Past Devotions

On our recent trip we stayed in a hotel that is being renovated. The room pictures on the booking site were lovely and modern. None of that prepared us for the outside! The entire structure is under re-construction. There were pods of construction materials and fencing everywhere. The main entry was dismal looking, the breakfast held in two little rooms while everything else is under construction. There was no signage with the name of the hotel I booked; we weren’t even sure we were at the correct place except that it was where it was supposed to be – right between the In-N-Out! and Olive Garden. (Funny how I always manage to book hotels close to an In-N-Out!)

Our room, however, once we got to it was exactly as pictured. Modern cabinets, large screen television, outlets everywhere to charge at least ten electronic devices without unplugging anything else. The bathroom was new, there was a small kitchenette and reading lights on each side of the bed. It was a great room!

Which made me think that what is important is not the exterior but the interior. “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”  [2 Cor 4:7-8 NKJV]

I like the way some of the translations use “clay pots” for “earthen vessels.”  When Christ comes to live in us by the power of His Holy Spirit upon our confession of faith and surrender of our lives, we are truly beautiful. He makes our interior new and we now walk in newness of life. This lovely new interior is housed in our old clay pot. Some of our pots have been cracked and damaged, some are growing old and crumbling, some have been kicked around and abused. But it doesn’t matter the exterior because what is inside shines like the Son of God.

And one day, what is inside, will be revealed for all to see. And a new vessel, an eternal, glorious vessel like unto the Son of the Living God, will be given us. Can’t wait! Amen.

“I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” [Matt 16:18 KJV]

This passage began when Jesus asked the question, “But who do you say that I am?”  Peter’s response was a confession that Christ was the Messiah that the Jews had been longing and waiting for down through the centuries. Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

 Following that confession Jesus changed Peter’s name from Simon to Peter, “you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” [Matt 16:15-18 NKJV]

I’ve heard a few sermons on this passage. There is a lot of argument about just what or who “this rock” is upon which Jesus will build His church.  I am going to leave that argument to the scholars because that is not the part that draws my attention.  I find my attention glued to those five little words uttered by Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God. “I-will-build-my-church.”

That’s what ministers to my soul. That and the promise that follows, “the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”

Jesus will build His church. It’s a done deal. Nothing, including the gates of Hell, will stop Him from doing just that. Whenever I despair, thinking that the church isn’t what she should be, or the church is failing in her commission, or the church is or isn’t something …. I remember.  Jesus will build His church and nothing in this world or out of it can stop Him. Hallelujah!

De-fense! De-fense! De-fense!

While in California we attended our grandson’s last Junior Varsity football game. There was a light crowd, we cheered and encouraged the team. No cheerleaders were present, just parents, grandparents, some other family and friends yelling and encouraging. They won and won big!  It was a fun game sitting in the bleachers. Then Junior Varsity left the field and the Varsity filed in. It was senior night, to honor those playing in their final games before they graduate.

The stands rapidly filled up. People came wearing school colors, some had megaphones, others cowbells. The cheerleaders showed up. The noise level rose dramatically. I was across the aisle from a rather animated parent with a cowbell. Bob was sitting right behind me and there was another person with a large bell behind him. Every time the other team had the ball, the people in the stands yelled, shook their bells, stomped their feet.  Their cry? De-fense! De-fense! De-fense!

My hearing aids were on overload, and I think the guy with the bell behind Bob could have been in mortal danger if Bob was a bit younger and more agile!

De-fense! I have heard that the best defense is a good offense.  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Matt 28:19-20 NKJV]

So, is the church today on offense or defense? Maybe it’s time we figured that out!

What are you taking with you?

I overpacked for this last trip … again. I always have a contingency of supplies, a bit of water and food, a couple books, my Bible and computer, of course. I also grabbed my Kindle, the travel coffee pot, some blankets, my crocheting for those long stretches when I wasn’t driving. Oh, and my pillow because I know I won’t sleep well on some other one. I packed my backpack which I take to work daily instead of a purse, but then I thought about going into restaurants and games, so I also packed my mini-purse. Did I forget anything? Oh yes, medications, hearing aid batteries, strips for my glucometer …. There, I think I have it all.  Oh wait, I forgot the lunches I packed for Thursday!

What are you taking with you?

While at my grandson’s last Junior Varsity football game, my son took a picture with five of the young men who were on the team.  He posted it on Facebook with the comment that he had coached these five strapping young men (all now taller than him) since they were little tykes. These boys have stayed together, decided to stick together and go to high school together. They are not perfect kids and as with all children, growing up isn’t always easy. But these five boys, standing there in their dirty uniforms with my son are a treasure.

Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  [Matt 6:21]

That means where your heart rests—that is your treasure. When we stand before the LORD one day, our treasures will be openly displayed. I’m looking at my son, his treasure can be found in all the young boys and young men into which he has invested his life.

What are you taking with you? 

I am a child of God. Let me say that again. I am a child of God. Read it out loud – I AM A CHILD OF GOD.

Listen to John 1:12 from different translations:

KJV:  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

NIV: Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

CSB: But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God.

Power. Right. The word is exousia. It’s a wonderful word. There are two words often used for power in the New Testament. Exousia is one of them. The other is dunamis, the word from which we get our word dynamite. I heard a speaker once explain these two “power” words this way: Two men meet outside a bank, one a robber, the other a police officer. Each holds a gun; each have dunamis–Power. But only one has a badge, he has the authority, the right to use the power; that’s exousia.

John wrote that to all who receive Christ, who have placed their faith in Him, He gave them the right, the power, the exousia to become sons and daughters – children of God.

I am a child of God. The absolute wonder in that statement takes the breath away. You are a child of God if you have come to Christ, knelt before His cross, embraced His resurrection and now live by faith in the One who died for You. We are children of God!

God is good. All the time. All the time. God is good.  I’ve heard that declaration and response cited many times. We say it, but do we think about what it says? Do we believe it? Is God good? Is He good when the circumstances around us are not? Is He good when illness strikes? Is He good all the time? Or is He good only during the times all is going well?

Do you know that what you think or know about God will either invite you to know Him more or it will become a wall to knowing Him at all?  What do I mean by that?

Remember the Parable of the Talents? You can find it in Matthew 25. Jesus told the story of a master who called three servants into his presence before he went on a trip. He gave one five talents, another two talents and the last one talent. When the master returned he called each back into his presence. The first with the five talents had doubled them and returned ten to the master, the second with the two had also doubled his and returned four talents to the master. The master’s response, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” [vs 21-22]

The last servant however, had not done anything with his. He simply buried his talent and gained nothing to give back. This servant viewed the master differently. The first two saw him as a good master, one who would reward them for their faithfulness.  The third viewed the master as a hard, demanding man, so he did nothing to please him. He gained nothing, returned nothing, and ultimately received nothing.

Our view of our Great and Almighty Master will determine whether we gain or lose, whether we pursue or ignore Him. So, is God good?  All the time?  For me, the answer is a resounding “Yes!”

I am not a fan of Halloween. I never have found anything delightful in this commercially-energized holiday. I hate the gore, the occultic proclamations of witches, demons and devils that too often take a front row seat.  I find no beauty, nor goodness, nor grace in this day. There is enough evil in this world without dressing our children in it.

Whenever this date rolls around I think about what Paul wrote. “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 4:8-9]

I love those words … true … noble … right … pure … lovely … admirable … excellent … praiseworthy. I don’t see many of those words in this day. I sometimes wonder if those words have even become archaic in our day and age. We no longer talk about true … we talk about relevant. We don’t call out noble or right, we lift success and power. As for lovely, admirable or excellent, we highlight defiance, opposition and failure. Praiseworthy? I’m not sure we even see that much in our churches.

It’s time, beloved, to focus on Paul’s words again, not the words we see touted in media and networks. If I am going to think about anything this day, I want it to be defined by one or more of those words.  Today, it’s the true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy that will capture my attention and thanksgiving.

I came across this devotion from a few years ago and decided to repost it … I love this baby turtle story!

A baby turtle was standing at the bottom of a large tree and with a deep sigh, started to climb. About an hour later, he reached a very high branch and walked along to the end. He turned and spread all four flippers and launched himself off the branch. On landing at the bottom in a pile of soft, dead leaves, he shook himself off, walked back to the bottom of the tree and with a sigh started to climb.

About an hour later, he again reached the very high branch, walked along, turned, spread his flippers and flung himself off the branch. Again, he landed in the leaves, shook himself off, went to the bottom of the tree, sighed and started climbing.

Watching these proceedings from the end of the branch were two little birds. Mommy bird turned to Daddy bird and said, “Don’t you think it’s time we told him he was adopted?” *

There are those days when I feel a bit like that baby turtle-bird! I know I am supposed to fly – and not just fly but soar on wings like eagles. Instead all I seem to have are a bunch of flippers that won’t function like wings. I’ve been adopted into the family of God, I am being conformed to the image of His Dear Son, but I’m just not there yet!

So, I keep climbing up, and I keep crawling out, and I keep launching myself off in faith … and one of these days, these old earth-bound flippers will be wings and I will soar!

Isa 40:31: But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. [NIV]

*Taken from “Encouragement-Wired,” by Tom Reid.

Toward the very end of the Sermon on the Mount recorded in the Gospel of Matthew are some of the most terrifying words ever uttered or heard.  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” [7:21-23]

I have heard many a sermon on the Sermon on the Mount, given a few of them myself. I’ve studied and read commentators thoughts on what Jesus said. I’ve heard people worry about whether they would be included in the dire warning given here. I remind people often that if they are worried about their inclusion, they are probably not included.

“…but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” is the foundation of Jesus’ warning. If you do the will of the Father, you do not need to be warned. If you, however, do not do the will of the Father, you should stop and heed the warning. And what is the will of the Father about which Jesus is talking?  “[The LORD is] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” [2 Peter 3:9 NKJV]

It is not our abilities to prophesy or drive out demons or perform miracles that matter, it is the condition of our hearts. It is the knowledge of our Lord and Savior and coming to Him in repentance, that will keep us from ever hearing the most terrifying words ever uttered … “I never knew you. Away from me ….”

O LORD keep my heart right before You. May I live a life of repentance. May I seek Your face and know You. Amen.