Devotions

I came across one of the most precious promises in John’s Gospel. Of course, the promise also had a condition. It is one of those “if-then” types of promises we see so often.

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” [John 14:23-24 NKJV]

“If anyone loves Me,” Jesus said. If you love Jesus, and I certainly do, then you will keep His word. Keeping His word is synonymous with obedience. We obey, not because we are commanded to obey; we obey because we love Him and want to please Him. It’s a given that when we truly love someone, we want to do the things that bring them joy. I can think of no greater thing than to bring joy to our Savior and Lord by our desire to obey.

Jesus’ promise to those who love the LORD and obey Him is amazing. The Father along with the Son will come to us and make their home with us.  Home. With. Us.

In 1 Corinthians Chapters 3 and 6, Paul reminded us that we (our bodies) are God’s temple. That’s sounds so solemn and so formal. Jesus, however, simply uses the word “home.” There is nothing solemn or formal about home.

Since I’ve been working one of the things I look forward to more than any is simply coming “home.” I am myself at home.  What a picture … Jesus and our Father God is … Home. With. Us.

I woke up Labor Day morning at 3 AM with a series of questions flowing through my mind about our Majestic and Powerful LORD. I listed all but one of those questions in yesterday’s devotion. The one I omitted, “When was the last time you went to a church service that left you uncomfortable, shaken or maybe even afraid?”

Suddenly, as I thought about that question, a host of others began to form. When was the last time church was anything more than routine or ordinary? When was the last time we allowed God to move in ways unexplainable? When was the last time we gave permission for the Spirit of God to deluge us with Rivers of Living Water? When was the last time a church service made us both want to draw nearer and at the same time run away with all our might?

I yearn to see an exuberance in the people of God that seems to be so lacking now. I yearn to hear of preachers so over-powered by the presence of God that they cannot continue but fall under the glory of God beside their pulpits. I yearn to see worship leaders and musicians so consumed with the wonder of God that they abandon their planned program and begin to join with heavenly choirs in worship of God.

Are we really satisfied with the same-old, same-old? Or are we just comfortable keeping God inside our own expectations?

I don’t know about you, but I want to see the fullness of God’s glory – even knowing that I will be undone by it. I want God to move in power among us, even if that power unnerves me and causes me to tremble in fear. I want all of God in our midst, not some handicapped, impotent, deity that neither challenges me nor changes me.

That is what I pray for every day. “Even so, come Lord Jesus!”

I woke up Labor Day morning at 3 AM with questions swirling in my mind. Those thoughts centered around our Holy, Untamable, All-Powerful God.

When was the last time you faced the God of Moses and came away from that experience with your face reflecting His Glory?

When did you meet the God of Elijah who first brought an earthquake, fire and wind to command your attention for His still small voice?

When was the last time you entered the presence of the God of Isaiah and found such holiness that you were unraveled in your humanity?

When was the last time you fell as dead before the God of Daniel and had to be revived before you could hear God’s answer to prayer?

Now lest you are thinking, that’s the Old Testament God and we now serve the New Testament gentle Christ Jesus who allowed children to climb on His lap. Let me remind you of the gentle Christ Jesus who calmed the raging storm and sea with a word and left His disciples more “terrified” of Him than of the storm. [Mark 4:35-41]

And remember John the Beloved, the one who reclined beside Jesus during the Last Supper? Remember his response when He saw the glorified Jesus holding the keys of death and Hades in Revelation 1, “I fell at his feet as though dead.” 

We serve a holy, untamable, unexplainable, mighty LORD. He is majestic, powerful, dangerous. We should be breathless in His Presence, awestruck by His Majesty, undone when faced with His Holiness. If we are not?

I want to continue with Paul’s letter to Philemon through just one more verse.  Verse 7 closes out that first paragraph in Paul’s letter.  Paul has reminded Philemon that he has prayed for him and that he is continuing to pray for him. Now he tells Philemon what Philemon’s faith and love has accomplished in Paul’s own life.  “For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.” [Christian Standard Bible]

As Paul heard of Philemon’s love and care for other saints of God, it refreshed his own heart. It brought joy and encouragement to Paul, whose life was often fraught with trials and difficulties. While Philemon’s acts of kindness and mercy weren’t to Paul particularly, Paul was able to gain inspiration and cheer from them. There is something about faith in Christ and love for him that unites the saints of God more closely than any outward relationship can unite the people of the world.

Our faith unites us in supernatural ways not only to God, it unites us supernaturally to God’s children. The same Spirit of Christ that indwells me, indwells all God’s children. I share the same nature, imparted by Christ, with them. There is no way that relationships birthed solely of this world can be like that.

That is why, when I see the good done by one Christian for another, I can be inspired and cheered. Or when I see one act of mercy and love extended by a part of God’s family to those who don’t know Christ, I can rejoice and be glad.

There is no jealousy or envy when I see someone being used of God for His Kingdom, for when one Christian advances the Gospel in this world, all Christians are benefited.

Paul in his letter to Philemon began with his standard salutation … “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,” and then he immediately made note of his prayers for Philemon.  “I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints.”

But Paul doesn’t stop with just noting he has prayed for Philemon and thanked God for him in the past. He goes on to show Philemon his continual prayers for him. “I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ.”  [v4-6 Christian Standard Bible]

What an interesting prayer!  Paul reminds Philemon that it is in actively participating and sharing the faith that we gain a fuller understanding (knowledge) of every good thing we have in Christ Jesus. And that cycle continues because the fuller knowledge we have of every good thing that is ours in Christ makes us participate in sharing that faith even more. Simply put, the more I know of God, the more I want others to know. And the more I share with others, the more knowledge of God I gain, especially as I see Him at work in their lives.

Our faith is not static but to be ever growing. Our knowledge of God is to be ever expanding and deepening. We are never to be satisfied with where we are or what we know.  There should be a hunger in us to know more of God and to grow exponentially in faith as the knowledge of Him increases. And as faith grows and knowledge increases, our passion to share the good things we have in Christ Jesus with others should become greater and greater.

Father, may I know you and love you more and more every day. May my desire to share my faith in Your goodness also become greater. Amen.

There are a couple pluses in going back to a temporary placement with the same department where I worked last year’s temporary placement. First, I didn’t have to learn a new language or an entirely new set of processes and routines. Yes, some things have changed, and I will need to get up to speed on those, but I know what the acronyms stand for along with why and what needs to happen. While I’m physically having to adjust, I’m not mentally as tired as when I had to learn all that last year.

The second plus is that I get to work with the same people. I was there two days and already had an opportunity for prayer with someone going through a rough time. It was just a natural, “let me pray with you,” that was accepted and welcomed.

One of the things I love about the Epistles in the New Testament is how often the writers make note of their prayers. In Paul’s letter to Philemon, he is barely passed the standard salutation when he makes note of his prayers for Philemon.  “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.” [Verses 4-5 NIV]

Paul in his private prayers was quite particular about remembering his friends. He called them by name, lifting them up to the LORD.  It appears that he also mentioned before God his thanksgiving for their faith and their actions of faith.

We must remember our Christian friends much and often in our prayers.  Sometimes we lift their needs, and sometimes we offer thanksgiving before our God for their faith and their good acts and deeds. Those of faith who accompany us through this life should always be in our thoughts, and upon our hearts before our God. Can you imagine going through this life without Christians walking beside you?  I can’t.

I am tired. Last week proved two things. The first thing is that I’m not quite recovered from the two surgeries and tire a lot easier than I think I should. The second thing is that this is the last time I’m going to do a full-time job in addition to pastoring. I think at almost 72, I’ve reached my limit. Whatever that will mean for our economic condition, we’ll just have to face it when the time comes. I’m done.

I’m done with the full-time job, even if it is only for a few months. I’m not done pastoring, at least God has not released me yet. He may, but as of today, The Way Assembly of God in Middleton is still my passion and my home.

For two weeks the message there has been out of Psalm 103, which begins, “O my soul, bless the LORD, bless His Holy Name.”

One commentary noted that David, the song’s author, ended the song the same way he began it, “O my soul, bless the LORD,” and made the comment, “God’s praise is a subject that will never be exhausted … We are never to think that the work of praising God is done.”

I may be done with this full-time secular job in mid-January. I may be done with all full-time jobs in the future. I may even one day be done pastoring The Way. But my work of praising God will never be done…not for all eternity. I think we not only have enough of God’s benefits to praise Him now, but I think we will be discovering and acknowledging even more of His benefits for all eternity. This is one work I’m looking forward to doing forever!

 “Bless His Holy Name!”

Today at church we are looking at the second half of Psalm 103, which one commentator called the “Mount Everest” of praise psalms. This psalm is accredited to David. He begins with a command, “O my soul, bless the LORD [YHWH], and all that is within me bless His Holy Name.” [Christian Standard Bible]

I started a 4 ½ month temporary full-time job last Monday, complete with my old 60-mile-round-trip commute. After this first week, I’m very tired as I’m not yet used to the change of routine, the longer days (especially when I have prayer or Bible Study in the evening), and the stress of crazy freeway drivers. I know it’s going to take at least a few weeks to get in the swing of things.

Just before rising this morning that opening verse of Psalm 103 ran through my head. My immediate reaction was anything but enthusiastic. I remember when our grandson Carter was very little and was asked to pick up his toys. His response was, “Me too heaby [heavy].” I think that’s the way I felt this morning, “Me too heaby.”

Then I had to laugh at myself. I’m getting ready to head for church, get behind a pulpit and give a message on blessing the LORD with everything that is in us and I’m not in the mood to do that myself! Funny how God makes us live out our messages.

So, this morning, whether I’m “too heaby” or not, I’m blessing the LORD for all His benefits to us. I’m going to stand and worship during song service as long as I can, I’m going to praise His name out loud and raise my hands and clap and maybe even shout a bit about the marvelous God we serve. And only after blessing the LORD with all that is with me will I be able to encourage others to do the same, even on the days when they are “too heaby.”

I spent much of August in the Psalms. I so enjoyed it, I think I just might spend September in that book also.  This morning I was in Psalm 145, which is a song praising God’s greatness. It is identified as a hymn of David. Listen to verses 3-6 from the Christian Standard Bible.  “The LORD is great and is highly praised, his greatness is unsearchable. One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim your mighty acts. I will speak of your splendor and glorious majesty and your wondrous works. They will proclaim the power of your awe-inspiring acts, and I will declare your greatness.”  

Read the whole song today and as you do notice the way David goes from “they” to “I” over and over. In the verses above, it is “One generation will declare” and “I will speak.” Then it is, “They will proclaim” and “I will declare.”

The LORD, YHWH, Jehovah, the covenant-keeping God is great! He is to be praised. He is to be praised corporately and He is to be praised individually. The onus is on both “them” and “me.”

There is power when I declare the testimony of God to others. It encourages and strengthens “them” to hear my proclamation of God’s mighty acts especially during the times when my life is difficult. And “I” am also encouraged by the testimony of others when I see them going through difficult trials yet hear them speak of the power of God’s awe-inspiring acts.

The praise of God’s greatness is the common ground for encouragement and building each other up in the Lord.

Senator John McCain died last week. He was a war hero, a POW in the Viet Nam War. Even though he was often called a ‘maverick,’ he served his country with dignity, integrity and honor. Many thoughts have been shared about him. The one I like best came from President George W. Bush. “Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled.”

Whether or not we always agreed with him politically or on issues, McCain was a man of honorable character. That can’t always be said of politicians or anyone else for that matter. All too frequently lately we have seen the failures and hypocrisy of men and women displayed across the media.

 “We also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.” [Rom 5:3-4 Christian Standard Bible]

Affliction produces endurance.  Senator McCain certainly knew times of affliction in his life, but we must always remember, affliction alone cannot produce anything. It is only when affliction is met rightly that it bears good fruit. Many have fallen into bitterness of soul when faced with afflictions.

Our words, our actions, our responses to life will prove our character. They will make it visible for all the world to see. We may be people of honorable character; or we may be people of dishonorable character. We may even be able to keep our bad character hidden from others for a while, but eventually that will prove a fruitless endeavor. What we are inside will be seen by all.