29 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Leap Year” Psalm 118:24

29 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Leap Year” Psalm 118:24

Today is what is known as “Leap Day” the day that shows up once in four years on our calendars. It was created as a modification when the Gregorian calendar was introduced in the 1700’s, because the earth does not orbit the sun precisely 365. In fact, it needs an extra six hours, and because those six hours add up over time, an extra day is added every four years. There are many superstitions and traditions that surround the leap year. As a kid I remember reading the comic strip “Lil’ Abner” and the Sadie Hawkins day event when women try to catch men and make them their husbands. I recall being mystified by classmates who were born on this date in 1960 who did not have a birthday but once in four years. We still celebrated their birthdays in our classroom anyway.

No matter when your birth date falls, according to the Psalmist, every day is a day to celebrate. He says “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

Why can we celebrate this day? Verse 6 of this Psalm says, “The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” This means I can approach this day with confidence as well as courage. Gladness, in verse 24, carries with it the idea of contentment. Can there be any group of people so disposed to contentment as Christians? In verse 17, the Psalmist also says, “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.” What a commitment one may make to this day, that he refuses to die on this day- but instead will live another day to proclaim what the Lord has done in his life. That’s a great commitment to have.

There are several other reasons we can find to rejoice in this day. Take time out to rejoice in what God has done for you. At the very least, you can face this day with courage, with confidence, with contentment, and commitment. What greater way can you begin your day than that? “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

May this day be a blessed one!

28 February 2008 Devotion for Today "Spiritual Warfare" 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

28 February 2008 Devotion for Today  "Spiritual Warfare"  2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Reflecting upon a trip to Normandy in 2002, I could not help but to be overwhelmed at times
by the magnitude of sacrifice of life that people gave a generation before my birth so
that I can live in freedom.  We visited the beaches of the "D-Day" invasion from Ouisterham
to St. Mere Iglese.  Especially interesting were the gun emplacements along the cliffs of
"Point Du Hoc," where the allied armies scaled those cliffs under extremely heavy machine
gun fire.  At St. Mere Eglise, further up the coast, was the site of the assault by the
82nd Airborne.  One soldier managed to survive after having his parachute caught on the
roof of the church- watching the bloody battle which ensued below.  There were countless
stories like this, but there was one common denominator in this remarkable effort by those
who participated in this battle- courage and trust in God.

Over sixty years have gone by since then and our world has not changed very much.  Indeed
our world stands at the very brink of a conflict that may yet prove to be more costly
and dangerous than any we experienced in the last century.  This is because there is a
warfare being waged unseen behind the spiritual veil- a spiritual warfare that cannot
respond to peace talks and diplomatic initiatives by the most well-meaning and astute
statemen of our time.  Satan and his forces work to bring out the worst in us, and battle
against the godly plans that we desire in following the will of God.

The Apostle Paul is very keen about the nature of the conflict that we face in the
spiritual battle in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
"3.  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4.  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling
down of strong holds;)
5.  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the
knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

Paul constantly battled the pressures of the world which mitigated against his missionary
ministry.  Whereever he went, tensions existed that sought to prevent him from sharing
about Jesus Christ.  Sometimes it came in outright opposition from the people he tried to
preach to.  Sometimes the political powers-that-be saw Paul as a threat.  At other times,
Paul was not well-received by the small groups of believers who would not support his work.
The spiritual battles waged even within Paul's own spirit; brought about by health problems,
or plaguing fears, doubts, and thoughts of discouragement.  Even so, Paul refused to
accept defeat by these matters, because he understood the nature of what was driving them.
What Paul experienced outwardly was only an outward demonstration of what was going on
in the spirit world that he could not see.  He calls for us to consider that we are in
spiritual warfare and spiritual warfare requires certain weapons that can only be effective
in a spiritual battle.

Never a more vivid demonstration of this warfare exists than is found in the typical Sunday
morning program in an evangelical church.  The devil seeks to bring our best plans of
evangelism and mission into chaos and retreat.  We are encouraged to pray and to seek God's
strength and help that we may navigate through Satan's assaults.  If we are ill-prepared
spiritually, Satan will drive us back into the sea.  We must not for one moment think that
we can overtake him and march into his territory armed with our own schemes, ideas, and
plans.

What are the weapons of our warfare?  The Word of God, prayer, and obedience to share the
Gospel message of Jesus Christ.  Nothing can replace them if we want to see the Kingdom of
God succeed against the forces of darkness.  And before the battle can be waged elsewhere,
it must be overcome in our own hearts first.  Have a blessed day.

(From 22 April 2002)

27 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Attitude is Everything” Philippians 2:5-8

27 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Attitude is Everything” Philippians 2:5-8

Lewis Timberlake, in his book, Born to Win, writes as he was driving through North Carolina on his way to a speaking engagement. As he neared the town where he was scheduled to speak there was a sign posted at the city limits which read: “We hear there’s a recession coming. We’ve decided not to participate!” Timberlake commented on the sign, “I like that positive attitude in the negative society we live in!”

Someone once said, “Attitude is everything.” Its true. Attitude is also a choice that we make in how we are going to respond to the events of the day. Someone with a negative attitude will find something wrong in the greatest blessings he has been given. The expensive car he bought will have something wrong with it. The half-million dollar home will be too costly to repair. His family will get on his nerves. On the other hand, you can give a shoe-box filled with horse manure to the person with a positive attitude and when they open it they will be excited because they just know that there’s a pony around

There somewhere if he can only find him! It depends upon our focus, and if the attitude of our heart is not right, we will lose that focus.

The Apostle Paul tells us that there is little excuse for a Christian not to have the proper focus, or the right attitude. Jesus Christ is all the inspiration for keeping the right attitude that anyone will ever need. He tells us in Philippians 2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond-servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

Its true that you may have had to go through some terrible things and perhaps your callous, negative focus of life might be justified. But have you gone to the cross, lately? When you think about all that

Christ gave up to become human like us, and then to die for the likes of us- if anybody ever had reason to complain and to be bitter, it was Him. But He did not respond that way. He took it that death as graciously as He had lived, and continues to share that power with us.

May I make a correction to the statement I quoted earlier when I said, “Attitude is everything.” Attitude is almost everything unless you have Jesus and have appropriated His attitude in your life.

Have a blessed day!

26 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Without Doubting” James 1:6-11

26 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Without Doubting” James 1:6-11

The story is told of a man and his dog who were walking along the beach when they came upon another visitor to the beach. The owner of the dog is very proud of his dog’s newly mastered feat-so he says to the visitor, “Watch this!” He tosses a piece of driftwood far out into the sea and the dog immediately runs on top of the ocean and fetches the wood and runs back. The visitor shakes his head in disbelief. Whereupon the owner repeats the procedure twice-the dog walking on the water the whole time. Finally, he asks the visitor, “Did you see anything unusual about my dog?”

The visitor responds, “Your dog can’t swim, can he?”

I like that story because it is a reflection of many people that I know, good, practical, realistic folks who seem to have an eye for the glass being half-empty rather than being half-full. In the best of all possible worlds, these guys say that it will collide with a giant comet in the near future. The light at the end of the tunnel is the headlamp of an approaching freight train. Unfortunately, many of them discountenance asking God for anything in faith even though many mysteries of faith are more obviously seen than anything tangible that they can know.

James 1:6-8 tells us, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord: he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” The author learned this by bitter experience and knew what he was talking about. James was a man who knew what it was to doubt. He was, after all, the half-brother of our Lord Jesus. Yet the Gospel narratives tell us that members of Jesus’ family could not accept Him for the Messiah until after Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. He was so close to the Son of God-likely James shared the same room with his elder Brother. Yet he did not share his Brother’s love for the Father until much later. Consequently, James did not receive much from the Lord. He forsook many opportunities when he should have asked in faith. The Gospel narratives also implied that Jesus’ mother and brothers thought that Jesus was even a bit unstable, and had come to take Him home. Now James tells us that there is not one so unstable as one who is the “double-minded man” who doubts if God means what He says.

You will never find true stability in your circumstances. But you will always find security in Christ who never changes. Go to Him and ask Him in faith today, “who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” v.5.

Have a blessed day!

(from 09 June 1999)

23 February 2008 Devotion for Today “One Thing I Do” Philippians 3:13-14

I had a friend when I was in college by the name of Keith. Keith and I used to car-pool together. I studied while he drove, and I am sure he prayed while I drove! Actually Keith would sometimes study while I drove. One morning, when I was driving, I looked at the book he had been studying. It seemed like the entire page was yellowed with highlighter. I asked, “Keith, what are you doing to that poor book?” He said, “I’m highlighting the things that are important.” Is every page like that? He said, “Yes, just about!” I said, Keith, if you highlight everything in that book, you may as well not highlight anything- because the way I see it, you can’t tell what’s really important and what is a little bit important!” When we try to do everything, we really can’t do anything. Again in Philippians 3:13-14:

^

^“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ^ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,  forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ^ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Priorities are important. Paul didn’t say, “I try to do all these things,” no, he said, “This one thing I do.” In order to be successful in obtaining our goal, its important to concentrate our efforts and keep our goal sharply in focus. I know there’s a thousand things you would like to do in life. There’s a thousand things you feel you ought to do today. But without focusing on the high calling of Jesus Christ, we go from one day to the next without a cohesive purpose. Paul says this one thing I do.

May you accomplish many things today, but don’t leave out keeping your eyes focused on Christ. Have a blessed day.

21 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Right on Target” Matthew 17:18-20

21 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Right on Target” Matthew 17:18-20

Perhaps you heard today of our navy’s heroic missile launch which destroyed an ailing spy satellite in outer space. I hope math teachers across the country will value this effort as it was a brilliant calculation of both quantum physics and calculus. The U.S.S. Lake Erie, a guided missile cruiser in the Pacific, would have to somehow intercept its S-3 missile, traveling at some 2000 mph, to hit the spy satellite, orbiting 130 miles high above the earth’s atmosphere and traveling 17000 mph. Also, the mission to destroy the satellite had to be fulfilled within a six-hour window of opportunity. The reason the ailing satellite was destroyed was because it contained over 1000 pounds of toxic fuel which would have been dangerous to life forms had it reached the ground. At 10:32pm on Wednesday, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that the missile had reached its target, and that the mission was a success. Time, distance, speed, and atmospheric conditions were all calculated to this successful outcome. The technology to perform such a feat would have been impossible a decade ago.

As daunting as the challenges of man may be upon him, we can continue to affirm what the Bible has always claimed about our faith in God.

“O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." 18Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

19Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

20He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:18-20)

Jesus’ disciples had been asked to intercept a demon and cast it out of a young boy, but they could not get the right calculation of faith and energy to bring to bear upon the situation. They had to call in the expert- Jesus-to drive the demon out of him. Jesus was somewhat disappointed with his disciple’s lack of aptitude in the situation because they could not grasp the principle of faith needed to bring about the positive result Thankfully the demon was expelled, and the boy was delivered. They did not have enough faith because inwardly, they thought what was being asked of them was impossible; perhaps they struggled with the thought that the problem really did not exist. Jesus had to “reeducate” them as to the reality they faced, and what the power of God could do over Satan’s power. Faith intercepted Satan’s demon and destroyed it. He makes no less available to us today.

May I ask you this morning, have you got an impossible situation hanging over you today? Does it threaten to fall on to your life? Call upon Christ to help you. Jesus will make the calculation of faith necessary to destroy it. All you have to do is to launch your faith and Jesus will take care of the rest to hit what is troubling you “right on target.”

Have a blessed day!

20 February 2008 Devotion for Today “The Holy Spirit’s Fire” Malachi 3:2-3

In 1665 the residents of London were dying by the thousands each day. The bubonic plague pandemic was spreading from house to house because of the unsanitary conditions. Rats and fleas spread the germs throughout the city. Almost 30,000 people died, almost a third of London’s population at the time. In fact, the nursery rhyme we all sang comes from that period of time and actually described the symptoms of the Black Death. “Ring around the roses;” (The first symptom was the appearance of a ring of red sores.) “Pocket full of posies,” (it was believed that carrying posies and holding them under your nose would protect you); “ashes, ashes” (from achu, achu!) (the sound of sneezing was an early symptom) “we all fall down!” (the infected person dies) This plague was so bad experts surmise the entire population of London would have died if it had not been checked. But on September 2, 1666, the Great Fire of London broke out and burned uncontrollably for five days. Most of the structures in medieval London were wooden, and almost the entire city was reduced to ashes. But when the fire finally died, the people soon discovered many of the rats and fleas had been killed in the fire and the epidemic of the Black Death was halted. In the fire, there was almost no loss of life. The fire cleaned the city of the impurity that was killing its people.

That’s what God’s fire can do in your life, too. His fire is a purifying, cleansing flame.

The Holy Spirit comes to live in our hearts to make us holy. That’s why He’s called the Holy Spirit. To be holy means to be pure and clean. The Bible says in Malachi 3:2-3:

But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire
And like launderers’ soap.
He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the LORD
An offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:2-3)

When God’s fire is burning in your heart, it will remove all the dross and impurities that find their way into your life. Sometimes the fire of God’s Spirit comes into our lives and removes those impurities we don’t even know are there. If you’ve ever “been through the fire” you know it is not a pleasant experience. It could be that you are going through a refining experience right now. It’s hot and uncomfortable. It’s scary and you wonder if the fire will ever finish. God is like a refiner’s fire–but remember He loves you and He knows just how much you need to cleanse you of your impurities. If God is taking you through the purifying fire right now, don’t resist Him, just trust Him. Allow Him to use His fire to get rid of those habits and attitudes that are keeping you from being pure gold for Him.

Have a blessed day!

19 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Bear With Me” Romans 15:1-6

19 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Bear With Me” Romans 15:1-6

One morning a few years ago I went outside to get the car ready to drive for an early morning meeting when I saw the most horrendous mess. The trash can had been knocked over, and its contents had been strewn from one end of the drive way to the other. Garbage was even to be found in the yard and on the porch. I thought to myself, “I don’t have time for this- I’m running late as it is!” I set to work picking up the debris from the yard. It was not the sort of thing that fills one’s heart full of joy. That was especially after I discovered that there were two large piles of, well- you know. And I did not discover them until after I had stepped in one of them! “What could have caused this?” I thought to myself. Then I remembered that my son Jared, who is somewhat of an animal expert, mentioned to me a few days before that he thought he had found the paw prints of a bear in his garden. I dismissed it offhand, thinking that bears wouldn’t get this close to a house where there was so much activity, especially right next to a church. I went back to the garden to look for the print, but the rain from the previous night had obscured it too much to see what it really was. Did we have a slothsome visitor? Could be. He sure did make a mess. I wanted to scold the bear, but he was not present at the time, and even if he had been, he would not have comprehended my displeasure. I would not want to harm the bear, for he is a beautiful specimen of nature. For all the displeasure the bear causes he was put there by God to help balance the ecosystem.

Have you ever had a bear with you? Perhaps not, but if you will forgive the awful pun here, I am sure you have had to “bear” with other things even more inconvenient. Dealing with the frustrating shortcomings and limitations of others is what we as Christians are called to do with a Christlike spirit of love and meekness. Sometimes we are called to love people who trample on our world with reckless abandon, and they don’t even know that they are doing anything wrong.

In Romans, the Apostle Paul speaks of this necessity for the sake of our witness and preserving and building unity in the body of Christ.

“We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:1-6

When I read this passage, I am tempted to ask, “Is there a limit to which I must tolerate the foibles of ignorance?” Certainly we are not to tolerate abuse or deliberate hurtfulness. What about doctrinal inconsistency? But Paul isn’t talking about these things. He is speaking of tolerating, in love, the quirkiness of others to the same degree that Christ puts up with the quirkiness He finds in ourselves. Yet He loves us anyway, even so much as to allow our reproach to fall on Himself. There are times when that quirkiness has the same shocking effect of seeing garbage and debris littering your driveway. It may be an irritation, but its not going to kill you. You are going to have to clean it up and deal with it, because the bear is not going to come back and clean it up. Neither are the ones who irritated us. But the love and patience of Jesus Christ will help us deal with the scruples of the weak, and hopefully before we begin to pull the hair out of our head. The cause of unity in the body of Christ depends upon our resisting the urge to express that anger, and provides an opportunity to bring loving guidance to bear upon the one creating that intolerable situation.

Is there a bear lurking in the woods nearby? He usually isn’t there to harm you. He is probably hungry, and placed there by God if for no other reason than to stretch your character. People around us that tend to crash up our world are also spiritually hungry and depend on us to feed them, not hurt them. Remember also that there are others who no doubt have to bear with you.

Have a blessed day!

18 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Tearing Down Baal’s Altars” Judges 6:25-32

18 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Tearing Down Baal’s Altars” Judges 6:25-32

Several years ago, when I was serving at our church in Germany, one of our deacons and I had finished unloading some supplies at the church and then stopped off for some ice cream. After we finished our dessert, I took him down the street to see an old church building that might have served as a new meeting place in the future. We were renting an old building that was becoming more and more unsuitable for our needs, and hoped to find another place where our growing congregation could expand. He followed me in his pickup truck. As we arrived at the location, I was shocked to discover that the old church building was no longer there. The untidy lot upon which it stood had been completely leveled. Several pieces of escavating equipment stood on the site where the building had been; making room for a new high-rise apartment building. I was bewildered.

“Well, I don’t have much to show you, Hal,” I said, “Everything is gone.” Hal said, “I guess we both know God’s answer to this prayer, don’t we?” We both got a good laugh about that. It was probably the best thing that could have happened!

We find Gideon getting bolder after the angelic encounter in Judges 6. Under the cover of darkness, he approaches the Midianite altar and statue dedicated to the demon-god Baal and destroys it and builds a new altar right in the center of town (He did this under the cover of darkness because he was too afraid to do it in broad daylight). Still, it did not take long for Gideon to be found out and he was brought to answer for what he did. The town’s judges asked for someone to plead the case of Baal, but nobody spoke up. Gideon’s father, Joash, makes this profound statement: “Would you plead for Baal? Would you save him? Let the one who would plead for him be put to death by morning! If he (Baal) is a god, let him plead for himself, because his altar has been torn down!” Judges 6:31

Gideon did a courageous thing. The first thing that he did was to demonstrate that the God of Heaven is in control, and not the god or gods of this world. To do that, we have to tear down some altars. They may not be made of stone or wood. In fact, some of the biggest altars dedicated to the gods of this world are in our own minds. For our God to be in control, we need to plow them over like a bulldozer. Only then can the ground of faith become level enough to build the alter dedicated to the God whom we should serve. As Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters.”

Many times we may have our heart set on something and think that it might be God’s will; only to find that what we have really done is to build an altar to the god of our own imagination or desire. The best thing to do is to go ahead and tear that down (sometimes God already does this for us!). When that happens, consider this a blessing and that God has better things for you than the limited gods of Baal.

Have a blessed day!

15 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Attitude is Everything” Romans 12:2

As his parents watched from the patio, a little boy played baseball by himself in the back yard. Of course this amounted to tossing a ball into the air and attempting to hit it with his bat. As he did so he proclaimed to no one in particular, "I’m the greatest hitter in the world!" Unfortunately, he missed the ball and, since he was the umpire too, regretfully announced, "Strike one." Undaunted the little fellow picked up the ball, threw it back into the air and said, "I’m the greatest baseball hitter ever!" With even greater intensity he swung the bat but all he caught was air for his efforts. "Strike two," he said. The boy paused a moment, examined the bat and ball carefully, and then for a third time threw the ball into the air. "I’m the greatest hitter in the history of baseball," he said. This time he swung for all he was worth, but just like the other two attempts, he missed. "Strike three," he mumbled. Then the boy sat for a moment considering what had just happened. After a minute or so, he turned to his parents and much to their surprise said, "Wow, I just struck out the greatest hitter in the world! I must be the greatest pitcher of all time."

That boy had a wonderful attitude, didn’t he? In fact, it was a winning attitude. Instead of becoming frustrated or discouraged with himself, he focused on his strengths in a different area. Someone once said that “Attitude is everything!” We’ll, it might not be everything, but in terms of affecting our outlook, our self-esteem, and our potential to be what God made us to be, attitude is like the rudder of a boat that will steer us either to success or failure. Howard Strickland, a Church of God pastor in Georgia, says “The people I have observed who succeed in life are not necessarily the ones with the most talent, highest education, or best job. The people who succeed in life are those who learn to control their thoughts and emotions and harness them under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The fact is many in the army of God suffer from what I call stinking thinking. Their minds are like concrete-thoroughly mixed up and firmly set.”

The Bible teaches us that we do not have to think the way others think, or accept the negative view that others may have of us. We do not have to accept this “stinking thinking” for ourselves. Paul tells us Romans 12:2 how we can have a winning attitude: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Renewing the mind affects our attitude and outlook. This happens when we are transformed by the power of salvation given to us by the grace of God as we place our faith in Jesus Christ. Because we have an eternal destiny secured for heaven, it affects our whole outlook here on earth. Suddenly, the things we were wrapped up in here on earth that we thought were so important no longer seem so important. Because Christ gives us a greater meaning to our existence, our hearts become filled with joy. A new power surges from within that gives us a desire that we never knew we had before. This is that transformation- making ourselves into what we never knew we could be.

If our minds are like concrete- thoroughly set, the Holy Spirit gives us dynamite to blow all that stuff away. Why not allow the Holy Spirit to renew your mind? The attitude that you change today will affect your life tomorrow.

Have a blessed day!

14 February 2008 Devotion for Today "Comfort the Feebleminded" I Thess.5:12-14

I came across a book recently written by the New Zealand evangelist
Dr. Ray Comfort. It is called, "Comfort, the Feebleminded." It is a
very uplifting and humorous look at ourselves and how God uses us in
spite of our imperfections and the silly things that we do. One
particularly amusing anecdote was when Dr. Comfort went to care for a
pet dog belonging to a church member. The church member
was on vacation and Comfort was to feed and exercise the dog. The dog,
a lonely Labrador retriever, was excited to see company after being left
in the house for a long time. As he jumped and barked in the back yard,
Comfort decided he would play with him by kicking a large plastic ball
through the yard so that the dog would chase it. However, Comfort's
aim was not very good, and as the dog turned excitedly, Comfort let
fly with a swift kick right in the poor dog's mouth!

While we would not often admit it, all of us can relate somewhat to the
experiences of Comfort's feeblemindedness. Many times we do things
before we think them through. Like Ray Comfort, we may intend to do
one thing, but our lack of skill or aptitude causes us to do something
else. There are other times where we may act in ignorance. Many
times our intentions are either lost or misunderstood in the blunders
that ensue after we did them. Sometimes people get offended in this.
They ought not to be if they would honestly look at themselves and see
that they, too, are feeble creatures capable of the same actions. We
are patient, however, with the ones that we love and this is the whole
point of Paul's parting admonition for us in I Thessalonians 5:12-14:
"And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and
are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very
highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
Now we exort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the
fainthearted (KJV says feebleminded), uphold the weak, be patient with
all."

Are you prone to be critical of a fellow believer because of his or her
apparent lack of foresight, aptitude, or attitude. Perhaps you may need
to look at your attitude. We are so quick to judge in our leaders,
especially our church leaders, what we refuse to deal with in ourselves.
Your church leaders are human, they make mistakes, and most of the ones
that I know strive to be a better example than what they are as God
gives them the grace to be so. We may not always agree with them, and
sometimes don't like what they do, but they are worthy of our support
nonetheless because this is God's will for us. Take time out today to
call a Sunday School teacher, a deacon, a choir member or instrumentalist.
Perhaps a youth leader needs to hear a word of encouragement from you
just now. Tell them how much you appreciate them and how much you
love them.

We may not have what we think we should in our leaders, but pray for
them. After all, look at those whom God has called them to serve. Have
a blessed day.

13 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Happy Pre-Valentines” 1 John 4:10

As you know, tomorrow is St. Valentines’ Day- the day that, as it approaches, sends many husbands and sweethearts scrambling to buy that box of Russell Stover’s Candy and what’s left of the picked-over Valentine’s Cards at Walmart. Of course, there are still plenty of cards under the “For Wife” selection, and probably will be so until late that evening. The ones “For Mom” are much more difficult to find- even five days before the event. Hallmark and Dayspring knows who really buys the cards for family members and friends. Its not that guys don’t care, its just that pulling one out of his routine to run in to a store and buy a card or a gift creates a major bump on his routine. A few years ago, a friend who makes a habit of procrastinating in preparation of this day read a little-known fact to his wife from the newspaper. He read, “Honey, it says here that its a little-known historical fact, Roman Emperor Claudius II had a priest by the name of Valentine beheaded in the year 270AD?”

The man’s wife shot back, “Because he did not buy his wife a Valentine card!”

Word to the wise! No matter what you might think of this rather unusual tradition, love is indeed something to celebrate considering the love that God shares with us. The very basis of our salvation is based on His love. There is more said about love in the Bible than any other emotion described in it. Without agape- the unconditional love of God, many of our society’s institutions which we take for granted would be absent. Hospitals began in the Middle Ages as a response to God’s love for human misery and suffering. Schools were begun by Christians to rid the world of ignorance and to provide hope through education so that more people would read about and to respond to God’s love. Without the word charity, which is another word for love, we would have no way to describe the thousands of organizations which have been started over the years to relieve oppression, poverty, and to bring justice and mercy to millions of lives. Without the love of God we would know nothing of these things.

The direction of this love has always been God to us- "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."—1 John 4:10.

John is saying that without the love of God, man is basically helpless to express this on his own. He is incapable because it is not an emotion which man possesses in his natural state. Man has been capable of showing good-will to his fellow man, most go back to who instilled it into him and one will find that its origins were found in God’s love.

This should serve as no excuse for not purchasing a card, flowers, candy or any other small gift on Valentines Day, but long after the card has faded, the flowers have wilted and the candy eaten- God’s love and the expression of it- will continue for all time. In the spirit of St. Valentines, may the Lord inspire you to express the unconditional love of God to everyone around you.

Have a blessed day!

12 February 2008 Devotion for Today “The Rock that Is Higher” Psalm 61:2-4

Several years ago I was vacationing with my family in Austria, somewhere close to the Italian border. We had visited a castle and watched a falconing demonstration as the jagged rocky cliffs towered above us. These beautiful creatures-the falcons-soared to great heights, then tucked in their wings and came swooping down fast as lightening, taking something that the falconer was throwing into the air for them. It was food, a bit of reward for successfully obeying his command. Up again the falcon spread his wings and soared high, again swooping down to the ground- this time lighting on the falconer’s glove. Just then, a medieval military demonstration in another part of the castle fired off a thunderous cannon. Its ear-splitting sound startled all of us, including the bird resting on the falconer’s hand. The falcon flinched and spread his wings. He flapped them until he reached a high pinnacle, waiting there until he felt secure enough to fly back down again.

The falconer waited patiently for a few moments, and then threw a piece of meat into the air once again. The falcon caught it in his great talons before it ever hit the ground.

As I recall that scene in my mind, I am reminded of this Scripture which has helped me whenever the startling, unsettling presence of fear tries to get hold of my life.

“Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy. Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.” (Psalm 61:2-4)

Fear is a great trap of the Enemy. What he doesn’t have the ability to do, he will make us think that he does and keeps us in bondage to his threats. We imagine all sorts of scenarios that keep us immobilized and paralyzed, not going forward with our plans to follow what we know what God wants us to do because we are afraid. Procrastination is usually brought about, not by laziness, but by the fear of not doing something right. Intimidation is the false fear of thinking that we must cower beneath the perceived threats of others. Whenever we feel fearful or ill-at-ease, we don’t have to allow that uneasiness to control our lives. God is that Rock that is higher than we are, and when we fly to Him, we not only feel safe and secure, perched up there with Him, but we see things from a whole new perspective. Like the mother bird keeping her brood of hatchlings safe from the storm, God shelters us beneath His wings of love.

There is a Rock that is higher than you. Perhaps you feel uneasy today. You may not even know the reason for it, but you do know now how to get away from it and find security once again. Flee to that rock today!

Have a blessed day!

11 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Slow to Speak!” James 1:19-20

I seldom read this passage of Scripture without remembering one of my professors at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. William Tolar taught a course in hermeneutics (Biblical origins and translation) in my first year there in 1983. He always gave excellent, up-beat, dynamic, very interesting and sometimes humorous lectures in his distinctive Louisiana Cajun draw. At times, when he was excited (because he was always excited about his subject matter) he would have a tendency to talk rapidly. I remember a student putting up his hand in the lecture hall and said, “Dr. Tolar, I am taking notes just as fast as I can, but sir, I’m sure you know that the Bible says ‘let every man be slow to speak!” The class broke up in laughter. Dr. Tolar grinned and did not skip a beat: “Yes, and it also says, ‘be swift to hear!”

Dr. Tolar continued by saying that this is why God made us with two ears and one mouth, so that we would listen twice as much as what we say. James seconds that sentiment by saying “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.” James implies what would have been a statement of the obvious had he written it: not every man is like that. Some have the tendency to “pop off” before they know the facts, “calling them the way they see them” without taking the time to listen. James tells us also in verse 20, “for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” The goal of our lives as believers in Christ is to produce the righteousness of Christ in us-that is, the development of Christ’s character within us. Did Christ exhibit anger? Yes, He did. But that was righteous anger which took the time to examine the facts and to listen carefully before He took the action of driving the money changers out of the Temple.

What about our actions today. It is especially easy to get upset and defensive when someone confronts us with something we do not like. Be swift to hear-listen to what they say. They may not say it in the tone that we appreciate, but they may have a point that there is something about us that they feel needs improvement. Accept it graciously by being slow to speak. Proverbs 15:1 says that “ a soft answer turneth away wrath.” Nothing disarms vehement criticism when you say, “You know, you are probably right. I’ve been struggling with such and such and appreciate your pointing that out to me...” That leaves the person with nothing else to say. Slow to wrath is an excellent witness because the one who comes storming up to you is expecting a response in kind, and when you don’t react the way he expects, he may feel ashamed that he acted that way to you even if he would never dare admit it.

Seek to produce the righteousness of Christ in your life today, and you, and others will have a blessed day!

(From 04 June 1999)

06 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Much Hindered” Romans 15:22-24

06 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Much Hindered” Romans 15:22-24

On the kitchen wall of an elderly church member was a small plaque made out of cast iron which bore these words, “The Hurrier I Go, the Behinder I Get!” I have seen this little dittie in many households, and I chuckle each time I see it. To some it may sound like a very trite thing, yet the truth that it bears is closer to home than we would like to admit. We have so much going on that we fall behind in other things, sometimes the most important things. And when we find ourselves falling behind in the things that are most important to us, we find that our accomplishments with those “other things” become empty and meaningless to us. For example, I have known some who were desperate to have careers that would take them far in their profession-only to find their achievement empty when their spouse divorced them or their families broke up. The faster they go, the greater the “set-back.”
However, not all “set-backs” are a result of our own selfishness pursuits at breakneck paces. The Apostle Paul expresses his desire to visit the Christians in Rome. But in Romans 15:22 he says, “For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you...” Paul does not explain the hindrances or why they occurred, but acknowledges the leadership of God in this experience and says, “But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.” v. 20. Our desires will come in God’s timing when they are according to His will and when they suit His purposes. True, Paul could have left off of his earlier missionary journeys so he could travel to Rome. But this could have proven a very serious “set-back” for the early church as many of the churches in Asia minor and Greece had not yet been started or were in their infancy and needed Paul’s care. But by putting God’s desires ahead of his own, Paul knew that one day he would receive a greater blessing for having waited on God’s timetable. So really, what Paul considered “hindrances” were not “hindrances” after all.

If you feel held back or hindered or experience a “set-back” this week, consider your plans in light of God’s leading. When you do, you like Paul will eventually experience the best and not consider them as hindrances. Have a blessed day!

05 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Isolation” Jeremiah 31:2-4a

A few years back I stumbled across an old sign from a construction site. It was actually an old hospital wing that was being demolished and rebuilt. The sign was discarded on the ground next to a dumpster filled with trash and debris. The sign read: “Isolation Ward.” They used to put several people together who contracted a contagious disease. Most modern Hospitals don’t have wards anymore- however, most have private or semi-private rooms rendering the term “isolation” nearly obsolete. And for us, that is a good thing.

Have you ever experienced isolation? Isolation is the feeling of being pushed-away, the feeling that you have of people who do not want to be around you? If you feel like this, you are not alone! And what is more, its not you- its this world that is creating more and more this sense of isolation and disconnectedness. Sometimes you may feel like the more you try to reach out to others, the more you sense their rejection. This causes a lot of pain, and what compounds the pain is you feel you have no one whom you can trust to express that pain. This compounds the isolation and withdrawal to protect you, and then others who may have thought to reach out to you sense that you don’t want them around, so they feel isolated too- by you!

Isn’t that a terrible thing that the devil does to us- making us feel unwanted, lonely, cut off from God as well as our fellow man? He knows that we were created for community- especially community in fellowship with God. Satan instilled this legacy of isolation in man the day he enticed Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. When she offered it to her husband- not wanting to be cut off from her- he ate of it too, thus cutting off both of them from the openness and unhindered fellowship they had with their Creator. This sense of isolation from God projects itself upon every other human relationship, including ourselves. Sin creates a deep sense of alienation, anger, and despair. The loneliness becomes unbearable.

Yet God is still here, reaching out to you and wanting to love you. He says, in Jeremiah 31

Thus says the LORD: “ The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness— Israel, when I went to give him rest.” The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “ Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt.” (Jeremiah 31:2-4a)

Jeremiah speaks of his people who were not only isolated, but they were expelled from their homes and their land and taken in exile to Babylon. You can’t get much more isolated than that- to be uprooted from all that you love and taken to a strange place. Yet God continues to affirm His love for His people. In the wilderness of isolation, God tells them they have found grace. He continually draws us with His lovingkindness, and seeks to rebuild a love relationship that was broken during the Fall.

God seeks to rebuild you as well today. He seeks to mend Your broken heart. He seeks to overhaul broken friendships and abused trust and disappointed relationships. But to do this, you must do this very terrifying thing and surrender Your heart to God to fix it. But once He has rebuilt Your heart, you will find yourself strangely drawn to others as well.

God has taken down the Isolation sign and has thrown it in the dumpster. He reaches out to you in love and restoration today. If you feel lonely won’t you take His hand right now?

Have a blessed day!

04 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Authenticity” Philippians 4:9

04 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Authenticity” Philippians 4:9

When I was in college, I lived for about six months at the house of a friend who was a naval officer and deployed for an extended cruise. He also encouraged me to drive his 1967 VW Beetle so it would be in good running condition when he returned. This was good because when I went out the door one February morning, I discovered that my 1970 Ford Maverick didn’t have any gas in it. In those days, when you drive a VW Beetle, what you see is what you get. If you don’t see the heater, its because they didn’t make one. There was no defroster for the windshield, either- and I spent a freezing drive to college wiping down the window on the inside to keep it from freezing over. The same was also true for the radio. I did some browsing in the college library that day and discovered that Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned by Adolph Hitler to build a practical, inexpensive vehicle that would be effective transport for the average German working family. Since 1937, when the Volkswagen (People’s Car) rolled off the assembly line, 22 million Volkswagen Beetles were until 2003. They created it, made it what it was, and the reason this car succeeded so well in the market is because the manufacturer didn’t try to make it into something it wasn’t. They never changed the design, because it worked. When you see the classic “punch-buggy,” there’s no denying what it is.

However, Volkswagen Beetle had some limitations. If you want to go off road four wheeling, this is not the car you’d want to drive because there is only a four-inch clearance underneath. If you want to drive across country with your family- this is probably not the car you would pick to drive, either. But one cannot deny that the classic VW “bug” was the genuine article- what you see is what you get.

Why am I telling you this story? Because if you want to make a difference with your kids, with your families- get real with them! You need to let them see who you are, because they are going to see it anyway. If you try to put on a false front they will see right through it. Our kids today are far brighter, far more intelligent these days than when we grew up. And if there is anything kids today cannot stand- it’s a fraud, a phoney! Back when I was growing up- roughly in the same time period in which that VW was made- we could be fooled back then,. But today’s kids can’t be fooled. If you are trying to be something that you’re not your kids will be able to see right through it immediately! They will understand you’re a fraud and here’s what they will learn- they will learn its okay to be a fraud. And my friends, we shouldn’t let our kids see us being frauds.

In Philippians 4:9, the Apostle Paul was concluding his epistle with these final thoughts- The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

In other words, say the right things, teach the right things, but most of all be the right things. Then we will make the generational impact upon our children and legacy that God desires that we give to the generations which come behind us. Be authentic, be real.

Have a blessed day!

01 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Politics and Religion” Romans 14:1-13

01 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Politics and Religion” Romans 14:1-13

I sat at the table with some committee members of a community organization meeting not long ago when someone asked me what I did. “Are you retired from the army?” she asked.
“No,” I said, “I am a civilian.” “Then what do you do?” I told her that I was a pastor of an English-speaking church in the area. I said nothing more, but the conversation abruptly ended when she replied, “Well, I make it a point never to discuss politics or religion!”

It is clear to us that the Apostle Paul makes it a point to discuss both politics and religion in Romans 13 and 14. There certainly is nothing wrong with discussing politics and religion, as we see in the text we looked at today. If we did not discuss matters such as this, no progress would be made to further man’s social and his spiritual well-being. However, it is not the discussion that causes the problems, but how the discussion is made. When I have an attitude that I am right and everyone else is wrong, then there is going to be a problem in my discussion. When I judge someone as being less of a person because his opinion is different than mine, then there will likely be an argument. When I judge someone as less-than-spiritual because he does something that I do not approve, then there will be no positive outcome. When an unChristlike spirit is employed in any discussion, those who claim a Christian testimony will lose even if their wit and eloquence will prevail.

Paul says it is especially pointless to dispute over things that are unclear in the Word of God. “Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.” Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:1-4

In reality we have more at stake than the outcome of our petty arguments or being right. The time we take up in such discussions only takes away the time from more vital and eternal concerns. Should we never discuss anything that is controversial? No, there are times when it is right to do so. We must at all times take stands again sin and Satan-indeed we are called to do that every day. But in those discussions we must make it clear that we hate the sin, and not the sinner. And we employ the measure of humility that Christ has given us, not just to “set someone straight” but to realize that we are all growing and learning. If we have a tendency to look down at those who don’t hold to our opinions, remember there are probably others who may feel the same way about us.

The story is told of two great 19th century preachers D.L. Moody and Charles Spurgeon who were spending some time together in England. Moody thought it was terrible that Spurgeon smoked big cigars each time they had a meal together. Spurgeon said that he “Did this to the glory of God!” Moody proceeded to preach at his friend for his excesses. Little wonder that the advice went unheeded, for Moody weighed close to 300 pounds! Have a blessed day!

(from 25 May 1999)