Read: James 3:1-12
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:9-12
In the mid-1970s boycotters of a certain oil company proudly sported bumper stickers conveying their sentiment. As my family traveled through Ohio one day, my mother spotted a car flaunting two incongruous messages: “Honk if you love Jesus” and “To Hell with Shell!” How absurd it seems; yet often our lives convey the same types of conflicting statements.
We bless out of one side of our mouths and curse out of the other. I have stood in church to pray and later that day yelled at my children in anger. I have witnessed of God’s love to a person, then cut him down behind his back. This kind of behavior does nothing but harm our testimony in front of unbelievers and place stumbling blocks in front of young Christians.
What about your life? I’m sure we all can come up with examples. Do people see the bumper sticker for your favorite Christian radio station on your rear bumper—right after you have cut them off in traffic? Do they see a Bible on your desk while you are telling an off-color joke? Do you e-mail inspirational messages to friends, but have a bikini screen-saver or visit inappropriate websites? God wants us to have a consistent testimony, one that brings glory to Him, and draws others to Him. An old hymn states, “What you are speaks so loud that the world can’t hear what you say.” Let’s all encourage each other and pray for one another that we’ll have consistent speech and consistent actions. It’s what God meant for us.
Showing posts with label devotionals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label devotionals. Show all posts
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
It's Your Job
Read: Deuteronomy 6
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
I used to get so angry at my children—not when they willfully disobeyed and had to be punished, but when they took up my time over and over again with the same things. Things like not picking up their toys, storing food on the floor of their room so the dog could get it, leaving dishes in the living room, not closing juice bottles, leaving dirty clothes all over. In other words, just acting like the immature human beings they are. As I related my frustration to a friend, she was appalled at my attitude. I could tell she wanted to rake me over the coals, but in her wisdom all she said was exactly what I needed to hear: “Get over it. Until they’ve moved out, they’re the primary job that God has given you.”
I thought about the things that I let get to me, and realized they were miniscule in comparison with what really mattered. Certainly we are to teach our children responsibility and work ethic. But far superseding this is the need for us to teach them about God’s love for us and his desire for us to be like Him. When you see the beauty of creation, talk about God’s power. As you watch TV together bring up God’s principles that you see being followed or violated. When you are wrong (like showing anger incorrectly), admit it, ask their forgiveness, and solicit suggestions from them on godly ways you could have handled it. Pray with them. Read the Bible with them. And then after they leave home, continue to pray for them and be ready to give biblical advice when asked. Remember, they’re your primary job.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
I used to get so angry at my children—not when they willfully disobeyed and had to be punished, but when they took up my time over and over again with the same things. Things like not picking up their toys, storing food on the floor of their room so the dog could get it, leaving dishes in the living room, not closing juice bottles, leaving dirty clothes all over. In other words, just acting like the immature human beings they are. As I related my frustration to a friend, she was appalled at my attitude. I could tell she wanted to rake me over the coals, but in her wisdom all she said was exactly what I needed to hear: “Get over it. Until they’ve moved out, they’re the primary job that God has given you.”
I thought about the things that I let get to me, and realized they were miniscule in comparison with what really mattered. Certainly we are to teach our children responsibility and work ethic. But far superseding this is the need for us to teach them about God’s love for us and his desire for us to be like Him. When you see the beauty of creation, talk about God’s power. As you watch TV together bring up God’s principles that you see being followed or violated. When you are wrong (like showing anger incorrectly), admit it, ask their forgiveness, and solicit suggestions from them on godly ways you could have handled it. Pray with them. Read the Bible with them. And then after they leave home, continue to pray for them and be ready to give biblical advice when asked. Remember, they’re your primary job.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Trapped!
Read: I Timothy 6
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
I Timothy 6:6-10
When my Uncle John was young, he set traps all over the woods on my grandparent’s farm. Every day, he checked those traps for animals to skin and then sold the pelts. Mink, a rare commodity, were difficult to catch since they would rather chew their foot off than stay in the trap. One day Uncle John caught a mink’s foot. The next day, a second foot appeared in the same trap. And the day after that, another foot. Finally, on the fourth day, he caught a mink minus three feet! Evidently, the bait he was using was too irresistible for that poor little animal.
We are like that mink. Satan puts out traps for us and we wander into them knowing that they will hurt us. The desire for money, power, or fame draws us into acting in ways that would break God’s laws or hurt our relationships with others. I struggle with my aspirations to be recognized for my technical achievements. Because of this, I am sometimes tempted to spend too much time at work, thus depriving my family of my time.
What is your biggest trap? Satan knows how to play on our perceived needs, drawing us again and again to the same trap, eventually hoping to ruin us for God’s service or even, in some cases, to prematurely end our lives. Let’s learn that God supplies everything we need (Philippians 4:19) and see Satan’s traps for what they truly are.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
I Timothy 6:6-10
When my Uncle John was young, he set traps all over the woods on my grandparent’s farm. Every day, he checked those traps for animals to skin and then sold the pelts. Mink, a rare commodity, were difficult to catch since they would rather chew their foot off than stay in the trap. One day Uncle John caught a mink’s foot. The next day, a second foot appeared in the same trap. And the day after that, another foot. Finally, on the fourth day, he caught a mink minus three feet! Evidently, the bait he was using was too irresistible for that poor little animal.
We are like that mink. Satan puts out traps for us and we wander into them knowing that they will hurt us. The desire for money, power, or fame draws us into acting in ways that would break God’s laws or hurt our relationships with others. I struggle with my aspirations to be recognized for my technical achievements. Because of this, I am sometimes tempted to spend too much time at work, thus depriving my family of my time.
What is your biggest trap? Satan knows how to play on our perceived needs, drawing us again and again to the same trap, eventually hoping to ruin us for God’s service or even, in some cases, to prematurely end our lives. Let’s learn that God supplies everything we need (Philippians 4:19) and see Satan’s traps for what they truly are.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Remember Y2K?
Read: James 2:19-27
But become doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 2:22
Back in 1976, when I was a senior in high school, my computer science professor predicted a crisis in the year 2000 (Y2K for short). Even back then, he said that too many people were programming years with just two digits, ostensibly because it saved space, but really because it was easier. In such a system, the year 2000 would be represented as "00". So, in the year 2000 someone born in the year 1959 would be, in the anthropomorphic eyes of the computer, negative 59 years old instead of 41. This could cause problems with billing, with social security payments, electrical switching problems, and even make the air traffic control system fail. Mr. Cumberland said, “If any of you use only two digits, I hope you lose everything in the year 2000, because it’s going to be all your fault.”
Y2K has come and gone without all the dire predictions coming true—but only because tens of billions of dollars were spent to fix the problem. How did we get into this mess and others like it? Why do we mess up our lives by taking the easy way out? The answer is simple—we are lazy. We know to do right and yet we don't do it. We have been told how to avoid problems, but refuse to do what it takes. Why? Two simple self-deceptions: (1) we think a little less effort now won't matter down the road; or (2) we believe that we'll be willing to deal with the consequences later.
God knows us better than that. He wants us to obey His Word, not just because it does Him good, but because it's the best way for us to live. The Holy Spirit said through James, “If you don't do what you hear, you are just lying to yourself!” Our present actions impact future events in ways we may never know until it is too late. A small omission today could cause big problems later in your life or in the lives of others. Challenge yourself to not take the easy way out. Take every opportunity to obey God's commands.
But become doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 2:22
Back in 1976, when I was a senior in high school, my computer science professor predicted a crisis in the year 2000 (Y2K for short). Even back then, he said that too many people were programming years with just two digits, ostensibly because it saved space, but really because it was easier. In such a system, the year 2000 would be represented as "00". So, in the year 2000 someone born in the year 1959 would be, in the anthropomorphic eyes of the computer, negative 59 years old instead of 41. This could cause problems with billing, with social security payments, electrical switching problems, and even make the air traffic control system fail. Mr. Cumberland said, “If any of you use only two digits, I hope you lose everything in the year 2000, because it’s going to be all your fault.”
Y2K has come and gone without all the dire predictions coming true—but only because tens of billions of dollars were spent to fix the problem. How did we get into this mess and others like it? Why do we mess up our lives by taking the easy way out? The answer is simple—we are lazy. We know to do right and yet we don't do it. We have been told how to avoid problems, but refuse to do what it takes. Why? Two simple self-deceptions: (1) we think a little less effort now won't matter down the road; or (2) we believe that we'll be willing to deal with the consequences later.
God knows us better than that. He wants us to obey His Word, not just because it does Him good, but because it's the best way for us to live. The Holy Spirit said through James, “If you don't do what you hear, you are just lying to yourself!” Our present actions impact future events in ways we may never know until it is too late. A small omission today could cause big problems later in your life or in the lives of others. Challenge yourself to not take the easy way out. Take every opportunity to obey God's commands.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Whose Finger are You Holding Onto?
Read: Joshua 23:1-16
“Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.”
Joshua 23:7-8
When my father was four years old, he went with his father to the local town fair. As they made their way through the imposing, noisy crowd, he held onto my grandfather’s index finger so he wouldn’t get lost. They walked through the animal exhibits, the new tractors, and the garden and flower shows without incident. However, when they reached the midway, with the ice cream, cotton candy, games, Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and other rides, it was just too much for him. He let go of his daddy’s finger and ran over to one of the booths to get a better look.
After satisfying his curiosity, he grew afraid. He thought he felt his daddy’s presence next to him and reached up to grab the finger—but the finger kept pulling away. Looking up in despair, he saw that the finger belonged not to his daddy, but to a stranger! Immediately he ran out to the parking lot and found the family car, where he was later reunited with his father.
How often do we let the things of the world distract us and let go of God’s finger? Then when we need help, we try to grasp onto the first thing we can, only to find out it is powerless to rescue us? Run back to God, hold tightly to him, and don’t let go. And if you do let go, remember that he’s always there to take you back. After all, he sent his only Son to die for you so that you could be his child and He, your daddy.
“Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.”
Joshua 23:7-8
When my father was four years old, he went with his father to the local town fair. As they made their way through the imposing, noisy crowd, he held onto my grandfather’s index finger so he wouldn’t get lost. They walked through the animal exhibits, the new tractors, and the garden and flower shows without incident. However, when they reached the midway, with the ice cream, cotton candy, games, Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and other rides, it was just too much for him. He let go of his daddy’s finger and ran over to one of the booths to get a better look.
After satisfying his curiosity, he grew afraid. He thought he felt his daddy’s presence next to him and reached up to grab the finger—but the finger kept pulling away. Looking up in despair, he saw that the finger belonged not to his daddy, but to a stranger! Immediately he ran out to the parking lot and found the family car, where he was later reunited with his father.
How often do we let the things of the world distract us and let go of God’s finger? Then when we need help, we try to grasp onto the first thing we can, only to find out it is powerless to rescue us? Run back to God, hold tightly to him, and don’t let go. And if you do let go, remember that he’s always there to take you back. After all, he sent his only Son to die for you so that you could be his child and He, your daddy.
Monday, December 29, 2008
"Is it not a little one?"
READ: Genesis 19:15-22
Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one. Oh, let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live." Genesis 19:20
I sometimes used to ask, “Can't I have a piece of candy before supper? It's just a little one.” My father would respond with Lot's question, “Is it not a little one?” and launch into the following story.
After living in Sodom for years, Lot is confronted by two angels and told to flee into the wilderness while God destroys the city. Lot retorts that he will die if he does so and insists that he must flee to a small city—“is it not a little one?” God reluctantly agrees that Lot may go. But it is at great cost to Lot, because there, his wife became a pillar of salt. And there, he continued his rebellion against God.
How often do we excuse a sin with “is it not a little one?” Alcoholics: can you take just one little drink? Lusters: can you flirt just one time with a person of the opposite sex? Overeaters: can you just eat one small dessert off your diet? Procrastinators (like me): can you put off working on that project just one more day? Or maybe it’s not even a “sin” as we usually define it. Maybe it’s just little distractions (like TV, video games, reading, or golf) that end up sapping our time so we are unable to do the important tasks that God has for us.
God knows our weaknesses. Let's take them to Him and remember that we need to flee temptation of the sin that so easily keeps us from doing His will. Let us not deceive ourselves by thinking we can handle such a “little one.”
Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one. Oh, let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live." Genesis 19:20
I sometimes used to ask, “Can't I have a piece of candy before supper? It's just a little one.” My father would respond with Lot's question, “Is it not a little one?” and launch into the following story.
After living in Sodom for years, Lot is confronted by two angels and told to flee into the wilderness while God destroys the city. Lot retorts that he will die if he does so and insists that he must flee to a small city—“is it not a little one?” God reluctantly agrees that Lot may go. But it is at great cost to Lot, because there, his wife became a pillar of salt. And there, he continued his rebellion against God.
How often do we excuse a sin with “is it not a little one?” Alcoholics: can you take just one little drink? Lusters: can you flirt just one time with a person of the opposite sex? Overeaters: can you just eat one small dessert off your diet? Procrastinators (like me): can you put off working on that project just one more day? Or maybe it’s not even a “sin” as we usually define it. Maybe it’s just little distractions (like TV, video games, reading, or golf) that end up sapping our time so we are unable to do the important tasks that God has for us.
God knows our weaknesses. Let's take them to Him and remember that we need to flee temptation of the sin that so easily keeps us from doing His will. Let us not deceive ourselves by thinking we can handle such a “little one.”
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
We are a Treasure
Matthew 13:44-46
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Ask the average Christian what this parable means and they’ll say that the “man” and the “merchant” represent us and we should be willing to give up everything to enter the kingdom of heaven.
This is backwards!
There is nothing we can do to merit or buy our place in God’s kingdom. Who, then, is the “man” who gave up everything to buy the kingdom of heaven? It is none other than God himself.
What does that make us? We are the buried treasure and the fine pearl that was hidden inside the oyster. We are precious to God and He bought us with the life of his only Son. So, the next time you feel that you aren’t worth anything, think about how much God values you!
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Ask the average Christian what this parable means and they’ll say that the “man” and the “merchant” represent us and we should be willing to give up everything to enter the kingdom of heaven.
This is backwards!
There is nothing we can do to merit or buy our place in God’s kingdom. Who, then, is the “man” who gave up everything to buy the kingdom of heaven? It is none other than God himself.
What does that make us? We are the buried treasure and the fine pearl that was hidden inside the oyster. We are precious to God and He bought us with the life of his only Son. So, the next time you feel that you aren’t worth anything, think about how much God values you!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Citizens and Other Rogue Elements
But the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"
And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick do. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Luke 5:30-32
At a conference I attended years ago, one of the speakers, an under-secretary of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, mentioned in his speech that “. . . we in the United States have laws to protect citizens and other rogue elements.” Of course, he said it in jest; but there may be more truth in his statement than he realized.
In God's eyes, we are all born rogues, rebels, rascals, reprobates, and rapscallions. “For all have sinned. . .” (Romans 3:23) and “The heart is deceitful above all things. . .” (Jeremiah 17:9). Yet with all our problems, and especially because of all our problems, “God loved us and sent His Son” (1 John 4:10). In this scripture, we find Jesus associating, not with the Pharisees and scribes, who thought themselves righteous, but with the dregs of society. Why? Because they realized their need—that they couldn't approach God by themselves. And neither can we.
Jesus came to give His life so we could live with Him eternally. If He is your Savior and Lord, pause right now, catch up on your confession of sins, and thank Him for forgiveness. If He isn't, please consider asking Him to forgive your sins and take control of your life right now. After all, He came for you.
And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick do. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Luke 5:30-32
At a conference I attended years ago, one of the speakers, an under-secretary of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, mentioned in his speech that “. . . we in the United States have laws to protect citizens and other rogue elements.” Of course, he said it in jest; but there may be more truth in his statement than he realized.
In God's eyes, we are all born rogues, rebels, rascals, reprobates, and rapscallions. “For all have sinned. . .” (Romans 3:23) and “The heart is deceitful above all things. . .” (Jeremiah 17:9). Yet with all our problems, and especially because of all our problems, “God loved us and sent His Son” (1 John 4:10). In this scripture, we find Jesus associating, not with the Pharisees and scribes, who thought themselves righteous, but with the dregs of society. Why? Because they realized their need—that they couldn't approach God by themselves. And neither can we.
Jesus came to give His life so we could live with Him eternally. If He is your Savior and Lord, pause right now, catch up on your confession of sins, and thank Him for forgiveness. If He isn't, please consider asking Him to forgive your sins and take control of your life right now. After all, He came for you.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Lecture Number 97
And the LORD said to Job: “Shall a fault-finder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”
Then Job answered the LORD: “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer thee? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: “Gird up your loins like a man; I will question you, and you declare to me . . .” Job 40:1-7
My wife and her sister claim that they catalogued their mother’s lectures. When she started in, they would look at each other, roll their eyes, and say, “Here comes lecture number 97!” Do you find yourself lecturing your children or students and wish you could stop it? Don't worry about it—lecturing is biblical.
In our scripture passage, we find Job answering God in the middle of a lecture that spans four chapters! In response to Job's demands, God has just spent 71 verses asking Job if he can do what God can. When confronted with the power of the Almighty, Job admits he has nothing to say. God, knowing that Job is in a “teachable” mood, continues for another 52 verses, hammering the point home.
God hasn't changed—He does the same to us today, teaching us His truth. He is the perfect parent, desiring that we not only accept the truth, but that we put it into practice, becoming more and more like His perfect Son, Jesus. So remember, if the same uncomfortable things keep happening to you, maybe it's just God trying to get your attention and give you “Lecture Number 97” again.
Then Job answered the LORD: “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer thee? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: “Gird up your loins like a man; I will question you, and you declare to me . . .” Job 40:1-7
My wife and her sister claim that they catalogued their mother’s lectures. When she started in, they would look at each other, roll their eyes, and say, “Here comes lecture number 97!” Do you find yourself lecturing your children or students and wish you could stop it? Don't worry about it—lecturing is biblical.
In our scripture passage, we find Job answering God in the middle of a lecture that spans four chapters! In response to Job's demands, God has just spent 71 verses asking Job if he can do what God can. When confronted with the power of the Almighty, Job admits he has nothing to say. God, knowing that Job is in a “teachable” mood, continues for another 52 verses, hammering the point home.
God hasn't changed—He does the same to us today, teaching us His truth. He is the perfect parent, desiring that we not only accept the truth, but that we put it into practice, becoming more and more like His perfect Son, Jesus. So remember, if the same uncomfortable things keep happening to you, maybe it's just God trying to get your attention and give you “Lecture Number 97” again.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The Light in the Window
2 Timothy 1:5, 13-14I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you–guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
My mother’s parents lived behind us on our Indiana farm. At five o’clock every morning, I got up to do the morning chores: milk the cow, slop the hogs, and feed the chickens. And each morning, without fail, I saw my Grandma Miller’s lamp from her living room window as she read her Bible and prayed for two hours. What an example and inspiration to an impressionable teenager! Hers was not the only example I saw—my parents read the Bible and prayed with my brothers and me almost every day. They and others lived godly lives for us to see. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to mention all the good examples I had.
How about you? Who was your example? How did you learn about the love of Jesus? If not from your parents or grandparents, it may have been from a friend, coworker, roommate, or just someone you happened to see from time to time. It could even have been indirectly, like from a book, or a TV or radio program. Take time to thank God for the legacy you have been given. But don’t let it stop there—take every opportunity to pass it on yourself—to your children, your friends, those you work with, neighbors, social club, and those who just happen to cross your path.
The Bible says of God’s words, “Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 11:19). Don’t let your legacy die. Pass it on.
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