Past Devotions

As part of our “Seek & Shout” series at The Way AG Middleton, we have been studying how to live victorious Christian lives.  Too many of us are defeated. Each day when we get up the enemy of our soul runs us aground, there is no soaring on wings of eagles for us. We barely make it out of bed before we are beset with discouragement, hopelessness, defeat.

The enemy drives our emotions, fuels our addictions, tempts us constantly with that “sin that does so easily beset.” His goal is to keep us from living our life in the power of Christ and claiming the authority that is ours under the blood of Christ Jesus. Instead of taking our rightful authority in Christ over the enemy of our soul; we are waiting for him to leave on his own so that we might be the kind of people we know God wants us to be. The enemy, however, won’t leave on his own.

We need to remember that Christ already has gained the victory over him. Satan, the devil, whatever you want to call him, is a defeated foe. He was defeated through the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ. Christ Jesus now sits at the Right Hand of Power of the Father and He has all authority and power given to Him.  But the best part is that we also have that power and authority delegated to us.

“God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” [Eph 2:6-7]

We, mere mortals, are seated already in the heavenly realm in Christ Jesus. We can live victorious in Christ. It’s about time we rose up as believers to claim our authority and power and remind the devil he’s defeated and has no part of us. We may be mere mortals, but we are also children of God, seated in Christ Jesus in this age and the one to come.

I’ve been having issues with my neck for a couple months. I’ve been in six automobile accidents in my lifetime – yes, six. None of which were my fault. I’ve been hit from behind four times, broadsided once, and I broadsided a vehicle making an illegal turn in front of me. (I’m actually glad about that one as she was heading the wrong way onto the “off ramp” of the freeway. I can only imagine what would have happened if she succeeded.)

I thought that after all the years and accidents my neck was showing signs of the damage. So, I practiced the exercises given me by a physical therapist years ago, applied heat, took Advil, and endured until after this last trip, I could not endure anymore. I called my doctor and she was on vacation for two weeks, so was referred to one of their Urgent Cares close to me. It turned out to be their Urgent Care for sports injuries. I ended up with someone who was able to diagnose what was wrong with me in a matter of minutes.

I learned in philosophy class in college that if you want to get a correct answer, you must ask a correct question. It turned out I was asking the wrong question … my self-diagnosis was way off, so the way I was treating it was never going to fix it. I have a strained trapezius muscle on the right side. It needed rest, not exercise; ice not hot treatments; Aleve not Advil … and a muscle relaxer. One day with that treatment saw relief. Yep, asking the correct question gets the correct answer.

That works in the spiritual also. When we hear people speak – using Christianity to defend their arguments or make a political point, we need to ask the correct question. It is not their boasting of their relationship with Christ that makes them credible – it is Christ’s commendation of them. Paul was quite clear about this. “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” [1 Cor 10:17-18]

Remember, Jesus said we would know them by their fruit. Do their words match the words of Christ? And more importantly, do their actions reflect the image of Christ? It must or they are not speaking for Him.

I read an article and saw a picture of a Samsung truck. This semi is unique in that it has a camera built in that faces the oncoming traffic. That camera projects onto a screen at the back of the truck so that vehicles behind the truck can tell when it is safe to pass. Boy I wish that was on all the trucks on Route 95 through Idaho, Oregon and Nevada that we travel to California. There’s one lane in each direction and passing at times can be a near-death experience.

I pray for safe travels each time we hit the road between Caldwell and Modesto. It’s 645 miles from our home to our son’s. The trip has everything you might want (or not want) in a trip, long stretches of 2-lane roads, sometimes boringly straight and other times curving through the mountains. It has an 80 MPH highway through Nevada, and a climb up to Donner Summit in California followed by a race – and I mean a race – down the hill. Then of course, there is Highway 99; I won’t even try to describe that!

As I said, I pray each time for safety. I am not sure how I will meet my end, perhaps quietly in my bed some night with my Bible across my chest as my Great Aunt Julie met hers. Perhaps it will be after a lengthy bout with some disease as my father did, or simply seeing my body wear out from old age as my mother’s did. It might even be along a stretch of Route 95 or Highways 80 or 99!

However it comes, I am comforted by Paul’s words to the church at Rome. “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” [Romans 14:8]

It is not just the living or dying part that is important, the crucial part is that we belong to the LORD. When we surrendered our life to Christ Jesus, we came under His divine care. As we live in this world, we live in Him. As we exit this world, we die in Him. And when we enter the next part of life – we belong to Him forevermore. Glory!

Vegetarian. Vegan. Keto. Noom. Atkins. Zone. South Beach. Those are just a few of the diet plans being touted as cure-alls. Some eliminate all meat; others focus on meat. And don’t you love the new “meatless” meat that we now find in the fast-food restaurants and in our local supermarket “meat” counters. “Meatless” meat that is made from the same ingredients as we find in dogfood does not really appeal to me. I wonder if people would buy it if we called it “Alpo-Burgers.” Sorry, that’s that way my mind is running this morning.

When it comes to our diets, and our health, I think it is the blind leading the blind. That image comes from Jesus. He used it in a parable in Luke 6:39-40: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?” [NKJV]

Unfortunately, while Jesus’ parable is relevant to our diets and health, it is even more so to our spiritual condition, which is Jesus’ original intent. I see just as much “blind leading the blind” about Christianity as I do about diets and health. People profess to know exactly what God wants. They are constantly referring to “what would Jesus do or say” when they themselves don’t actually know what Jesus “would do or say.” When Jesus spoke, He spoke from knowledge of the Holy; He was raised in the Scriptures of the Old Testament.

He said to the devil during the temptation in the wilderness, “It is written….” [Matt 4:4]

He said to the chief priests and rulers, “Have you never read in the Scriptures….” And “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” [Matt 22:29, 42]

If we don’t want to be the “blind” following “the blind” we better know exactly what is written in God’s Word, otherwise when they fall into the ditch, we are going to be right behind them.

One of the greatest joys of this last trip to California was sitting in the home of our son and daughter-in-law celebrating our grandson’s 16^th birthday. We sat around a table, the entire family along with my brother who joined us. There were ten of us and I don’t know exactly who started it but while we ate we began to tell “family tales.” My brother and I came from a very dysfunctional family and we had plenty of tales to tell. Our own family had a few of their own to add also.

The laughter began; sometimes so much so we could not catch our breath. (My brother and I learned a long time ago to turn much of our troublesome experiences growing up into humor. It’s a survival technique that we have refined quite well).

There is nothing as precious as a family meal accompanied by laughter and lightheartedness. It was one of the most blessed times on this trip.

Jesus’ invitation to the church at Laodicea is very familiar. We have probably even seen drawings of Jesus standing at a door and knocking. It is an invitation to salvation. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” [Rev 3:20]

But this morning as I read that invitation, I was drawn to the second part of it … not only will Jesus come in with salvation, He will “eat” with us. He will fellowship with us. Together we will sit at the table and we will share “family tales.” He will tell us of all the times we were rescued when we weren’t even aware of danger. He will tell us of His love. He will speak of the “joy that was set before Him” as He endured the cross. We will laugh, we will cry tears of joy. It will be the most precious time.

I took my laptop into the Geek Squad before we left on our trip. When I got to the counter, the Geek Squad asked me what it needed. I told him it needed a “Spa Day.” He gave me a blank stare. So, I elaborated. “It needs a Spa Day, you know mani-pedi, massage, facial.” Another blank stare. So, I went on, “it doesn’t have anything actually wrong with it, it just needs a ….”

“Ah,” he said as understanding set in, “it needs a tune up.” Yep, that’s it. Geek Squad and I speak a different language apparently.

Just before His death Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. John 13 tells us that at first Peter didn’t want the LORD to wash his feet until Jesus admonished him “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” [v8]

Then Peter being Peter changed his mind and wanted Jesus to bathe all of him. But Jesus told him that a person “who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean.” [v10]

We have been washed clean by the blood of the Lamb, our Savior and LORD. But as we walk through this world, our (hearts) often pick up its dirt. We get a bit bogged down with the things that do not matter. It is then that we need a “Spiritual Spa Day,” a Holy Spirit Tune-Up. We need to ask the LORD to remove the things that hinder, the things that are unnecessary, and anything that does not honor our God and King.

I’m not sure where the stock market is now. I know it took a big dip one day before we left for California (and another just this week). I didn’t watch or read much of anything while we were away, so not sure if it “recovered.” I have very little interest in trading investments anyway.

I have a great interest, however, in “investing.” 1 Timothy 6 reminds us to do good, to be rich in good deeds, generous and willing to share. It says that when we do this, we will “lay up treasure for [ourselves] as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that [we] may take hold of the life that is truly life.” [v 18-19]

Jesus was also quite clear that we are not to “store up for [ourselves] treasures on earth …. But store up for [ourselves] treasures in heaven.” [Matt 6:19-20]

I watched that in action this past week. I watched many men standing in the sun on hot days working with young boys and young men. I watched these men “investing” themselves into the lives of others, giving up their time and energy, maybe even their own wants and desires, in order to create godly character in children. My son and daughter-in-law have done that not just with their own two boys but others as well. I am so proud of the sacrifices they have made as they have given over much of their lives to molding godly character in the lives of many boys and girls, young men and young women.

When we get to heaven, our treasures will be standing with us, and speaking to us. “I’m here because you shared Christ with me … because you prayed for me … because you stood in the gap when I was struggling … because you walked with me when I was in crisis … because you molded my character like unto Christ’s.”

I have met a lot of people in my 72 years. Some of them had gorgeous outsides, some didn’t. Some had beautiful hearts, many others didn’t. The outside and the inside don’t always match. Many a person has been fooled by a charming, good-looking exterior that covered a heart that was anything but.

I have also known people who have suffered great disappointments because the world was looking for an “image” rather than quality of character. All you have to do to see that in action is to watch some of these reality talent shows and how the judges “judge” contestants before they perform – then see their reaction when the performance is not what they expected. They are stunned – stunned that the outward image did not reflect the talent.

God, however, isn’t fooled.

“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’” [1 Sam 16:7]

The LORD doesn’t consider appearance or stature. He isn’t concerned with whether we are lithe or dumpy, tall or short, smooth skinned or wrinkled. He’s concerned with the condition of our hearts. I was touched on this last trip by the “quality” of the hearts I experienced. Old friends who love the LORD. Family members who gathered to celebrate a 16^th birthday party, who laughed and loved and cried together.

The LORD looks at the heart. Praise God.

Standing up for Christ often makes us targets for those who wish all mention of God to be silenced. Right this moment, there are people being troubled because of their testimony for Christ Jesus. The enemy of our soul wants to instill fear. He wants us to believe that he has the power—when it is Christ Jesus who has both the power and authority over all of heaven and earth. The enemy knows the time is short, he can hear that chain rattling in the hand of the angel that will one day bind him and cast him into the Abyss.

While we know that vindication and vengeance are in the Hands of God, how do we deal with the day to day assaults. For me, there is only one way – that is to praise and thank God Almighty. The writer of Hebrews tells us to “continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” [Heb 13:15 NKJV]

It is not a sacrifice to praise God when everything is going well, and we are coasting through life. It is easy to thank Him when blessing after blessing pours down upon us.

It is a sacrifice to praise God amid the trouble. When we least feel like praising God is when we need to praise Him the most. When there appears to be nothing going on for which to give thanks, that is when we must thank him continually. To praise and thank when everything seems wrong, when we can’t discern God’s presence with us takes a sacrificial act. (Remember, a sacrifice in the Scriptures often required the death of something.)

When we offer a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving amid trouble, we are putting to death our own expectations, our own sufficiency, our own perception, and instead embracing God’s opportunities, His all sufficiency and His will. No part of this is easy, but then things eternal seldom are.

California trip. 3 AM living room curtain rod breaks, must nail up a sheet before we leave. Work Zones/pilot cars. Flying locust attack over Donner, hundreds of insect bodies impact Black Bart head on. Non-working hair dryer at first hotel. Tahoe Joe’s gave us worst waiter they had. Forgot hat and got scalp sunburn while eating outside in hot sun at lunch following older grandson’s scrimmage. Santa Cruz boardwalk, crowded, noise level off the charts. Traffic ….

Wait. Stop there. Don’t hold that thought!

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” [Phil 4:9]

Enjoyed a meal with two couples (brothers and sisters in Christ) we hadn’t shared a meal with in almost 20 years; talked about old and new times! Movie, Der Wienerschnitzel and a round of Mini-Golf with youngest grandson. Hugs. Football scrimmages with both California grandsons. 16^th birthday party. Driving with 16-year-old who has his learners permit. Spent time with my brother. Hugs. Family party where we laughed so hard telling “family tales” we could hardly catch our breath. Santa Cruz boardwalk unicorn bike taxi with youngest grandson and a puppy named “Princess.” Watching a group of teenagers have a blast on rides I wouldn’t ever consider. Hugs. Watching youngest riding with his dad, showing how brave he was. Did I mention hugs?

Each day life presents us with things lovely and unlovely. It is our choice which we will think about and what we dwell on.