Past Devotions

I’ve made it! I started reading my Bible this year at 1Samuel and just kept going. I finally finished the Book of Malachi, the last of the prophets and I’m headed to the Promised Land (the NT Good News). But before I get there, there are some thoughts from Micah that I want to share.

“Who is a GOD like You?” [7:18] That question is the theme of the prophet Micah, whose name means “Who is like YAHWEH.” The answer is the starting point, the working principle, and the ending point of Micah’s theology. Micah seeks to show the incomparable God – that there is no one like YAHWEH in His power, holiness, wisdom, or matchless grace. YAHWEH is uniquely glorious, yet holy and loving. He is the Sovereign “Lord of All the Earth.” [4:13]

The Book of Micah is interesting in that it presents a God who is sovereign in power to judge people, as well as repeating that YAHWEH is sovereign in His mercy and grace. A lot of people try to separate God’s holiness and His love. They think that a God who is loving cannot also be a righteous judge. But God’s holiness governs everything … His love is a holy love.

The other truth we find in the Book of Micah is the foundational truth that it is the responsibility of all people to live holy lives and to worship God. We are accountable to Him for how we treat others with justice, mercy, and righteousness. Those who do so will experience the grace, love, and mercy of God. Those who fail to worship God and treat others as He demands will experience His displeasure, and ultimately apart from repentance, His judgment.

There is another wonderful truth in Micah alongside God’s Sovereignty and man’s responsibility—that truth is that God is sending His Messiah, His Son, to come and shepherd His people. “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One [Christ Jesus] will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity.” [5:2 HCSB]

That’s where I’m headed to the Gospel of Matthew! “Who is a GOD like You?” I know of no other. Amen&Amen

To me the most treasured event in Luke 7 is the last one. I like reading about the Centurion’s faith. I like noting the compassion Jesus had for the widow who lost her only son. And the story of John the Baptizer and his disciples always makes we wonder about things. But the interaction between Jesus, Simon the Pharisee, and a sinful woman is the most precious to me. [Luke 7:36-50]

Jesus had been invited to dinner at the house of Simon the Pharisee. Simon apparently dispensed with the common courtesies afforded guests (water to wash their dusty feet, a kiss of greeting, anointing oil). It showed the great lack of respect that Simon had for Jesus.

At some point during the meal a woman in the town who was known as a “sinner” snuck into Simon’s home and found Jesus. She had an alabaster jar of fragrant oil and she “stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with fragrant oil.”

Simon snobbishly labeled both Jesus and the woman—she was a sinner and Jesus could certainly not be a prophet if He allowed this woman to touch Him. Jesus, immediately recognizing what Simon was thinking, told him a parable about much forgiveness and much love. The parable was about a creditor who had two people in debt to him, one owing 500 denarii and the other only 50. The creditor forgave both … so which debtor would love more? Of course, the one who owed the most.

The woman knew she was a great “sinner,” but her faith, as Jesus noted later, drove her to Jesus. It took much courage for her to come into the house of Simon, a Pharisee who did not think he had any debt at all.

Jesus pointed out to Simon his lack of respect and how this “sinner” woman had provided everything Simon had failed to provide. Then Jesus had two things to say to the woman … “Your sins are forgiven … Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

I love this story because I know that I am like that sinful woman. It took courage to admit that 53 years ago, but I did. I came to my Precious Savior. My sins are forgiven. Now I am saved through God’s grace by faith. My peace is real. Amen&Amen

What a delightful Savior we find displayed in Luke 7. We see His Interactions with the Centurion who asked for help (and had great faith to receive it) and the widow of Nain mourning her only son who did not ask for help (and yet received it). These are some of my favorite events in the life of Jesus.

The news of what Jesus did for the Centurion and his servant, and the widow and her son eventually made its way through Judea. Some of John the Baptizer’s disciples heard what Jesus was doing and told John, who was in prison. John then sent two of his disciples with a question. “Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else?” [Luke 7:21-30]

Those disciples went to Jesus with John’s question and rather than just give them a verbal answer, Jesus told them to go back to John and report “the things you have seen and heard.” Those things “seen and heard” were the blind receiving sight, lepers healed, the deaf hearing, the dead raised, and the poor hearing the Good News.

There is much speculation as to why John sent his disciples to Jesus with that question. He was languishing in prison, that we know. I think he knew Herod was never going to free him and only death awaited. Was he doubting his ministry, or doubting that Jesus was “the One who is to come?” I do not know.

What I do know is that John pointed his followers to Jesus. I have always wondered if after John’s death they became disciples of Christ. I think they must have. Who else did they have to turn to?

This portion of Scripture always reminds me that when we mentor people, we often fail to turn their attention and dependence away from us and onto Christ Jesus. We must remember that the answer to John’s question is and always will be … there is no one else to look for, Jesus is the One and Only.

Amen&Amen

I love Luke 7 and the four interactions Jesus had with people. The first interaction was with the Roman Centurion who had a sick servant. Jesus, after noting the faith found in this Gentile, healed the servant without ever going into the Centurions house.

Shortly after, in verses 11-17, Jesus meets another group as He is entering the town of Nain. Unlike the group of Jewish elders that sought out Jesus to take note of the Centurion for his building them a synagogue, this group was totally unaware of Jesus. Their focus was on the mother as she mourned her only son being carried out of the city for burial. According to custom, this group would have been wailing as they mourned the loss.

“When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, ‘Don’t cry.’  Then He came up and touched the open coffin, and the pallbearers stopped. And He said, ‘Young man, I tell you, get up!’” [vs 13-14 HCSB]

That is exactly what the young man did. He sat up and began to speak. Then Jesus gave Him back to his mother. Amazing, isn’t it! Jesus has the power over death. I take great comfort in that. But I think I take even greater comfort in the fact that when the LORD saw this widow’s grief, He had compassion for her and without anyone asking Him to do anything He acted.

Sometimes I do not know what to ask. Sometimes things hit so fast there is no time to lift a prayer or make a request. What assurance it is to know that our Savior sees our deepest needs and responds before we even ask for His help.

What a beautiful Savior we serve. All glory to Him be given. Amen&Amen

Luke 7:1-10 introduces us to the Roman Centurion. A Centurion was the highest rank held by men who were not part of Rome’s elite political or social classes. They were commanders of a Legion, usually comprised of 80-100 fighting men. Often, they were men who worked their way up through the ranks by acts of courage and bravery.

The Centurion in Luke 7 lived in Capernaum. This Centurion had a dying slave that was highly valued. He sent some Jewish elders to Jesus to request that He come and heal the slave. These elders brought the Centurion’s request to Jesus and added that “He is worthy for You to grant this, because he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.” [vs 4b-5 HCSB]

Jesus goes with the elders, but when He is not far from the Centurion’s home, He is met by a second group who conveys another message. “Lord, don’t trouble Yourself, since I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. That is why I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be cured. For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” [vs 6b-8 HCSB]

I have always marveled that the Centurion understood not just what it meant to be a person OF authority, but he knew what it meant to be person UNDER authority. But I noted something else this morning. Jesus responded to the Centurion’s declaration with “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel!” [vs 9b HCSB]

This morning, I considered the distinction between what the Jewish elders thought of the Centurion and what Jesus thought of Him. The elders regarded the Centurion because of what he did … he built them a synagogue.  Jesus was not impressed apparently by what the Centurion did, but what the Centurion had … faith.

Our worth is not found in what we do (although there will be rewards for those who serve God faithfully according to His plan). Our worth is found in who we are in Him. We are saved in Him through grace by faith. It is that faith combined with our need that Jesus responds to. Amen&Amen

A few days ago my youngest child turned 50. If that doesn’t make you feel old! But feeling old is not what really challenges me – it’s the changes that being older often bring.

Perhaps what I miss most is the freedom to travel as we used to do. We didn’t go on big vacations, but we made frequent trips to California to see our son and his family. With Bob halfway to 87 and me approaching 80, we would now need to spread our one-day travel coming and going to two days each way. There just isn’t enough money to spend on hotels for such a trip, and even if we did have the money, I’m not sure we have the energy!

As I was thinking about all this, I decided to be a bit nostalgic about the next few devotions. I returned to a favorite chapter in Luke’s Gospel. (Well, it is one of my favorite chapters.) I like to sneak back and read it often. I love seeing how Jesus interacts with us as individuals. I love seeing how He meets the needs of our hearts.

The chapter is Luke 7 and it contains four interactions Jesus had. The first was with a centurion, then the widow of Nain. Third was with John the Baptizer’s disciples and the last was the beautiful interaction with the sinful woman in Simon the Pharisee’s house. I love watching Jesus as He meets people in the Gospel. I love how He responded to each one differently, as each one had different needs.

Toward the end of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus explained His purpose, which is the theme of this Gospel. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” [Luke 19:10 HCSB]

These events captured in Luke 7 show Jesus’ purpose in action. Read Luke 7 today … tomorrow we are going to meet an amazing Centurion and Jesus’ response to him.

I’m not fond of the word ‘perseverance.’ Not only is it hard to spell, but it’s also hard to achieve!

As difficult as it is to spell and to achieve, however, Paul commanded Timothy (and us as well) to pursue it. “But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.” [1Timothy 6:11 NLT]

The list of “evil things” that came before this exhortation reads like a summary of current events, including, an unhealthy desire to quibble; arguments that end up in jealousy, division, slander and evil suspicion; people who cause trouble; corruption of minds; a longing to be rich, etc.

Paul uses the Greek word hypomonē for perseverance. It carries the idea of a steadfast endurance that clings to God in the face of pressure. It is an active, faith-filled perseverance that refuses to abandon obedience or hope. It is sometimes translated as endurance or patience. The word also embraces the idea of cheerfulness.

The only way I am going to be “cheerful” in trials is if the Holy Spirit empowers a tenacity in me to keep going until God’s purpose is fulfilled.

Amen&Amen

At this stage of my life, I have given up thinking I can help myself and have embraced the truth that it is only the Holy Spirit in me that can get me through life! Life is hard. (And if we are living in the last days, that probably will only get worse.)

I need God! You need God too! Thankfully, God recognizes that we need Him and has already provided for that need. He has given us His Very Spirit to not just survive this life but thrive in it.

I found a list of just a few things the Holy Spirit does for us and in us and I thought I would share it with you.

One: He teaches us what we need to know. [John 14:26]

Two: He comforts us with His presence. [John 14:16-18]

Three: He guides in our daily walk with Jesus. [John 16:13]

Four: He prays for us in our weakness and strengthens us inwardly. [Romans 8:26-27, Ephesians 3:16]

Five: He produces the character of Christ in us. [Galatians 5:22-23]

Six: He empowers us to witness and serve. [Acts 1:8, 1Corinthians 12:1-11]

That seems to me to be a great start on answering my cries for “Help!” and I am certain if I need something else, I will also find that In Him. Amen&Amen.

I am sure that most of us – perhaps all of us – when we hear the phrase “Good Grief,” immediately think of Charlie Brown. That poor little guy seemed to have bad luck following him everywhere he went and in every season. “Good Grief, Charlie Brown!”

Most of us – perhaps all of us – know, however, that the losses we endure in this world are real and that they affect us in many ways. Grief is deep and powerful. It is an emotion that flows in when we experience the loss of someone or something we hold precious. Grief is the price we pay for loving and engaging in this life.

As Christians, we have the assurance that we are not alone in our grief. Our Father has promised that “[He] is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed,” and that He is “our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.” [Psalm 34:18, 2Corinthians 1:3 NLT]

God has also commanded other believers to be God’s “physical arms” around us when we experience both the joys and the sorrows of this life. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” [Romans 12:15 NIV]

While we usually do not call grief “Good,” like Charlie Brown does, as believers in Christ Jesus, we can call our Father God “Good.” He has provided us with many sources of comfort in our grief. Amen&Amen

My former pastor, my mentor, my friend Pastor Jim was a preacher of grace. I don’t know if he identified himself as such, but I’m sure that everyone who heard him did. To him, this Christian life was all about God’s amazing grace.

The word translated as “grace” in the New Testament comes from the Greek word charis, which means “favor, blessing, or kindness.”

Certainly, we can all be favorable to others, showing kindness, or blessing them. But when God is involved, grace takes on much more powerful meaning – it means God chose to bless us rather than curse us for our rebellion and sin while we were still His enemies (Romans 5:10)

God’s grace offers us a relationship with Him through forgiveness and reconciliation. It provides the power for an abundant life. It is our greatest treasure. There is no treasure so wonderful as the continuous experience of God’s grace flowing to us.

Everything in time and eternity changed when Christ Jesus our LORD brought grace to us. “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” [John 1:17 NIV]

Amen&Amen