29 June 2010 Devotion for Today “You Cast the Deciding Vote” I Timothy 2:1-7

^{29 July 2010 Devotion for Today "You Cast the Deciding Vote" I Timothy 2:1-7}

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— ²for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. ⁷And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. I Timothy 2:1-7

We are fast approaching the 234^th anniversary of our nation's birth with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Many are unhappy with the direction that our nation is going right now, and unfortunately have lost faith in our government and even with their vote. In fact, some may have the attitude that their vote doesn't count or make any difference. Yet in 1984, the secretary of state of California compiled the following list and here is what he said about the worth of a person's vote:

In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England
In 1649, one vote caused Charles I of England to be executed.
In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German.
In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union.
In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment.
In 1876, one vote changed France from a monarchy to a republic.
In 1876, one vote gave Rutherford B. Hayes the Presidency of U.S.
In 1933, one vote gave Adolph Hitler leadership of the Nazi Party.
In 1960, one vote change in each precinct in Illinois would have denied John F. Kennedy the Presidency.

Our votes do make a difference. And we who are Christians should honor this sacred privilege and vote at every opportunity. This being said, however, we need to realize that there are 2 inherent weaknesses in the Democratic process. There are two problems that plague the voting public, because while I believe our nation possesses the best form of government known to the world today, it is still not a perfect system and we need to remember this.

Number one- when we vote, we vote for mortals. I dont care how moral and upstanding the politician is that we vote into office, he's still a sinner. Hes still prone to the same weaknesses and sinful tendencies and the same temptations as the rest of us. These politicians are not God they ARE mortal. They do not walk on water. They do not perform miracles and they will disappoint us.
Secondly, when we Christians vote, there are times that - when we cast our vote we often do so under the mistaken belief that the candidate, or the party for which we vote has the power within themselves to change the course of our city, state, or national destiny . This is not true. And it has never been true.

Furthermore, it is a dangerous mistake to put more faith in politics, and politicians, and political parties than we do in God. I don't care whether you watch Fox News or CNN, it doesn't take long for the career of an upwardly mobile and skyrocketing politician to flatten out. Be he Republican or Democrat, he will find the bottom very quickly unless we pray for him or her.

This week Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia passed away. I vividly recall hearing him speak at the Bicentennial celebration in my home town in 1976. He told of the man who had lived in a small town and had been a staunch Republican all his life. Now, he was 90, and his health began to fail. His doctor told him: "George, I'm sorry to tell you this, but, from the state of health, I'd say you'll not live out the year." The next morning, the old man asked his son to take him to the courthouse so he could change his registration from Republican to Democrat.
"But Dad," protested his the son, "you started this town's Republican Party and attended every function. Why would you want to become a Democrat?"
The old man replied: "Son, if someone has to die, it might as well be one of them!"
    Senator Byrd got a lot of laughs at his own expense, and the crowd loved him for it. But he made the point that some people get so fired up about politics that they can be very unpleasant to be around. And some Christians seem to be more comfortable talking about politics than they do about Christ and this is what I find to be a problem.

    Therefore, Paul tells us a method we can use to correct that kind political shortsightedness:  

¹ Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
I Timothy 2:1-2
    

In short, Paul commands us instead of griping about the nation or arguing about politics, we need to pray for all the politicians even the ones you don't like. Especially the ones you dont like! We ought never to complain if we don't vote, and we ought never to raise our opinion unless we first pray.

Pastor Gerald Flurry has written: "Prayer is political action. Prayer is social energy. Prayer is public good. Prayer shapes more of our nations life than is formed by legislation. That we have not collapsed into anarchy is due more to prayer than to the police. Prayer is a sustained and intricate act of patriotism in the largest sense of that word--far more precise, loving, and preserving than any patriotism served up in slogans." The single most important action contributing to whatever health and strength there is in our land is prayer. You see, our DECIDING vote, in any election is NOT the one we make in the privacy of the ballot box: Its the vote we make in the privacy of our prayer closets

The vote you make on your knees will have the power no ballot box can equal.

Have a blessed day!

23 June 2010 Devotion for Today "What Grace Can Do" I Timothy 1:8-15

^{8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.}

   
 

^{12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."}

 
 

(I Timothy 1:8-15)

Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a wonderful service with many people coming forward. The counselors were talking with these people. As I was sitting there I looked up the middle aisle, and there in about the third row was a man who looked about fifty, disheveled, filthy. He looked up at me rather sheepishly, as if saying, "Could I talk to you?" We have homeless people coming in all the time, asking for money or whatever. So as I sat there, I said to myself, though I am ashamed of it, "What a way to end a Sunday. I've had such a good time, preaching and ministering, and here's a fellow probably wanting some money for more wine." He walked up. When he got within about five feet of me, I smelled a horrible smell like I'd never smelled in my life. It was so awful that when he got close, I would inhale by looking away, and then I'd talk to him, and then look away to inhale, because I couldn't inhale facing him. I asked him, "What's your name?" "David." "How long have you been on the street?" "Six years." "How old are you?" "Thirty-two." He looked fifty- hair matted; front teeth missing; wino; eyes slightly glazed. "Where did you sleep last night, David?" "Abandoned truck." I keep in my back pocket a money clip that also holds some credit cards. I fumbled to pick one out thinking; I'll give him some money. I won't even get a volunteer. They are all busy talking with others. Usually we don't give money to people. We take them to get something to eat. I took the money out. David pushed his finger in front of me. He said, "I don't want your money. I want this Jesus, the One you were talking about, because I'm not going to make it. I'm going to die on the street." I completely forgot about David, and I started to weep for myself. I was going to give a couple of dollars to someone God had sent to me. See how easy it is? I could make the excuse I was tired. There is no excuse. I was not seeing him the way God sees him. I was not feeling what God feels. But oh, did that change! David just stood there. He didn't know what was happening. I pleaded with God, "God, forgive me! Forgive me! Please forgive me. I am so sorry to represent You this way. I'm so sorry. Here I am with my message and my points, and You send somebody and I am not ready for it. Oh, God!" Something came over me. Suddenly I started to weep deeper, and David began to weep. He fell against my chest as I was sitting there. He fell against my white shirt and tie, and I put my arms around him, and there we wept on each other. The smell of His person became a beautiful aroma. Here is what I thought the Lord made real to me: If you don't love this smell, I can't use you, because this is why I called you where you are. This is what you are about. You are about this smell. Christ changed David's life. He started memorizing portions of Scripture that were incredible. We got him a place to live. We hired him in the church to do maintenance, and we got his teeth fixed. He was a handsome man when he came out of the hospital. They detoxed him in 6 days. He spent that Thanksgiving at my house. He also spent Christmas at my house. When we were exchanging presents, he pulled out a little thing and he said, "This is for you." It was a little white hanky. It was the only thing he could afford. A year later David got up and talked about his conversion to Christ. The minute he took the mic and began to speak, I said, "The man is a preacher." This past Easter we ordained David. He is an associate minister of a church over in New Jersey. And I was so close to saying, "Here, take this; I'm a busy preacher." We can get so full of ourselves.

 
 

This heart-warming story that Jim Cymbala tells here reflects so much light upon ourselves as Christians. It shows us that we must never discount anyone, much less ourselves. Paul shows us also that the ones who are the most difficult to come to Christ are not the "down and outers" like Jim Cymbala talks about, but the ones like himself, the so-called "good people" who look and act decently but are empty, selfish, and sinful on the inside where no one but God can see. He transforms the lives of all of us by His grace- His unmerited favor extended to whom He will. Even as accomplished as Paul thought that he was, he knew that the law of God exposed him as a first-class hypocrite of the worst kind, a reprobate and even a murderer. This he had to see in the mirror of the law before he could see what the grace of God could do for him. Praise God, Christ saved whom Paul considered "the chief of sinners" in order to unleash his passion to tell the whole world about Jesus.

 
 

Do you see any so-called "good people" who need to be saved? They are out there everywhere. They may be sitting in your home or even in your chair? Who knows?

 
 

Have a blessed day!

22 June 2010 Devotion for Today "Meaningless Talk" I Timothy 1:1-7

 
 

 
 

^{1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,}

 2To Timothy my true son in the faith:

      Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

 3As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work—which is by faith. 5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

 
 

Have you ever known anyone to turn their mouths on and then walk off and leave them? In my line of work, I see that quite often. I know that preachers are often accused of this- especially on Sunday. But that is only because we endure a lot of listening the rest of the week that sometimes we don't often get to say what we feel we need to say- especially to those who think they know it all and want to justify themselves to people like us. Today I am starting a new series of devotions from I and II Timothy, and in this passage Paul wastes little words in his introduction but soon gets to the point.

 
 

First of all, Paul shares with Timothy his concern about commanding certain men not to teach false doctrines. There were many who did this, both inside as well as outside the church. Paul constantly battled the ideas of gnosticism. Gnosticism simply means "knowledge" which embraced a whole gamut of spiritual ideas. One of the basis of this belief is that all spiritual knowledge was the same regardless of its origin, and that we are all connected through this "knowledge" as a life-source. It is similar to the ideas of spirituality we see emerging back into the mainstream of human life today as Postmodernism. These ideas teach that it doesn't matter what you believe as long as you possess a believe system. Ethics is relative and no truth is absolute. Both Gnosticism and Postmodernism teaches an independent, detached philosophy and spirituality. You can be spiritual yet non-religious. Conscious of the spirit, yet uncommitted to any one faith.

 
 

Paul teaches here that even though this philosophy of Gnosticism promoted tolerance, it was intolerant of those who held to a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. The worldly philosophies abhorred any mention or thought of guilt, just as Postmodernism does today. Such modern practitioners raise up the flag of Tolerance but cannot endure Truth. Their words are like trying to nail square pieces of jello to a wall. Paul says they cannot know what they are talking about because one has to have a relationship with the source of the Truth before it can be meaningful to them. Otherwise it becomes more elusive.

 
 

Is this too deep or heady for a morning devotion? Perhaps this is another problem Paul will mention as he goes further with Timothy. Likewise we are not encouraged to think deeply about our faith. Any more than a tidbit is too much for our minds to think about as we have so much to deal with in the course of our day. But when we have the Truth as our basis for each day, the other matters we are forced to think about will take on a new meaning and a higher significance instead of just meaningless talk.

 
 

May the Lord increase not only your intelligence, but your container of faith which holds it.

 
 

Have a blessed day.

21 June 2010 Devotion for Today “The House of Eli” I Samuel 2: 12-25

The House of Eli

I Samuel 2:12-25

                Jeffery C. Russell

                        Salem Baptist Church    06/20/2010

Scene: Eli, the Chief Priest at Shiloh, walks into a therapists' office and pours his heart out to him. Spoken as a dramatic monologue.

 

A priest's work is never done. So I really don't have time to be here today. I know you are expensive- 400 Shekels an hour! I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my wife. I've never been to a therapist before so I don't know how I'm supposed to act. I really don't know why I'm here. I got to get back to my work! Not that I'm complaining, mind you because I love the work that I do. I love working for God I would much rather do that than sleep and eat. But I haven't done a whole lot of eating or sleeping lately because of some problems that have crept up in the family. By the way my name is Eli- the local prophet and priest of Shiloh. I minister in the tabernacle and have been there all my life. I've seen a lot of things go on over the years and nothing really surprises me anymore. And yes we prophets have family problems, too- but nobody believes it or accepts this because they pay us not to have problems, which is really a very unrealistic situation. Its hard enough dealing with Israel's problems and the problems with the Philistines and problems with the Amalekites without adding family problems to the mix. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy this work, but sometimes it just gives me a headache, and often I don't know what to do about it but pray and hope that God will deal with it or that it will all go away by itself. At this stage in my life, I just want peace in my life!

    I have to admit I haven't been the best father- but I feel like I've done the best I could. The whole time my boys were growing up I would try to plan to do things with them like take them fishing, play ball with them, take them and the whole family on vacation but there was always something more compelling I would have to attend to first. I didn't mean for this to happen, but somewhere along the way, my boys, Hophni and Phineas got the idea they really couldn't take me seriously- or God seriously, for that matter. I admit about all I've done for them is to teach them how to make good excuses. Most people don't understand the life of a prophet. They think you only work one day a week! On top of that, they also think you are rich whenever they come over to the tabernacle and they see all the sacrificial animals all lined up. I've done everything I could to keep things above board. But I don't need to explain things to you folks. Why, only a few days ago, I was about ready to leave the tabernacle, locking up and turning out the lights, when this woman is sitting there.

    She's moving her mouth constantly, and talking in such a way I couldn't understand what she was saying. I know now that she was praying, but at the time I thought she was drunk! I'd seen so much of that with my sons Hophni and Phineas, and the women they would bring in here- I thought maybe she might have been one of their girlfriends. You shouldn't judge people by appearances, and was ashamed of myself that her this woman was praying for a baby and asked the Lord for one and if He gave her a son, she would dedicate him to God. God answered her prayer, and named the boy Samuel. When he was about 3 years old, she sent the little fellow to live with me to serve here in the tabernacle. I don't know why she would do that- everybody knew the terrible reputation my boys were starting to have in those days. Maybe I could do something with this boy that I couldn't with those two. They caused me such headaches, and people were always coming to me complaining about them- how they would steal from them, get their daughters drunk and run around with them. It was disgraceful. When I tried to say something to them, they would ignore me, or treat me disrespectfully. It was horrible. Until Samuel came along, I felt like such a failure. What in the world did I do to deserve all this? All I've ever wanted to do is to serve God.

    I guess it's just all my fault I let things slide. I mean, its not like I never saw my kids. They were around the tabernacle and grew up around it since the time they were babies. But perhaps that was the problem- we were always there. You know what they say, "familiarity breeds contempt." Well, they sure grew up having contempt for what we did around there. I would be there at the tabernacle from sun-up to sundown, sorting out the sacrifices and listening to the people complain when I had to turn them down. Dealing with so many people was so tiring. We had to do every sacrifice in just the right way that God said to do it. It was very meticulous. If we disobeyed or cut corners it would be very possible that we could die. Years ago, when Moses' brother Aaron was in charge of the tabernacle, his boys Nadab and Abihu thought it would be fun to play around with the fire on the altar. They must have been bored, but they knew better. I'm not sure what they did, but it caused the fire to blaze way out of control, engulfing Nadab and Abihu in flames. There was barely anything left of them when they put the fire out.

    All of us prophets and priests remembered that story. Poor Aaron, everybody criticized him for that but I know how it happened now. Aaron basically gave them no supervision, looked the other way when he needed to discipline them. I guess I let myself get caught up in the same thing and I didn't see it coming. I may sound like I'm making excuses, but nobody plans to let their children get out of control. And it doesn't get any easier as the children grow older. I found that out the year I was promoted to being chief priest of the Tabernacle. What an honor that was- something I for which I've dreamt all my life. But I didn't just dream it, I worked hard for it, putting in long hours and getting there before anyone one else and leaving only after everyone else did. My family, especially my sons, saw me less often. Their jobs were to help process the sacrifices and to make sure that the priests got their fair share, in fact they did their jobs too well- they learned every trick in the book, but not from me. For example, they would stick a big fork in the roasted meat and say things like, "the meat that stays on the fork belongs to us, and everything that gets left belongs to God!" At first I thought that was kind of clever, maybe a little funny. But they were serious. Oh why didn't I say anything to them about that?

    When I found out about that, I was furious. At first I held back but then I spoke up and said something to Hophni and Phineas- not that it did a whole lot of good, but I said: "Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. ²⁴ No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear spreading among the LORD's people. ²⁵ If a man sins against another man, God ^[e] may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?"

    Hofni and Phineas looked at me like I was crazy. They just ignored me, brushed me off. They weren't in fact the least bit apologetic for the things they had done. I trembled for them. I just know in my spirit that something bad is going to befall them. Its like someone once said, "Your chickens will one day come home to roost!" And they did, as we will soon see.

    Meanwhile the little fellow Samuel continued to grow. He was a delight to have around and helped assuage the troubles with my unruly boys. He was also a smart little guy, and very perceptive. On top of that, he loved God and tried to do what was right. One night, after we were all in bed, little Samuel awakened me from my sleep. "Father Eli," he said, "Did you call for me?" I said, "No, my child- I did not. Go back to bed." An hour or so later, Samuel came back and asked, "Father Eli, did you call for me?" Again I said, no, please go back to bed. A third time, Samuel came back again and "I heard it again, a voice calling for me." This time I told him, "It may be God who is speaking to you. Next time answer by saying, "Speak Lord, for Your servant hears!" Samuel did just that. In fact he received a message from God that Samuel needed to deliver to me.

    I remember the little fellow came up to me, with tears in his eyes. I asked, "What did the Lord tell you, my son?" I could tell little Samuel feared what he was going to say to me. As he struggled for the right words to say, I told him, "Out with it boy! If God has given you a word, you must never hold back on what He has instructed you to say. Little Samuel blurted out, "The Lord says you are going to die, you and your sons with you!" I said, "Samuel, He is the Lord, let him do what is best for him."

I can't believe that here I am, a man of God, a man people look to for help and answers, to live in such a way as to let my own family down. There was a time when everyone wanted to live in the House of Eli. Everyone envied us, everyone wanted to be us, everyone in Israel looked up to us- what in the world went wrong? Its not like I abused them or tried to hurt them. Its not like I drank alcohol or stayed out late with my friends. I never cheated on their mother or did the corrupt things that my sons now do. I took my devotion and commitment to God and His work very seriously. Maybe a little bit too seriously. Sure I was the one who got the promotions, the acclaim, the spotlight, the families who were not as ambitious as I seemed to be so much happier than we were. I thought it was my job to work hard to provide for my family. I let myself believe that I never had time to take vacations with the family, to attend the games my sons were in. But Hophni and Phineas always got the best of everything- I made sure of that. They had the best food, the best clothes, the best education, the best of everything this world had to offer. Only now do I realize that though I gave them everything they wanted, I did not give them what they most needed. Oh what I wouldn't give to be able to have the years back when my children were young- the things I would do differently!

I can see right now I will not have that chance. A great battle is coming. I hear that the Philistines are coming again, and this time they outnumber us two to one. Hophni and Phineas have taken out the Ark of the Covenant to stand before the army. I have a grandchild on the way. I don't have a good feeling about this. I wished that I had spoken to them before they left, but there is still so much to do. Well I've got to get going- so much to do…..

04 June 2010 Devotion for Today "A Vision of God" Genesis 28:11-17

Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway [d] resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it [e] stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

 16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." 17 He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven." (Genesis 28:11-17)

 
 

Last time we saw Jacob, he was running for his life from his brother Esau from whom he had just swindled his life's inheritance. His father Isaac quickly blessed him and sent him on his way. Its interesting to note, however, that Isaac never said anything to chastise Jacob about what he had done. Jacob takes off to where his mother grew up. When he lay down to sleep, in the midst of his broken heartedness, he has a dream, more correctly, a vision of God. He sees a tall ladder reaching up into heaven with angelic creatures climbing up and down on it. Here, God speaks to Jacob, and renews the covenant promises he had made to his father and grandfather. You can almost picture how overwhelmed Jacob is as he realizes where he has been, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it." (v.16).

 
 

This is usually how God catches up with the busy person. Its not that God was never there before, but it is the place where one realizes God has been there with them the whole time and they were just too busy or otherwise occupied to notice. This place was so significant to Jacob and so reassuring. Why would God pay a personal visit to a man who thought he would be dead soon? It brought wonderful relief to him to know that God had a greater plan for Jacob's life than being a man on the run.

 
 

Perhaps you too are on the run, or so busy you take little notice of God and what He is doing for you. It usually takes a crisis to bring us to our knees or to cause us to look up. Perhaps it would be better not to wait until this happens, because these crises are often painful. You don't have to wait until then. You can open your eyes right now and know of His touch and presence all around you. He is there!

 
 

Have a blessed day!