Still Greater

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV).

There are times when I finish writing some of the Morning Devotionals that I will take a little time to journal. It is really no more than a diary of what is going on in my life at the time. It is rarely very descriptive or lengthy. It has been helpful through the years though. Sometimes I drift back through the days I entered some experiences into the files and gain new insight on what I was going through back then. It has been very helpful as I become more adept at interpreting God’s leading and plan for me. The perspective always changes with the passage of time. As I further experience life and see what the specific result of what He has done is, I recognize the depth of the truth that all things really do work together for my good. I found a very interesting little illustration of this principle recently. It pictures the growth of Jesus within us as we become more like Him. That really is the goal of our redemption. He becomes “bigger” while we become “smaller.” By looking back on what we have been through and seeing the hand of God there, we can have greater comfort and encouragement for what we are going through now or even what lies ahead. As I gain new insight into my personality and the Lord’s working into my issues and problems, I realize how small they really are compared to my Lord’s holiness and greatness. Concentrating on Christ and what He has done will lift us up better and more completely than anything else we could ever do. It has taught me to look beyond myself and concentrate on Christ. We look at God’s Word as a mirror to ourselves, into our souls, not to see us, but to see God working in us. When we only see ourselves, we see sin, brokenness, failure, self-seeking inclinations, and wrong attitudes. We must see God’s interests and not our own; then our devotions and journals become tools for us to mature in the faith. Christ will become more real in us, as our problems become less. Take some time and journal. When you go back in a month or a year, you will be amazed at the working of God in your life. It is an exercise in strength. He is still greater than anyone, anywhere; and, he abides in you!

Just Noise

Give ear, and hear my voice; give attention, and hear my speech. Does he who plows for sowing plow continually? Does he continually open and harrow his ground? When he has leveled its surface, does he not scatter dill, sow cumin, and put in wheat in rows and barley in its proper place, and emmer as the border? For he is rightly instructed; his God teaches him. (Isaiah 28:23-26 ESV).

Most people are familiar with white noise, that static sound of an air conditioner that lulls us to sleep by drowning out any background noise. Except technically, the whirl of a fan or hum of the AC isn’t white noise at all. Many of the sounds we associate with white noise are actually pink noise, or brown, or green, or blue. In audio engineering, there’s a whole rainbow of noise colors, each with its own unique property, that are used to produce music, help relaxation, and describe natural rhythms like the human heartbeat. If you know what to look for, you can start to notice the colors of the noise that make up the soundscape around you. In fact, if you decompose a sound wave, you can break it down into two fundamental characteristics: frequency, which is how fast the waveform is vibrating per second (one hertz is one vibration per second), and amplitude (sometimes measured as “power”), or the size of the waves. The noise types are named for a loose analogy to the colors of light. That may be way more than you wanted to know about noise. After all, it is all still “just noise.” Regardless, rarely do we ever experience silence. Noise seems to fill our lives. We wake to music or alarms. We get in the car and we turn on the radio, plug in our phones or iPad and stream more noise. When we walk in the house or a hotel room, the first thing we do is turn on the TV. It seems that, with noise, we somehow don’t feel so alone. But, in the midst of all of this noise, we somehow miss the most important sound of all. God still speaks in a still, small voice. In the busyness and noisiness of our lives, it’s easy to miss Him. The only way to hear Him is to make an intentional effort to quiet the noise and spend some time listening, through prayer and reading His Word. You will never get a more important phone call or crucial message. Find some time each day to be alone and quiet. Resist the temptation to have some background sounds and listen to the most important voice of all. I find that when I just sit on the deck at sunset without any noise to distract me, I can hear God very clearly. The truth is that you simply can’t listen to Him if you can’t hear Him. Do this and it will enrich your life tremendously.

Unsinkable

How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. (Proverbs 16:16-19 ESV).

It was a spring day, and it seemed that all of South Hampton, England, had gathered in one place to celebrate one of the pinnacle accomplishments of man. About 2,200 people had the privilege of a firsthand view, among them some of the wealthiest people in the world. It seemed the whole world was marveling at this awesome accomplishment. The Titanic was eleven stories high, 900 feet long, and weighed in at 46,000 tons. Yet just five days later, it was all gone. It simply disappeared beneath the cold water to become little more than a massive, twisted wreckage at the bottom of the sea. It’s strange that the name Titanic was always preceded by the word “unsinkable.” In fact, many on board joked, “Even God couldn’t sink the Titanic.” However, it will forever serve as the twentieth-century example of the foolishness of pride. Our reading today says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” We can never be reminded enough of the truth that all Prideful Titanics sink into destruction eventually. It is only a life of humility before God that can truly stand in the midst of the storm. Here are some practical ways you can develop humility: First, actively practice gratitude towards peers, mentors, and family. The people that you have surrounded yourself with your entire life have helped shape who you are today. Acknowledge them with gratitude. Second, work on your listening skills. Other people have wisdom that you don’t yet possess. Always seek first to understand, and then be understood. Third, pay the support forward. Be vigilant for ways to add value to other peoples’ lives. Fourth, give credit where credit is due. Always be forthcoming and transparent about other people’s contributions to your accomplishments. Fifth, show respect to others. If you are a good person to friends and mentors but you are rude to restaurant servers that speaks directly to your character. Treat every single person that you meet like family and it will make you a happier, better person. There are no “unsinkables” in life. Take care to develop humility and sink-proof your life.

Rejection

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).

Rejection is the most common emotional wound we sustain in daily life. Our risk of rejection used to be limited by the size of our immediate social circle or dating pools. Today, thanks to electronic communications, social media platforms and dating apps, each of us is connected to thousands of people, any of whom might ignore our posts, chats, texts, or dating profiles, and leave us feeling rejected as a result. In addition to these kinds of minor rejections, we are still vulnerable to serious and more devastating rejections as well. When our spouse leaves us, when we get fired from our jobs, snubbed by our friends, or ostracized by our families and communities for our lifestyle choices, the pain we feel can be absolutely paralyzing. Whether the rejection we experience is large or small, one thing remains constant — it always hurts, and it usually hurts more than we expect it to. There are two practical steps we can take to minimize the hurt. 1. First, have zero tolerance for self-criticism. Notice I said “self-criticism” not self-evaluation. There is a big difference between recognizing our need for growth and our acceptance of guilt and shame already dealt with through the grace of the redeeming work of Christ. Tempting as it might be to list all your faults in the aftermath of a rejection, and natural as it might seem to chastise yourself for what you did “wrong” — don’t! By all means review what happened and consider what you should do differently in the future, but there is absolutely no good reason to be punitive and self-critical while doing so. 2. Second, don’t assume a rejection is personal when it’s not. Most rejections, whether romantic, professional, and even social, are due to “fit” and circumstance. As social beings, we need to feel wanted and valued by the various social groups with which we are affiliated. Rejection destabilizes our need to belong, leaving us feeling unsettled; therefore, we need to remind ourselves that we’re appreciated and loved so we can feel more connected and grounded. The best means to accomplish this is to remember that God has chosen you. That can never be undone or changed.

A Jawbone

When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands. And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men. And Samson said, “With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, with the jawbone of a donkey have I struck down a thousand men.” (Judges 15:14-16 ESV). When I was a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, I remember vividly the peril of attempting to argue with the wisdom of someone much smarter and knowledgeable than you. I was very young in the faith then and fortunately had enough good sense to remain silent when in class. However, one student was not nearly as wise. During a class covering the topic of the Second Coming of Christ, this student decided to debate the professor during the class. While he may have had some kernel of truth to share from his opinion, what he said was completely lost in the manner that he spoke. He was disdainful and disrespectful as he attempted to correct the professor at one point calling him the “apex of heretics in the modern age.” After he finished his verbal assault, the professor calmly said, “I now know how the Philistines must have felt.” Not knowing the Bible nearly as well then as I do now, I did not recognize the reference. The professor was referencing today’s reading as he continued by saying, “I have been slain by the jawbone of a donkey.” Actually, the professor used the King James translation for “donkey” when he spoke. You may recall the Old English word for donkey is “ass.” The student certainly made a fool of himself.

And, while it would easy to go down the path of using wisdom in our speech at this point, I think another tack would be more helpful. I personally would not have thought that a donkey’s jawbone would make an adequate weapon to strike down “a thousand men.” I know bone is about as hard as any wood. The teeth may have been sharp and certainly made an imposing weapon; however, it wouldn’t have been my first choice. Yet Samson “found a fresh jawbone” nearby and used it to win the victory. I find that a very telling principle. How many times have we surrendered in the face of seeming insurmountable challenges because we didn’t really see what we had and wanted more? Begging God for more when what we have is enough has brought defeat on more than one occasion to God’s people. It is so easy to underestimate the power of God working within us. So, whatever challenge you may face today, take up the power of God within you and let him use what he has already given you to bring you through to victory.

The Forever Word

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:1-8 ESV).

The “Ark of the Covenant” (Hebrew: אָרוֹן הַבְּרִית ʾĀrôn Habbərît, or the modern pronunciation of Aron Habrit), is also known as the “Ark of the Testimony.” It is a gold-covered wooden chest described in Exodus as containing the two stone tablets Moses brought down from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments written on them. According to various texts within the Hebrew Bible, it also contained Aaron’s rod and a pot of manna. The biblical account relates that, approximately one year after the Exodus, the Ark was created according to the pattern given by God when the Israelites were encamped at Mt. Sinai. Thereafter, the gold-plated acacia chest was carried by its staves while en route by the priests. When carried, the Ark was always hidden under a large veil made of skins and blue cloth, always carefully concealed, even from the eyes of the priests and the Levites who carried it. There is great division among Biblical scholars as to the location of the ark. Some believe it is still hidden in one of buried treasure rooms beneath the Temple Mount. Others hold that it was indeed carried away in the plundering of the temple by the Babylonians. Still others believe it may have survived that destruction only to be obliterated by the Romans when they obliterated the temple one more time in 70 AD. Regardless it has not been seen in over 2,000 years. It may be natural to wonder, if the Ark represented the presence of God to the people of Israel, why would God let it be destroyed? Perhaps God allowed this because He knew that if we had it with the two tablets of the Ten Commandments inside, we might make it a shrine and worship it. More closely to the truth is that since Jesus died and rose again, we can have the presence of God within us at all times when we trust Christ as Savior and Lord. That presence is called the Holy Spirit. Finding Jesus is a whole lot better than finding a lost ark. He is the Forever Word!

In or Out?

Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. (Luke 11:14-23 ESV). I find it interesting that churches tend to fill up whenever there is a great crisis. Earthquakes, devastating hurricanes, terrorist attacks all prompt many to seek comfort and protection from a church. It is mistaken trust in some ways to believe that the solution to our problem can be found by “doing the right things.” In fact, you will be grossly disappointed if your motivation for coming to God is to escape danger. God does not promise that we’ll escape danger or even death. Whether it’s a terrorist attack or a heart attack, whether it’s a plane crash or a car crash, we will all face death.

It must be a relationship that we enter into with Him. As we come to the Lord with a spirit of repentance that acknowledges how much we have been “out” with God, we can then begin to enjoy the peace of being “in” with Him. That’s how we can be ready for whatever may happen in our lives. It will make it possible to live for today. You will never be disappointed if you will take advantage of this opportune time to come to Him. It may seem so counter intuitive, but being out with the world and in with God makes us truly “in.” Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote it this way: The foolish fears of what might pass I cast them all away Among the clover-scented grass, Among the new-mown hay, Among the hushing of the corn, Where drowsy poppies nod, Where ill thoughts die and good are born — Out in the fields with God. So what’s it going to be? Are you with God or not?

Jack-in-the-Box

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:13-21 ESV).

We all know the original jack-in-the-box as a toy that outwardly consists of a box with a crank. When the crank is turned, it plays a melody, often "Pop Goes the Weasel". At the end of the tune there is a "surprise." The lid pops open and a figure, usually a clown or jester, pops out of the box. Some jack-in-the-boxes open at random times when cranked, making the startle even more effective. These simple toys are making quite a comeback in our modern day of technology. No one really knows where the toy originated, but one theory is that it comes from the 14th century English prelate, Sir John Schorne, who is often pictured holding a boot with a devil in it. According to the folklore, he once cast the devil into a boot to protect the village of North Marston. I couldn’t help but think of this toy when I looked at today’s reading. Jesus tells us of the biggest fool. The parable was told to emphasize how important it is to get our priorities correct. Often, especially in the midst of “life,” the routine determines our focus. When things are going well it is altogether too easy to imagine that they will always go well. In fact, we can come to believe that nothing but good can come into our lives. This position keeps us from being able to recognize the need for the presence of God in our lives. Crisis will call us back to God’s presence; however, it is always easier when we rely on him in the first place. The truth is all of us are going to have a “jester” pop up in our lives from time to time. The key is our focus. I hope you are not merely pursuing bigger barns and dreaming of how to fill them up. Pause to think about the real reason you need bigger barns! Every good thing originates in the heart and mind of our heavenly Father. Trust in him for today and tomorrow. The surprises will much less startling when we trust in Him.

Ambidextrous

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. (1 Corinthians 12:14-20 ESV).

Several months ago I began to notice some symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in my left hand. I felt reasonably sure it was CTS since I have had the issue in my right hand years ago and with surgery seen a complete recovery. What I failed to remember was how important my left hand was to daily activity. After all, I am not ambidextrous; I am predominantly right-handed. Well, as you may surmise, that was proven to be the wrong attitude with the passage of time and the worsening of condition in my hand. (By the way, for those of you who may feel the need to encourage me to go to a doctor and get it repaired, I have an appointment at the time of this writing.) Truthfully I forgot one of the most basic principles of our nature. There really is nothing in our body that doesn’t affect other parts. God designed us as a whole with many parts. The same is true with the spiritual body we are a part of as God’s children. Every member is vital to the best functioning of the whole. Our “left hand” is just as vital as the “right hand.” Our reading today makes that very clear. Each gift is a divine enablement that God gives to ordinary people like you and me to build His body so we can function the way God wants us to function. This is why we’re called not to just discover our spiritual gifts, but to develop them as well. God wants to use our ordinary life to build into the life of others. The danger with the spiritual gifts is that we just intellectualize them. But at some point, we have to take a risk and “jump in the water.” Taking inventories, and learning about the gifts is only a prerequisite. We have to get involved in a ministry and in relationships. Even after the doctor addresses my issue with the nerves in my left hand, if I fail to use it, what good has been accomplished? It’s my hope and prayer that as we discover and develop our gifts, we’ll experience the joy and fulfillment that comes with doing the good works God created for each one of us to do.

Behind the Veil

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:17-20 ESV). Yesterday I mentioned Easter in the devotional. I naturally began to think of the seeming finality of death. When we lose a loved one, we want the whole world to stop and take notice. The world, however, keeps rushing on and darkness can engulf our soul. It is natural to feel lost and alone. I read the story of a Christian man who lost his eighteen-year-old son. It was a tragic death and the father felt his soul engulfed in darkness. Easter came and he dreaded the day. He arose early, unable to sleep. He sat alone in the darkness of his home. He felt the darkness of his son’s death mocking his soul on a day when in the past he had always felt such hope. Then he saw the sun rise. As he watched it rise and bring light to another day, he heard the Hallelujah Chorus being sung over the radio. At that moment he felt God speaking to him, saying, “As the sun rises, my Son rose and so will yours.”

When we were in Philadelphia not long ago, Mary and I visited the gravesite of Benjamin Franklin at Christ Church. It is relatively unassuming. It is a small corner of the church property with some of the oldest graves maintained in the plot. Franklin’s is one of those sites. As you can see from the photo, it is not an ostentatious display at all. Covering the site is a flat stone with simple engraving on it. There is just outside the gates a plaque commemorating Franklin’s death. It has inscribed on it the epitaph he wrote for himself just his death: “THE BODY of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN – Printer - like the cover of an old book, its contents torn out, and stripped of its lettering and gilding lies here, food for worms; yet the work itself shall not be lost, for it will (as he believed) appear once more, in a new, and more beautiful edition, corrected and amended by the AUTHOR” Like the man in the story, he must have realized there will be no darkness in heaven, only light. There will be no death, only life, because Jesus is risen indeed! He has gone behind the curtain of death and is merely waiting to take us there as well. The grief of death hurts; however, it is not final!

A Thurible

You shall make an altar on which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood. A cubit shall be its length, and a cubit its breadth. It shall be square, and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and around its sides and its horns. And you shall make a molding of gold around it. And you shall make two golden rings for it. Under its molding on two opposite sides of it you shall make them, and they shall be holders for poles with which to carry it. You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. And you shall put it in front of the veil that is above the ark of the testimony, in front of the mercy seat that is above the testimony, where I will meet with you. And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations. (Exodus 30:1-8 ESV). This year the season of Lent begins March 1st. While you may not observe the liturgical calendar, certainly you would not be reading this devotional without an interest in the culminating event of this season. Easter is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Without it we simply would not have the hope of eternal life.

As I began to think about that today, I ran across a word that I was not familiar with, “thurible.” Little did I know that growing up as a Roman Catholic I had seen these all my young life. They are the ornate canisters used to burn incense during various celebrations of worship in more liturgical and ecclesiastical churches. Now, before you begin to think this is of no value to you, please continue to the end. After all, God instructed the Israelites to build an “altar of incense” that was to burn before the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant regularly. The word “incense” is derived from the Latin incendere, which means “to burn”. It is commonly used as a noun to describe aromatic matter that releases fragrant smoke when ignited, to describe the smoke itself, and as a verb to describe the process of distributing the smoke. Incense was a highly valuable commodity in ancient times. Typically frankincense and myrrh were the preferred aromatics used. Burning incense was used to venerate, bless, and sanctify. Its smoke conveys a sense of mystery and awe. It is a reminder of the sweet-smelling presence of our Lord. Incensing may also be viewed in the context of a “burnt offering” given to God. In the Old Testament animal offerings were partially or wholly consumed by fire. In essence, to burn something was to give it to God. And, of course you recall that the Magi came bearing these gifts to the child Jesus symbolically acknowledging his position and being as God made man, Savior of the world. That’s the real key. When we realize that Jesus is our Savior, then we begin to understand how we are able to be living “thuribles.” It is a great opportunity provided to each of us to bless those around us. Jesus has already completed all that was necessary for our redemption. This fact allows us to be the sweet, savory aroma for the world around us. Determine to be that for those around you today!

Real Peace

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the foreigners' palace is a city no more; it will never be rebuilt. Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you. For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, like heat in a dry place. You subdue the noise of the foreigners; as heat by the shade of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is put down. On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 25:1-8 ESV).

Jack Dawson has painted one of the most enduring portraits of peace in his work titled, “Peace in the Midst of the Storm.” He writes about the painting: The hidden images in this painting help us see that just as the little bird found a hiding place in the cleft of the rock we have a refuge in Jesus Christ, our Rock. His cross, was a sacrifice for our sins, and his empty tomb a promise of our resurrection. Yet we are not promised a life without storms. In fact we know that there is always the presence of evil in the world, represented by the beastly image. Through the cross, we can overcome "because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (cf. 1 John 4:4). Only in Christ, can we have "Peace in the Midst of the Storm." The truth is that ultimate peace is not the absence of storms; but, it is inner peace in the storms. It should not be forgotten that no one of us can find lasting inner peace until we find peace with God. For when we find peace with God, we begin to experience peace within. Isaiah knew this principle. He lived and prophesied at a time when uncertainty and hardship were the common themes of the people of Israel. Conquering armies had taken their land, their sons and daughters, and left them with little more than ruin and hopelessness. Into this bleak day God broke through the noise of destruction and the fear of the future with the declaration that he would swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth. Now that can bring real peace! Have you found that peace? I hope you will. It begins with knowing Christ as Lord.

The Fog of Life

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. (Hebrews 13:8-14 ESV).

A couple of days ago we had unusually warm weather, even for Texas. After all, it is still February. However, as the temperature spike at 88 degrees, it was a welcome respite from the colder damp weather we typically have this time of the year. It didn’t last very long. In fact, today I’m writing and looking out the window in front of my desk and can’t help but be stricken with the contrast. It’s cold, damp, misty, and overcast. This morning when I let the dog out, it was actually foggy. Where I could have seen the cattle on the hills across the way from our deck, now I could barely see to our fence line. It might be easy to wonder where the hills with their free ranging cattle went to; however, the truth is they didn’t go anywhere. The clouds had rolled in. When the fog lifted, it was obvious they had not moved. Sometimes it’s like that with God. We come to experience Him in an awe-inspiring way. But later the clouds of life roll in. We experience times of disappointment, rejection, or suffering. It’s like God is nowhere near. When Moses was called to go back to Egypt, commissioned by God to go to the Israelites with a message from Him, he wondered what he would tell them if they asked him what God’s name was. God’s reply is a very clear message to us. “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you'" (Exodus 3:14). It also describes His eternality and immutability, as well as His constancy and faithfulness in fulfilling His promises, because it includes all time, past, present, and future. The sense is, not only I am what I am at present, but I am what I have been, and I am what I shall be, and shall be what I am. We should remember that He has not moved. He’s as sure and as near as the longhorns were that day they were obscured by the fog when I could not see them. So when the clouds move in, that the time you need to remember the faithfulness of God. He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. In time, the clouds of life will lift and you’ll see that God has not moved. He was there all along. Trust Him!

A Cord of Three Strands

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. Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king's place. There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-16 ESV).

Recently I’ve been doing some smaller projects in the shop. I saw a picture of an anniversary or wedding wall hanging quoting from our reading today. As I thought about how I could make some of these, I also thought how important the principle is in our relationships. I have often wondered why it is so difficult to understand that the strongest motivation in life is relationship. While we often hear guilt, coercion, or shame used to motivate these things are poor long-term stimuli. Even a sense of ambition and a drive for admiration from others are not as strong. Companionship rooted in a relationship of love is the great motivator. Solomon lists four advantages in this little declaration. First, he says it increases your reward. The truth is that two can live cheaper than one. It allows the combining of resources that result in less expense. He goes further in his search for meaning and says a friend will provide help in time of trouble. If you get into difficulty, your friend will be there to help you. The third reason two are great than one is a little more difficult to understand for some. However, it simply states a principle of physiology. Body heat helps warm you and two are better than one. Fourth, the presence of one or more others in your life makes defeat unlikely. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. But then, the wise king says, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” While there are advantages in companionship, nevertheless, Solomon's argument is that still it adds up to emptiness, or vanity; it does not satisfy the sense of eternity that God has put in our hearts. Many couples sit in loneliness, staring at a television screen for hours at a time or seek some other diversion to fill the emptiness and misery of their lives. No, companionship, though better than loneliness, is not the answer either. The answer is three cords. Jesus is that third cord. Weave a relationship of Christ into your marriage and it will not be easily broken!

Conversation Hearts

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God. (Luke 11:27-28 ESV).

Happy Valentine’s Day! If we were still in elementary school, today might be a day when we received some of those candy conversation hearts that are so popular with children. The New England Confections Company, otherwise known as Necco, says that conversation hearts are the most popular of all Valentine's candy. I read the history of the candy on the Necco website and it was quite interesting how the sayings being printed on the candy got started. It actually is a tradition started when Abraham Lincoln was president. I like them. After all, they are made mostly of sugar. However, the best thing about them are those little sayings: "Kiss me!" "Be Mine" "Be True". I know today they say a few different things than the ones we grew up with. Did you know that God sends us conversation hearts too? These conversations are placed throughout the Scripture. Each conversation heart from God is sweet to the taste. Here are some of my favorites:  BE MINE - God wants us to accept His love. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)  ALL MINE - God loves us and will keep us. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. (John 10:27-30).  I'M SURE - God's sure of His love and wants us to know we have a future with Him. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3).  TEXT ME - God loves us so much He wants to communicate with us. Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3). There are more conversation hearts that the Lord left for us to see His love through. We just have to dig into His Word to find them. Open your Bible today and have a VERY happy Valentine’s Day!

The Ziegarnik Effect

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” (John 21:15-19 ESV).

Our reading today is a wonderful example of the “Ziegarnik Effect.” The Ziegarnik Effect, in simple terms, is the tendency we have to remember the uncompleted, or interrupted, tasks more than we do those that have been completed or resolved. When we put that in the context of marriage we would say that we tend to remember all of the unresolved conflicts, or issues, in our marriages more than we do the ones we’ve resolved and put behind us. And, When a couple’s negative dealings are not properly resolved, they are constantly being remembered and rehearsed by each spouse from his or her point of view. Trust begins to erode and their marriage becomes a breeding ground for negative feelings and withdrawal. Soon each spouse begins to view one another with a critical eye. They become suspicious and begin to mistrust each other; and if left unchecked they will find themselves believing that their spouse is the enemy. Hopefully you can see that unprocessed negative events, or unresolved conflicts, between you and your spouse are extremely destructive because they erode trust. And if left unresolved, these issues will ultimately create a powerful death spiral that can ultimately destroy your most intimate relationship. The Apostle Paul admonishes us in Ephesians 4:26: “do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” God knows that we humans have a strong tendency towards rehearsing the unresolved negatives in our hearts and heads over and over again. So, if an unresolved conflict has been rattling around in your heart and head, make a commitment to get it resolved as soon as possible. You do not want to give the devil an opportunity to divide you as husband and wife and to destroy your marriage. Even if you believe there can be no resolution, God has always provided a position of restoration for us that will be mutually satisfying and affirmative. If you need, find a Biblical Christian Counselor who can help you find this grace in your life today.

The Storms of Marriage

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:35-41 ESV).

I realize that for the last few days I have written some very practical “steps” to marriage success. Perhaps I have gotten a bit ahead in assuming that everyone would know all of these things were predicated on a vibrant relationship with Jesus. So, today we really get back to basics. In our reading today we see the story of Jesus launching out across the sea of Galilee with his disciples to get some rest after a full day of ministry. While crossing they encounter a fierce wind storm; there are waves of water spilling into their little ship and they fear sinking and drowning in the storm. These seasoned fishermen tried their best to navigate to the other side; they pulled out every trick in their sailing experience book, but it was not good enough. They panicked and finally wake Jesus up. He’s been asleep on a cushion in the rear of the boat which is the place where the captain usually steers the boat. Jesus gets up and rebukes the storm with the words “Peace! Be still!” The wind and waves immediately subside. Then Jesus turns to his harried friends and asks: “Why are you so afraid, have you no faith?” I have found over the years that no one is immune to the storms of life. These often radically affect our relationships. Even when we are doing everything “right” it is still an enormous challenge to overcome. This is exacerbated significantly if Jesus is “asleep” in your life. These challenges could be any one of dozens of challenges. Maybe the fierce winds of marriage and kids along with the waves of finances are your challenge. Perhaps it is the thunder and lightning of a health crisis. Regardless of the particulars of the circumstance you simply have you feeling like you’re sinking and out of control. You can’t shake the fear of the impending disaster waiting to happen. You know you can’t get to the other side alone. Well, let’s begin at the beginning. Wake Jesus up in your life. There is no need to shout. Even a tiny whisper will be heard and he has promised to come to your aid. Start there and then all these other things will work to make your marriage stand the storms.

The Rose of Sharon

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. He as a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women. She as an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. (Song of Solomon 2:1-4 ESV).

It is a time for roses. Having spent a long time in Tyler, Texas I am familiar with roses. After all, Tyler is known as “the rose capital of the world.” There is good reason for this designation. In fact, if you go to your local nursery to buy a rose bush the chances are very high that it will have been produced and grown in Tyler. The city celebrates this industry with the world-famous Rose Garden. It features 14 acres, 35,000 rose bushes and more than 500 varieties of roses. It is wonderful to walk the paths and take in the pleasant fragrances of the blooms. Perhaps you will purchase some roses for your “valentine” this year. I found an interesting article recently. It is true that as the old superstitions fade and Emily Post-like etiquette evolves, you're probably not counting the number of roses or orchids or hydrangeas you give on Valentine's Day. But the number of roses given once held hidden meanings. Here is a partial list to muse about: One rose: Love at first sight, or "you are still the one." Two roses: Mutual love and affection. Three roses: The traditional three-month anniversary gift also simply means "I love you." Six roses: Infatuation, or "I want to be yours." Nine roses: A big jump up from six, nine roses symbolizes eternal love or "I want to be with you forever." 10 roses: A perfect 10 means "You are perfection." 12 roses: A dozen is like picking the best heart from a Sweetheart candy box; it means "be mine." Our reading today brings our attention to another flower, “the Rose of Sharon.” While it is probably a reference to a crocus or hibiscus of some variety, this passage has long been thought to be a reference to Jesus. It is not altogether unreasonable to make this comparison. The rose is the most common as well as the most beautiful of flowers. You find it in all countries and in all places. In fact, it is the universal flower: it belongs to everybody. And in this respect it resembles Christ. He is Savior to rich and poor, young and old, strong and weak; Jesus is for all men. The grace extended through Him shows no prejudice in its efficacy. Perhaps that’s the meaning you should remember this year as you give or receive your roses.

Loving One Another

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7-12 ESV). It’s that time of year when stores are filled with beautiful red hearts, chocolates, balloons, greeting cards and all kinds of things that say, “I love you.” The commercialization of the need to feel loved and to love another is truly something that has long escaped my understanding. The reason it escapes me is simply because of the incredible availability of the deepest, most profound love imaginable. Our reading today declares that love. God loves us so much that he sent his son to die for us. That’s love!

I also understand that sometimes we need a little more substantial feeling of love. As the little girl in the often told story said, “I need God with skin on.” It hardly seems possible that it has been three years since Mary went by the recue site and found a little terrier to bring home. “Teddy” came home with us and made himself at home immediately. The vet told us that he was “mostly” a Norfolk Terrier. The operative word has come to be “terrier.” His endless energy and need to be a part of whatever you’re doing has quickly endeared him to us. He likes to play, though his favorite activity is sitting in your lap to be petted. I find there’s a little “Teddy” in all of us. Whether it's because you're in the wrong relationship, or the right relationship that's been left unattended, sometimes people take love for granted. But there's no real relationship without love, and not feeling loved really hurts. I'm not saying that love is all there is to a relationship. In fact, in a lot of cases, love is the "easy" part — it's compatibility and longevity that take work. But love, and feeling loved, is essential. It's the only thing that's going to push you to work through the hard times. Even if you don’t have a sweetheart this Valentine’s Day, perhaps you can think of someone who could benefit from an expression of love from you. Just think, there may be someone in your life who won’t be hugged or told someone loves him or her if you don’t take the initiative. And don’t forget the deepest love has been poured out into your life. That allows us to both hear and say “I love you.”

Parenting Teens

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all. The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:1-6 ESV).

The first session of “Parenting Teens” that I am teaching at Gospel City Church began last Sunday. It is not too late for those of you in the area to join us at 9 am and the podcast is available on the church’s web site (https://www.gospelcitychurch.com/). I have found it true that these can be the most challenging of times in parenting. Mark Twain said, “When a child turns thirteen, put them in a barrel and feed them through a hole. When they get to be sixteen, plug up the hole.” That’s certainly not a very positive view of parenting teens, but one that everyone can relate to. Parenting teens isn’t easy. David Gelman writes, “Today’s teenagers face more adult-type stresses than their predecessors did, at a time when adults are much less available to help them.” So here are a few suggestions: Education is not the goal, wisdom is. Education helps, but teaching kids to sort out information is the key. Real decision-making is not accomplished with mere data. The ability to analyze that information and make responsible choices will determine success from failure. Teach them how to take care of their bodies with a good diet and good exercise. I find it so easy to forget that man was created a trichotomy. We are made with a soul, a mind, and a body. We easily take care of feeding our minds. We may do a bit better with taking care of our souls. However, we don’t do well with our bodies. Balance is the essential to growth and maturity. Help them develop a relationship with God. Recognize that much of their development toward God will come from the relationship with the God they see in you. Teach them that there are moral absolutes based on Scripture. Teens need these guidelines. This structure provides the framework for all of the rest of life. Help them make wise decisions about the company they keep. Positive peer pressure is a key. Since our children spend more and more time with their friends as they grow older, we should insure a good influence. For more information, check out the web site; or, better come join us if you are in the area.

Forgiving Others

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15 ESV).

Anyone can hold a grudge, but it takes a person with character to forgive. When you forgive, you release yourself from a painful burden. Forgiveness doesn't mean what happened was OK, and it doesn't mean that person should still be welcome in your life. It just means you have made peace with the pain, and are ready to let it go. Jesus has the answer—as always. Instead of focusing on the other person’s sin and our righteousness, we need to focus on our sin and God’s righteousness. When we look through God’s eyes, we gain proper perspective. No one is righteous. No one “deserves” forgiveness. Yet God forgave us our millions of sins. This allows us to look at those who hurt us with new eyes, to see them as fellow sinners in desperate need of forgiveness. In the spring of 1981, both Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II were shot and seriously wounded in assassination attempts. Even though each struggled to survive, both the President and the Pope made it a priority to forgive the very people who tried to kill them. Ronald Reagan said, “I realized I couldn’t ask for God’s help while at the same time I felt hatred for the mixed up young man who had shot me. Isn’t that the meaning of the lost sheep? We’re all God’s children and therefore, equally beloved by Him. I began to pray for his soul and that he would find his way back into the fold.” Now these are not normal responses when someone tries to kill you! Where did these great men learn such actions? They learned it from Jesus! And not only did they learn it from Jesus, but also they were empowered by the Holy Spirit to be able to forgive. This ability and motivation to forgive under those circumstances could only come from one source – the One who said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they do.” If Jesus can provide these leaders with the ability to forgive their assassins, don’t you think He can give you the power to forgive those who have offended you? If forgiveness were easy, Jesus wouldn’t have had to talk about it so much. When someone wrongs us, it hurts, especially if that someone is someone we trusted. And that hurt seeps into our souls. Our thoughts focus on the wrong done to us, and how very wrong it was. We justify our own actions and condemn the actions of the person who hurt us. Well meaning friends tell us we’re right, the other person wrong. Self-righteousness and bitterness take hold. Servant to servant, sinner to sinner, let’s offer mercy and forgiveness remembering the greater mercy and forgiveness shown to us.

Partners in Marriage

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 ESV).

The Apostle Paul writes a very definitive principle of marriage in our reading today. Simply stated, he says that Christians are called to marry Christians. There are some important reasons for this declaration. First, it’s just common sense. If Christ is your priority and you marry someone whose priority is politics, music, work, sports, education, or anything other than Christ, in time, you’ll find yourselves drifting apart. God’s practical instruction that Christians are to be bound with Christians allows us to be joined together in a deep relationship of love, respect, compassion, and understanding. The picture of two oxen bound (or yoked) together is often used to explain this Scripture. The oxen must pull in the same direction. Otherwise, they will fight with one another and experience exhaustion. The same is true of two people who marry but don't share a common faith. Like the oxen pulling in different directions, a couple who doesn't share a Godly foundation will clash and experience conflict. Second, it gives you the basis for making a decision of commitment for a lifetime. It answers so many unknowns a couple face at the beginning of a relationship. It will help explain the basis for future decisions. For the Christian, God is the predominant basis for decisions of life. It is also essential in learning to negotiate a mutually satisfactory solution to any conflict. Even in disagreement your spouse will have the capacity to forgive and restore. Marriage based on a common faith is for our benefit, blessing and protection. God wants what is absolutely best for you. So, what if you are already in a relationship that is unequal? The apostle spoke to that also. He indicates that we are to stay in the commitment and pray for our spouse. We are to work toward bringing the relationship to the Lord for him to work within us to exemplify grace and forgiveness so that they may be saved.

Leaving, Cleaving, and Becoming

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 2:20-25 ESV).

One of the questions I am often asked is, “Is there really a key to keeping a marriage intact?” Well, there are several references to having a happy marriage in the Bible, but there is one key verse that is found only once in the Old Testament and twice in the New Testament. Our reading today says we are to leave, cleave, and become. Each of these words has some special significance in the process to achieving a long, positive, and affirmative relationship. Let’s briefly look at each one of these. 1. Leave – A man shall leave his mother and father. This is about prioritizing our spouse over parents, children, siblings, and friends. Our spouse should be more than just a friend; they should be our best friend. If you are married and closer to any person other than your spouse, your priorities are wrong. This calls a couple to a sense of loyalty and builds a depth of trust that cannot be broken with the sudden rush of emotions that often plague a relationship. 2. Cleave – Cleave to his wife. The word “cleave” means to join fast together, to glue, or cement. These definitions imply there will always be pressures to pull the marriage apart. All of those things that can easily creep into a marriage, like busyness, work, demands from children, money, and health problems are unavoidable. Live long enough and these things will erupt in our lives. The stress to separate our lives from our spouses is great. The “glue” needs to be unbreakable. Marriage is about lifetime commitment. 3. Become – The two shall become one flesh. The word used here really means “weave.” It pictures the basket weaving of that day. Some have suggested that this is a reference to sexual intimacy. While that certainly is a part of the process, it is not the only thing that weaves two lives together. This is about living life. It involves communication, negotiation, and resolution of all of our difference in a way that is mutually beneficial. It is recognizing that when we relate to our spouse, we are really just relating to ourselves. As you approach Valentine’s Day, take inventory of your relationship. Where are you in this process? This is the way to make a marriage really last through the tests of time.

How Do I Know?

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. (Romans 12:9-13 ESV).

How can you know that you’re really in love? How can you be sure if it is true love? The simple answer is that true love is unconditional. When love between two people is true, there are no ‘if’s’ attached. This doesn’t mean that things are always perfect. It does mean throughout all of the struggles in your life, your love for each other will override every obstacle and challenge you face. Unconditional love means that, even in these tough times, your love does not lessen. Our reading helps us with knowing the signs of this kind of love. True love has a foundation of honesty. Some relationships are based on lies. Whether these were little white lies you told when you met or lies of omission about your past, if you are carrying these around, your love can’t be said to be true. If, on the other hand, you’re both completely open with each other, faults included, then you’re on your way to true love. True love will not engage in power struggles. Whether it’s for ego, control, or stubbornness, trying to be dominant in your relationship takes away from the true love you’re striving for. If you and your partner see each other as equals, you’re that much closer to true love. True love encourages growth. Some people describe finding their true love as “the other half of the circle”. But this idea suggests that you were incomplete before meeting them. It suggests that you were only half-people, and now you’ve become one. A better way of looking at it is that true love doubles your joys and halves your sorrows. True love makes the highs higher and the lows not quite as bad. True love maintains loyalty. Cheating comes in many forms, and we’re not going to discuss technicalities. Whether it’s a physical affair, an emotional one, issues with online chatting or pornography, or anything that you would hide from your partner, your love is not your highest priority. When you’re truly in love, doing something that would hurt your partner hurts you just as much, and should be inconceivable to you. By the way, true love is not infatuation. It is not lust. It grows out of a genuine relationship to the Lord and involves all that we are or hope to be. It is worth waiting and working for.

A Wife's Love

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. (Ephesians 5:22-24 ESV). I may be in way over my head today with this reading and subject! However, if we are to understand real love, especially that love we are to have as spouse toward one another, we cannot ignore the reading today. Just as I looked into the husband’s love for his wife yesterday, today we look into the wife’s love for her husband. I am convinced that, perhaps more than at any other time in history, women today also need a clear understanding of how they should relate to their husbands. In fact, the significant social changes brought about by the women's movement over the last few decades have led to such confusion that the very idea of "roles" is repugnant to some. They feel as if somehow they lose their identity and their freedom if they adhere to some type of "outdated standard." So, as space permits (and it is a bit longer than usual today), let me make a few observations.

While the Bible doesn't apply our modern word "role" to marriage, the Scriptures are clear about the unique responsibilities God assigns to a wife. Forty-seven years ago, when Mary and I married, the photographer wanted us to pose for a picture of our wedding rings placed on the Bible. They really didn’t care about what passage was in the background; however, Mary and I were adamant about it being open to 1 Corinthians 13. As you can see, that’s the picture that was made. Today, I want to reflect a bit, as well as look at some practical things that describe the relationship Paul sees in our reading for a married couple. Though I will be speaking principally to wives, these principles apply to all of us. First, be a helper to your husband. While all of us are called to be helpers to others, the Bible places a special emphasis on this responsibility for wives. Genesis tells us that God realized it wasn't good for man to be alone, and that He decided to make a "helper suitable for him" (Genesis 2:18). It is interesting to note that the Hebrew meaning of the word helper in this passage is found hereafter in the Bible to refer only to God as He helps us. The fact that this same word is applied to a wife signifies that we women have been given tremendous power for good in our husbands' lives. God has designed wives to help their husbands become all that God intends for them to be. Second, respect your husband. When you respect your husband you reverence him, notice him, regard him, honor him, prefer him, and esteem him. It means valuing his opinion, admiring his wisdom and character, appreciating his commitment to you, and considering his needs and values. The macho man who is self-contained, independent, and invulnerable is a myth. A husband needs a wife who is behind him, believing in him, appreciating him, and cheering him on as he goes about his life. Third, love your husband. Titus 2:4 calls for wives "to love their husbands." A good description of the kind of love your husband needs is "unconditional acceptance." In other words, accept your husband just as he is — an imperfect person. Fourth, submit to the leadership of your husband. Just mention the word "submission," and many women immediately become angry and even hostile. This controversial concept has been highly debated and misunderstood. Some husbands and wives actually believe submission indicates that women are inferior to men in some way. I have known women who think that if they submit they will lose their identity and become non-persons. Others fear (some with good reason) that submission leads to being used or abused. Another misconception is that submission means blind obedience on the part of the woman. This is not Scriptural. The Scripture does make it clear that a wife should submit voluntarily to her husband's sensitive and loving leadership. This means the husband becomes the servant-leader God has commanded him to be. There is a special note here: Some of you may live with abuse or in excessively unhealthy and destructive conditions in your marriage. At times, it may be inappropriate or even life-threatening for you to apply unquestioningly the principles of submission. For example, if you are being physically or verbally abused, you may need to take steps to protect yourself and your children. If you are in that situation, please discerningly seek out someone wise who has been trained to help with your specific issue. Loving, forgiving, and submitting do not mean that you become a doormat or indefinitely tolerate significantly destructive behavior. In the same way many things can be made in a variety of sizes and colors with numerous differences in detail from one plan, so one marriage may look different from another. As we acknowledge Christ as Lord of our lives, we must work out our marriages according to God's plan. The key is for each wife to follow God's plan, know her part, and work to fit in with her husband's responsibilities, just as each husband knows his part and works to accomplish God’s plan in the family.

A Husband's Love

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:25-33 ESV).

As we have already seen in the past few devotionals, it is easy to talk about love. In fact there are many ways to use the word in our daily conversation. We use “love” as romantic love, erotic love, or friendship love. We use “love” in reference to our feelings about people, places, and things. Today I want us to look at the word as it is used in the biblical description of family. It calls husbands to choose to love their wives – no matter what. I know this seems like I am writing only to the men of our audience; however, there is much truth for the women here as well. These principles apply to all of us. So, what does it mean to choose to love? This kind of love is a commitment to love, no matter the response. It’s always easy to love someone who loves us back. When someone shows us kindness, offers words of encouragement and affirmation, they are easier to love. But, to love someone in the midst of conflict, in disappointment, even when it hurts, well, that is true love; and, it is difficult love. In the biblical description of family, the husband is called to be committed to his wife. To be respectful in every situation; to love and to forgive, no matter the offense; and, to be singularly focused on a complete love for your spouse is radically counter cultural. However, just as the Scripture applied to the first century, it applies to our time and our culture today. It is timeless. The major responsibility for a marriage working lies with the husband. We’re called to love our wives as Christ loved the church. Christ died for the church. This is a tall order because as sinful, imperfect beings, it is an overwhelming challenge to love our wives as Christ does His church. We should each ask God to help us to choose love, even when it hurts. Start today. Just as Christ faithfully loves us day in and day out without condition, ask Him to help you begin to love your spouse with His love.

I Love You

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:6-11 ESV).

According to the dictionary love as a noun means “an intense feeling of deep affection”; or, “a person or thing that one loves”. I find it interesting that we use that word so often. We love warm weather. We love our husband or wife. We love our college football team. We love the latest trend. We speak the word in our most tender moments and then use it to describe our feelings about a new flavor of Bluebell ice cream. Just that fact brings me to ask if you really know you are loved. Rather than count the valentine’s cards this year, let me take you to a profound truth. Our reading today declares that the God who created all of life loves you even if you don’t love Him in return. He doesn’t wait for you to demonstrate your love for Him. He loves you first. He clearly demonstrated His love through Jesus Christ, especially when Christ gave His life for us. While I do not agree with her philosophy, Anais Nin wrote a truth that goes well beyond her. She said: “Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings.” The demonstration of God’s love for us in the death of Jesus proves his eternal expression and building of the love he has toward us. You may remember that I ended yesterday’s devotional by encouraging you to look to Jesus for love. He is the foundation of love in all of life. Today my encouragement to you is to notice how many times the word “love” is used in casual conversation. Each time you hear it, think about the love of God. It is genuine love. Think of how much He loves you and begin to experience His love. When you begin to know His love, you’ll be amazed at the joy in your life. In that relationship all other relationships may spring up to bring both knowledge of love and feelings of love. In him you can find acceptance, even when you find it difficult to accept yourself.

Genuine Love

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:16-18 ESV).

Michael DeBakey graduated from the Tulane University School of Medicine in 1932 and, later that year, began inventing surgical devices and the modes in which to use them. Debakey's accomplishments read like a general list of medical breakthroughs: In 1953, he performed the first successful carotid endarterectomy as treatment for stroke, and in 1964 he accomplished the first successful coronary artery bypass, using a transplanted leg vein to reroute blood beyond blocked coronary arteries. In 1966, he performed the first successful implantation of a ventricular assist device (VAD), the procedure for which he is likely most remembered. Years later, teaming with Robert Jarvik, DeBakey created the Jarvik artificial heart, which was first implanted in a human in 1982. And in the 1990s, working with NASA engineers, DeBakey helped develop a heart pump that was so small it could be used in children. The blood flow measurements were taken using a computer that usually modeled rocket-fluid flow. He was an incredible intellect. One story intrigues me the most from his biography. It is said that early in his development of the artificial heart he received a letter from an 11-year-old girl with this question, “Is there any love in an artificial heart?” He would later write that the question gave him pause. Though he was raised in an Eastern Orthodox Church, it was after this question that he came to a deeper faith. He was an unashamed believer to the time of his death, just two months before his 100th birthday. The question is a good one for us to begin with just two weeks before Valentine’s Day. Love is illusive, yet we long for it. Love is real, but describing it is very difficult. The Scripture helps us come to a conclusion about this. It reminds us that love is patient and kind, not envious, selfish, or arrogant. Love doesn’t keep records when people let us down or do us wrong. Love forgives. Love is happy for others’ successes. Love is very optimistic. Love bears all things; it believes in others and what they can be, thus putting up with a lot. Love hopes for the best in others. True love never gives up; it just keeps on keeping on; it means a commitment to love a person whether they love us or not. (cf. 1 Corinthians 13). So, is love found in an artificial heart? I’m afraid not, but love can be found in an old heart made new by the power of the Great Physician, Jesus Christ. There’s the source of real love. We’ll see more detail in the coming days. Today, start with Jesus.