Past Devotions

I came upon this list the other day and although I have read it multiple times before, this time it gave me pause.  “Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way….”

Let’s pause there. Paul has been talking about ministry, about what it means to be a servant of God.  Now he begins a list of what there is, as part of the ministry, to commend it. If we were to ask a hundred servants of God today, I doubt we would find on their list what we find on Paul’s.

“…we commend ourselves in every way, in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” [2 Cor 6:4-10 NIV]

It takes the breath away. Read that list again, slowly. Make a point to stop at the semi-colons and look at the words that are grouped together. Troubles, hardships, distresses. Purity, understanding, patience and kindness. Truthful speech, power of God. Quite a resume. Quite an example for today’s servants of God.

Perhaps the one that spoke to me most is the last one—“having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” 

Father, make us true servants. Help us to see beyond what the world calls success and find the true calling of a servant. Amen.

Remember learning about verb tenses in school?  Present-Future-Past. “Run-Will Run-Ran”? Of, course, then they threw in those more involved conjugations, such as Present Continuous (am running), or Past Perfect Continuous (had been running), or how about Present Perfect Continuous (have been running). Still make your head spin? Mine does.

This morning my favorite is past tense, defined as denoting past events. And one of my beloved examples is found in Ephesians 2:4-5: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.”  [NIV]

God “made” us alive. It is by grace you “have been” saved. We are not waiting for life to happen, nor are we waiting to be saved. God in His great love and mercy has already accomplished it for us and in us. Once we placed our faith in God’s Christ, we were given life and salvation.

Too often we forget what God “has done” for us. We spend too much time striving for what we already have. Today might be a great time to think about some of the things you already have in Christ. Here are a few to get you started:

Ephesians 2:6: “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus”

1 John 5:4: “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

Colossians 1:22:  “Now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death….”

Colossians 3:1:  “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”

Isn’t past tense the greatest!

I really want to encourage you to get this book for yourself and others — today. I think you’ll love it. It will challenge, encourage and educate you on how to stand up, speak out, and live for Jesus with great courage in light of what’s happening in our nation. And, it’s on sale! 🙂  There are links below which will take you to purchase sites.

It’s written by my friend, Michael Anthony, and is entitled “A Call for Courage: Living with Power, Truth, and Love in an Age of Intolerance and Fear.” This is a book you can judge by the cover!

“A CALL FOR COURAGE” BOOK SYNOPSIS:

No one is born courageous, but everyone hopes courage will come. Here’s how to stand strong.

Like many other people of faith, you may be concerned about what the future holds for Christians in America. Every day we wake up in a nation and world that is increasingly hostile to our beliefs and values. Even the basic freedoms that define America—speech and religion—are under attack. The result is that many of us have become fearful, apathetic and detached. The great need of the day is a sweeping revolution of courage in our lives, families and houses of worship. A Call for Courage will spark that revolution in you.

Michael Anthony understands how fear can paralyze us, and in this revolutionary new book he shows Christians how to stand up and speak out, mobilizing them to walk by faith, not fear. Drawing from Scripture and deep personal experience, he proves that anyone can learn the secret to putting fear in its place and becoming more courageous. A Call for Courage will help you stand up and speak out while others demand you sit down and shut up. You will learn how to

• develop the secret weapons God has given you for courage,
• handle haters, racists, and everyone in between,
• overcome attacks against your freedom of religion and speech,
• speak the truth with love when disagreements threaten to create division, and
• develop courageous humility as your new way of life.

A Call for Courage is a handbook on how to live with courageous humility. No matter who you are or what you’re facing, A Call for Courage will help you live with power, truth, and love in an age of intolerance and fear.

LINKS:

ChristianBook.com is offering it now at 35% off: https://www.christianbook.com/courage-living-power-truth-intolerance-fear/michael-anthony/9780718090944/pd/090944?event=ESRCG

If your church is looking for 10 or more copies, you can get it at 40-50% off here: https://www.churchsource.com/a-call-for-courage-2

It’s also available on Amazon here, and it’s getting great reviews: https://www.amazon.com/Call-Courage-Living-Power-Intolerance/dp/0718090942/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520965870&sr=8-1&keywords=a+call+for+courage+michael+anthony

2 Chronicles 20 describes a time when the “Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat.” Jehoshaphat consulted the Lord and God told him that he would not have to fight that battle, God would fight for him. “For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”  [v 1, 15 NIV]

That is exactly what happened. Jehoshaphat got up the next morning, gathered the people and set out only to discover that the Moabites, Ammonites, and Menunites ended up fighting each other. All Jehoshaphat had to do was collect the spoil.

David had a different experience.  In 1 Samuel 17, David faces Goliath. When challenged by the giant, (described as 9’9”, wearing armor that weighed 125 lbs.), David responded with the fact that “it is not by sword or by spear that the LORD saves, for the battle is the LORD’s. He will hand you over to us.” [v 47-48 CSB]

We all know the story. David whipped out a sling shot and stone and took the giant out. He then used Goliath’s own sword against him, taking his head to display the giant’s demise.

In both instances, the battle was the Lord’s. Both Jehoshaphat and David required the courage to go face their Goliath’s. God worked for Jehoshaphat; God worked through David.

Sometimes we are like Jehoshaphat and only have to collect the spoils; other times, we must be like David and pick out the stones, gather up our slings, and challenge the Goliath’s in our paths. It requires courage, which comes from knowing that “the battle is the LORD’s.” Take courage, beloved, God works for us, and God works through us!

I write my devotions and sermons in the Microsoft Word application on my computer and then transfer them to other media.  Word has both auto-correct spelling and grammar. Sometimes, I am thankful for the grammar correction, or the offering of a different, more appropriate word. Other times, it is annoying. For some reason, Word doesn’t like the word “actually”. Yesterday, as I wrote that we need to “actually possess the hope that the world needs,” Word rebelled. It underlined “actually” with little red dots and informed me that I should eliminate it.

At that moment, I decided to see if the word ‘actually’ had any occurrences in Scriptures. (My mind tends to work that way.)  No occurrences in the KJV, although the New KJV had five. The NIV translators used the word eight times. I zeroed in on one.  “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.” [1 Thess 2:13-14 NIV]

Merriam-Webster says that synonyms for “actually” are authentically, certifiably, genuinely, really, truly, veritably, very.  The Greek Word is alethos, meaning truly, or as the NKJV translates it … but as it is in truth, the word of God.

When we open our Bibles, we are reading the actual, true, authentic, genuine Word of God. It is God speaking to us. Therein we find encouragement, hope, comfort, love, salvation, peace, “actually” everything we need for life. Can you discern Him at work in your heart as you read His “actual” Word?

I rearranged the bulletin board at church, taking down a number of thank you notes and putting them in an album. I re-read them and found a phrase that expressed one author’s gratitude … “a gift of hope.”

Hopelessness is a major problem in our nation. People have no hope that anything will change, not in politics, or healthcare, or religion, or the media, or their personal lives, or if things do change they will only get worse. Many have given up.

Those who love the Lord Jesus are to have much hope. Peter reminds us: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness (meekness) and respect (fear).” [1 Peter 3:15 NIV]

We are to be prepared to display the hope we have to the world. We do that in a gentle manner and with much respect. The key question, of course, is do we ourselves actually possess the hope that the world needs? If we don’t, there’s no way to bluff our way through.

The world often says, “I hope,” when it really means “I wish.” True, solid, biblical hope is not wishful thinking, it is confidence in God Almighty.  That’s why Peter’s admonition to be prepared to respond begins with “in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.” When we revere, honor, acknowledge Christ as Lord in our own hearts, hope grows and takes root there. Then it’s not at all difficult to be prepared to give that hope to others.

The “gift of hope” that Christ gives us is more than enough to share with the world.

I love the stories in the Old Testament. There’s one in 1 Samuel 4-6 that always gives me hope. Samuel was a young man and not yet judging Israel; Eli was the aged judge. The Philistines were once again on the warpath and in the first battle, the Philistines defeated Israel and killed about 4000. Israel was upset and decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant from its current location in Shiloh to the battlefield.

When the Ark arrived, Israel began to shout, which unnerved the Philistines who realized in that moment that the Ark of God was in the camp. Their reaction, “We’re in trouble! Be men and fight!”  [4:7-9]

That’s exactly what they did, defeating Israel who lost 30,000 soldiers. The Philistines also captured the Ark. The part of the story that gives me hope is found in chapter 5. The Philistines who thought they were the victors, took the Ark from Ebenezer to Ashdod and put it as a souvenir of victory in the temple of their god, Dagon. When they returned the next day, Dagon’s image had fallen over. So, they set him upright. The following morning, he was once again fallen on his face on the ground, this time with his head and hands broken off.

God then afflicted the people of Ashdod so severely that they deported the Ark to Gath. Then God afflicted the people of Gath who sent the Ark to Ekron. When the people of Ekron saw the Ark coming to them they realized that they too were doomed. Somehow, they needed to get the Ark back to Israel before they were all dead. “For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy upon it. Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.” [5:11-12 NIV]

I find hope in this—there are times when it seems that the enemy wins, but those are only temporary setbacks, because the presence of the Almighty God in our lives changes everything! There is always hope when we are aligned with the covenant-keeping God.

“Be strong and courageous.” Moses gave that command to Joshua twice in Deuteronomy 31 as they stood on the border of the Promised Land. After the death of Moses, God gave the same command four times to Joshua in Joshua 1 as they prepared to cross the Jordan. Joshua gave it to the people in Joshua 10. (But it didn’t stop there. David gave the same command to Solomon in 1 Chronicles 28, and Hezekiah gave it to the people as they faced their enemies in 2 Chronicles 32.)

I think God is trying to tell us something—that His people need to be strong and courageous in this world.

Courage. It ain’t easy. Life is tough. We live on a broken planet; as such, suffering, trials, and opposition will always be a part of life. We should not be surprised when we face situations, sometimes daily, that require godly strength and courage.

I remember the line in “Chariots of Fire” when Eric Liddell was preaching while others were competing in the Olympics … “Where does the courage come from?” he asked.

Both Moses and God told Joshua exactly where the courage comes from.  It comes knowing that “the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” [Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Josh 1:9 NIV]

David promised the same thing to Solomon, and Hezekiah the same thing to the people. We can be strong, we can be courageous because the LORD our God is with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Beloved, be strong and courageous! For the Lord your God is with you!

Job 23:10: “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” [NIV]

I am reminded of all those Olympic athletes who practiced and performed for four-years before this 2018 Olympics. Some suffered injuries. Some suffered losses at previous events around the world. Some won World Cup events. Each one brought hopes and dreams of greatness to South Korea. They were looking for gold.

The only way to gold, however, is by testing. There would be a time when each of these Olympic hopefuls would face a trial. Whether before a human judge or a clock, they would need to respond correctly in the testing if they were to achieve the highest honor, gold.

Paul wrote to the Romans: We also rejoice in our suffering because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character and character, hope. [5:3-4]

Character in Biblical terms means something that is tested and proven reliable, it can also refer to metal that has been purified in the fire.  You heat silver and gold by fire and all the impurities rise to the surface and are skimmed away. You know the refining process is complete when you can see your reflection on the surface.

We know we have passed the test when we can see the reflection of Christ, the highest honor, in our character. Like Job, when we are tested, and respond the right way to the testing, we will come forth as gold—in the image of our Savior and Lord, Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:17: “How much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.” [NIV]

There are two phrases in that verse that just ring out … “How much more” is the first. The NKJV simply says, “much more,” but either way it’s a stand-out! Paul had been writing about how sin, condemnation, and death entered the human race through the actions of one man, Adam. Then he goes on to write about how the actions of a second man, Jesus the Christ, did so much more. Through His cross (life, death, resurrection and ascension), Christ Jesus brought life, justification, and righteousness to all who come to Him in faith.

The second phrase that rings out in the verse is “abundant provision of grace.” The NKJV simply says, “abundance of grace.” The Greek word means superabundance.

Yesterday we looked at God’s provision of grace as sufficient for every trial we face. It is the means by which we stand steadfast and unmovable in every storm and difficulty of life. [2 Cor 12:9]

But I was reminded this morning that God’s provision of grace is not just sufficient for the storms and trials, it is superabundant so that we might reign in life, so that we might be more than conquerors. Victory is ours, guaranteed, when we appropriate the superabundant provision of grace that God willingly gives us in Christ Jesus.

Let me say that again … maybe we should read it out loud … victory is ours, guaranteed, when we appropriate the superabundant provision of grace that God willingly gives us in Christ Jesus! Amen!