Devotions

In John 17, Jesus prays with and for His followers. At one point in His prayer He prays for “all those who will believe in Me ….”  [vs 20]

I am always astounded that I am included in His prayer. You are also. Jesus prayed for us. He asked that the full measure of His joy might be in us. He asked that we might be protected. He asked that we might be sanctified by His truth.  (Read His prayer for you today in John 17.)

What blesses me most is found in verses 22-23: “I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. I am in them…” [HCSB]

 “I am in them.”  Jesus in me.  Say that with me, Jesus in me. Have you ever pondered all that means?

Charles Spurgeon wrote of this verse, “This is no narrow pipe through which a thread-like stream may wind its way, it is a channel of amazing depth and breadth, along whole glorious length a ponderous volume of living water may roll its floods.”

“I am in them.”  Jesus in us.  May we not restrict this flood of living water but instead by the power of, and our cooperation with His Spirit keep the channel uncluttered by doubt and sin.

Oh LORD, let your living water roll its floods through me!

I repeat myself. I remember in bible college one of the professors would constantly say, “Repetition increases remembrance,” as he repeated himself.

I used to laugh at old people who would tell the same stories again and again.  Now I am one of them. I wonder why I repeat. Perhaps as we age, we experience less so we have less to tell. Our adventures become less adventurous and our excitement less exciting. So, we repeat the things that were.

My college professor was right on; however, repetition does increase remembrance.  Peter thought so too.  In his second letter, he reminds his readers of their faith and the things he wanted them to add—goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. He also urged them to make their calling and election sure so that they would not fall.

Then he started to sound like my college professor, “Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you have. I consider it right, as long as I am in this bodily tent to wake you up with a reminder …. And I will also make every effort that you may be able to recall these things at any time after my departure.” [2 Peter 1:12-15 HCSB]

The things of the LORD need to be repeated. The world, the flesh and the enemy of our soul are loud and determined to erase biblical truths and the knowledge of God from our remembrance. Instead of always seeking new things we need to be like Peter – it is right to refresh our memories of the biblical truth we already know.

Recently I was out walking later in the afternoon when it warmed up a bit. I was listening and singing to the worship songs on my playlist. Amazing Grace came up and I was singing those old familiar verses. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me…. When we’ve been there 10,000 years bright shining as the sun….”

I thought about that wonderful reminder when we hear those words of God’s salvation and the marvelous future we shall have with him. Then I stopped; my thoughts had totally skipped over the middle verses. I heard God’s Spirit whisper … those middle verses are where you live right now.

“Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.” [Amazing Grace, John Newton 1779]

God’s grace, God’s amazing grace has brought us to where we are. God’s grace, God’s amazing grace will lead us home to Him.

That’s where we live, beloved, in the power and presence of God’s grace in our lives. His unmerited favor is stronger than anything that might come our way. His undeserved grace will embrace us and lead us every day in Him.  How could I have skipped over that truth?

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for reminding me that my past is covered with God’s grace, my future is promised in God’s grace, and my present is protected by God’s amazing grace.

Yesterday, I read Matthew 8 as part of my yearly Bible reading plan. It is a chapter that always amazes me. Matthew outlines Jesus’ authority over sickness and death, His authority over the natural world, and His authority over the spirit world. That chapter also contains one of my favorite events in the life of Jesus—the healing of the Centurion’s servant. [vs 5-13]

A Roman Centurion approached Jesus. That itself is amazing. Then the Centurion asks Jesus for a favor (even more amazing.) His servant is “lying at home paralyzed, in terrible agony.”

Jesus agrees to come, but the Centurion rejects that offer with an amazing reply. “’Lord,’ the centurion replied, ‘I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But only say the word, and my servant will be cured.’”

 And goes on to further explain, “For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes ….”

Jesus will heal the Centurion’s servant with just a Word and will point out the Centurion’s great faith to all witnessing this event.

What I have usually heard taught is that the Centurion’s faith was birth in the Centurion’s realization of his own authority – that he could order those under him to obey and they would.

But I think the Centurion also knew about authority because he too was “a man under authority,” a phrase we often skip over.

He had risen to his position because of his obedience to those above him. He knew BOTH the privilege OF and the responsibility TO authority. 

We are one week into the New Year 2024. This is resolution season!

My newsfeed is abundant with advice on healthy eating, exercise, and getting our acts together in finances, health, relationships, etc. After one week, I wonder how many resolutions have already been abandoned.

I gave up on resolutions years ago. Most of mine never made it past the end of January. Some never made it even that far. Someone once remarked that I did not have much willpower.  I disagree. My will has plenty of power – the problem lies in just where my “will” wants me to go. Left on its own my willpower will lead to my disadvantage, not my advantage.

That is why the verse in Philippians 1:6 means so much to me.  “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” [HCSB]

The good work started in me (God’s good work of salvation) is empowered by God Himself. It does not rest (solely) on my willpower. If it did, I would definitely lose.

Of course, I have a part in this good work. That part is to cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He leads, teaches, reveals, and empowers. But as I do that, I have the promise of God (and His promises are always, ALWAYS, secure in His nature) … I have the promise of God that He will bring about my complete salvation.

 For that, I am so very thankful!

Don’t you just love the way the Bible begins?  “In the beginning ….”  [Genesis 1:1]

 We think so much about being in the end times, we sometimes ignore the astounding statement made “in the beginning.”

God knocks our sock off right away … “In the beginning God ….”

He always has been … before there was ever a “beginning,” there was God.

“In the beginning God Created ….”

 God fashioned the “beginning.” God formed everything. “In the beginning …” wasn’t by chance. God had planned a beginning before it ever took place.

 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

 It wasn’t evolution. It wasn’t a big bang. It wasn’t an accident. God intentionally created everything “in the beginning.” God brought it all to pass by the power of His Word.

 When we grasp that … everything else falls into place. Thank you, LORD, for the “beginning” and the end.

Our house was alive for a few days last week. Our California kids and grandsons arrived in Idaho and joined our two children and their families here. We went to the movies with our grandsons. The “girls” (me, my daughter, my daughter-in-love, and soon-to-be-my-daughter-in love) went to a little café in Nampa. The “boys” went to an outdoor range and shot guns and rifles for hours.

We went to Shindig Farms and zip-lined, rode mechanical bulls, swings and took a wagon ride. Some got lost in the maze and a couple ate corn dogs that were the equivalent of three regular-sized ones. Hot chocolate was a favorite.

In between adventures, we spent time together in our house. We watched a little football, ate, ate again, and ate some more. The house was noisy and messy and alive for three days. And I loved every moment of it!

Now the house is once again neat and quiet, and it is just Bob and me. We are looking at the new year. I know there are good things ahead to look forward to, but I also know there will be long days in between.

Funny how fast life can change from being chaotic every day and longing for just a little quiet when the kids were young – to being quiet every day and longing for a little family chaos once again.

I visited Psalm 139 again this morning – that wonderful song of David about “The All-Knowing, Ever-Present God.” I lingered awhile on verse 16. “Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.” [HCSB]

God knew my today … every day … and what it would hold. God knows my days ahead and what they will hold. I can trust Him with each one.

I am heading out early this morning for a doctor’s appointment. Who makes a doctor’s appointment a few days into the new year? I mean, really, who does that? Apparently, I do. And not just today! I have another appointment tomorrow.

I will have to step on that scale today. It will report how well I did either maintaining or not maintaining my weight. Tomorrow my continuous glucose monitor will be downloaded into their files, and it will report how well I did at keeping my blood glucose under control.

I mean, really, who does this?

It seems like when the new year begins, we try to set aside all those bad habits we picked up in the holiday season. You know those bad habits – the added heavy meals, the additional sweets, the abandonment of exercise. We make resolutions about eating healthy, exercising, cleaning up our daily routines to once again be productive.

As I was reading Psalm 139 yesterday, I came to those final verses. “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” [vs 23-24 HCSB]

As much as eating right and exercising might benefit my physical health, having a right heart before the LORD will do so much more. It will benefit spirit, soul, and body … and set me on a good path for not just the year ahead but also for the eternity in my future.

Right before the end of 2023 I posted a devotion on Facebook (FB) about the Second Coming of Christ. It ended with “Even so, Come Lord Jesus.”

As I clicked the FB button to publish it, I got a pop-up that asked if I wanted to “Create an Event!” I laughed because I really do want to “Create an Event” and schedule the Second Coming of Christ Jesus. Unfortunately, that is not my prerogative. Scheduling that event belongs to our Father God.

When questioned about God’s timing of events, Jesus reminded His disciples “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority,” and then reminded them of the privilege of receiving the Holy Spirit and the responsibility that was theirs. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” [Acts 1:7-8 HCSB]

(If it was my prerogative to schedule, grab your hat because we are on our way now!) But while I can’t schedule the “Day of the LORD’s Coming” as an event in FB, both Peter and Paul remind us that there is something we can do. Paul even promises a reward for doing it!

“It is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God.” [2 Peter 3:11-12 HCSB]

“There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the LORD, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who love His appearing.” [2 Timothy 4:8]

We are to earnestly desire and long for and love His coming. That I can do!

The New Year 2024 is here. The old year has bowed to its successor. Some things will change, some things will remain the same.

In many places new laws and regulations will take effect on this first day of 2024. One thing that will remain the same in 2024 is the Goodness of God.

As the year 2023 drew to a close, I was sitting in my recliner listening to music when “The Goodness of God” came up in my list. As I listened to the words, I felt the Holy Spirit whisper to my soul and spirit, “Some things never change.”

 “I love You, Lord / Oh Your mercy never fails me / All my days / I’ve been held in Your hands. From the moment that I wake up / Until I lay my head / Oh I will sing of the goodness of God

“I love Your voice / You have led me through the fire. In the darkest night / You are close like no other. I’ve known You as a Father / I’ve known You as a friend. I have lived in the goodness of God.

“And all my life You have been faithful, All my life You have been so so good. With every breath that I am able / Oh I will sing of the goodness of God.”  [Jenn Johnson, Bethel Music]

“His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” [2 Peter 1:3 HCSB]

Thank God, some things never change.