In God's Eyes - Pt 10

And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him. (Esther 4:12-17 ESV). We have fast-forwarded through a great deal of history and many other wonderful examples of faithful, godly women to a young woman named Esther. According to the Old Testament, Esther was an Israelite queen of the Persian king, Ahasuerus. He is traditionally identified with Xerxes I during the time of the Achaemenid empire. Her story is the basis for the celebration of Purim in Jewish tradition. Esther wasn’t used to thinking of others. Like many beautiful women, she was used to others thinking of her. When she had participated in the contest to become the new queen, she received an inside tip from Hegai, the king’s eunuch, regarding what she should take along for her one-night “audition” with the king. Esther did not disclose her race, knowing King Ahasuerus would not choose a Jewish girl to be his wife (cf. Esther 2). She was beautiful and clever; so Esther became the queen. But suddenly things changed. Haman, a leading advisor to the king, decided to wipe out the Jewish people because of his hatred for Mordecai, Esther’s cousin. A date for the pogrom had been set, and Mordecai knew the only hope to avert disaster for the Jews was for Esther to intercede with the king. But it was dangerous for Esther to do that. She had not seen the king for a month. Mordecai insisted, however, that God was involved here, that Esther had “come to royal dignity for just such a time as this” (cf. Esther 4:14). This was a time of spiritual growth for Esther: to start thinking of others besides herself. Esther's story shows the danger of giving absolute power to someone who might turn out to be a fool. Ahasuerus governed by whim rather than by wisdom, becoming the tool of anyone shrewd enough to exploit him. The lesson is clear: do not give too much power to any one person; in the long run God alone should rule us. The fate of the entire Jewish nation rested with her. So she called for prayer and fasting on her behalf and then boldly entered the king’s chamber at great personal risk. And the Lord rewarded her. Her people were saved. A question for all of us today is who really is our foundation? Who rules us?

In God's eyes - Pt 9

And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. (Joshua 2:1 ESV). What list of influential and faithful women of the Bible would be complete without mentioning Rahab. Certainly we cannot say she was a “good” woman; however, her actions were based on a faith that we would see as righteous. The writer of Hebrews did (cf. Hebrews 11:31). Remember she was a prostitute in the city of Jericho. She was used to having men visit her house. But nothing could have prepared her for the choice she faced on this day. Two groups of men came knocking on her door one afternoon. The first group was two Israelite young men, sent by Joshua to scout out Jericho on behalf of God’s people. The second group was a delegation from the king of Jericho, looking for the Israelite spies. Rahab faced a choice. She could side with the Israelites and their God or side with the Canaanites and their multitude of gods. She had heard stories about the awesome power of Israel’s God; as a result, she and her family chose him. Rahab’s life-changing choice charts the course of the book of Joshua, where many people faced a similar choice: Achan, the Gibeonites, and other Canaanite tribes. Those who sided with God and his people lived. Those who did not were destroyed. This theme comes to a climax later in Joshua: Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:14-15 ESV). God saw Rahab’s heart. He knew her as his child, not a sinner. That’s how he knows us as well. All of us are sinners. It is by his grace that we are redeemed at all. In that work of grace we are given the opportunity to influence our family and friends to make the same commitment as Rahab. We can stand with God and his people through every circumstance of life. Her choice led her to her be a part of the lineage of our Savior. Rahab is referred to as being the wife of Salmon, one of the two spies she sheltered. In turn, she became the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth from whose son, Obed, Jesse the father of David came, through whose line Jesus was born. God always has a way of working his will and purpose through people. It does require our commitment to him. What will you choose? And, what will that choice lead you to be a part of today?

In God's Eyes - Pt 8

Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews' children.” Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child's mother. And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.” (Exodus 2:1-10 ESV). Our reading today is the beginning of the story of Moses. While that is true, our focus is on his mother. As a means of population control, Pharaoh had commanded all male Israelite babies to be drowned. But when Jochebed gave birth to her second son, she refused to obey the king because she saw “he was a fine baby.” The importance of the Hebrew phrase used for this description is essential to our understanding of the role she plays in the deliverance of the nation of Israel. It is identical to the refrain in the story of Creation in Genesis 1: God saw “that it was good.” Jochebed saw that this child was that kind of “good.” She also recognized that anything God declares is good, she had no right to destroy, and that included her newborn son. Moses’ mother, therefore, faced a choice. She could obey the pharaoh or obey the Lord. Despite personal risk, she chose to obey the Lord and hid the baby in her home for three months. Next she hid him in a basket, which is the same Hebrew word used for Noah’s ark. She knew that the Lord would save her son from a watery death. Through the obedience of this one woman, God set in motion his plan to redeem his people from Egypt. Centuries later he did this same thing through the obedience of another woman, Mary: “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (cf. Luke 1:38). Often we focus on the individuals who are directly involved in God’s work and underestimate the power of those God is working through in the life of that leader. We should be encouraged with whatever responsibility God has given us. God uses all of us through our relationships to bring together his will and purpose in the work of grace to all men. Like Jochebed, we may only work behind the scenes; however, that work is essential in God’s design!

In God's Eyes - Pt 7

Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.” And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel's tomb, which is there to this day. (Genesis 35:16-20 ESV). Yesterday we looked at Leah; today we will see her sister, Rachel. She was the opposite of Leah in many ways. She would have done well in the media of today. She was beautiful and confident in her ability to use her physical appearance in a way that most benefited her goals and objectives. Jacob was swept away by her charm and physical beauty. He was even willing to take her less attractive sister to gain her as his wife. But Jacob got more than he bargained for. Rachel could be a monster when she didn’t get her own way, and even when she did. She had a horrible fight with Jacob when he couldn’t make her pregnant, demanding that he give her a son (cf. Genesis 30:1). She schemed to get children through her handmaid. And when the Lord finally did bless her with Joseph, her first words were: “I want another one,” which is actually the meaning of “Joseph” (cf. Genesis 30:24). The Lord gave her another child. As she was giving birth, she realized she was dying, so she named this son “Ben-oni,” meaning “son of my sorrow” (cf. Genesis 35:18). Her story is one of extremes. She knew great joy and great sadness; however, she doesn’t seem to have known satisfaction or contentment. Rachel had so much going for her, including a husband who adored her. But she was angry, deceitful, spiteful, and jealous, and a deeply unhappy woman. Her exterior beauty hid an interior discontent. She was without peace. We, too, easily look at the surface of things, but it is the heart that matters. Peace within can only come from the Prince of Peace, who gives us the peace that passes understanding to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. This is what the Apostle Paul meant when he closes his letter to the Philippians: Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:5-7 ESV). Who are you trusting to bring peace to your life? Only Jesus will do.

In God's Eyes - Pt 6

When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing. (Genesis 29:31-35 ESV). Today we turn to one of the least talked about women in the Scripture, Leah. The Old Testament introduces Leah by describing her with the phrase, "Leah had tender eyes" (cf. Genesis 29:17). It is argued as to whether the adjective "tender" should be taken to mean "delicate and soft" or "weary". According to one ancient commentary, Leah was destined to marry Jacob's older twin brother, Esau. In the Rabbinic mind, the two brothers were polar opposites; Jacob being a God-fearing scholar and Esau being a hunter who also indulged in murder, idolatry, and adultery. Because of this, Leah spent most of her time weeping and praying to God to change her destined mate. Thus the Torah describes her eyes as "soft" from weeping. God hearkens to Leah's tears and prayers and allows her to marry Jacob even before Rachel does. Through deception and trickery, Leah does find herself in a loveless marriage. Her husband, Jacob, had been tricked into marrying her, and he resented his father-in-law for his deceitful schemes and Leah for going along with them, as if she had a choice. All of Jacob’s love was poured into Rachel, Leah’s younger sister. Whatever intimate relations Jacob and Leah had were loveless, perfunctory, and routine. Yet God opened Leah’s womb so that she bore children, the goal of any married woman in biblical times. The names she gave them reflected her broken heart. One she called Reuben, which means “surely now my husband will love me;” another she called Simeon, which means “the Lord has heard that I am hated;” and another was Levi, which means “Now this time my husband will be joined to me.” It is a tragic story. But then God revealed his will through her. She had her fourth son. Leah realized she would never win Jacob’s love and that she had to place her hope in the Lord. So she named this son Judah, which means “Praise.” Through Judah would run the line of God’s promise, which means that Leah, not Rachel, was the many times great-grandmother of Jesus. Leah discovered that if we depend on other people to make us happy, we will be disappointed; but if we depend on God, he will never fail us or forsake us. In him alone is true joy. How about you? Have you made that discovery?

In God's Eyes - Pt 5

These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.” When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. (Genesis 25:19-28 ESV). Rebekah was barren. So Isaac went to the Lord in prayer on behalf of his wife, and she became pregnant with twins. It was a difficult pregnancy, but God explained it: “Two nations are in your womb… the elder shall serve the younger” (25:23). You would think, then, that when the time came for the family blessing, Isaac and Rebekah would recall God’s prophecy before their sons were born, bring this situation to the Lord in prayer, and ask him what to do. However, there is no reference that they did so. Each parent had a favorite son, and communication between the spouses deteriorated to the point of division within the family. For Isaac, Rebekah, and their two sons, scheming and lies replaced prayer and openness. What had happened to them? What turned their beautiful romance into such an ugly marriage? The decisions in this dysfunctional family instigated a history of deceit for future generations. The stories of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph are tragic, and in each generation the results of those lies became worse. We have seen the results of these deeds played out before us in contemporary history live and in color on our televisions today. Perhaps what we can learn best from Rebekah is the importance of prayer in the face of every challenge within our family structure. We know that the promise of God is that he will hear and answer our prayers. Those answers may not be apparent to us immediately, sometimes those answers may not be what we wanted to have; but he will bring his good and perfect will to pass in our lives through prayer. If, however, we ignore him, disregard his Word, and try to create our own answers, disaster is waiting to happen.

In God's Eyes - Pt 4

The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21:1-7 ESV). As we continue to look at some of the faithful women of the Scripture, today’s focus will be on Sarah, wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. First, I should note a basic principle of life: hope drives the human soul. All of us, at one time or another, have hoped for a better future. It may be in the form of something or someone, but hope drives us. The reverse is also true: unfulfilled hopes depress the human soul. Sarah certainly gives us a clear example of the loss of hope. Before reading our text today, we could go back a few chapters and see the erosion of that hope. Long before the birth of Isaac, Sarah had lost hope that she would ever be a mother. Sarah’s life hadn’t been easy. In order for the promises spoken to Abraham to be fulfilled, she had to leave her family and everything familiar behind. She had been promised a family and all she had received were the signs of old age. She even laughed at God’s message that she would give birth. Wouldn’t you laugh if someone told you that at age 90, you would give birth to your firstborn and from him would come a great nation (cf. Genesis 18:12-15)? What’s more, her husband Abraham, at 100, was not much better either (cf. Romans 4:19). But God always fulfills his promises, even when the odds against us are laughable. And when Isaac (whose name means “laughter”) was born, Sarah laughed: at herself, at Isaac, at the absurd way God can work. God had performed a miracle; he had raised her dead womb to life. Centuries later, on a dark Friday, Jesus’ disciples lost hope that he was the Messiah (cf. Luke 24:21). But God raised him from the dead on that cool spring Sunday morning, and his followers laughed with “great joy” (cf. Matthew 28:8). That’s what the Christian faith is all about. Our promise is that we have a God who works in hopeless situations in such amazing ways that our only response is to laugh with joy. Whatever your circumstance might be today, learn from Sarah that God keeps his promises, even when they seem laughable.

In God's Eyes - Pt 3

So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. (Genesis 16:13-16 ESV). You may think it strange for me to cite Hagar as an example of how God used women in history; however, as we shall see, she was an essential part of his redemptive plan. Our reading today is really just a small part of the whole story. You should read all the chapter and some following it. But, for simplicity sake, remember that Hagar was Sarah’s slave girl. Her sole purpose in life was to complete the commands of Sarah. I don’t envy Hagar. Because her mistress had never become pregnant, Sarah added a new feature to Hagar’s job description. She was to have sex with Abraham and provide her with a son. While such sexual relations were culturally permissible, there certainly was no romance and love between Abraham and Hagar. Hagar did become pregnant, but things got worse rather than better. Hagar looked on her mistress with contempt, and Sarah’s jealousy got the best of her. Abraham finally threw his hands up and said to Sarah, “Do whatever!” Sarah made Hagar’s life miserable, and eventually Hagar ran away. She was alone, penniless, and frightened. However, at an oasis the Lord God of Abraham revealed himself to Hagar. He spoke words of comfort and promise to her, and then told her to return to Sarah. This is the impact of our reading today. Here we see Hagar “named the Lord . . . El-roi” (“the God who sees”). This is the only time in the Bible where a human being gives God a new name. And it comes from the lips of a woman, and a slave at that. In a patriarchal society this would not go unnoticed. Hagar teaches us a vital truth: that in our struggles, pain, and suffering, God sees us. And we are not alone. It would be easy to simply dismiss this knowing the tension and conflict between the two step-brothers throughout history. Even today we see this conflict played out in a horrendous fashion. But God has seen the end. The children of Ishmael play a pivotal role in the course of history, especially with the Jews. Ultimately they will used to show the Jews their Savior, Jesus Christ. They will be turned back toward God through these people. Hagar becomes the channel through which God brings the calamity of the end times to bear against the Jews and they are then shown the error of their unbelief. “God sees” all of this long before it happens. It suits his purpose to from beginning to end simply because he is sovereign and has chosen to display his grace in this way. There are no people created without purpose; not even a Hagar. You may feel insignificant and disposable. You are not! God sees!

In God's Eyes - Pt 2

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:15-25 ESV). We should start at the beginning before we look at individuals. When God surveyed his vast creation, he declared, “This is very good” (cf. Genesis 1:31). But the Bible notes one exception in Genesis 2; it was “not good that the man should be alone.” So God determined to fix that by making “a helper” for Adam. Unfortunately, this translation makes it sound to us like the woman is very much subordinate to the man. Adam was primary. Eve was his helper. Adam was the CEO and Eve his secretary, brought into the story to help him get his work done. This could not be further from the truth. You see, the word used here for “helper” (the Hebrew word ezer) occurs twenty-one times in the Old Testament, and in all but five occurrences it refers to God as our helper.  Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our ezer and our shield. (Psalm 33:20).  Our ezer is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8).  Happy are those whose ezer is the God of Jacob. (Psalm 146:5). There are many other examples we could list. These are but a few in the psalms. So, in other words, whenever we run into difficulties in our lives, we need someone to stand beside us, to encourage us, to help get us through that experience. God himself is our ultimate ezer. But he has also provided an ezer with skin on, especially our partners in marriage. With this sense of equality between male and female, it is no wonder that God goes on to give his ideal for marriage: that the man and the woman may “become one flesh” (cf. Genesis 2:24). That’s who we are in his eyes. We are different and the same, essential to one another in life.

In God's Eyes - Pt 1

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28 ESV). “Diversity” seems to be the new catch word of our time. Democrats accuse the Republicans of not being diverse enough; and, Republicans accuse the Democrats of being blind to the truth of their broad diversity. Well, without going any further down that rabbit hole and becoming Alice in Wonderland, let me say that few really understand that God did not create humankind to be “diverse.” He created us to be cooperative and supportive. Adam without Eve was incomplete; he wasn’t finished. It was never about individuals standing alone; it was about being who God made us to be in his image. Men are important in God’s eyes, but so are women. If I asked you to name some Old Testament characters, who would come to mind? Abraham, Moses, David? Would you think of Sarah, Deborah, or Ruth? We must never forget that women as well as men play a prominent role in the history of God’s salvation. In this series of devotionals, I plan to examine some of the women who appear in the pages of the Old Testament and have played significant roles in biblical history. I want to focus on the lessons we can derive from their lives. Genesis 1:27 says that when God created human beings, he created them in his own image; then he adds “male and female he created them.” Male and female. Each one fully in the image of God! In God’s creation structure, men and women stand equal to each other before God. Today, we often make value judgments about people according gender, social group, nationality, or economic ability, but God doesn’t. He knows how each individual fits into his purpose and plan. He knows how each is gifted to a task within the community of faithful. It is a lesson we would do well to learn and understand. Interestingly, Paul says that according to God’s plan for re-creating the fallen human race we should not make such judgments. In Christ “there is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female” (cf. Galatians 3:28). Any attempt we make to devalue one another, regardless of gender, race, or economic group is not a part of God’s purpose or plan. It displeases God and is simply wrong. Of course we are not the same, but we are all created in his image. In his eyes we are all essential.

I Quit - Pt 7

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV). Our son, David, tells me that Maggie has decided she really doesn’t like the word “no.” Mary was on Face Time with them the other evening and Maggie was just being a busy little girl exploring the new limits she is developing each when she decided that climbing on the end table and standing up was a good idea. Of course, David said, “No. Get down.” As went to her and picked her up gently to set her on a safer spot, she simply stood straight as an arrow and started screaming. He said, “That’s her new thing. She doesn’t like no very well.” As grandparents that’s pretty easy to smile and chuckle a bit. As parents we knew that stage pretty well. Every child develops a will of their own. It happens early, often during a time we sometimes call “the terrible twos.” In our case, the boys developed that a bit earlier, and it looks like Maggie is following in her Daddy’s footsteps. An essential part of our surrender to God is the surrender of our will. The best example of this is Jesus. He came not to seek or do his own will but the will of his father. This is precisely what our attitude must be: to do not our will but God’s. We cannot be who God desires us to be if we don’t submit to his will. Only when we submit to his will can we gladly and fully accomplish his purpose for us. Our reading today is called “The Lord’s Prayer.” It includes the petition “Your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.” This is a statement of surrender. It is very clear and complete. We are to do his will even if it “interferes” with our own will; we are to do so without stubbornly dragging our feet. Of course we need to know what that will is in order to surrender to it. We must know what his will for our lives is. Fortunately God has made it very clear for us through the revelation of Scripture and the life of Jesus. I often wonder how much most Christians really read the Bible. I know we turn to it in times of crisis. We look into some of the passages through Sunday School or corporate worship, but do we really read it? I’ve been reading the Scripture for a long time now and strangely there is something new in it each time I read it. My encouragement to you is that you read the Scripture each day. It will make the “yes” more frequent and the “no” easier to tolerate and accept. Start today with some extra little portion of reading in the Bible. I think you will find it easier and easier to increase that as you go further in your journey.

I Quit - Pt 6

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:17-22 ESV). Continuing our series in surrender we come to one of the most important passages of Jesus’ teaching. It details a rich young ruler who declared his allegiance to Jesus. He was a man who wanted to follow Christ; however, he wasn’t willing to surrender his possessions in order to do so. In the end, turning his back on Christ was easier than parting with his wealth. Possessions cause a struggle for many people. Jesus knew they would, which is why he talked so much about money and material goods. He knew that wealth and possessions easily become our biggest idols. He understood that they are things not easily surrendered. It is for this very reason that he calls us to give them up in order to follow him. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus spoke plainly about the love of money. He declared, “You cannot serve God and money.” That is not a command; it’s a simple statement of fact. Loving money makes us a slave to it. Money becomes our “master.” If that’s the case, then we cannot serve him, since no one can serve two masters. This is why the surrender of possessions is necessary. Most of us don’t have “wealth” that must be surrendered. My experience is that a possession is much harder to put into God’s hands than money. It may be one of those things that you have treasured above all else; it may have deep sentimental value; or, it may just be something that have always wanted and finally got. It’s strange how easily we become attached to our stuff. Believe me, I have stuff. In fact, Mary would tell you that most of the stuff I have accumulated through the years is really just “junk.” Getting ready to make the final move to Texas has made me recognize she may really be right about that. In one of the drawers of our dresser I have some very old clothes. One item is a sweatshirt that I wore when I was a freshman at Texas A&M. I wore it more while working on the bonfire than any other time. It has our squadron logo on the front along with “Texas Aggies” above it. It is ragged and tattered. I would never wear it today even if it did still fit. I must answer the question of how much that piece of clothing really means to me. I can never mean more than my relationship to Christ. It doesn’t, but I must ask. Most of us never ask. Have you?

I Quit - Pt 5

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. (Luke 12:22-31 ESV). You have often heard me quote an adage I have developed through the years: Never let past failures or future fears rob you of present joy. We continue our series in surrender and today we will look at the fear of the future. Many of us would have to confess that we aren’t anxious about anything except our anxieties! “I can resist anything except temptation,” quipped Oscar Wilde. As we allow our fears to control us, we tend to see the worst of any circumstance and our imaginations run amuck. We think of all the bad things that could happen and then spend our time trying to figure out how to avoid or overcome them. We create countless worst-case scenarios and try to imagine what we would do if they ever happen. But in these scenarios, is God ever present? If we’re honest, we’d admit that we usually don’t include God in our “problem solving” because we think we can handle it ourselves. That’s not surrender. In our reading today Jesus talks about the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. These two innocuous creations are a marvel to us of the care and concern of God. Of all the millions of birds in the air, God is concerned for each one, individually. Not one will go without food as he provides it for all of them. The flowers of the field are adorned with a beauty that is greater than Solomon in all his glory. And, they are little more than starter fuel for our campfires! God provides for them. He WILL provide for his children much greater. God doesn’t want us to be worried about the future. We need to trust that our future is in his good and capable hands. Surrender is the intentional trust of our God to provide the best we could imagine for our future. Plan, be wise, and exercise caution when necessary; however, know he will give us victory!

I Quit - Pt 4

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4-9 ESV). Today’s reading is a part of a larger passage from the Apostle Paul as he closes his letter to this dear church in Philippi. He loved them. From prison he writes some last thoughts and encouraging words. I am actually preaching through this chapter over the next few weeks at my church in Tennessee. They are some of my last words and thoughts for a congregation who is very dear to me. Our reading today is a key part of the transformation process God has designed for us. Yesterday we saw the declaration of Paul to surrender. I want us to look at some practical means to accomplish this over the next few days of our series. So, first, let’s start with what it means to surrender our minds. There are many examples throughout the Bible of what this involves. In our reading today, Paul outlines some things to focus our minds on: whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, or worthy of praise. He has said the same thing in other passages; however, here he is a little more specific. The writer John Gill has said that unless our affections and thoughts are set on things above, those things “will never be sought after in a proper manner.” Look at the list again. Think about things that are true. These are those things that are clear in the Scripture. These are not just the commands of Scripture, but the promises of God and the provision of our heavenly Father. These things are true; think on them. He then says we are to think of the things that are honorable and just. I wonder what difference we would see in our homes and communities if these things were our first thoughts in the midst of every circumstance. Next he lists pure and lovely things. Wake up a bit early just to see the sunrise; gaze to the west as the sun sets. That will give you a perspective of the greatness of God in a fresh and exciting way. The last three are important; they are commendable, excellent things that are worthy of praise. These are the things that really make a difference in the world. Think on them. This kind of thinking sets us on a path to real change. This is the first step toward genuine surrender. What are you thinking about these days?

I Quit - Pt 3

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV). Today we are continuing in the little series concerning surrender. I have chosen to go to one of my favorite, and most often used passages for our reading. We have all heard these verses quoted at one time or another; however, I wonder if we have taken them seriously? I read the story of a congregation enthusiastically singing I Surrender All, when the pastor observed that if they were being honest, most of them would have to change the words a bit and sing “I surrender most” or even “I surrender some.” While the foundational principle in our passage today does not directly concern stewardship, I couldn’t help but pull an illustration from the lottery buzz. I am writing this devotional a day before the drawing for a $1.4 billion prize! Don’t get hung up on the right or wrong of this method of taxation. We can discuss that at another time. Here’s what I want you to remember. In all of the interviews I have seen of potential winners, the folks who are standing in line to purchase their tickets, I haven’t heard one person say they would give any of the winnings to their church or a favorite charity first. Oh, church and charity make the list of some folks, but only after their needs are taken care of. It makes me think of what our real concept of surrender might be. I’m not talking about money or tithing; this deals with a much deeper principle than that. That pastor may have been right. We can surrender some, maybe even most, but surrendering all is much more difficult. Well, God does not call us to surrender only part of ourselves to him. He calls for complete surrender. The term “living sacrifice” is a powerful appeal and somewhat of an ominous expression at first glance. It is a complete presentation of ourselves to God. It means that we devote ourselves to him with all willingness. This encompasses every aspect of our lives. It is rendering to God all that we are and all that we have. True surrender doesn’t just pick and choose those parts of ourselves that we feel like giving him. He wants all of us, not just a portion of our lives, not a small fragment of our time, not merely a fraction of our possessions. Selective surrender isn’t real surrender. If you want to be a living sacrifice, you can’t say, “Lord, you can have my heart but not my head, my voice but not my hands and feet.” You can only say, “Lord, I surrender all.” It is a process that beings with our thoughts and spreads throughout our lives to our beliefs and actions. It changes our questions about life from “what?” to “why?” Ponder a bit today on why you are who you are and why you do what you do. The answer might be incredibly powerful and transformational.

I Quit - Pt 2

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:25-34 ESV). Have I ever mentioned that I hate to lose at anything? I do. I often lose, but I hate it when I do. Through the years I gotten better at hiding my feelings, but they are there still. This past year I was deer hunting on a friend’s farm in Middle Tennessee. I had passed on a lot of deer because I just didn’t see the one I wanted to kill. Finally it was late enough in the season where I had promised to get some meat to take to Texas and I needed to just kill a doe. I was sitting overlooking a nice field, and sure enough about eight does walked out for their afternoon feed. I had plenty of time to pick a shot; it wasn’t too far away. Everything seemed perfect, until I missed! I hate that. I don’t usually miss. Fortunately, I was able to make up for my miss a few days later and killed a nice deer to take to Texas. After texting a picture of the downed animal to my friend, he texted back: “Well, it’s good that you redeemed yourself.” A friendly jab, but a reminder of how much I hate losing! Surrendering to God is like that for many. It is not an easy thing to do. It seems like quitting; the thought of surrender seems like losing. It certainly is an overwhelming reminder that we’re no longer going to control our lives. It is difficult to imagine letting go of things we believe they can’t live without. Surrender is a difficult act. You see, it’s one thing to say we trust God and have absolute faith in him, but it’s quite another thing to actually put that into full practice. In order to surrender all, we have to overcome our fear of not knowing what lies ahead. We have to give up personal control and guaranteed security. We have to believe that real security comes from trusting him. A helpful way to overcome any fears of complete surrender is to look at the attributes of God. He is worthy of our trust. We need not fear giving our all to him; and there’s no better way to win than that!

I Quit - Pt 1

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:23-27 ESV). How do you react when you hear the word surrender? Most of our feelings are negative, aren’t they? We picture white flags being run up and armies yielding to their enemies. Surrender suggests weakness, giving up, and a defeated attitude. Surrender is for losers, exactly the opposite of what our society strives for. The world today tells us that we have to make our own way, to do whatever it takes to win. Then we can enjoy the dream life: to be prosperous, independent, and free. In our self-centered culture we are not encouraged to think about submitting to the power of another. We won’t abandon our own motives to give ourselves up to something or someone else. And yet that is exactly what the Bible calls us to do. When Jesus talks about the cost of being his disciple, he says that we are to “deny ourselves.” This doesn’t mean that we merely deny certain things. It’s not like passing on dessert. Rather, being a disciple means a complete denial of control over our life. In other words, Jesus wants us to surrender all to him. Over the coming days we will look at the topic of surrender and think about what it means for followers of Jesus Christ. First, we need to understand why surrender is a necessary part of faith. We think of surrendering all to Christ as a bit extreme. Isn’t it possible to fulfill our Christian duty without becoming a radical? In our reading Jesus spells out the non-negotiable conditions of discipleship: we must love Jesus more than anything, even our families; take up and carry crosses, as well as then relinquish everything to him. That’s quite a demand. But it is clearly essential in order to be a true disciple of Christ. Author Nancy Leigh DeMoss points out that “to call him Lord means to say yes: to his will, his word, and his ways. We cannot call him Lord and then proceed to run our own lives.” It is impossible for us to fully obey him while trying to hold things back from him and attempting to remain in control of our own lives. Surrendering everything to him is absolutely necessary. It is also entirely reasonable. When we think of Christ, who he is and what he did for us, total surrender is the only logical response to his love and mercy. Isaac Watts expressed this well in his hymn When I Survey the Wondrous Cross: Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.

The Bottom Line

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:50-58 ESV). It’s always funny how much of the time we spend chasing after “more.” We are a people of the bottom line. When all of the expenses are calculated and factored with all of the profits, we look to the margin of difference. Is there a positive difference? Is there more than there was before we began the venture? It is never a good idea to be misled by the bottom line while still in the midst of gathering the assets. Sometimes what seems to be a sure loss is really merely the necessary step to an incredible gain. Malcolm Muggeridge wrote, “We acknowledge a king men did not crown and cannot dethrone.” It’s easy to lose this vision. When we become discouraged in our service to Christ, it helps to remember God is the divine subversive (Eugene Peterson’s term). Most of God’s work doesn’t appear on the human radar screen. It doesn’t make the evening news. Just as the seeds a farmer plants are hidden in the earth until the outburst of spring, we trust the ongoing, concealed work of God until the day of harvest arrives. The media makes it appear the enemy is winning. But Paul reminds, “we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). We’re called to hold, in faith, a vision of the reigning, yet veiled, eternal Christ. We and our work have no “abiding city” here. In faith we await the day when both we and our work done for Christ will be ushered into the eternal city “whose designer and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10), when death is swallowed up in victory. The lesson Paul draws from the certainty of our future victory is that our faith needs to be put into action now. Lend your energies to being steadfast, unswerving, immovable, resolute, “always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (v. 58). It’s a challenge that will be worth the struggle.

Pot Bangers - Pt 3

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. (2 Kings 2:9-12 ESV). Much has happened since Elijah found Elisha and God anointed him to succeed Elijah. The young man chosen as Elijah’s successor had a lot going for him. He was smart, guessing at once what the older man meant by throwing him his cloak; eager to take up the challenge; thoughtful toward the parents and generous to the neighbors he was leaving; whole-hearted in burning his boats behind him as he embarked on a new life. He would prove himself to be able and fearless. Elijah, on the other hand, had been feeling distinctly old and jaded, though in fact his days of service were far from over. It was not “all in his mind,” either. Israel was indeed in a bad way. The larger plan that God had now revealed to his servant showed an inevitable judgment looming, though with the promise, as always, of a faithful remnant to be preserved. Years would pass. Much would happen in both of their lives. In all of it God would remain faithful to them. You know, just when the world seems to be falling apart around us, it is quite a blessing to realize that the Lord is raising up a new generation of servants in no way inferior to us. Our reading shows us the end of Elijah’s walk with the Lord. Elisha gets a double portion of strength and wisdom and he gets a fiery chariot ride to his eternal home. You may have so much on your plate right now that the last thing on your mind is a fiery chariot ride; however, God’s promise to his children is that we will be brought safely to our home which has been prepared specifically for us. This is how Jesus said it: Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:1-3 ESV). You may need to cry out in your frustration, but don’t camp out there. This world is not our home. This work is not our final call. He has much better in mind; and, what he thinks to do, will be done. It is only a matter of time now. Maybe it will be today! Trust your Father in heaven to do it. He will see you home safely!

Pot Bangers - Pt 2

And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. (1 Kings 19:11-15 ESV). What Elijah said to God at the cave in Horeb was no more than the truth, however much he may have been tempted to exaggerate. The evil of the time really was great, and though some true believers did remain in Israel, he really was the only one to take a public stand for the Lord. However, the key is in what God said, not Elijah. What God said to him was first an invitation to put into words what had brought him to this place. God always has the patience and tolerance to listen to the frustrations of his children. God let Elijah bang away at his pot! He did that with Job, Jonah, Moses, and countless others throughout the Scripture. Then, after a mind-blowing experience of tempest and earthquake and fire such as Moses had been given in the same place all those years before, there came what the old translations rightly call a voice: “a still small voice.“ The divine voice was what the prophets of Baal had vainly begged for (18:26, 29), and what now came unbidden to Elijah. And it came not just with the wind, noise, and flame that showed the presence and power of God, but with words that would explain more of his plan. God simply reassured the prophet: “Tell me again, Elijah, your story that so far seems so disappointing. Then I will tell you how it fits into my bigger story. And in that you still have a part to play.” I wonder if you find yourself at a place in your life where you believe you have been forgotten in your circumstance. Perhaps you are at a place of great trial with finances, family, or health. You have banged away just to get someone to listen. Anyone will do, because you have long ago come to believe God wasn’t listening. Well, he is. And He has a message for you. It is one of comfort and direction. Your journey leads to your home. Elijah is going to take a detour. He still has a few things to do; but, God has great plans for him. Those same plans are yours. Jesus is the proof of that!

Pot Bangers - Pt 1

There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. (1 Kings 19:9-11 ESV). “Pot bangers” may not be a phrase you are familiar with. It is urban slang and often used to indicate someone who has something they want to say in protest. In order to be heard, they first “bang some pots together” to gain attention. At Texas A&M, pot bangers are a little more specific. For rainy weather it used to be standard dress for the day in the Corps of Cadets to wear a WWII issue helmet liner. They we issued and used throughout the military for many years. We called them “pots” for short. With the helmet over them, they gave protection to injury to the head. They were also used for other things as well. If you wanted to get a crowds attention, you could bang them together and make a lot of noise. Thus, anything said in protest today would be considered “pot banging.” Our reading today comes from a part of Israel’s darkest days. Elijah must have felt that he was the only believer left through the experiences of this time. He was doing some of his own “pot banging.” But it is not true, then or ever, that the Lord would leave any part of his world entirely in the hands of evil powers, even for a moment. He is always and everywhere in control. It is he who is engineering the drought that sends Ahab scouring the country to find pasture for his horses. He has a hundred prophets in Israel besides Elijah, and a secret agent at the heart of government (another apt name, Obadiah, “servant of Yah”), to frustrate Jezebel’s plan to kill them. As the hymn puts it, “Remember that omnipotence has servants everywhere.” It cannot have been easy for faithful believers to endure both the wickedness of Ahab and Jezebel and the Lord’s patient method of dealing with it. They must have wondered how long it would all go on. But the divine timetable is as much under control as everything else, and the Lord himself had set the date for the breaking of the drought. We must never underestimate the power of evil. But let’s not exaggerate it either. Be confident. The Lord is now in control and forever will reign! Trust in Him!

Soli Deo Gloria

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. (Romans 16:25-27 ESV). In a few weeks I am going to begin a new study at Santa Fe Baptist Church. While our church is an old, established church, there are still many people who have joined who may not know a great deal about the roots of our faith. As I have begun to prepare that study, it occurred to me that often we tend to think everyone knows the “basics.” The title of today’s devotional is a Latin phrase that translates into our English as “Glory to God alone.” It has been used by classical artists like Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, and Christoph Graupner at the end of their compositions to signify that the work was produced for the sake of praising God. The phrase is also one of the “five solas” used to summarize the Reformers' basic beliefs during the great renewal we call the Protestant Reformation in history today. Soli Deo gloria, sola fide, sola gratia, sola scriptura, and sola Christus are all part of the summary statement of central tenets of the Protestant Reformation. As a doctrine, this phrase means that everything that is done is for God's glory to the exclusion of mankind's self-glorification and pride. Christians are to be motivated and inspired by God's glory rather than their own. The Reformer John Calvin appended these letters at the end of his Institutes of the Christian Religion. It was an essential means where he might draw attention to the only source of real glory. Paul comes to the end of his letter to the Romans having taught many important doctrines and outlined the Christian life. Now there is one phrase that captures in a nutshell everything he has been attempting to teach. “To God alone, who teaches us and strengthens us, be the glory forever.” God is the One behind our salvation. He outlined the plan in his eternal mind and began to execute it in the Garden of Eden. He sent his own Son as Savior of the world. He has chosen the hour of Jesus’ return and the end of the world. To him alone be the glory! God has also poured out his Spirit to work in us his fruit and his gifts. The Christian life is essentially God working through us by his Spirit. We can do no good without his strength. To him alone be the glory! It is only difficult for us to agree on this truth because of our own pride and arrogance. As sinful men we want everyone focused on us. Well, look to Him. You will be much less disappointed with the results!

A Hog in a Well

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. (Romans 14:5-9 ESV). It was mid-afternoon one Sunday in Tyler, Texas. Two of my friends (who will be unnamed at this point) called with an urgent request. They had been to a farm where we hunted feral hogs. They had shot one and it had run off and fallen into a ground level abandoned well. They need my help to get the hog out of the well and butcher it. Well, I am never one to refuse a request from my friends, especially if it involves hunting or fishing! I quickly grabbed my gun (just in case) and knives and started out the door when Mary simply said, “Where are you going?” I really thought I could get out of the house quicker than that, but I was caught. I explained the situation and her response was classic of conservative Baptist thought of the time. Sunday’s were to be reserved for “rest.” Certainly this didn’t fall into that category. After all, it would be fun; and, everybody knows that fun and “Sabbath rest” don’t go together (insert heavy sarcasm here). Being a pretty good talker, I convinced her this was more of a case of a friend’s ox being in the ditch and needing to go and help. It couldn’t possibly be fun. Stop laughing. You know you have heard these kinds of conversations before. They really happened during the era when many people’s Sunday observance was filled with an unwritten list of do’s and don’ts. Approaching the Christian life legalistically has always been an issue in the church. In Paul’s day some churches argued whether a Christian could eat food (especially meat) that had been sacrificed to idols. In other areas, certain believers had rules about which behavior was appropriate on special days. Paul’s basic principle is to follow your conscience – provided that your conscience is shaped by a desire to love, honor, and serve the Lord. After all, “we are the Lord’s” and every day should be seen as an opportunity to serve him faithfully. Within that framework, there are a host of different options available to us in living practical Christianity. Regardless of how you spend you days, find a balance in which you may honor the Lord. Serve others and yourself by renewing yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Set aside time for all those things that “esteem” everyday as a day from the Lord to bless us and others.

A Daisy Red Ryder

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:3-8 ESV). Do you remember the movie “The Christmas Story”? I have watched it many times. It is the story of Ralphie Parker and his dream of having a Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun. You can actually see the “official Red Ryder carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time” that Ralphie Parker pines over and eventually receives in the museum of the Christmas Story in Cleveland, Ohio. While the Red Ryder is an actual air rifle that has been in the hands of youngsters for over 75 years. It was first manufactured by Winchester and marketed in 1940. I remember mine vividly. Daddy had purchased it secretively since my mother didn’t want me to have anything to do with a gun of any kind. Dads and Moms are often like that. At any rate, he came into my room one day near my birthday and handed me a box, which was unusual enough. When I opened it, I saw the dream of every young boy of my age. Just like Ralphie, I had my first BB gun. He taught me how to shoot it safely and I was the terror of the woods! It was a very special gift. Well, when you become a Christian you get a very special gift from God. It is not, however, a gift to use just for yourself; it’s to share with others in the church. In Paul’s longest passage on spiritual gifts he writes: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:7). The gifts Paul describes briefly in our reading today are those given to help the church function as a body. Some receive the gift of preaching God’s Word (that’s the basic meaning of “prophecy”), others the gift of serving in the church, of teaching, of counseling, of giving, of leading, or of showing compassion. They are special and essential to the health of the body of Christ. I encourage you to discover your gift and use it to build up those around you.

Jell-O Molds

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV). OK… I just can’t seem to help myself! Even though this year’s football team finished badly and there seems to still be a lot of confusion in the program, I am an Aggie. No big surprise there for anyone, I’m sure. However, not long ago Mary and I were walking through an outlet for various kitchen gadgets and saw a Jell-O mold for Texas A&M. You may be surprised to note I did not purchase the mold; however, I was sorely tempted. I guess the only reason I didn’t get it is that I really don’t like Jell-O. Somehow I always associate it with some sort of illness. It did remind me of our reading today though. The Apostle Paul wrote to the young Roman Christians in this letter some very basic information concerning the way they should apply their newfound life of grace in the world. He encourages them to be transformed. Let me make the connection between this truth and Jell-O. One significant fact about Jell-O is that it can be formed into so many interesting shapes; you pour it as a hot liquid into a mold and as it solidifies it takes that shape. The reverse is significant. Getting the Jell-O ready means nothing without a mold to pour it into; even if you leave it in the pan it was cooked in, that pan becomes the mold. It will take the shape of whatever it is poured into. This is true for our Christian lives also. It can be positive or negative. Sometimes Christians look around, see how the rest of society is living, and do their best to shape themselves like the world they live in. Their culture becomes their “mold.” We have seen this kind of transformation in many churches through the centuries since Christ established it. We can all too easily adopt the values and attitudes of those who do not confess Christ’s name, following the world’s thinking on materialism, sexual immorality, selfish indulgence, entertainment, and foundational morals. This is certainly not what the apostle encouraged. Paul begins our reading by issuing a challenge to be transformed by a special renewal. His basic theme is that Christians must stand out as different from the world. I like the J. B. Phillips translation here: “Do not let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold.” The peer pressure of conforming our lifestyle to that of unbelievers is constant. But Paul calls us to be transformed so that we conform to the mold of the loving, caring, sacrificial Christ. Our minds should be set differently than the world’s. We can do this by a consistent pattern of understanding the Scripture. The molds we find within God’s words of instruction and inspiration will allow us to be formed into the perfect image of His will and purpose for our lives. What does your “mold” look like?

Auld Lang Syne

Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 ESV). I mentioned "Auld Lang Syne" in yesterday’s devotional. It is a song whose melody is synonymous with the new year and the theme of change in the English-speaking world, despite nearly incomprehensible syntax and vocabulary. The problem is that the text on which the song is based isn't in English at all. It's 18th-century Scots, a similar but distinct language responsible for lyrics in the song such as "We twa hae run about the braes / and pou’d the gowans fine" that are utterly incomprehensible to Americans. But the story of how an 18th-century Scottish ballad became synonymous with the new year is tangled, involving both Calvinist theology and the uniquely central role that watching television plays in American New Year's celebrations. Bridging the gap is a once-famous, now-forgotten Canadian big band leader who for decades defined New Year's Eve and transformed a Scottish folk custom into a global phenomenon. I have watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” dozens of times; however, I have only noticed the inscription of the book George gets as the crowd sings “Auld Lang Syne” this year. If you want to see it can be found at https://youtu.be/Z3sXVxqDbFk. You really should watch it; bu, for those who cannot, as they open the book he sees the inscription: “Dear George: Remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings. Love, Clarence.” It is a poignant moment as the song draws our attention to friends. Should old acquaintances be forgot? The answer is that it's a rhetorical question. Of course not! The speaker is asking whether old friends should be forgotten, as a way of stating that obviously one should not forget one's old friends. The version of the song we sing today is based on a poem published by Robert Burns, which he attributed to "an old man's singing," noting that it was a traditional Scottish song. Should Old Acquaintance be forgot, and never thought upon; The flames of Love extinguished, and fully past and gone: Is thy sweet Heart now grown so cold, that loving Breast of thine; That thou canst never once reflect On old long syne? We have here a series of rhetorical questions, all amounting to the point that unless you are completely dead inside, you should be able to appreciate the virtues of reconnecting with old friends and thinking about old times. Solomon was right. Two are always better than one; and, a cord of three strands is not easily broken. Who do you need to reconnect with today?

Reminiscing

Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages. For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants. (Psalm 135:13-14 ESV). I am writing this devotional on the first day of the New Year. Mary and I spent New Year’s Eve together. Though we were with all of our children and grandchildren for Christmas, we returned to Middle Tennessee prior to the start of this new year. We had a good time doing some things by ourselves and almost made it to the ball drop at midnight! Sadly both of us fell asleep at 11:45 pm and woke up just minutes before the actually turning of the clock. I’m sure you are wondering what I am doing “working” today; however, with a little time on my hands and a thought rolling around in my head, it seemed the right thing to do. It is a time for reflection and reminiscing. Some of that was brought on by calls and texts from family and friends; some of it comes from the simple changes that inevitably take place with the flip of the calendar. I have thought about many people in my past. Many have sent notes or called to simply say hello. Even though we may only “talk” a few times each year, you are on my mind often. The list is extensive, so I’ll not single anyone out. God has blessed us in that. In fact, His blessing has been evidenced in many things this year. The year of 2015 has been full of surprises and twists in our journey. Through all of it I have seen the truth of David’s psalm revealed in our reading today. The name of the Lord endures forever. Think of that. When nothing seems to be forever, His name is. One of my friends who called earlier today mentioned how hard it is to just keep going. This is not due to any particular struggle or trial. It is simply a truth of getting a bit older. As time passes, we are affected, physically and emotionally. Mary and I couldn’t have designed a better year than we have just finished. Our health continues to be good; we have family and friends that love and encourage us. However, there are those empty seats at the table. You know what I mean. We have as many wonderful treasures on this side as we do on the other. The “good old days,” while genuinely good, have transitioned to a different good. I miss some of those things while looking forward to new things and the reuniting of others. And then I remember, none of that really is the best God has in mind for me. His NAME endures forever. That means all of the temporal things that have made me so happy, so blessed, are really just temporay glimpses of what he has in mind for eternity. That’s why David mentions vindication and compassion. We get to win in every way possible because of what Jesus has already done for us. So, while we reminisce and sing our “Auld Lang Syne,” be encouraged by the future He has planned and purposed for us!

Getting Even

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:14-21 ESV). “I don’t get even; I get ahead” is a sentence I have heard many times in reference to repaying the hurt and evil done to us. The Apostle Paul has something to say about that in our reading today. Look again at the highlighted verses. I suppose the only human comfort in this verse is that God will get even for us and by being good we can “heap burning coals on the heads of our enemies.” I mean, that would really hurt, wouldn’t it, to have burning coals heaped on your head? I wonder how the Apostle Paul can write this seemingly vindictive verse, especially when he is trying to summarize the transformed Christian life. And how does showing kindness to an enemy heap burning coals on his or her head? Paul is quoting from Proverbs 25:21-22 here. That Old Testament text may reflect an ancient Egyptian ritual, whereby a guilty person, in order to show genuine repentance, would walk around with a basin of burning coals on his head. In any case, the burning coals image is intended as a symbol of the burning pangs of shame, guilt, and repentance. Paul’s phrase here essentially means, “Kill your enemy with kindness.” If we are kind to those who least expect kindness from us, we will indeed be overcoming evil with good. It may not be easy, of course, to bless those who persecute us, but vengeance is something we must leave up to God. Our task is to fight evil with practices of peace. I suppose there is nothing harder than doing that. Tokyo police recently arrested a man who was upset over being denied entrance to graduate school 14 years ago. Since that day he has averaged about 10 phone calls a night, between the hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. to the former professor whom he blames for his lost opportunity. Those 14 years of annoying phone calls totaled up to over 50,000 calls. I wonder if he had spent that time and energy in making the same number of calls or contacts to prospective employers or other schools how his life might have been better served? It has always been interesting to me to see how God works when we take “the high road” of integrity and kindness. He does level the ground at the Cross. We never need to worry about getting even. Try sugar; it always catches more flies than vinegar!

Rat-ta-tat-tat

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:9-19 ESV). When I was in school at Texas A&M, one of the staples of life in the Corps of Cadets was listening to the band march each day. Their precision is renown throughout the world. There were other groups that used precision movement as a part of their ceremony. The Fish Drill Team and the Ross Volunteers were both select groups of cadets that drilled incessantly to reach perfection in each of their movements. They were very successful in doing just that. I am told that any band, choral group, or orchestra maintains such precision with a consistent beat. Especially in the marches, presto movements in overtures, or fanfares, it is the staccato notes that carry the music. Staccato notes are separated and short, each one distinct from the notes around it. These are the “rat-tat-tat-tat” sounds that keep everyone doing precisely what they must do at the correct moment. The apostle’s teaching in our reading today sound like staccato notes. As Paul describes the transformed Christian life, he offers a number of individual imperatives, each one complete in itself and moving forward to the next one. Each command included in today’s passage deserves a meditation all by itself. For example, Let love be genuine: that is, be sincere in your living so that your acts of love do not appear forced or fake. Rejoice in hope: that is, no matter what happens to you, you can always rejoice because when all is said and done, you know that Jesus will turn all things to his ultimate victory and your ultimate blessing. At the beginning of this year, as you meditate on the incredible gift of God’s grace, spend two or three minutes meditating on each individual “staccato notes” in this passage as well. Ask yourself how each one applies to your life right now. Use these times of meditation to secure your walk with Christ in a way that accurately reflects his glory for others to see and understand how marvelous he is through every experience of life.

A Beautiful Inheritance

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:5-11 ESV). Our Christmas visit to Texas was certainly full of interesting weather. When we first arrived it was warm and pleasant in Central Texas. A day later there were storms predicted to make their way across the area. They came in with a vengeance. In fact, just 50 miles east of us E3 and E4 tornados touched down in a densely populated area near Dallas and did a great deal of damage. Just a day after that a cold front came through and dropped nearly four inches of snow in our area! Unpredictable and beautiful were just two of the words that came to my mind. Texas weather is like that. Nature has a way of revealing something of the unpredictable and beautiful nature of God. Of all the places in the land of God’s ancient people none was more beautiful and refreshing than En-gedi. Torrents of water flowing from the Shulamit Waterfall, 656 feet above the Dead Sea, made this a home to the widest array of wildlife. En-gedi was where the desert always blossomed; just as prophesized it has begun to blossom again. Then, and now, En-gedi was for God’s people a symbol of life. Once a half-crazed Saul brought his elite troops to these refreshing waters only to be trapped in a cave when his prey, David, became the predator. David’s troops urged him to crush Saul but David’s God-sensitized conscience held him back. “I will not raise my hand against my lord;” David declared, “for he is the Lord’s anointed” (1 Samuel 24:10). When Solomon refers to his beloved as a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En-gedi he is simply echoing the blessing of God that his father David had experienced at En-gedi. David later wrote a Psalm about his experience there which is our reading today. I love his declaration: “In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Your New Year may be full of foreboding. Could you join me in the knowledge that God has not abandoned you, nor will he do anything but work things together for your good. Trust Him!

Happy New Year!

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:1-7 ESV). While visiting with our family for Christmas we rediscovered the volatility of weather in Texas. I’m sure you have heard the news reports of the devastating tornado that touched down in Rowlett, Texas on December 26th. We were a scant 50 miles to the west when that storm touched down. Certainly we need to be in prayer for all of those affected by this storm system across our nation. The continued efforts to recover from the storms have just begun. It may not be such a “happy” New Year for those directly impacted by the storms. That news brought me to our reading today. I know it is typically a reading used around Christmas time; however, the truth of it is much more far-reaching than that. The people in Isaiah’s time were facing the conquering army of a vicious king. His appetite for more land and people under his rule was insatiable. Judea was next in his sight. Isaiah comes with a message of hope for the people of Israel. A greater King was coming. That kingdom would be one of peace and justice. There would be no end to that government. People must have thought that there simply was no possibility of that happening. Then the prophet makes the incredible assertion that “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” With so many challenges facing us from so many different directions, we have only one resource that can truly bring peace. It is the zeal of the Lord! That has been manifested in Jesus. Trust in him for all your needs in life. Start this New Year with the knowledge that he will bring good to your life!