Devotions

I try to avoid allowing the news to infiltrate my mind. That’s hard to do since we are surrounded by news media. I am SO tired of the talking heads who used to report the news but now seem to be in the business of being the news, commenting, dissecting, discussing to death every political and non-political statement, tweet, post, and response. They are hoping for ratings so they will do anything to grab our attention. I try to ignore much of it.

God has a way, however, of grabbing attention that can’t be ignored. He told Solomon to be on the look-out for His call to attention: “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people ….”  [2 Chron 7:13-14 NIV]

Massive floods. Hurricanes. Earthquakes. Wildfires. I have heard people commenting that God is trying to get our attention.

Is God trying to get our attention? Is He making a statement to us like He made to Solomon? Or is it just “Mother Nature” or climate change or global warming? I’ll leave the answers to those questions to the prophets.

I will say that there has been “no rain of the Spirit” in too many of our churches. The ways of the world have invaded and “devoured” the land. There has been a “plague of sin and arrogance” among God’s people. God IS speaking to His people, and it is time to listen.

Holy Spirit, open our ears so that we might hear “what the Spirit is saying to the churches” today. Amen.

We often quote 2 Chronicles 7:14, especially when we are faced with difficulties or things that are impossible to understand. To appreciate how important that verse is, we need to take it (as all other verses) in context. God begins his declaration to Solomon by making sure Solomon knows just whose temple it is. “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices.” [2 Chronicles 7:12 NLT]

I am reminded when I read this verse that God chose Israel out of all the nations on the earth to be His own. He chose the location for the temple where His presence would be. He chose the one to build it – not David who originally had the idea, but David’s son. We call this temple Solomon’s Temple, but it truly was Jehovah’s Temple.

In the same way, God chose the church. The church is the bride He has picked out for His Son, Christ Jesus. He is the One who will present her without spot or wrinkle or any blemish.

When I look at the church, I tend to see the spots, wrinkles, and blemishes. Then I need to remind myself of God’s promise. “…Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.  He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.” [Eph 5:25b-27 NLT]

Christ loves the church. As ragged as she may look at times, worn and not at all ready for a wedding, Christ sees her totally ready because He knows HE HAS THE POWER TO MAKE HER SO.

Holy Spirit, sweep through your beloved church and make us ready! Amen.

It would be hard to deny that the enemy of our soul is on the warpath. He is waging an all-out last-ditch campaign against the Church of Christ Jesus. He is using every weapon – he is hitting our pocketbooks, our health, our relationships. He is using every method, fear, hate, tyranny, etc.  – trying to divide and conquer.

But all this will be to no avail because God has other plans for our land. A true spirit of repentance from those in leadership to those in the pews is beginning, and that is always the start of every move of God. Once we recognize the awesome holy all-powerful God for who He is, and we see ourselves for who we are … once we get that vision rightly in our hearts, nothing will stop a move of God! “If my people will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways …” is the beginning.”

When Solomon finished the temple, the Lord appeared to him one night and spoke to him. That verse above is from what the Lord said. It would be good to look at the beginning of God’s words to Solomon … at the context and not just isolate out a part. Read 2 Chronicles 7 today and focus on the opening words the LORD spoke to Solomon. “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices.” [v12 NLT]

I know we talk (and have talked) a lot about an expected revival. We have pointed out that God is going to do a new thing. Some say we don’t really know what we are talking about. Maybe we don’t. But I’m believing that an awakening is just ahead for our land. And that’s the way I am praying!

Lord, help us to know and understand our times, just as you enabled Solomon to know and understand his. Amen.

I have been working my way through Romans 8 once again.  It is one of the most glorious chapters in the New Testament. It has had theologians debating deep Biblical concepts for centuries. Seminary students likewise. Yet I’m not sure if Paul wrote the letter to theologians or intellectuals. I think he wrote it to the church in Rome, which probably would have been made up of rather common folks like us … possibly even with a large contingent of slaves since Rome functioned on slave labor.

These common people would be facing persecution even martyrdom for their faith. They needed something rock solid to keep them steady. Paul told them in 8:28 that no matter what they faced, they could “know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

 That raises the enormous question, “How can we be sure that all things will work for the good?” After all, all things include not only the good that comes from our good, good Father, but also our present sufferings (v 18) and as Paul will outline later, tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword (v 35).

I read a commentator who said that we can trust this promise of God because God’s ultimate purpose is to exalt the preeminence of His Son. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” [Romans 8:29]

 Our salvation is all about the supremacy of Jesus Christ; it is bound up with God’s eternal purpose to glorify His Son through all eternity. Whatever comes into our lives (whether we classify it as good or not) will in the hand of our loving Father work to conform us to the image of Christ Jesus – and will further the supremacy of Christ for all eternity.

And that is good. Amen

When I was saved so many years ago there were two verses that God showed me almost immediately. The first was Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

That verse has sustained me through many personal discouragements, failures, and doubts. God began this work in me … God will finish this work in me.

The second verse I learned was 1Peter 2:9: “you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people [treasured possession], that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” [NLT]

That verse holds special meaning for me also. To be God’s treasured possession is an overwhelming thought. To be called out of darkness into His marvelous light lifts my spirits. And that little phrase in that verse reminds me of my life’s goal … God did all this so that “[I] may proclaim the praises of Him.”

What a privilege! In all things I am to give thanks. Whenever I have even a moment, I am striving to offer thanksgiving to Him who chose us, made us royalty in His kingdom, took us as a holy nation (God’s special/treasured possession) and brought us from darkness to His marvelous light.

What a glorious calling.

Giving thanks in the middle of the storm … while the ship is sinking! That’s what Paul did. Acts 27 recounts the story of Paul, the prisoner, headed to Rome by ship to present his case before Caesar. The ship encountered all kinds of weather-related problems. They ended up in a huge storm, taking desperate measures to keep from sinking. Acts 27 gives one of the most detailed pictures of what sailors went through when in such danger in ancient times.

After not eating anything for weeks, Paul finally encouraged them to eat. While the ship is being beaten apart, Paul tells them that the ship will be lost, but all their lives will be saved if they just do what he says. God had promised him in a dream all the lives on the ship.

“Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. ‘You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,’ he said. ^‘Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.’  Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it.” [Acts 27:33-35 NLT]

Can you picture this scene in your mind? Waves crashing. Sea roaring. Ship groaning. Wind whipping all around them. Rocks pounding the hull. And Paul standing in their midst passing out bread and in a loud voice (I know it must have been a loud voice) giving thanks to His God.

Beloved, whether we are in the middle of a storm today, or peacefully resting in calm waters, we need to give thanks. There is POWER in thanksgiving.

(I sent this out in 2017, but decided to resend it today)

People were jealous. The king liked him better than they did them. They searched for a way to topple this favored one but could not find anything amiss in him. They decided instead to deceive the king into making a ruling against praying to anyone except the king. The ruling was only in effect for 30 days, but the punishment for breaking it was severe—death. These jealous men were hoping that the favored one would ignore the ruling and continue to pray to his God so that they could accuse him before the king and do away with him for good.

The favored one, of course, was Daniel. And Daniel did exactly what his foes thought he would do. “But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.” [Dan 6:10 NLT]

Isn’t that amazing? All Daniel had to do to avoid the lion’s den was wait 30 days for the ruling to expire. Or he could have simply given his thanks to God silently out of sight. But Daniel did not change—not even when giving thanksgiving to God became against the law of the land and punishable by death.

There are places in our world today where men and women face death by publicly acknowledging faith in Christ Jesus, where the giving of thanks to Jehovah God brings the wrath of others upon them. We need to lift them up in prayer every day so that they might have the courage of Daniel.

Father, I confess today that there have been times in my life where I have failed to offer my thanksgiving to you. I confess today that I often forget those who are risking their lives for their faith. I pray today to be more like Daniel. And I pray today for those who are suffering and dying for their faith. May their testimony resound around the world. Amen.

About an hour before I am ready to go to bed each evening, Bob often finds a Western on the television. I grab my earphones and computer and head to YouTube to listen to songs that touch my heart instead. One of my favorites is “Hallelujah Praise the Lamb” by the Talley Trio.

When I look around me, I see so much injustice, so much hurt, danger, and evil. I see people oppressed by the enemy of their soul. I see the enemy getting a foothold in their lives, causing them to question God’s love for them. I see them loathing themselves and coming under condemnation, instead of understanding the conviction of God’s Spirit to restore and heal. And I cry, when?  “When, God, will you set things right?”

The waiting for God to set all things right can be so difficult. But as I listen to “Hallelujah Praise the Lamb” I remember that the Lamb of God purchased for us “mercy, grace and love that knows no bounds.” And that “though guilty and condemned I now am free.” And “forever I’m forgiven for Christ the Lord has risen and risen with Him we shall one day be.”

When I remember those things, as that song reminds me, I know it is going to be all right. My heart can sing His praise again! As I listen, I hear God whisper the promise, the same promise He makes in Revelation 6:11 to the ones martyred during the tribulation.  They were told “to wait a little while longer” for Him to make it all right.

Thank you, Father, for the sure promise that there is coming a time when You will make it all right, and wrong will be banished forever. Help me to spend my “wait,” my life, for Your Kingdom. Amen, come quickly Lord Jesus.

It would be foolish to deny that this world is full of evil. This past week saw the assassination of one man, another school shooting, and the memorial for those killed in a massive evil strike on 9/11.

Much has been written, and to add my words would provide little to the dialogue. I would simply remind us this morning of Paul’s words to Timothy in what is probably his last written words. They were written from a Roman prison where Paul was awaiting execution for his beliefs. The letter was written to encourage Timothy to stay the course amid great struggles.

His words should remind us that evil exists in this world. Modern civilization has not destroyed it. Education has not eradicated it. Politics have not abolished it. Our Constitution has not eliminated it. Evil is here and will be here until it is forever banished when Christ returns and sets us His Holy Kingdom.

And it will get worse. As Paul prophesied, “You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that…. Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.” [2Timothy 3:1-5, 12-13 NLT]

So, what do we do in the face of such evil. Paul told Timothy what he was to do, and it is still good and true for us. “But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught…. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true.” [2Timothy 3:14, 16 NLT]

Stay true.

I have battled impatience all my life. Every time I think I have conquered it, something comes up to remind me that I still have a way to go. Like this recent neck surgery. I began weaning myself off the neck brace on the 3^rd. Wouldn’t you think I would be much better by now! After all, that’s nine days ago!

Then I remember that the doctor told me that six months from the surgery I will look back and think “I am glad I did it.” Six months, not a little over seven weeks.

Yes, I am impatient. I know it. God knows it. And when I get a little cocky about it, He seldom hesitates to remind me that I have yet to reach patience perfection.

I know some say you should never pray for patience because you will get tribulation, but we are going to get tribulation in this life whether we pray for patience or not [John 16:33], so I might as well go ahead and pray for it when I need it. There is no caveat attached to that “tribulation in life” truth.

In Paul’s great prayer in Colossians 1, he reminds us that we have a source of patience and endurance in God’s glorious power. We can seek God’s power in our search for patience and God will provide us with all we need. And He also through Christ Jesus will provide the forgiveness needed when we allow our impatience to flare.

“We also pray that you will be strengthened with all [God’s] glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need…. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” [Colossians 1:11-15 NLT]