Saturday, August26: Jude- The best defense.

But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh (17-23).

Problems will come; false teachers and scoffers will try to dissuade us from the truth. Our best defense is to know the faith and be strong in it. Jude writes build yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love… Be merciful to those who doubt; save others…

Build yourselves up in the faith… work at it. Study to shew yourself approved (KJV) writes Paul in 2Timothy 2:15. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind is a similar thought from Romans 12:2. God’s Word reminds us over and over again to strengthen our ‘faith muscles’… read Scripture, meditate on Scripture and study Scripture.’

Pray, pray in the Spirit, speak with God, listen to God, follow the Lord’s lead, share your needs and listen for the Spirit’s response. Pray for strength to stand and wisdom to know truth from error. Don’t live your life on your own; live it in concert with the Spirit of the Lord.

Keep yourself of God’s love… stay connected with the Lord, especially when tempted to drift away. Remember God’s love and care and bask in it.

Reach out to others… don’t keep the faith to yourselves, use it to help others. Be merciful to those who doubt. Who hasn’t doubted?  Encourage those who doubt and wrestle with things of faith. Help them. Discuss with them in a gentle way.  Point them to God’s Word.

Save others. Share your faith through words and good deeds that others many see Jesus and be drawn to Him.

Jude packs plenty of practical faith living into these few words. God reminds me, “Now do it and in doing so, protect yourself from error.”

Hour by hour, Lord, show me how to live these practical words of faith and maturity. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

 

Friday, August 25: Philemon- Friendship and relationships.

Paul prayed for Philemon, …that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ (6).

This verse spurred thinking about my friendships and relationships. Does hanging around me have a similar effect on others? Does the faith of others grow because they are somehow connected to me?

This is not an easy question to answer, partly because I do not know what is going on inside of other people. It is also hard to know because I do not see the other person throughout the day, in all manner of life situations.

However, on the other hand, some of what I just wrote is an excuse not to have to consider the opening questions that began today’s devotion. Does hanging around me have a similar effect?

I fear my “I cannot tell” is a cover up because I am concerned that the answer is really ‘no, not really’.

This is not good. I recall yesterday’s time in the Lord; be wise… make every opportunity… season conversation with grace. Maybe I am not living up to Paul’s injunction and my desires as best I can.

I believe I need to go into the ‘examination closet’ for some interior work…

How about you?  Does hanging around you help other people grow in Jesus?

Lord, it is too easy to close my devotional and get on with my day, in essence forgetting what we have been talking about this morning. I pray that will not be, but throughout today You will continue to speak with me about this and other areas of my life that need more maturity. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray. Amen.

 

 

Thursday, August 24: Colossians 4- Make the most of every opportunity.

Always with a practical eye to kingdom living, Paul concludes with these words. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (5-6).

How thoughtful and simple.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders. How we act toward others says a great deal about who we are inside as people. Let’s be honest, what do you think of someone who is belligerent and unfriendly?  Have you ever stood in a shopping line or been stuck in an airline seat or been seated at a restaurant near someone who is caustic toward the server, attendant or check out person? It is uncomfortable and embarrassing, even when you do not know the offender. And if they are a Christian, any chance of sharing the love of Jesus is gone, caput!

Be wise… make the most of every opportunity Paul lives to be a witness. Being wise and kind and faithful is a first step toward faith living and faith sharing. His life, as has become apparent these last weeks, is all about living for Jesus and seeing the Gospel of Jesus spread throughout the world.

Paul’s example and teaching chides me to ‘amp up’ my living for Jesus. Making the most of every opportunity, seasoning my conversations with grace and living in such a manner that people wonder what makes me tic. That provides avenues for me to share my faith and love in Jesus.

Lord, conversation does not come easily for me. Help me to grow in relating easily with people so that I can shine for Jesus, be living wisely, looking for opportunities and speaking with grace. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Wednesday, August 23: Colossians 3- A new bucket list.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (1-2).

Right out of the shoot this morning I began considering what it means to set our hearts (1) and our minds (2) on things above, where Christ is, seated.

Many people mention their bucket list, those things they want to do before they die. If my mind and heart is set on things above, namely Christ, then that should affect what I place on my bucket list. Right? It seems to me that our bucket list should be more than places I want to visit or novel experiences I want to undertake. Our bucket lists should include things for and about Christ and His mission that I want to accomplish

Well, honestly I have never thought about this. I do not have a bucket list in the first place. Maybe I should have one, if it is something that keeps me moving forward… moving forward in Christ that is.

So if my head and heart are set on Christ, what might that lead me to do?… hmmm

Fund Gospel advances on every inhabited continent?

Serving Christ and His church until my dying breath?

I am not a bucket list kind of person.  Continuing this will take some time. Ideas do not flood my thoughts.

How would setting your heart and mind on Christ shape your bucket list?

Lord, sit with me and help me examine my aspirations and through that lens help me see areas of my life that I still need to surrender to You. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Tuesday, August 22: Colossians 2- Christ and Christ Alone.

The words played in my mind like a song, “We will worship Christ and Christ alone…” That’s what Paul is saying in Colossians 2. Not human traditions (an apparent reference to Judaism and any other ‘works based’ approaches to God).  Not elemental forces (which today comes in the garb of New Age spirituality and other power from this world kind of Eastern or Native American spirituality). NO, for Christ-followers, it is Christ and Christ alone.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead (6-12).

Immediately the Lord began probing my life. Have I consciously or unconsciously adopted any add-ins to Christ and Christ alone?

Obvious ones like horoscopes, searching for the right Chi, filling my house with certain crystals, following the way of the Buddha, or checking in with a shaman, or tribal healer or…  or less obvious ways like seeking ‘portals’ where God is present or believing holy mountains or particular shrines are filled with God’s power.  These are ways elemental powers can creep into our lives.

Then there are human traditions, whether they be things like certain feasts, which must be followed or praying in certain directions and at mandated times or the veneration of other human beings. When these forms and practices become rules and laws then Christ has been moved off the center displaced by these human teachings and traditions. When this happens we have ventured into dangerous territory.

God brought me back to verse 8: See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

I am left to wrestle with this thought and see if I have fallen prey in any way to human traditions or elemental spiritual forces…

How about you?

Lord, it is so easy, especially unconsciously, to add in other things to Christ and Christ alone. Keep me safe. Keep me pure by keeping me close to You and Your world. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Monday, August 21: Colossians 1- Jesus did it all.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (15-20).

What a description of Jesus. Oh, my, glorious staggering and supreme. Jesus, Creator of all things, holds all things together. Head of the church, firstborn from among the dead. Fully God and reconciler of all things through the cross. I scan back through this description and notice all uses of the word ‘all’ and one ‘everything’… It is clear Jesus is Supreme…

Following this description, Paul turns immediately to us. We are in trouble alienated from God, but Jesus who is Supreme over everything comes to our aid…

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant (21-23).

While Jesus is Supreme over us, He suffered and died for us. His physical death on the cross paid our reconciliation fee so that we can be holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. What more we could hope for or desire? Jesus has done it all.

We have but one task, to continue in our faith… to hold on and to stay true to Jesus. After all Jesus did for me, how could I not do that for Him?

Jesus, I put my stake in the ground… I stand with You. You are sovereign and I declare my full allegiance to You and You alone. Together with the Father and the Spirit, I will worship You, divine Trinity, as the one true God. Alleluia. Amen.

 

Saturday, August19: Philippians 4- The importance of getting along.

       How important is getting along in the church and being of one mind (which we learned from chapter 2 means being of one mind with Jesus)? It must be very important because Paul addresses two women, pleading for them to get along and for others to help them.

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life (2-3).

There is no doubt that these are women of faith. Their names are written in the book of life and they have contended at Paul’s side. In other words they are visible, faithful coworkers who are associated with Paul and his work.

Their association with Paul gives him some leverage and possibly even some responsibility to see if he can repair whatever the damage may be. This is precisely what Paul does.

First he calls on the two women to seek repair by following the principle he laid out in Chapter 2 … to be of one mind that is the mind of Christ.

Next he calls out to his ‘true companion’, whoever that might be, to help the women and for this person to seek the additional help of Clement and others if needed.

Paul is pulling out all the stops. Unity and these two women, repairing whatever damage lies between them, is that important!

Broken relationships, particularly those within the church, need attention…

Do you have any broken relationships that need repair?

Are you aware of any broken relationships in your fellowship? Now do you have an association, which might allow you to help effect repair? If you don’t have an association you can always pray for them. Unity is that important.

Lord, I pray for Your church. That we, the people of Your church, would seek to be of one mind –the mind of Christ. That we would repair damage and live as one people blessed by our God and beacons of light for You in our dark and hurting world. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Friday, August 18: Philippians 3- To know Christ.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead (7-11).

The context makes it clear that Paul is warning Philippians about falling back into the legalism of Judaism, and following the law as their source of salvation. Salvation is by faith not by law; attaining Christ, not living up to some human made law is the Gospel way. Paul’s deepest desire is to know Christ…

This strikes a chord in me… to know Christ. Knowing Christ personally and intimately is the foundation of faith. Paul says a similar thing in Romans 12:2, Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. The transforming of our minds –what we know and think about and how we see and process the world around us is what transforms us. So it is that Paul seeks to know Christ… an example for all of us.

Knowing Christ leads to living and doing for Christ! This is the faithful ‘order’.  To reverse these… to put the doing before knowing is a wide open door to legalism, which Paul warns against in Colossians and Galatians.

So back to me and my life… am I putting my heart and soul into knowing Jesus Christ?  Ingesting His Word and distinguishing His heartbeat, so that I can be listening for His voice and follow His lead?

Oh, Father, send Your Spirit that I might know Your Son, I pray through His name. Amen.

 

Thursday, August 17: Philippians 2- Of one mind.

       Sometimes when I read, I like to take out the extra modifiers and clauses that are part of the text so I can consider the heart of the sentence or paragraph. When I do this with the opening paragraph of today’s reading here is what I come up with.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, … then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. … In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus… (1-2, 5)

Paul is pleading with the church to be of one mind, in other words, to have the same mindset. But interestingly Paul is not instructing them to have his mindset. It is not that they must agree and think like Paul. Instead all the church including Paul should seek to have Christ’s mindset. Jesus is our Unifier and Jesus alone is our Lord. We should strive to be like Him.

And what was true for the Philippians remains true for me and all believers today.

Yes, we should be of one mind, but it is the mind of Christ, not the mind or anyone else. Following this plea Paul gives a vivid picture of the mindset of Jesus…

[Jesus] being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! (6-8).

Jesus willingly and sacrificially gave up everything so that we might be saved.

That is the mindset I am (we are) to have… to willingly and sacrificially give up anything and everything for others to know and grow in Christ.

Oh, God, I fall so short of this…. Forgive me. Restore me. Empower me to be like Jesus. Amen

 

Wednesday, August 16: Philippians 1- Pondering suffering for the Lord.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have (27-30).

Paul seems to be saying to the Philippians that they are honored by Christ… and the honor is that they suffer for Him.

The concept of suffering for Jesus, as an honor, is so far from my thinking and experience, I am not even sure how to process this thought as I sit.

Yes, I spent 3 weeks in Nigeria this summer, but it was hardly suffering. Oh, there were lack of conveniences that I am used to –safe drinking water, A/C, healthy well balanced meals and other 1st world issues. When I got sick friends got me medicine within 24 hours and I was better in 48 hours, hardly suffering. And most of my summer has been a joy, eating produce from my wife’s vegetable garden, enjoying the beauty of our yard, having friends over to enjoy an evening swim in our pool, enjoying a 3-generation family trip in Europe. Honestly, I don’t know if I even understand ‘suffering for the Lord.’ In so many ways my life is so privileged.

As a pastor I can’t recall the last time I spoke on ‘suffering for Jesus.’ And that is probably because I haven’t.

I am struggling to know what to do with this idea of suffering for Jesus. I know we are not to go and look for suffering, as if it is a human work to earn God’s delight. The self-flagellation of ascetics in the past, I believe, is a distortion of the Gospel and a biblical understanding of suffering for Jesus.

My culture and country tolerates the Christian faith, so I am not hampered in any way from practicing my faith at home. Like I said, I am not sure I understand ‘suffering for the Lord.’

So here I sit this morning, wondering what to do with God’s Words on suffering… no answers; many questions.

Father, even as I struggle to understand this idea about suffering for Jesus, I know that Your presence is always a safe place. A place to be myself with all my failings… Your love, You say, covers a multitude of sins. I am so grateful for this. Lord, whisper those things I need to know about suffering. I will trust You and live for You, empowered by Your Spirit, as well as I can. If suffering comes my way, I pray for strength to honor You in the way I suffer. And if suffering is not in Your divine plan for my life, then I pray for strength to honor You in my life of blessing. Either way and every way I seek to honor You, my Lord and my God –Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Tuesday, August 15: Ephesians 6- Will you pray for me.

Paul the great apostle, church planter, pioneer and missionary asked the church of Ephesus to pray for him. Paul asked them to pray, not for his health, or his wellbeing but asked them to pray that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should (19-20). That’s a man of faith, that’s a disciple-making disciple.

I am humbled by Paul’s dedication to God’s cause, humbled yet strengthened.

As I sit and read and ponder, Paul lifts my aspirations… to be a man of faith and a disciple-making disciple.

Will you pray for me that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Oh, God, give me an army of intercessors who will pray for me like the Ephesians prayed for Paul. Through Christ and for the sake of Gospel advance in this world, I pray. Amen.

 

 

Monday, August 14: Ephesians 5- Find out what pleases the Lord.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.… and find out what pleases the Lord.… Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is (1-2, 10, 17).

This grouping of verses caught my attention. Together they call me to press into God’s way and to live into God’s example. 

I was particularly taken with verse 10; find out what pleases the Lord. As I pondered that thought it hit me, it is not always obvious to me what pleases the Lord. My corrupted human heart does not automatically lead me to God’s way. I must constantly be measuring my natural inclinations against God’s Word to see where I am in line and where I am out of line with the Lord and His way of love.

Diligence, exploration and even some trial and error are three descriptors that come to mind as I ponder the idea of finding out what pleases the Lord.

Diligence… I must work at this. Like a profession in any field, I must hone and develop habits. I need to spend the time to master the attitudes, to match my heart beat with the heartbeat of God.

Exploration… what pleases God will not come naturally to me. So I must explore new ways of living. God’s Word is full of new ways. The end of this chapter highlights a new way of marriage so different than the human way. I must explore God’s new ways.

Trial and error… this will mean I have to try new ways of living. I don’t expect that my initial forays into God’s new ways of living will always be correct or best. And as life changes and I enter new seasons, I will continually need to adapt and grow. Thinking about the example of marriage, loving my wife as Christ loved the church requires different actions and attitudes at different times. First married, with young children, with teen children, both working, empty nest, each season has its own actions that please the Lord.

I’m back to the words find out what pleases the Lord. What does that mean for me today? How should I act today in order to please the Lord?

This is a question I need to learn to ask myself daily, maybe even hourly….

Lord, I am yours, You bought me with the price of Jesus’ blood. I need the work of the Holy Spirit in me to live up to Your example of love and to find out what pleases You. Please grace me with Your Spirit that I might please You and live for You. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

Saturday, August12: Ephesians 4- Living a life worthy of your calling.

This chapter begins Paul’s ‘so what.’ What affect should the Christian faith have on a person’s life? The Christian faith should affect the entirety of one’s life; how we speak to others, how we treat others, what we believe and how we treat people inside and outside the faith.

No part of a person’s life is unaffected by faith in Jesus… or at least that is the way it is supposed to be. I love the instructions regarding stealing. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need (28). Not only are they supposed to STOP stealing, but they are to find work, not simply to support themselves and their family, but so that they can help people in need.

WOW… the Christian faith pushes a person far beyond being good and doing the right thing. Faith in Jesus gives us new eyes to see life differently and a new heart that longs to make the world a better place.

As I typed that last line, it was as if God began asking me, “How are you doing, Bill, with making your world a better place? Are you taking care of those in need? Are you being kind to others?” The questions kept coming. God is asking me how faith in Jesus is changing my life.

How is faith in Jesus changing your life?

Think about it… there is plenty of fodder in this chapter to use as a plumb line for your life.

God, thank You… thank You that faith is practical. Problem is God, I still need so much help living into the depth and reality of faith in Jesus. Help me please, I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Friday, August 11: Ephesians 3- Confidence through Jesus Christ the Lord.

The wonder, power and amazing gift of Jesus Christ burrowed into my soul as I read and then contemplated verse 12. In him [Christ Jesus our Lord] and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Through faith in Jesus I can approach God who is sovereign over all things freely and with confidence… confidence that God will receive me.

Confidence that God looks forward to my entering His presence…

Confidence that God will listen to my pleas, cries, conversation, joys…

Confidence that God will always have time for me…

Confidence that God will receive me as He receives Jesus His son…

Confidence that God will forgive any of my sins…

My confidence is not in myself, rather it is in Jesus, my Savior and Lord. 

This statement by Paul reminds me of what the writer to the Hebrews writes in verse 4:16: Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

We have confidence that we will receive mercy and grace when we enter God’s presence.

What a gift this is… access to God and confidence that when we enter His presence we will receive mercy and grace… Wow, what a gift and it all comes by faith in Jesus.

Today I marvel at God’s goodness found in Jesus, my Savior! What a great morning with the Lord!!!

Oh, God, thank you for the blessings that are ours in Christ Jesus, our Lord… You are so good, Lord, so good!!  I bless You and thank You. Through Jesus, I pray. Amen.

 

Thursday, August 10: Ephesians 2- Jesus Christ is the answer.

His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit (15-18).

The new people of God… In Jesus Christ God reconciled people who were at enmity with God and brought peace into the previously fractured relationship. Jesus accomplished this through the cross. The cross settled the score. It paid the price. It ransomed our pardon. It brings any person –Jew or Gentile –into to right relationship with God.

All who are in Christ are new creations, the old is gone and the new has come. In Christ we are God’s family and we can call God our Father, Abba.

Faith in Jesus is the difference and the answer to our broken relationship with God. The result of faith in Jesus is that we now have peace with God… Alleluia.

Jesus, thank You for bridging the gap and providing the way back into relationship with the God. Praise be to You, Lord and Savior Jesus. Praise be to the Father and the Spirit as well. Amen and amen.

 

Wednesday, August 9: Ephesians 1- Overwhelmed by God's blessings.

Reading in the New Testament provides a breath of fresh air for me. The story of the kings was growing tedious with the judgments and problems coming on Judah toward the end.

Ephesians opens with outstanding truths…

Some of my friends complain that my sentences are often run-on sentences.  That may be fair and true but Paul was a master of the complex sentence. The NIV and other translations make him more easily readable.

Did you know that verses 3 to 14 is one sentence. I have placed the NIV translation below. I didn’t change the NIV’s punctuation. Be that as it may,  I invite you to read this incredible statement of Paul, understanding it as one continuous sentence…

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory (3-14).

I am breathless reading this… we were chosen before creation to be adopted as sons, heirs of the promise, to receive every spiritual blessing. Oh ,my, and this is just the start of Paul’s amazing word.

I went back and read it again…I cannot possibly absorb all of what he and the Lord are saying in these words. We are marked and sealed by God the Spirit. Our redemption is guaranteed by the Spirit. I soak some more, overwhelmed by God’s blessings.

Lord, Your Word blesses me. I feel so honored and loved. I am amazed by Your grace and love. I bless You and pray to You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Tuesday, August 8: 2Kings 25- Disobedience reaps its unfortunate reward..

The end comes. I really don’t know what to think or write. The destruction of the Temple, deportation of the people and the fall of Judah is a sad day in the story of God’s people. Disobedience reaps its unfortunate reward.

I don’t have any deep inspiration… sad days are sad days. Disobedience gets tiring to process. God’s judgment is a real deal and it will not be ‘fun’ when the Lord unleashes His judgment on those who have rejected Him.

Sadness wells over me as I think about the many people who have not put their trust in Jesus. Their judgment will be even worse than what Israel faced when God sent them to Babylon.

Oh, God, I offer myself to You to be used to help people come to know You. Through Jesus, I pray. Amen.

 

Monday, August 7: 2Kings 24- A warning to everyone.

Sad times. Sad words… It was because of the LORD’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence (20).

When I was a child there was a TV show called ‘Lost in Space.’ The young boy of the family had a robot who used a phrase whenever he knew the son to be in trouble. The robot’s phrase was something like this, “Warning, Will Robinson. Warning...”

This chapter and particularly verse 20 cries, “Warning, fill in your name. Warning.” God’s anger had grown and grown. For decades, even centuries Judah continued to turn her back on the Lord. He called and called to them through the prophets but they refused to answer. Finally the Lord said “Enough. My judgment will come.”

Few words are more frightening that the last ones of that verse, he thrust them from his presence. It was the presence of God that protected them and defined them. Years ago Moses refused to go into the Promised Land if God withheld His presence (check out Exodus 33:12-15). Such was the power and importance of God’s presence. And now that presence was gone!

This stands as a warning to us all. There comes a day, we know not when, when God will say, ‘enough’ and judge each of us. On that day we will either be His or He will stop calling and thrust us from His presence… forever.

God is impressing upon me the importance of following Him, of remaining faithful to Him. I want to follow the Lord out of love and devotion… but a little fear –fear of being thrust from His presence –is some additional motivation to stay true to the Lord.

What do you think?

Oh, God, I would not want to live one day without Your presence. I don't know what is around the future bends in the road of life. But I know that I can and will face anything that comes if You are by my side. I need You, Lord, and I love you, Lord. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Saturday, August 5: 2Kings 23- To have the heart of Josiah.

Even though all the good Josiah did as king was undone by his son, Jehoahaz, I choose to ponder and meditate on the life and reforms of Josiah, King of Judah.

Josiah was an amazing king. His faithfulness is unparalleled in the history of Judah and Israel for that matter. Once the Book of the Law was found he was scrupulous in following it. What the text says of the Passover he celebrated likely could be said of his entire reform and reign. Neither in the days of the judges who led Israel nor in the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had any such Passover been observed (22). As near as I can tell he cleaned up everything, reaching all the way back to the faithless practices that Solomon introduced. Josiah even went beyond the order of Judah to clean up Bethel and Samaria in Israel.

Compelled by faith in the Lord, he took on every evil practice in Israel and brought them into submission to the Lord.

Lord Jesus, Father, Holy Spirit, I ask for the faith and fortitude of Josiah to do what is right in Your eyes, no matter the cost. Period. Amen.

 

Friday, August 4: 2Kings 22- The blessing of God's word.

How far Judah has fallen that the Book of the Law had to be found. That means it was lost and the inference of the text is that it has been a long time since anyone, much less the king and priest, had read the Book of the Law.

No wonder Judah and Israel fell so far from the Lord; they were no longer guided by God’s Word. Tradition and the memory of the priests, yes, they had these. However, how easy it is to slip from the actual meaning and teaching of the Word to what I recall the Word says.

Even with the Bible at hand I slip and fall regularly. If I didn’t have the guidance of God’s Word, oh my, would I be in trouble. Such was the case for Judah and the sinfulness of their practices show that the Word was missing.

It is all too easy to own a Bible but let it collect dust on a shelf rather than read it and study it so that it’s life giving truths affect our lives.

If you are reading this blog and the Bible chapter it is built upon, then you are taking a big step toward keeping the Word of God in your life…

Keep reading, keep listening to God’s Word and keep altering your life to conform to its teaching. This is what God is saying to me today…

How about you? What is God saying to you through this chapter of the Bible?

Lord, Thank You for Your Word, it truly is a light to my path and a lamp for my feet. Bless You, Lord, for providing Your written Word. I pray this with thanksgiving, in Jesus’ name. Amen

 

Thursday, August 3: 2Kings 21- The mystery of God's ways.

Manasseh and Hezekiah represent the opposite ends of the faith spectrum. Hezekiah followed the Lord more faithfully than the kings before him and yet his son was more faithless than all the kings and even in other nations. How does this happen? If Hezekiah rid the land of all those foreign god influences, then where did Manasseh pick them up? Mothers, wives, friends, the Internet? Oh, there was no Internet in Manasseh’s day.

I am trained as an engineer. I want things to be linear and for there to be a formula. Do A and B and you always get C. But with faith, things don’t happen like that. People are self-responsible agents. We each make decisions that influence our lives. A small inquiry here, a dabble there and we can stray from God’s way.

Faith is never easy. It takes constant surrender to God’s will. This means I have to constantly lay aside my will and often the norms of the people around me and I have to march to the beat of God’s drum. Hezekiah was willing to do that; Manasseh was not.

Manasseh wanted to exalt self. He uttered a telling quote in verse 4. “In Jerusalem I will put my Name.”

I wish there was a formula that guaranteed children followed the faith of their parents. But then if that were true, there would be no conversion from one faith to another, people would be locked into the faith of their birth.

Ah, the issue is bigger and more complex than I first imaged it to be…

The best I can do is live my life faithfully and pray that others will see the light of Jesus in my life and be drawn to its glow.

And so the mystery of God’s ways continues…

Lord, magnify any light in my life that shines for You so that others will see You and Your way in me and be drawn to it. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Wednesday, August 2: 2Kings 20- Blind spot.

I suspect that all of us have blind spots in our lives… areas of life where we don’t think clearly or see things clearly. With people of faith I think this translates into areas of faith that we do not understand or act with the faith we normally exhibit is the other areas of life.

Hezekiah, it seems, has a faith blind spot when it comes to death. His reaction to Isaiah’s word from the Lord seems out of character. Instead of trusting God, he whines. Instead of speaking directly with the Lord, he bargains and pulls the “I’ve been faithful” card.

The net result is that God extends his life. It may have been God’s intention all along to extend Hezekiah’s life, because that was God’s plan to bring Judah to her knees. But we will never know whether this is correct or a figment of my imagination.

Back to the blind spot idea, I started wondering what my faith blind spots are.

Obviously I do not know… they are called blind spots for a reason J. But is there a way I can begin to detect blind spots, areas of weakness in my faith? This is worth pondering some…

I don’t believe I can begin to spot blind spots alone. If I can spot them I will need help.

Accountability… particular people with whom I meet to discuss and do life. Trusted brothers with whom I can open my life, and who I give permission to speak into what they see. This is one possibility. For 5 or 6 years I have been meeting with one brother almost weekly. He offers a measure of accountability but that relationship is a bit more mentor (me) and mentee (him). I have recently entered another one-on-one relationship that will likely be more peer to peer than mentor-mentee. This affords a greater possibility to uncover blind spots. Also I have recently joined a colleague accountability group, which may provide the best opportunity for uncovering blind spots but time will tell as the group gels and we learn if we can truly go deep.

God’s voice… Scripture and the work of the Spirit in one’s life. While I believe God often works through others, certainly as I develop my walk with Jesus, I give the Spirit access to bring ‘all truth’ alive to me.

Together I suspect these are the best two options for uncovering blind spots.

If you, as a reader, have other ideas I would love to hear them…

Lord, show me the areas I need to be growing in and maturing in. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Tuesday, August 1: 2Kings 19- Where do you turn in times of trouble?.

When trouble strikes, where do you turn? Hezekiah turned to the Lord leaving us an example of faith in action. When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the LORD (1).

I wondered was this real reliance on the Lord or was it a desperate man playing the ‘religious’ card in a time of need?

It didn’t take long for my answer to come. In verses 14-19 we listen in on Hezekiah’s prayer to the Lord. This is a prayer of a praying man. Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: “LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, LORD, and hear; open your eyes, LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.

“It is true, LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, LORD, are God.”

Where do I turn when trouble strikes? I hope, I pray, that I turn to the Lord. The Lord is the true answer giver. Sometimes God works in extraordinary ways like He did with Sennacherib. Sometimes God gives human beings wisdom and strength to find the victory as He did with David against Goliath or the Judges earlier in Israel’s history. No matter the means, the Lord is the one orchestrating the way out of trouble and the people I mentioned above knew that. David continually went to the Lord for strength. The Judges were raised up after the people cried out to the Lord for help.

Where do you turn in times of trouble?... think about it

Lord Jesus, You have always been there for me, answering my prayers and cries for help. You have never let me down. Even Your “Noes” are an answer filled with grace to believe and trust. I worship You, Lord Jesus, Father and Spirit. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.