Past Devotions

Such a heavy devotion yesterday—sin, death, judgment. Today, maybe we should laugh a little. For those who celebrate such things, tomorrow is both Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day. Such a conundrum! Do we indulge ourselves in Valentine’s Day celebrations? Or, do we fast and sacrifice and deny ourselves because “lent” begins with Ash Wednesday tomorrow?

Feast or Fast? Celebrate or Sacrifice? Some are going to feel mightily conflicted tomorrow!

I’m not. As much as “they” would like us to think differently, Valentine’s Day is all about romance—not love. It’s fun for one day here and there, but romance isn’t lasting unless it is intertwined with the kind of love that expresses itself daily, even on the days when we aren’t so lovable.

I remember one of my children who always seemed to get sick in the middle of the night. He never learned to go straight to the bathroom and call for us from there. Instead he came to my side of the bed and would tell me he felt like he was going to throw up just micro-seconds before he actually did—all over me and the bed. Love was Bob getting up and carrying the boy to the bathroom, holding his head while he got sick again, and then getting him in clean pj’s and putting him back to bed – all the while I showered and changed our bed. Not real romantic, but I remember those times far better than the occasional romantic Valentine’s celebration in a restaurant.

And as for Lent/Ash Wednesday.  Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross DAILY and follow me.” [Luke 9:23 NIV, emphasis mine]

Our sacrifice and self-denial are not limited to a day or even a 40-day season, it’s every day, 365-days a year, 24-hours a day.

This past week I learned of the passing of two men, both of whom loved the Lord Christ Jesus. It made me pause a bit and think about death … foreign to us yet reigning over all.  We were made for life, after all, made in the image of God. “And God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness….’” [Gen 1:26 KJV]

God is light and life. Being made in His image is why death is so foreign and why we struggle against it. When sin entered the human race, death began its reign of terror over us. The devil was the first to tempt man to sin, and in that sin, he held the power of death. He had no power to literally take our lives, his power rested in sin and the terror of death and the following judgment.

Praise be to God, the devil’s reign of terror lasted only until the coming of the Son of God.  Jesus came into our humanity and by his sinless life, death, and resurrection broke the power of death, broke the hold the enemy had on us—sin and the accompanying fear of death and judgment.

Heb 2:14-15:  Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. [NIV]

While our bodies are still of the earth and subject to dying, death for those whose souls and spirits are made new in Christ Jesus is simply passing from the ones we love on this side of the veil to the One we love and who loves us on the other side. We may not like the dying process, but we no longer fear sin, death or judgment.

Father, thank you for the assurance that when we depart this world You will be there with open arms to receive us in the next. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for destroying the power of death! Amen.

There have been so many times in our nearly 51 years of marriage that times were tough, times where we really were in need. For most of our years Bob was self-employed, without unemployment insurance and working in construction. Often, we wondered where our next paycheck would come from, how we’d make the house payment, where we would find the money for groceries or shoes for three growing children. During these times Philippians 4:12 was a verse I depended upon.

Philippians 4:12-13:  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. [NIV]

While I learned Philippians 4:12 during those times of need, I’m not sure I learned it during those times of plenty. The NKJV translates it this way, “I know how to abound.” 

I don’t think I learned how to abound very well. During abounding times I was far less dependent upon God. I spent without consulting Him. I fared less well in my plenty than I did in my needy because I did not seek the Lord’s wisdom.

I wonder … maybe I should ask God to give me another opportunity (or two) to learn how to abound!  (Chuckle)

1 Sam 23:2:  “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”  [NIV]

2 Sam 5:18-19: “Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the LORD, ‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?’” [NIV]

2 Sam 5:22-23: “Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the LORD.”  [NIV]

At some point in David’s life he must have wondered if he would ever be rid of those stinking Philistines. It seemed like every time he turned around they were upon him, wanting to overtake and overcome him.  But notice David’s response each time they showed up. He inquired of the LORD … “Shall I go and attack?”

God had given David numerous victories over the Philistines, but he never took God’s for granted. He inquired of the Lord repeatedly, and God responded repeatedly.

Let’s always be aware that repeated victories and successes can be a dangerous place. We begin to think that we can do it on our own … instead of inquiring of the LORD and heeding His instructions.

Let us be ever mindful every day to inquire of the LORD for that day’s challenges and opportunities—even the ones we face again and again.

I watched the Super Bowl game last Sunday. Philadelphia Eagles versus New England Patriots. Many I knew boycotted and didn’t watch because of issues with the NFL.

I wasn’t feeling well on Sunday. I ended up just resting on the couch and watching the game with Bob, our own little super bowl party, just the two of us and our energy drinks!  It turned out to be a very good game, close score, lots of offense (which always makes it more interesting) and just enough defense at the right moment to turn the score around. The Eagles won, if you haven’t heard yet.

There was a back story about the Eagles this year. Their coach, their injured franchise quarterback, the backup quarterback and many others who made great plays during the game have been open about their Christianity. They held Bible Studies all year, shared devotions and prayed together the night prior to games, and have even baptized converted teammates in hotel swimming pools and the “cool tub” in the training rooms. One player this year donated his entire year’s salary to charity. They are making a difference one person at a time.

These men, and many more like them, are using their platform to share the Good News with all who will listen, both in person and through the media. Some were chastised for talking about Jesus Christ so openly but that hasn’t stopped them. Romans 10 reminds us that people cannot call on the name of the Lord until they hear the Good News.  “And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” [vs 14-15 NIV]

There are some beautiful feet out there making a difference. It’s nice to read about them for a change! Praise the Lord.

I want to make a difference in this world. I want to see lives made new through Jesus Christ. I want to see our nation return to the Judeo-Christian beliefs which helped form it in its early development. I want to see my grandchildren and their children inherit a nation and culture that is alive and well, not weak and dying.

In my lifetime I want to hear just once what was shouted in Thessalonica when Paul and his fellow missionaries arrived on the scene and began to preach the truth of Christ Jesus, crucified, died, resurrected and ascended to the right hand of the Father. “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” [Acts 17:6 NKJV]

If that isn’t what we are striving for, then what is? What are we spending our energy on? Our Time? Our Money?

When Paul set out on his missionary trips he had one goal, to preach Christ Jesus and share the Gospel with the known world. It didn’t matter the hardships or opposition, it didn’t matter if he was free or in prison. He preached and lived Jesus. And in one generation, through his work and that of his contemporaries, the world was changed forever.

I want that kind of zeal in me…now…at 71 years of age…living on social security. I may not be able to turn the whole world upside down (or right side up!), but I can make a difference in every life that crosses my path if I’m willing.  I invite you to join me. None of us are too young or too old, too rich or too poor—we can all make a difference.

Father, give me the wisdom and zeal of those early disciples of Christ who looked upon this world as a harvest field for Your glory! Amen.

My last one thing comes from Peter.  He reminds us that God’s timing and ours are not always the same.:  “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come …” [2 Peter 3:8-10 NIV]

Down through the centuries man has been waiting and looking toward the return of Jesus Christ. Some may scoff at that thought, but Peter reminds us in this chapter just how quickly things can change … Noah was given 7 days after the ark was completed to gather the animals and food he would need, and then suddenly the flood came. And judgment covered the earth. [Genesis 7]

In barely a blink of an eye, Jesus can return. For now, God is patient, waiting for all who are called to come to repentance.  But, Peter says, don’t grow complacent because, “the day of the Lord will come….” The remainder of this verse goes on to say that Jesus will come “like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”  [Vs 10 NIV]

Even though the verse goes on and describes the way in which the Lord will return, I chose to stop it with simply … “but the day of the Lord WILL COME ….”  WILL COME (emphasis mine).

If there is one thing we can bank our eternity on it is that Jesus will return. Suddenly, one day the Savior of our soul will descend, and all will see Him. Everyone will confess that He is Lord. Some will do it by compulsion, and others from a willing and grateful heart. How blessed we are to be among those who are longing for His return.

Phil 3:13-14:  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. NIV

Forgetting what is behind is sometimes hard to do, especially since the enemy of our soul is always reminding us of our failures and those times we were less than we should have been. I think it must have been a difficult task for Paul also, since he brought it up in his letter to the Philippians. He could have just as easily omitted it, simply stating that he strained toward what is ahead and pressed toward the goal.  But he didn’t omit it, he included it…forgetting what is behind.

 But aren’t we also to remember what is behind? Even Paul acknowledged his own sinful past: “I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” [1 Tim 1:16 NIV]

How can we both remember and forget our pasts? I think when Paul said that he was forgetting what is behind, he was saying he does not let what he once was (the worst of sinners) dictate to what he does now (pressing on toward the goal).

The enemy of our soul wants to use our past and the guilt associated with our sin to forestall moving on with God. If he can keep us focused on how unworthy we are, he can keep us immobile. Christ Jesus our Lord is calling us to keep moving, keep straining to mature and grow.

Father, I know I am a sinner saved by Your love and grace. I will not let the enemy of my soul drag me back into that past or load me down with a burden of guilt. You have saved me, forgiven me. Now may I strain to attain all that You have for me in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Acts 24 is Paul’s testimony before the governor Felix. Paul had been set upon by the Jews who thought he had brought a Gentile into the Jerusalem temple. He hadn’t, but they wouldn’t listen. He was rescued by Roman soldiers whose commander was informed of a plot to kill Paul. The commander whisked away Paul in the night and brought him before the governor Felix. When the Jews came to Felix with their accusations, Felix allowed Paul to make a defense.

Acts 24:20-21:  “Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin- unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.'”  NIV

We should not be surprised by Paul’s one thing in his defense. If you read Paul’s letters, the resurrection from the dead is always right at the core of his arguments and his praises.  2 Corinthians 15 is probably the longest and most complete discourse on resurrection in Scripture.

We focus on the cross, as we should, and the sacrifice of Christ Jesus for the sins of mankind. But the cross is an incomplete work without the resurrection of Christ from the dead three days later. The resurrection was God’s acceptance and stamp of approval on the cross. The resurrection is what holds out hope for us – this life with all its trials and troubles is not all there is. A time of great joy and delight is coming when we pass through the grave into the very presence of the Giver of Life. We will truly exit the ‘land of the dying’ into the ‘land of the living’ because of Christ’s resurrection.

Easter Sunday is April 1 this year—officially. But Resurrection Sunday is every day for those who have placed their trust in a Risen Lord.  Amen and Amen.

I really am enjoying the “one thing” verses that I’ve been finding in Scripture but am taking a break from that for today.  Today I am chuckling about a “connection” issue I’ve been having.

In November I bought a new wireless headset, transmitter and receiver to use on Sunday mornings.  I literally fried my old lapel mic, it was smoking and ready to catch fire when I whipped the transmitter off my waistband. A replacement was needed and decided on a headset rather than lapel mic. From the onset it never worked correctly. It popped constantly, there was continual static. We tried everything to figure out the cause. It just kept cutting out.

I finally took it back to the music store where I bought it. There they reassembled it, connected it to a speaker and had me walk around the store trying to get it to cut out. It never did. They sent me back to the church with all kinds of ideas of what to do with the receiver unit, take it out of the sound cabinet, move it around the church, etc.

Last Sunday I reassembled and reconnected the headset, transmitter and receiver and attached it to the sound board. I tried it and it worked perfectly. It was then I realized that originally the antenna had never been connected to the transmitter. It had remained in the box until the man at the music store found it and attached it. There never was anything wrong with the receiver, only the transmitter.

Ever felt like your prayers are going nowhere?  Ever wondered what is wrong with God that He’s not receiving your requests the way You want Him to?  Peter reminds us that there are things that can hinder our prayers. He reminds husbands to treat their wives with the respect they deserve as fellow heirs of Christ.  “… so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”  [1 Peter 3:7 NIV]

Many things, both attitudes and actions, can hinder our prayers, but the problem is never with the Receiver (Father God), the problem is usually with the Transmitter (us!).