August 31, 2022

Isaiah 30: 18 (NIV)

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. 

His grace exceeds the largest dimensions known to man.*

Have you ever been snapped at – or bitten by – an injured pet when you were trying to help him? You had only the best of intentions toward the hurting animal but he was hurting too much to understand.  Remember how you felt?

Other versions of today's verse say something along the lines of “God is waiting to be gracious to you.” I picture him waiting patiently, soothing us as much as we will allow, until we realize that he is there and ready with the first aid.  He longs to tend our hurts. He “rises to show you compassion” – he gets up to come to our side to comfort us. But just like an animal in pain, we reject his aid. A pet reacts instinctively to attempts to tend to his wounds; what is our excuse?

God isn’t just waiting for us to allow him to heal our hurts; he is also waiting for us to accept his offer of salvation. “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (II Peter 3: 9) There is a strong sense of urgency here – we don’t know how much longer he will wait. With God, a thousand years and a single day are equal increments of time (II Peter 3: 8) so has he been patient with you for a few days or for thousands of years?

For the present, the door is still open.*

August 30, 2022

Psalm 116: 2 (NIV)

Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

It is such a comfort to drop the entanglements and perplexities of life into God’s hands and leave them there.*

The first week that my twin boys were in high school, I got hives. Dealing with their school was one of the most stressful experiences of my life. There were some issues with their schedule that needed to be worked out, but when the person who answered the phone at the school couldn’t help me, I couldn’t get any further, no matter how many times I called. No referring me to another person; just, “Sorry, I don’t know.” Finally, (long story short) I found someone who could help me – the district superintendent’s secretary. After all was sorted out, I told this long-time, knowledgeable, and helpful employee, “You can’t retire until after my boys graduate.” (And I did have to call on her again before their four years were up!)

My reliable source of help with the school system didn’t actually solve my problem but she put me in touch with someone who could. God doesn’t always provide the solution either. Sometimes he shows us how to live with our problems. Occasionally, he turns a problem into a blessing. But he never leaves us to face life alone.

I wish that I could have found that helpful employee before I had to run the gauntlet of futility. I would wish the same for you as you struggle with life’s issues. When you know who can help, why waste your time getting nowhere with people who don’t know anything? God is ready to listen and ready with the answers. Give him that first chance to be your source of help and you will say with the psalmist, “Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” Perhaps you can say good-bye to high blood pressure, ulcers, anxiety . . . hives . . .

God wants to provide solutions that will nourish and sustain, not harm us in the long run.*

August 29, 2022

Exodus 33: 18 (NIV)

Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

We try to describe God in human terms, but God is infinitely bigger than our ability to understand.*

God had already shown Moses his favor – verse 11 says that the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. How glorious would that be? And still Moses asks that God would show him his glory. Was Moses being arrogant? Audacious? Or appropriate? 

God didn’t seem to be put-off by Moses’ request. When Moses asked to see God’s glory, God showed him his goodness (verse 19). Is there a difference? If you’ve seen one attribute of God, have you seen them all? When God allowed, in verse 23, that Moses could see his back but not his face, what did Moses see? God is spirit and does not have body parts. Someone has suggested that instead of revealing his glory, God revealed his character.* Again I ask, is there a difference? 

Moses’ request to see God’s glory is typical human behavior. The more we know God, the more we want to know him. God’s response to Moses is typical divine behavior: he wants to show us more of himself. In his sermon at the Areopagus in Athens (Acts 17: 16-34), Paul proclaims that everything that God has done from creation forward was for this purpose: “So that men might seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him.” Turns out that Moses was not acting inappropriately when he asked to see God’s glory. It’s exactly what God wants all of us to do.

Christ only is the express image of God’s person.*

August 28, 2022

Daniel 1: 8 (NIV)

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine; and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

Instead of engaging the culture we can end up embracing the culture.*

Babylon, under the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar, besieged and defeated Jerusalem. The Babylonians sacked the temple and, per the king’s orders, carried off some of the finest young Israelite men to be groomed for service in the palace. These young men received much better treatment than the average captive, a condition which was conducive to sucking them into the pagan culture. 

Daniel was one of those young men. They changed his name as part of their indoctrination process but Daniel was determined to maintain his spiritual purity even though he no longer had access to the religious conveniences of home. We aren’t told specifically why he chose the dietary laws of the Jewish faith as the launching pad for his small rebellion, but we can guess: dietary restrictions of the Mosaic Law prohibited eating certain kinds of meat, most of which would have been included in a Babylonian menu; anything offered at mealtime could also have been offered to idols; and it was impossible to comply with most other components of the Law. 

Daniel’s life can teach us about living in our increasingly Godless society. Like Daniel, we need to resolve not to defile ourselves with the nastiness of the world. We are easily seduced into small compromises, and, little by little, soon nothing sets us apart from the rest of humanity. We should also note Daniel’s demeanor at the onset of his civil disobedience – he was respectful but resolute as he negotiated for sanctions, an attitude that did not guarantee that his “boss” would grant the ten-day deferral but one that surely didn’t hurt his chances of success. 

Choosing not to eat the royal food seems like a tiny battle in a gigantic war but every skirmish won is a step in the march to victory. What bigger issue could Daniel have chosen to make his point? Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” (Luke 16: 10) Daniel demonstrates that being trustworthy in small ways is no small thing with God.

If you think you’re too small to make a difference, you have never spent the night with a mosquito.*

August 27, 2022

Ephesians 4: 30 (NIV)

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

When God reveals himself in Scripture as a being who is both three and one we are not shocked. There is no surprise, for we knew all along that God was totally different from anything we could think or imagine.*

At the risk of sounding sacrilegious, I wonder if the Holy Spirit ever feels like Rodney Dangerfield? From being referred to as “it,” to being ignored, he doesn’t seem to get much respect. And how three distinct entities can be one entity is a topic for smarter people to discuss. Let’s just spend a few moments getting acquainted with the Holy Spirit. 

This verse in Ephesians introduces a characteristic of the Holy Spirit that we might find surprising: he has feelings. Here, Paul warns us not to grieve the Spirit (how we can cause the Spirit grief is another subject). In Galatians 6: 8, Paul also informs us that the Spirit can be pleased by our actions; and the writer of Hebrews tells us that he can be insulted (10: 29). Does knowing this about the Holy Spirit make him seem more accessible, more personal, to you? 

The Holy Spirit plays an important role in the life of a Christian. Some of his responsibilities include (but are not limited to):  

· Teach (Luke 12: 12; John 14: 26) 

· Enable (Acts 2: 4) 

· Give wisdom (Acts 6: 10; Colossian 1: 9) 

· Encourage (Acts 9: 31) 

· Warn (Acts 20: 23) 

· Lead (Romans 8: 14; Galatians 5: 18) 

· Help in our weakness (Romans 8: 26) 

· Intercede (Romans 8: 26) 

· Distribute gifts (I Corinthians 12: 4) 

· Minister (II Corinthians 3: 8) 

· Give joy (I Thessalonians 1: 6) 

· Justify (I Corinthians 6: 11) 

Other attributes of the Holy Spirit that are vital to our understanding of him and to our salvation include: 

· He gives life (John 6: 63; Romans 8: 10; II Corinthians 3: 6) 

· He knows the thoughts of God (I Corinthians 2: 11) 

· He lives in us (II Timothy 1: 14) 

· He raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8: 11) 

· He is our counselor (John 14: 16) 

As you get to know the Holy Spirit and what he can do for you, you will begin to recognize that he is your source of power. But that’s a subject for another day . . .

At the heart of who the Spirit is we find someone who cares, who is compassionate, and who can always be found by our side and on our side.*

August 26, 2022

James 4: 10 (NIV)

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

God, who must stoop to view the skies and bow to see what angels do, looks to the lowly and contrite, and makes them great.*

The thing about humbling yourself before the Lord is that you can’t fake it. People can be fooled by our outward appearance. Some people are good actors while others are gullible - and they make a good team. But acting humble (or should that be “acting humbly”?) will not trick God into lifting you up.

What does humbling yourself before the Lord look like? It might look like repentance or obedience but it also might not look like anything. Many of us have mastered the art of humble actions but still struggle with inner rebellion. True humility is a heart attitude. Your process will differ from mine because it is a personal encounter with God.

What does “lifting you up” look like? Just as humbling yourself is a personal experience between you and God, lifting you up may very well have no outward signs either. We should not assume that after we have reached the optimum level of humility, we will then be carried across the field on the shoulders of our team members. We may have to wait for our final reward, but I believe that God honors our humility in an immediate fashion by lifting us up to himself. That is not something that can be detected by another human.

I read somewhere that you can’t go up one hill (be lifted up) until you’ve gone down the one you’re on (humble yourself). It’s ironic that going down the hill is much harder than going up. 

It is the paradox of religion that Jehovah’s holiness, which places Him at an infinite distance from human pride and greatness, brings Him near to the humble in spirit.*

August 25, 2022

Judges 16: 20 (NIV)

Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.

Do not count too much on the patience of a holy God.*

In Judges, chapters 13 through 16, we read the life story of Samson and, until chapter 16, verse 14, about how the Lord was with him. It’s ironic that Samson finally became “tired to death” of Delilah’s nagging him to reveal the secret of his strength around the same time that God became tired of him.

It’s sad that Samson did not know that the Lord had left him. Our peek into his life reveals that Samson may not have known the Lord had left him because he wasn’t aware that the Lord had been with him in the first place. He seemed to believe that he was operating under his own strength. Yes, he remembered that he wasn’t supposed to cut his hair but would he have told Delilah his secret if he really expected his strength to leave him? How would our life-choices change if we really believed that we do everything through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4: 13)? Do we believe that apart from Jesus we can do nothing (John 15: 5), or are we pretty confident of our own strength? Would we notice if the Lord left us?

We might wonder at God’s patience with Samson. It’s pretty amazing that God stuck with him through all his shenanigans – but then, the same could be said of us. We rely heavily on God’s patience while we give in to temptation, insist on having our own way, refuse to forgive others, and ignore God’s will for our lives.

 

Samson made many poor choices in his lifetime, not the least of which involved women and brawling. Each of us has our own set of struggles. Let us learn from Samson’s mistakes that God is the source of our strength and that God’s patience is not without end!

What vanity ever tempted me to suppose I could withstand . . . evil on my own strength, my own resourcefulness, my own innate human dignity!*

August 24, 2022

Philippians 4: 13 (NIV)

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

We can’t live in God’s righteousness through our own strength.*

This verse makes a great Facebook post. It’s a mantra to remind ourselves that we have a source of power. Yes, Jesus Christ is our strength, but Paul isn’t telling us that we can do everything. Or anything. Think about it. Who do you know – what spiritual giant are you acquainted with – who can do anything?

If we put this verse back into the passage where it belongs, we find that Paul was addressing a specific circumstance: learning to be content in any and every situation (verse 12). Paul shared his testimony with the Philippians and then he made sure that they understood that he wasn’t bragging. He didn’t possess any special powers of his own – only the strength that he received from Christ.

I think it is safe to apply this verse to our lives as long as we keep it within Paul’s context. We aren’t promised superhuman power, but we might say that we can do everything – face anything – that we must because Christ gives us the strength. When Jesus himself said, “Apart from me you can do nothing,” (John 15: 5) he didn’t mean that we can’t act or think without him – lots of people do it. Again, context is important. If you read the entire passage, you will see that Jesus is talking about bearing fruit and remaining faithful – things that we can’t accomplish without his strength.

Perhaps in the past you have found this verse to be more depressing than encouraging. Maybe you have been thinking, “But I can’t do everything!” and you have felt inadequate or like a failure as a Christian. Do you understand now that the promise isn’t that we can do anything and everything indiscriminately but that we are empowered to do anything and everything according to God’s will? Have you learned the secret to being content in any and every situation? Are you fruitful and faithful because you remain in Christ and he remains in you?

What God requires, he provides.*

August 23, 2022

Revelation 3: 1 (NIV)

“I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”

Comfortable buildings and state-of-the-art technology may enhance the church’s ministry, but they can’t make up for spiritual shallowness.*

When I was a very small child, I remember an occasion at my grandparents’ house when someone killed a chicken. I don’t recall witnessing the actual murderous deed – my only memory is of the poor bird’s head, separated from its body, squawking furiously. Yes, that head was noisy and lively but it was really, really dead. 

The words of this verse are addressed to the church in Sardis but they could apply to many churches anywhere today. Fast-growing congregations which appear to be alive may just be a squawking chicken head – separated from the body and its source of life. This verse could describe individuals as well – Christians who lead and influence others, hiding their own out-of-control lives behind their ability to portray the smooth public image. Facades such as these don’t last. The chicken head eventually falls silent because it is truly dead. 

Is there hope for a dead church or a shallow Christian? John relays some encouragement to the church at Sardis – words that might help to reanimate others in the same condition. 

· “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die.” (verse 2) 

· “Remember . . . what you have received and heard; obey it and repent.” (verse 3) 

Once that chicken and its head were separated, nothing was going to bring life back to it, but churches are not poultry. With them, signs of spiritual life may be proof of life. A dead church or an exposed phony may still have something genuine to build upon. John says to strengthen that solid foundation before it dies: look for the biblical principles hidden among the superficial attractions; remember and obey the gospel; repent. Perform some spiritual CPR. It’s not too late!

We all remember “faith without works is dead,” but we haven’t always acknowledged that activity by itself doesn’t prove life.*

August 22, 2022

John 8:34 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”

Sin alienates us from God and enslaves us to carnal desires.*

You don’t have to be a junkie to be hooked on something. Normal people – you, your friends – are slaves to something - from addictions (cigarettes) to the innocuous (getting your nails done every week). Anything that controls our cravings or our schedule is a slavemaster. Is it any wonder that Jesus warns us about being slaves to sin when we are so willing to give up our freedom?

When Jesus says that everyone who sins is a slave to sin, he means everyone. We all sin. We never stop. When we become Christians, we might slow down. We might have fewer sins in our repertoire but we are still sinners. Slaves. Paul tells us in Romans chapter 6, that when we offer ourselves to someone, we become his slaves. Indeed, we can choose to be slaves to sin or we can opt to be slaves to obedience.

Why would we give up one form of slavery for another? When we consider the price, the choice becomes clear. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6: 23), while slavery to obedience leads to righteousness – the gift of God. Our Emancipation Proclamation is signed in the blood of Jesus Christ and we don’t have to earn it – we can’t earn it; we just have to accept it.

All men are slaves, but with the one choice of choosing his own master.*