Past Devotions

November 26

“Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.” [Ps 65:4]

“How Happy!” (Hebrew: ‘esher) are those you bring near.  Is that not the goal of every true Christian – to be “near” to God. David, in writing this song, reminds us that being near to God fills us with the good things of God’s house, the good things of God’s holy temple.

When David wrote about the good things of God’s house, God’s holy temple, Solomon’s magnificent temple had not yet been built. The Ark of God dwelt in a tent. David must have understood that “the good things of God’s house” was the very presence of God Himself.

The writer to Hebrews wrote: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith….” [Heb 10:19-22]

When the writer of Hebrews spoke of the Most Holy Place, he, too, was not looking at an earthly temple. He was looking to that heavenly house which was opened to us by the blood of our Savior and Lord.  He too, understood that the “good things of God’s house” was the presence of God Himself.

“How Happy!” we are that God has chosen to bring us close to Him. When our sin blocked entrance into His presence, He, Himself, came and opened the way for us to be near to Him.

Thank you, Lord, I am blessed to be near to You. May I always seek the good things I find in You. Amen.

Today is a double blessing day.  “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.” [Ps 32:1-2]

Once again the word is ‘esher in the Hebrew. “How Happy!”

“How happy!” we are when our sins are forgiven and covered.  John reminds us that “If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” [1 John 1:9]

God is faithful to us. He forgives all our sins in Christ Jesus. They are covered by the blood shed by God’s very Son on that cross nearly 2000 years ago. Forgiven. I can think of no greater blessing than to know that because of Jesus, nothing now stands between my Father God and me.

“How happy!” we are when the LORD does not count our sins against us ever again. I have often heard it said that the LORD will both forgive and forget our sins. How can the All-Knowing God forget anything? When we say that God forgets our sins, it means exactly what the Psalmist says here. God does not count them against us. Once they are forgiven in Christ, they are gone. We need never worry that one day God will remind us of them or change His mind and condemn us because of them.

I guess I can think of a blessing that is at least equal to or possibly greater than having my sins forgiven in Christ, and that is the assurance that they are forever buried in His love, never to be resurrected.

Thank you, Lord. I am blessed, forgiven! Amen,

(I know I have shared this link before, but this song ministers so to my soul when I think of God’s wonderful forgiveness!

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=forgiven+again&view=detail&mid=B9667EC8896F704C7DCAB9667EC8896F704C7DCA&FORM=VIRE

I guess because it is Thanksgiving week, I’ve been thinking a lot about being blessed. I looked up “blessed” in my concordance and wow(!), did I find a lot of reasons to be grateful. There were between 234 (NIV) and 302 (NKJV) occurrences of “blessed” in the Scriptures. I wonder how much fun it would be to take one each day and simply meditate on it. I think I will do that, at least for the remainder of November.

“Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.”  [Ps 128:1]

I picked this one first because for me this blessing symbolizes the beginning of all blessing…the fear of the LORD and the response that attitude generates in our lives. The word is ‘esher in the Hebrew. It means happiness.  It can be used as an interjection, “How happy!”

“How happy! All who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.”

 It almost sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it?  How happy are all who fear?  We seldom put fear and happiness together. Yet in God we do. To fear the LORD is to love, respect, honor, reverence, and stand in awe of the God who loves us so. When we fear Him in that manner, we want to walk in His ways. That means we submit and do things His way.  AND, when we do things His way, we will surely be able to exclaim, “How happy!”

On this earth, happiness that is dependent upon the things of this life is transitory and fragile; but, when our happiness is grounded on the fear of the LORD, happiness becomes an eternal experience.

Thank you, LORD, I am blessed to fear You. Help me to always walk in Your ways. Amen.

I met a young man last week. I was looking at cars and he was a salesman for one of the dealerships. We walked around the lot a bit, looking at different makes and models, carrying on one of those casual conversations with questions such as where are you from, how long have you lived here, what do you do.  I told him I was from Pennsylvania, via a number of decades in California, had been here since the early 90’s. I told him I was a pastor.

It was that answer that caused anxiety to rise in him. He was gay. I think I was already aware of that fact. When I sensed the fear in him, my heart broke. In that moment, I felt within me the love that God had for him.  In that moment, I realized that while we are all to fear God (respect, reverence, stand in awe, submit – whatever definition you want to apply to “the fear of the Lord”), no one should stand in fear of God’s children.

After we worked our way inside the showroom, I told him how much God loved him. I told him that if God had enough grace to cover my many sins, He had enough grace to cover his. I told him I would not stand in judgment of his sins, that was between hm and God. My duty was simply to present the hope found in Jesus Christ, and to love him

I repeated how much God loved Him. When I said it again, I saw tears in his eyes.  I was once more flooded with an awareness of God’s love. Each time I have prayed for him since, I sense that love. I gave this young man my name and address. I told him that should he ever want to talk, he could call me.

Oh beloved, my heart is still broken over him. How will we ever reach anyone if they are afraid of us, if all they have ever heard from us is judgment. The Scripture reminds us that “the Lord knows those who are His.” It isn’t our job to determine who is or who isn’t His; it is our job to love and offer the same hope that was offered to us.

It is Thanksgiving Day, 2018. For many, today will not be filled with fun, family, good food, or joy. I think first of the fire that wiped out the town of Paradise, and those that are still trying to find out what has happened to their loved ones. I think of the survivors of the fire who have lost everything and are wondering what to do now – where do they go? Not just today, but tomorrow and the next day, and the next.

I was thinking this morning of the men and women serving our country in far away places, and of their loved ones here at home going through another holiday without them.

I was thinking of those who are alone with nowhere to go, no one to even notice that this day is just another lonely day in a string of endless lonely days.

I was thinking this morning of those whose loved ones are sick, or dying, or who no longer recognize even the children they raised.

And I was thinking of a Savior who told us when these kinds of burdens become too heavy to bear, we can turn to Him.

“Come to me” Jesus said, “all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  [Matt 11:28-30]

“Come to me.” That’s an invitation for today, or for any day. “Come to me.”

I am blessed. Blessed beyond my ability to comprehend at times. I have found there is a big difference between being blessed and life being easy. Too often we equate God’s blessings with escape from the difficulties of life, or always getting every little thing we might need or want.  That has never been the case for me.

Growing up was a difficult experience, yet still had its share of joys. My teen years were full of rebellion, yet God kept me from harm. Married early, three children, financial difficulties, and God through all those things brought supernatural healing for a child, led me to salvation, and gave me a hope that transcended every grievous trial.

We built the house of our dreams and lost the house of our dreams. We found a church we loved that loved us back. Recession moved us away from that church to another state. And as I look back, God led each step of the way.

There have been joys and griefs, delights and discouragements. Through it all I have learned that God loves me. He loves me. Me! That unhappy, rebellious, short-tempered, impatient person, AKA me, is loved by the Everlasting, Infinite, Almighty God. He has walked with me in the joys and in the griefs. I know His presence in the delights and discouragements. He loves me.

That is blessing—not that I might have avoided all the dark trials and circumstance, but that He has been the light amid every one of them. Thank you, Lord.

I have been reading in the news about the trial of Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, AKA El Chapo. That got me to wondering just what “El Chapo” stands for.  I don’t speak Spanish, but I do know that “El” is the equivalent of “the.” So, what does “Chapo” mean.  I was surprised when I read the definition.

“There’s no direct equivalent translation but in the local slang of Culiacan, “El Chapo” refers to a short, stocky, body-type. It likely comes from the slang Chaparro (male), Chaparra (female) meaning ‘short person.’”

All along I thought “El Chapo” was some kind of power title and now I find out it’s Guzman’s nickname, “Shorty.” Technically, “The Short Person.”

Ever notice the difference between the words “a” and “the?” Strange question, I know. Yet, there is an awesome distinction between the two. “A” usually refers to one of many. “A” king, a queen, a president, a leader, acknowledges that there are many more like that.

“The” points to one and only one. “The King” stands alone.  I think about how our God is “The Savior, The Christ, The Messiah, The King of kings.”  Paul wrote: “God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.”  [1 Tim 6:15-16]

We serve “the” One and Only Blessed Immortal Ruler. Praise His Holy Name!

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just a couple days away.  It used to be the “official start” of the holiday season. Now it seems to be just a nice day off from work between Halloween and Christmas. The start of the holiday season commercially began in August this year … that’s when I saw the first Christmas commercials and the sprouting of Christmas decorations for sale in stores and online.

Of course, the Thanksgiving Holiday doesn’t benefit many commercially, unlike Halloween which seems to get bigger every year and Christmas. We buy a little more food for one day, but that’s about it.  Thanksgiving just doesn’t bring in much coin or currency.

Yet of all the holidays we experience during the year, I think Thanksgiving is my favorite. It was always the one where I could count on family being together. There was the meal, and some football, and a couple rousing rounds of Trivial Pursuit. It hasn’t been like that for a few years now. This year it will be my daughter and son-in-law and dinner brought in from Cracker Barrel. The boys, spouses and grandchildren will be with others or in other places, and I will once again miss what used to be.

Still Thanksgiving is a special holiday to me. It reminds me that I should be grateful, and that thanksgiving is for more than just one day a year—it needs to be a way of life. Thanksgiving is the gift we bring when we enter God’s presence.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” [Ps 100:4-5]

Godliness is the first of the three remaining virtues in Peter’s second letter and the subject of the message this morning at church. Peter tells us that we are to “make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness….” [1:5-6]

Godliness in the Greek is eusebeia and is defined as “that piety which, characterized by a Godward attitude, does that which is well-pleasing to Him.” *

I find that definition intriguing. If you look at our English definition of godliness it is “the quality of being devoutly religious; piety.”  We have lost something in the translation.

When Peter wrote of godliness, I think he wanted us to understand the fullness found in that Greek word. Not being a Greek scholar, I still see two things of note in eusebeia. The first is the Godward attitude, the second is the action prompted by that Godward attitude—doing things that are well-leasing to God.

Godliness cannot be attempted in our own nature. When that happens, we may end up being devoutly religious, but that religiousness is shackled in legalism and arrogance. Godliness is generated through the Spirit of God. It happens when we develop that Godward attitude – looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith. We keep our eyes on Him, we fall more and more in love with Him every day. We live to please the One we love. That’s true godliness.

*(from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

John addresses his friend Gaius as “dear friend” one last time in 3John. He has just mentioned a leader in the church who is not acting the way he should. That man’s name was Diotrephes, and he was apparently stopping the church from providing the kind of hospitality for which John had just commended Gaius. Now he warns his “dear friend” to be careful he does not become influenced by Diotrephes’ example.

“Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.”  [3John 11-12]

In his letter, John has prayed for, commended, and now warns his friend of the danger that lurks around every corner, yes, even corners in a church.  We must make sure those we follow, those we imitate, are doing what is good and what is from God.

Paul reminded his readers, “Bad company corrupts good character.” In other words, hanging with the wrong people is dangerous to our Christian walk.  We need to be wise. We need to understand that we all are vulnerable to “bad company.” It is when we think we have come so far that we can’t be influenced to do what is evil – that is when we are in the most danger. [1Cor 15:33]

John warned his friend Gaius. Paul warned the Corinthians. Both left a warning for us today.