Past Devotions

Living hope.  There are some words that just say something in their simplicity. They don’t need a detailed explanation; you just know the minute you hear them how important they are.

Living hope are two words that speak volumes.  You find these words in the opening thoughts of Peter’s first letter.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” [1 Peter 1:3-5]

Our hope is alive because it is anchored in Jesus Christ who through the power of God was raised from the dead and is forever alive!  Our living hope isn’t wishful thinking – the kind of wishful thinking that prompts some people to buy lottery tickets. Our living hope isn’t just for one person whose numbers are picked over the numbers of millions of others.

Our living hope is for everyone who accepts God’s great mercy. It is alive now in Christ Jesus. It will be translated into a sure inheritance when we see Jesus. It can never perish, spoil or fade away. It will never leave you bankrupt or worse off than before you obtained it.

When we surrendered our lives to Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, we were birthed into that living hope. We are alive in it. We flourish in it. We find God’s power operating in it for our good.

Living hope. How grand those two simple little words are.

(Beginning Saturday the 12th, devotions will once again be posted in the AM rather than the night before.)

I was driving home from work last week in Black Bart, my wonderful new car. I was keeping a safe distance from the car in front of me, traveling at a safe speed. Then “BANG!” A rock came flying off the tire of the car in the lane next to me as it passed me and hit my windshield. My new car’s windshield!

It looked as if it left a ding that needed to be repaired by one of those windshield guys in the kiosks in the store parking lots. Bob took it in Saturday and found that the rock left a “residue” on the windshield, but thankfully didn’t actually “ding” it.

Dings in the windshields are a common occurrence around here. Big snow tires with big treads kick up the rocks on the highways and send them flying in all directions. You can be doing everything right and still get dinged.

You can be doing everything right and still get dinged. Somehow that has a spiritual connotation as well, doesn’t it? You can be doing everything right the way God intends and still have something come flying at you from a direction you did not expect. The government shuts down and you lose your paycheck. You lose your job. You are forced out of your rental because it has become more profitable for the owner to simply sell it. Someone makes a wrong choice that impacts your life. “Stage 4” suddenly becomes part of your vocabulary.  Big life-changing rocks come flying at you fast and furious and demand your attention.

I always remember that nothing takes God by surprise.  You will never see God smack His forehead and says, “Boy, didn’t see that coming!” Nothing throws God off His game plan. Even rocks that come flying at us from every angle!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD.  Thank you, LORD!  [Jeremiah 29:11]

I played one of those silly Facebook games. They are all over Facebook. You click a link and it will give you a word, or saying, or picture or tell your “fortune” in different ways. I usually ignore them but occasionally one will intrigue me enough that I’ll push that little button. I did that last week when the “game” was supposed to give me my “Bible Verse for 2019.” I was a bit surprised at the outcome. It gave me Deuteronomy 31:6.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Moses is at the end of his journey. He will not be allowed because of his disobedience to enter the Promised Land. In his last message to the people he reminds them that they are to be strong and courageous. When they see the current inhabitants of the land, they are not to be afraid or terrified of them for the LORD, their God, will be with them.

I think this may be a good verse for 2019. I need God’s supernatural strength and courage. As I told our church a few weeks ago, I believe we are going to see God move to set some things right across our nation … and in case we have forgotten, judgment begins first with God’s house.  “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” [1 Peter 4:17-18 NKJV]

I am and always will be a preacher of grace. But I also understand that grace isn’t permissiveness. Grace, which is ours solely through the sacrifice of Jesus, accepts us where we are but never leaves us there. Grace is the power to become all God intends us to be. In many ways, the church has been preaching “cheap” grace, grace with no power, nor consequences. I don’t see God allowing that to go on much longer.

“Be strong and courageous.”  

 “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called.”

My, oh my, that’s an interesting request. What were we when we first heard God’s invitation of salvation? I know what I was, and it isn’t a very pretty picture. If we can’t remember, Paul goes on in his letter to tell us what we were when we were called … and I find that I fit very well into his description.

“Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” [1 Cor 1:26-30]

Not many wise, not many influential, not many of high social standing. Instead God looked to the foolish, the weak and the lowly and despised.  He did it for a particular purpose, of course, so that “no one may boast before Him.”

I often remind people (and myself) that just because I wasn’t wise nor influential nor strong when I heard God’s call, does not mean I am to stay that way. We are to acquire the wisdom of God. We are to learn to speak with the knowledge of God. We are to become strong through the Spirit of God. In other words, we are to become conformed to the image of God’s True Son, Jesus.

The world may still consider us foolish, but they aren’t looking through the lens of God’s Spirit. They are looking at us through eyes that have been blinded by the god of this world.

No one wants to look foolish, at least I think no one wants to appear foolish.  I looked up foolish in the dictionary and there were three definitions. One, having or showing a lack of good sense, judgment, or discretion. Two, being absurd or ridiculous, Three, being insignificant or trifling.

I would not think anyone yearns to fit into one of those three definitions. Yet there are times when we do appear foolish. As Christians, often the world slots us into one of those definitions.  Paul said it this way, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” [1 Cor 1:18]

People who do not know our Lord and Savior listen to the message of the cross … how God sent His Son to earth, born of a virgin. This Son of God lived his life as an itinerant preacher, was rejected by His own people, and condemned to die on a Roman cross. In His death He took the punishment for our sins. He was raised to newness of life on the third day, and ascended into heaven, opening the path through Him for all to come to God.

To those standing outside looking in we seem to lack good sense and judgment. We have a message that is pure foolishness to the world’s way of thinking.

But to those standing inside and looking at the cross, we see the power of God. We see power to become children of God. We see power to become holy, conformed to the image of His Dear Son. We see the power of God’s Spirit at work in our lives. We see in the cross and resurrection, our all in all.

To the world we may appear foolish, but to our God, we are known as His children.

I am entering 2019 with many thoughts. I believe this will be a pivotal year for the nation, the economy and the church around the world. My thoughts also center in particular on our little church. We have 80 nice comfortable seats and room for about 20 folding chairs. They have never all been called into use. Why?

That’s one of my basic questions before God, why would you tell me to get 80 chairs if we are never going to use more than 30. Is the church growing? Yes, and no. The church, the people are growing in their faith and walk with the LORD. Are we growing numerically, unfortunately that answer is no. So why? I’m back to that same question, LORD, why tell me to get 80 chairs if we are never going to see them filled?

Maybe it’s because I’m old for a pastor and not drawing in lots of younger people. Someone said it’s because I preach out of the Bible and people don’t want to hear that “Old Stuff” any more. Others says I challenge people to grow and sacrifice and live for the LORD, and that’s too hard. Maybe it is a combination of all those things, and more.

But when did serving God, being a Christian, become easy?  When did we start giving people what they want, instead of what God wants? When did we begin focusing on our desires, rather than our needs?

There is a wonderful passage in 1 Corinthians chapter 1. There Paul talks about the wisdom of God and how it seems foolish to man.  One sentence caught my eye: “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel-not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” [v17]

When we preach human wisdom, we drain the power from the cross of Christ! That may be one of the most amazing thoughts in Scripture. Think on that today!  I am.

Rom 6:4: “…just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” [NKJV]

Even so, we should walk in newness of life, Paul reminds us, but do we? Do we walk in the newness of life that is ours in Christ Jesus?

Walk in Scripture is often a reference to how we live our lives, the choices we make, the motivations we have, the connection we have with our Father God. Are we walking a life that honors Christ Jesus?

As I look back, and yes, I know it is the new year, but I still on occasion look back. As I look back, I have a few regrets. No one gets into their later years without a few. I can reduce those regrets to just two. I regret having to leave our youngest son in California to finish his senior year when we moved to Idaho. I can play out all the reasons, mainly economic, that necessitated that move. I can tell myself that we left him in godly and good hands. Still, leaving, and not being a part of his senior year, plays heavy on my heart even today.

And the other regret? That I didn’t always walk in this newness of life that was mine. I didn’t always walk worthy of the one who called me into His kingdom.

I can’t change either of those things now. All I can do is try with God’s help, to live the remainder of my days in His newness of life.

Rom 6:4: “…just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” [NKJV]

These few days after the new year begins, I hear a lot about newness. New diets (or a return to old ones), new exercise programs, new clothes, new toys, new books, new computer games, new, new, new. In another couple months those things will be old, old, old, if they even still exist.

Yet Paul is clear. Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father. He left that tomb and walked among His own for 40 days. 40 days! He was not an apparition, it was not group hysteria, it was not a hoax. He was dead. He now was raised to newness of life. He walked and talked and ate with more than 500. He never returned to the dead, instead He ascended alive into heaven and the presence of His Father.

Christ has conquered death by the power of the glory of the Father. Through that same power, we also walk in newness of life. We were dead in trespasses and sins and now we are alive. [Colossians 2]

We are to continually walk in this newness of life, this God-given, eternal, life of Christ. One day we are even going to walk right through death and into the presence of the Father and all who have been made alive by His glory!

WOW!

I have this urge to toss out stuff. I keep telling myself to have a garage sale and make some money from it, but that is a springtime venture and I’m ready now to get rid of things that are cluttering up the place—especially the garage! In the past we moved so frequently, we didn’t keep things the way we have since we moved into this house in 2007. I get unsettled when I have too much clutter around.

Taking down the Christmas decorations always helps a bit, but just not enough. I don’t do well with disorder. And that’s an amazing change because growing up I was the Queen of Disorder. My room was always a mess. Even after I first got married, I wasn’t neat and tidy. I wonder what prompted the change?

I try to keep my soul, (my mind, will and emotions) uncluttered as well. I find spending time with the LORD in the early morning hours helps. I used to handwrite my thoughts in a journal, now I type them into a computer. The process, however, remains the same. I think about the LORD and praise Him for His gracious love for me. I think about the previous day – and confess what I need to. I thank Him for what He’s done and doing in my life. I try to do those things before I ask anything. This process unclutters my soul.

There is one last step to my early morning routine. I listen. I remember when Samuel was a young boy and living in the temple with Eli. When he first heard the LORD call to him, he didn’t recognize the LORD’s voice. Finally, Eli realized what was happening and told the boy to respond, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” [1 Sam 3]

And God did speak, and Samuel did learn to recognize God’s voice. Amid our cluttered world, and often cluttered lives, we too need to recognize the LORD’s voice when He speaks to us.  I have also learned that God is gracious and that when I don’t quite understand what He is saying, if I ask Him to repeat it, He will. He wants me to hear Him even more than I want to hear!

I have eight more work days left on my temporary assignment which ends on Friday next week. I am not as young as I once was and I’m tired from working a 40-hour week and pastoring and writing and being a wife and …. Well, you get my drift.

I probably won’t be able to keep up this pace much longer. I’m slowing down. I’ve noticed old Miss Molly Magee the cat is also slowing down a bit. She likes to get up early in the morning; by 4:15 AM she’s letting us know she’s done with her bed in the laundry room, she wants out, out NOW!  She eats her snack, drinks some milk and then is ready to curl up next to me while I write and pray. She’s happy just being next to me. She has her favorite blanket and before long she’s asleep again. That’s her pattern during the rest of the day. Sleep. Eat. Drink. And Sleep some more.

She doesn’t tolerate change as well as she used to do. She’s cranky some days and happy others. She likes sunny locations as if her old bones need to be warmed. Yep, a lot like me.

Probably the hardest thing for me when I work a full schedule like I’ve been doing, is to not have enough time in the morning before my day begins to spend with the LORD. It seems I barely get started and then I’m off getting ready to leave for my commute.  The day never stops after that and the moments with the LORD are just snatches here and there.  I know not everyone is a morning person, but I am … and apparently so was the LORD Jesus. I am really looking forward to being able to spend more time with Him again!

Mark 1:35: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”