Past Devotions

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.

Reading what John wrote to his friend Gaius in 3John is a delight. He calls Gaius “friend” four times in his letter. He addresses him that way in the salutation and then writes “dear friend” three more times.

He begins with a prayer for his friend, a prayer for good health and a prosperity that encompasses his entire life. Then he goes on to commend Gaius for his hospitality and love. “Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love.”  [3 John 5-6]

I think one of the most important parts of friendship is to tell those we love what we appreciate about them. John told Gaius he appreciated his hospitality for their brother Christians, even the ones Gaius did not know personally. These brothers then told the church about Gaius’ love.

We are often eager to comment on the things we think others are doing wrong. We do it sometimes under the guise of “requesting prayers” for a brother or sister going through struggles or temptations. Believe me when I say that people outside the church notice such things. One of the primary “reasons” people give me for not attending a church is that “Christians tear each other down.”

Beloved, Paul reminded us that God’s purpose for us is to build each other up. “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” [Rom 14:19 NKJV]

Let’s make doubly sure that is what we are doing!

Today is my dear friend’s birthday. I will give her a call sometime today and tell her how much I love and appreciate her. A couple years ago she experienced a health crisis and we weren’t sure she would continue this journey with us, but she overcame that and even some subsequent issues and is with us. I thank God for His abundant mercy.

Friends. One of the most neglected letters in the New Testament is 3John. John, who now refers to himself as “the elder,” writes to “my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.” [vs 1]

John wrote these letters in his old age. Some scholars say perhaps as many as 50 years after the resurrection of Christ. In John’s old age, he may have found friendship even more important then he did when he was younger. And he, of course, had the example of Jesus who called the Twelve “my friends” on more than one occasion.

We don’t have a clear indication of just whom Gaius was, but at some point, he became John’s friend. And I would think a rather close one since he addresses Gaius that way not just in the salutation, but three more times in the body of the letter.

Today, as I think of my friend’s birthday, I will pray for her John’s prayer for his friend. “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”  [3John 2-3]

The pain of our pasts always seeks to force its remembrance into our present. By doing so, it can change the course of our future.  I’m finding that happening in the natural with the wounding of my little toe. A falling razor in the shower landed on it and took a good size chunk out of it. The pressure of a shoe still brings some pain and forces me to limp to try to relieve it. Once that shoe is removed, I have found I still limp, even though the actual pain is gone. I must make a determined effort to again walk naturally.

That doesn’t just happen in my body, it also is a pattern in my heart. Pains, wounds, things I thought healed often try to return and cause my heart to “limp.” Paul reminded his Philippian readers that one thing he did was to forget what is behind. He made a conscious determination to put the past in the past and forget it. But just telling the past to remain there isn’t always enough. Paul said there’s another step, and that step may be even more important.

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  [3:13-14]

Paul shifts his focus. He strains toward what is ahead.  The word he uses means to “stretch oneself forward.” He adds that he presses on toward the goal, the prize that awaits him. Pressing on means, literally, “to pursue.”

The only way to prohibit the past from forcing itself into our present, is to focus on the future prize that waits for us just beyond that finish line. When I picture that in my mind, I see those runners in Olympic races pushing out their chests and almost throwing their bodies forward as they reach the finish. They know the gold, silver, bronze accolades that await just beyond race’s end. For me, I know what awaits beyond the finish line, my Savior and Lord Christ Jesus. I can see Him in my mind’s eye calling me, encouraging me, holding out His arms to me. So, like Paul, I stretch myself forward to Him.