easy to do more harm than good. When you allow a mistake on the part of another to be all that you see, it can damage all future relations with that person. When a husband or wife cannot forgive an error, it will damage their marriage. Where is the compassion in all these situations? It has been rejected, neglected, ignored, or lost.
Sometimes, you can have compassion for another, but not be able to have compassion for yourself. You may desire to help another but ignore your own need. At other moments, your compassion toward another may darken. Your desire to help another will be misguided. Because of God’s compassion, you must learn to be compassionate toward others and yourself. How forgiving and gracious are you toward another for his or her mistakes? How willing are you to let go of past failures and lapses in judgment within yourself?
God had a great capacity for compassion toward Israel. Jesus had great compassion upon the needy. How great is your compassion toward others? Toward yourself?
In Romans 9:15, Paul remarked on God’s desire to give and reserve compassion depending on the faith of the individual and God’s great mercy. God’s compassion is legendary. In Colossians 3:12, followers of Christ are told to clothe themselves with “compassion” among other things. Because of this, faithful people like you and me are required to be like God. We also must have a compassion that is life changing. In our scripture reading for today, we see another example of compassion in the Bible. Jesus left a boat at the shore of the Sea of Galilee. There, Jesus saw “a great crowd” of people waiting for Him, hoping to be taught, helped, and healed by Him. To Jesus, these people looked so lost and alone, “like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). Many scriptures, like today’s chosen one, talk about the character of God and Jesus as one of compassion. They also teach that you, as a follower of God, must have compassion as one of your personal characteristics.
Max Lucado considered what it meant to be a father and what it taught him about the compassion of God. In his book, The Applause of Heaven, he wrote: “My child’s feelings are hurt. I tell her she’s special. My child is injured. I do whatever it takes to make her feel better.My child is afraid. I won’t go to sleep until she is secure.
I’m not a hero .… I’m a parent. When a child hurts, a parent does what comes naturally. He helps.…
Why don’t I let my [Heavenly] Father do for me what I am more than willing to do for my own children?
I’m learning.… Being a father is teaching me that when I am criticized, injured, or afraid, there is a Father who is ready to comfort me. There is a Father who will hold me until I’m better, help me until I can live with the hurt, and who won’t go to sleep when I’m afraid of waking up and seeing the dark.
Ever.” (Grace for the Moment, Max Lucado, p, 342)
With these words above, Lucado is questioning his own ability to accept comfort and discipline and compassion from his heavenly Father. I want you to consider the same.
“James Garfield was a lay preacher and principal of his denominational college. They say he was ambidextrous and could simultaneously write Greek, with one hand and Latin with the other.
In l880, he was elected president of the United States, but after only six months in office, he was shot in the back with a revolver. He never lost consciousness. At the hospital, the doctor probed the wound with his little finger to seek the bullet. He couldn't find it, so he tried a silver-tipped probe. Still he couldn't locate the bullet.
They took Garfield back to Washington, D.C. Despite the summer heat, they tried to keep him comfortable. He was growing very weak. Teams of doctors tried to locate the bullet, probing the wound over and over. In desperation they asked Alexander Graham Bell, who was working on a little device called the telephone, to see if he could locate the metal inside the president's body. He came, he sought, and he too failed. The president hung on through July, through August, but in September he finally died-not from the wound, but from infection. The repeated probing, which the physicians thought would help the man, eventually, killed him. So it is with people who dwell too long on their sin and refuse to release it to God.” (Sen. Mark Hatfield relayed by Roger Thompson)
When you do not allow God to heal past sins, when you beat yourself up over the past, it is easy to do more harm than good. When you allow a mistake on the part of another to be all that you see, it can damage all future relations with that person. When a husband or wife cannot forgive an error, it will damage their marriage. Where is the compassion in all these situations? It has been rejected, neglected, ignored, or lost.
Sometimes, you can have compassion for another, but not be able to have compassion for yourself. You may desire to help another but ignore your own need. At other moments, your compassion toward another may darken. Your desire to help another will be misguided. Because of God’s compassion, you must learn to be compassionate toward others and yourself. How forgiving and gracious are you toward another for his or her mistakes? How willing are you to let go of past failures and lapses in judgment within yourself?
God had a great capacity for compassion toward Israel. Jesus had great compassion upon the needy. How great is your compassion toward others? Toward yourself?
September 30
“No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.”
(1 Corinthians 10:20–21, ESV)
(1 Corinthians 10:20–21, ESV)
In the first century, it was a common practice near Corinth to offer sacrifices to the gods. Christians in the city had learned not to participate in these pagan practices. However, some of the church people had relatives and friends who urged them to continue their sacrifices to the gods. Public officials would routinely follow the customs of the land and participate in public offerings to the gods. In order to fit in, some Christian leaders felt obliged to follow along. The Apostle Paul was dead set against these practices. He believed that with some things in life you had to draw a line in the sand. When it came to making sacrifices to the Greek or Roman Gods, Christians could not participate. They had to refrain, no matter what was expected of them.
In the scripture for today, Paul tells the Corinthian Christians that any sacrifice not to our God was a sacrifice to demons (1 Corinthians 10:20). Paul then lays down the law with authority in the next two sentences: “You CANNOT drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You CANNOT partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21). Paul did not want Christians to mix religions or religious practices. Paul did not want pagan worship in the church. Paul did not want Christians to play around with other religions. Paul did not want Christians in Corinth to give one inch to demons.
As I read these verses for today, I was reminded of a friend who was a missionary in Thailand. She spoke of many different aspects of missionary work in that part of Asia. What struck me was that she saw many people who were demon-possessed. They weren’t mentally ill. They didn’t have medical issues. They had spiritual demons that possessed their soul and controlled their life. She told me that exorcisms were not uncommon there. Dummy me, I thought those were a long-gone part of the past.
While you may not run across a person who is possessed by demons or who participates in sacrifices to demons, you might find yourself in a position where you must choose between demonic thoughts and faith in God. You may not be possessed by a demon, but you might have demons from your past that still haunt you. They aren’t spiritual forces but can become strong advocates against your spiritual health. Do you wrestle with any demons?
As a child, Thelma grew up in a home with a mother who was very stern and distant. Her mother was quick to punish and unforgiving. If a child came home with mud on his knees, there would be a punishment. If a child came home with a “D” on her test, there would be terrible repercussions. More and more, Thelma felt such negativity when she was at home or in her mother’s presence. For years, she tried her best not to cause any occasion in which her mother’s wrath might appear. Thelma feared upsetting her mother.
Long after Thelma grew up and moved away from home, she still wrestled with her mother’s ghost. Thelma was overly harsh about her appearance and dress. She would berate herself endlessly if she made a mistake in her checkbook or saw disappointment in her husband. When her own daughter came home from school one day with a “C-“ on her report card, Thelma blew up at the young girl. Thelma sent little Carrie to her room for the day, without supper. When Thelma came to Carrie’s room at night to check on her, the little girl’s pillow was wet from tears. Thelma’s heart broke in that moment. She realized that she was doing to Carrie what her own mother had done. That night in her prayers, Thelma asked God for the grace to be a better mother. She asked God to teach her more about grace and forgiveness. With God’s help, Thelma squashed that bitter demon from her younger years. She would no longer wrestle with overly critical self-talk or perfectionistic expectations.
If you look at Thelma’s situation, it was an exorcism of sorts. She used the power of God to change her heart and way of thinking. The demon she was wrestling with no longer caused her emotional pain. That perfectionistic, overly critical demon was off her back for good!
Are there any demons you’ve been wrestling with lately? Are you overly critical, like Thelma’s mother? Do you have unrealistic expectations about something in your life? Is there a past event that continues to haunt your days? Is there a person whose presence in your life brings evil thoughts or makes you overly angry? I’ve met too many people who, when haunted by a demon, made poor decisions or acted rashly.
In the first century, the apostle Paul urged the Corinthian Christians to keep away from demonic practices. In a way, I guess I’m saying the same thing to you today. Demon possession comes in a lot of forms…..
In the scripture for today, Paul tells the Corinthian Christians that any sacrifice not to our God was a sacrifice to demons (1 Corinthians 10:20). Paul then lays down the law with authority in the next two sentences: “You CANNOT drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You CANNOT partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21). Paul did not want Christians to mix religions or religious practices. Paul did not want pagan worship in the church. Paul did not want Christians to play around with other religions. Paul did not want Christians in Corinth to give one inch to demons.
As I read these verses for today, I was reminded of a friend who was a missionary in Thailand. She spoke of many different aspects of missionary work in that part of Asia. What struck me was that she saw many people who were demon-possessed. They weren’t mentally ill. They didn’t have medical issues. They had spiritual demons that possessed their soul and controlled their life. She told me that exorcisms were not uncommon there. Dummy me, I thought those were a long-gone part of the past.
While you may not run across a person who is possessed by demons or who participates in sacrifices to demons, you might find yourself in a position where you must choose between demonic thoughts and faith in God. You may not be possessed by a demon, but you might have demons from your past that still haunt you. They aren’t spiritual forces but can become strong advocates against your spiritual health. Do you wrestle with any demons?
As a child, Thelma grew up in a home with a mother who was very stern and distant. Her mother was quick to punish and unforgiving. If a child came home with mud on his knees, there would be a punishment. If a child came home with a “D” on her test, there would be terrible repercussions. More and more, Thelma felt such negativity when she was at home or in her mother’s presence. For years, she tried her best not to cause any occasion in which her mother’s wrath might appear. Thelma feared upsetting her mother.
Long after Thelma grew up and moved away from home, she still wrestled with her mother’s ghost. Thelma was overly harsh about her appearance and dress. She would berate herself endlessly if she made a mistake in her checkbook or saw disappointment in her husband. When her own daughter came home from school one day with a “C-“ on her report card, Thelma blew up at the young girl. Thelma sent little Carrie to her room for the day, without supper. When Thelma came to Carrie’s room at night to check on her, the little girl’s pillow was wet from tears. Thelma’s heart broke in that moment. She realized that she was doing to Carrie what her own mother had done. That night in her prayers, Thelma asked God for the grace to be a better mother. She asked God to teach her more about grace and forgiveness. With God’s help, Thelma squashed that bitter demon from her younger years. She would no longer wrestle with overly critical self-talk or perfectionistic expectations.
If you look at Thelma’s situation, it was an exorcism of sorts. She used the power of God to change her heart and way of thinking. The demon she was wrestling with no longer caused her emotional pain. That perfectionistic, overly critical demon was off her back for good!
Are there any demons you’ve been wrestling with lately? Are you overly critical, like Thelma’s mother? Do you have unrealistic expectations about something in your life? Is there a past event that continues to haunt your days? Is there a person whose presence in your life brings evil thoughts or makes you overly angry? I’ve met too many people who, when haunted by a demon, made poor decisions or acted rashly.
In the first century, the apostle Paul urged the Corinthian Christians to keep away from demonic practices. In a way, I guess I’m saying the same thing to you today. Demon possession comes in a lot of forms…..