Past Devotions

To be oh so close and not get in.  “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Go up this mountain in the Abarim range and see the land I have given the Israelites. After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes.’” [Numbers 27:12-14 NIV]

Poor Moses, excluded from the Promised Land for his act of disobedience. God told him to speak to the rock and bring forth water and Moses was so angry, he whacked it instead. I can understand his frustration and what drove him to whack the rock. He’d spent 40 years in the wilderness with a bunch of ungrateful, stiff-necked, complaining, muttering people. They were enough to try anyone’s patience. [Numbers 20]

But God expected more from his leaders than frustration and anger. God expected Moses and his brother Aaron to honor Him as holy. Instead of being the example of the Holy Lord God Jehovah, Moses and his brother Aaron acted just like the people. They were frustrated and reacted in anger.

James says it this way, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” [1:19-21 NIV]

We are to speak to our world about the love of God, His righteousness and truth. That’s what we are called to do – to go into all the world and make disciples and teach them the things of the LORD. We are called to honor God as holy before them. We are not called to strike out in anger and frustration. May we be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Amen.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that we would be blessed and rewarded when persecution and ridicule comes our way because of our faith in God.  [Matt 5:11-12]

A little further on in that sermon, He added: “I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” [vs 44-45 NIV]

We have a responsibility to pray for those who set themselves up as our enemies to persecute us. It is vitally important that we do so. Personally, I’d like to pray Psalm 109 over a lot of people.  It is one of those imprecatory songs, “may his days be few … may a creditor seize all he has … may no one extend kindness to him,” but I don’t think that is what Jesus had in mind.

I think our prayers are to be more along the lines of how Paul prayed in his letters. “May the eyes of their hearts be enlightened … may they receive the Spirit of wisdom and knowledge.”  [Ephesians 1]

We need to pray that those who oppose us see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God. We need to pray that the god of this age no longer has the power to blind their minds. [2 Corinthians 4]

There are many who are in the Body of Christ who were once enemies of her. Paul, himself, was her persecutor and then became her greatest missionary.  If it can happen to Paul, it can happen to our present-day enemies.

Recently, Joy Behar and other ladies from ABC’s The View ridiculed Vice President Pence for saying he listened for the voice of the Lord before he speaks.  Her comment was: “It’s one thing to talk to Jesus. It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you. That’s called mental illness, if I’m not correct, hearing voices.”

Behar’s comment was not aimed at just the Vice President, it was aimed at all Christians who believe the Living Lord Christ Jesus still speaks to His beloved. Her comment was aimed at me, and at you.

As I read her comment I thought about how easy Christians have had it in the USA in the previous centuries. Our founding fathers understood that we could not have, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” without having freedom to worship our Lord without government interference. The First Amendment to our Constitution provides that freedom.

I think, however, that we began to take that freedom of worship for granted and began to be complacent in it. As society changed, and it has changed, the church put on blinders and only saw what she wanted to see. Now, maybe, for the first time, the freedom to worship Christ Jesus the LORD is in jeopardy.

Jesus warned us a long time ago:  “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” [Matt 5:11-12 NIV]

When persecution and ridicule came our way because of our faith in Christ, we are blessed and will be rewarded. The reward comes to us later—in heaven. Perhaps the blessing that comes now is that we are awakened from our slumbering complacency into action to recall our society to its Judeo-Christian roots.

Father, may we awaken from our slumber and go out into our world with the truth of Your Word. Amen.

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” [Ephesians 1:4-7 NIV]

Can’t quite move past that word freely and on to another subject. So much of what comes as “offers” to me come with a cost. My inbox is filled with all kinds of things companies think I need. They cloak their “offers” in language which sounds like it is a great deal but when you actually visit their websites you find very little, if anything, freely given.

And yet, the greatest things I need, a new heart and peace with God, are freely given to me – the price has already been paid by God Himself.

Look at some of the words and phrases in the verses above. Think on them today.  “He chose us …. In love he predestined us to be adopted …. His pleasure …. His glorious grace.”  All those “He has freely given us.”

God chose us, loves us, and adopted us—freely through Jesus Christ. My heart soars no matter how many times I think or write about those things. I know who and what I am without God. I know who and what I am with God simply because of His freely given grace. I refuse to ever allow myself to become complacent about that.

Father, let me never forget, nor take for granted, all You have done for me—freely—through Christ Jesus my Lord! Amen.

Freely. Love the word. One of the definitions for freely from Merriam-Webster is “of one’s own accord.” Another definition is “without restraint or reservation.” Interesting how one word can change the course of history.

It has been around 500 years since the Reformation began under Martin Luther. Luther’s main complaint was the abuse of the sale of indulgences by the church.  An indulgence was an exchange for donations where the church would guarantee reduction of time in purgatory, which it claimed was a place where souls wait after death before entry into heaven. A bit of a renegade anyway, that was a tipping point for Luther, who argued that a person did not have to pay for remission of sins because Christ offers forgiveness freely to anyone who repents.

“There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” [Rom 3:22-25 NIV]

Freely. Love the word. God, of his own accord, without restrain or reservation, justified us by the grace brought to us in Christ Jesus. God was able, because of the redemption Christ wrought on the cross to declare “not guilty!” to  all who repent and accept Jesus as Lord of their life.

We are not charged for this, we don’t have to put a donation into the indulgence box to receive that verdict. In fact, we can’t buy our way into heaven with our money, our membership or our good works. That way in (grace) was given freely.

 Freely.  Yep, love that word!

I was invited to become part of a group of pastors (online), sponsored by a well-known church leader who pastors a large church. The fancy invitation told me that I would find all kinds of resources to help me as a pastor. I liked the idea of resources, so I joined.

I then went online and found all the things available to me. Most cost money. There were a few freebies, but they were pretty much subject lists and some other things that really wouldn’t classify as much of a resource.  I did order one set of information, came to almost $30 with taxes and shipping costs. After that, I decided to email their customer service.

I think I was quite tactful, explaining that I appreciated having these kinds of resources available, but wondered if there were scholarships available. I explained that I was a pastor of a small rural church, the very kind of pastor these resources would help, but didn’t have much in the way of finances either personally or through the church.

I received a nice email back from customer service that provided a link to the “free” resources they could offer me. That link took me to five “free” audible sermons given by this famous pastor, one from 1998.

I must admit to disappointment. I must admit my initial thoughts traveled along the “this is just another way to make money” theme, but then I realized that I cannot judge another person’s motivation.  Perhaps there is a real desire there to help pastors. Unfortunately, the prohibitive costs eliminated the very people that need the help most.

Then I remembered and thanked my Savior – I abundantly thanked Him for giving freely.  “Freely you have received, freely give.”  [Matt 10:8 NIV]

I got a flu shot in September. I have gotten one every year for decades and never had the flu. This year was different. I did get the flu but from listening to the accounts of others beset with the same thing, I got a very light version of it, thankfully.

Still it has been a miserable week.  An occasional fever, which always induces chills, and a bit of respiratory junk, which is mainly coughing. Bob got it first and passed it along to me, thank you sweetheart! And, of course, OTC meds to relieve symptoms always raise my blood sugar and I haven’t felt well enough to walk a lot, so that’s been a balancing act to try to keep the diabetes under control also.

I take precautions most of the time, wash my hands regularly, wipe off grocery carts and such. I guess since I have gone so many decades without getting much more than a cold, it never occurred to me that this year would be different.

Do you realize nothing ever just “occurs” to our God? Nothing ever takes Him by surprise either. As I thought about that this morning I thought about three things …

One, the Lord knows the path I take before I ever step foot on it: “But he knows the way that I take….” [Job 23:10 NIV]

Two, the Lord knows what I need before I even ask: “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” [Matt 6:8 NIV]

Three, the Lord knows that I belong to Him: “The Lord knows those who are his….”  [2 Tim 2:19 NIV]

Can’t get any plainer than that!  Father, thank you. Amen.

Acts 13:1:  In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. [NIV]

Whoa! Wait! What? Manaen, a boyhood companion of Herod the Tetrarch? This is the same Herod who executed John the Baptizer.  It is the same Herod who ridiculed and mocked Jesus just prior to the crucifixion. [Mark 6, Luke 23]

Ever wonder how Manaen went from being a playmate and friend of a vicious ruler to becoming a prophet and teacher of Jesus Christ in the church at Antioch?

I have my own ideas. Maybe Manaen heard John the Baptizer in his many command appearances before Herod after he was arrested. Maybe he listened as John told about the Messiah who was then walking among the people. Maybe he heard John’s appeal to repent, and while they fell on deaf ears with Herod, they did not with him. Maybe he was even there when Herod and his soldiers mocked this Jesus he had heard about from John.

Whatever happened, whoever testified, be it John the Baptizer or another, Manaen heard the Good News and responded to the love of God. He became a prophet/teacher in the church at Antioch. I am always amazed that the church is comprised of so many different people from so many different walks of life. The one thing we have in common, God called, and all responded to the gracious gift of love and grace.

I can’t wait to get to heaven and ask Manaen how he heard of Christ’s salvation!

Some days just opening my email inbox is an adventure! This morning I received two emails. The first subject was “How to Reduce Belly Fat.” The second was “Free Book – How to Pray.”  What is really funny is that both were sent from the same source.

I contemplated for a few seconds which to open. I probably should reduce my belly fat, but I bet that one is trying to sell me something. The other email advertised a “free book” so I opened it. The email offered me a “powerful book” that would teach me how to “get results EVERY TIME.” [Their emphasis not mine.]

The book listed things I will learn if I read it, two of which were: How to Bargain with God (Huh?), and How to Demand that God Heal & Provide for You (What?).

Bargain with God? Demand that God heal and provide for me? Those two phrases sent chills down my spine. Who are we to bargain with the Eternal, All-Powerful, All-Knowing God or demand that He do anything?

I realize God has promised us that we may approach His throne of grace confidently, but confidence is a far cry from arrogance. “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”  [Heb 4:16 NIV]

I think I will thank God for His promised gifts of mercy and grace and leave the bargaining and demanding to someone else. Maybe I’ll check out that other email and find out how to reduce my belly fat!

The book I am reading as part of a launch team (“A Call for Courage—Living with Power, Truth, and Love in an Age of Intolerance and Fear” by Michael Anthony) contained the following statistic: “41 percent of first marriages end in divorce. 60 percent of second marriages end in divorce. 73 percent of third marriages end in divorce.” [from “32 Shocking Divorce Statistics,” McKinley Irvin Family Law, October 30, 2012.]

The immediate response to that is “Why?” And I would imagine the answers to “Why?” are many and varied. I would propose however, that one reason so many marriages fail is because we confuse love with so many other things, such as infatuation, sexual attraction, romance, etc. Most of those things fly out the window when difficulties and everyday obligations come through the door.

2 Thessalonians 1:3: “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers (and sisters), and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.” [NIV]

Paul reminds us of three things in the above verse. Thanksgiving is to be constant. Faith is to grow. And love for each other (including our spouses and children) should be increasing. What makes that even more amazing is the following verse.  “Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.” [v4 NIV]

The Thessalonians’ love increased during trials and difficulties. Only unconditional love (the kind of love God has for us and we are to have for each other) can increase in those times. Infatuation, sexual attraction and romance diminish and if that is what our marriages are based on, they will not survive.

Father, may our love for You and others increase. May we learn to love others with the same love you have for us … unconditional love. Amen.