Fix your eyes on Jesus

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

This weekend I watched my oldest niece graduate from High School.  She reminded me so much of myself.  She was certainly one to live as she believed and not go with the flow that is often pushed on a young lady her age.  She didn’t have many friends and worked hard at school, in choir and as a Lansing Police Department Explorer.  Furthermore, she was active at her church and the youth group.  She will be a student this fall at Great Lakes Christian College in Lansing as well.

I truly believe that she lives as we are instructed to do so here in Hebrews 12, she throws off everything that hinders her and the sin that could so easily entangle and she runs with perseverance the race that has been marked out for her. 

I see the woman of God that she is becoming and I pray that in addition to the way her parents have raised her, that maybe, just maybe, I too have been an influence on her in some small way.  I pray that I am running the race set out for me the way that Christ would want me to. 

Who sees your race and says that you have your eyes fixed on Jesus as you are running?

Love and Punishment

5 I will lay the dead bodies of the Israelites in front of their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars.  Ezekiel 6

Whoah, graphic imagery there.  That's a lot of the Old Testament though - really graphic.  Have you ever slowed down and read some of the less popular passages?  I've cringed when reading some of the descriptions of how people died, particularly the evil kings.

Some people use this as an argument against Christianity.  "How can you follow a god that punishes their own followers in such horrid ways?"  Simple.  He loved us and forgave us.  He gave his only son as a sacrifice to pay for all our sins so that we may be saved from eternal punishment.

We call God the Father.  He's like a parent to us.  Parents have to provide punishment to their children, even though they love them.  Now, every parent gives different punishment, and I'm not getting into what I think is appropriate punishment, but I believe that we can all agree that parents do punish their children.

And when the punishment is over, they can reach out and hug their children and tell them they love them, and the child will choose whether to believe them or not.  It's the same thing for us.  God is everlasting, so he doesn't do this in each of our lives individually, he did it for all humanity.  He punished our ancestors, and then told us of his love.  God is omnipresent, so the one sacrifice of Jesus paid for everyone, those that had died, those that lived when he died, and those that would live after his death.

We have the ultimate blessing.  We have been told that God loves us and it is up to us to accept or reject this.  

Thurs Devo: Never Enough

Have you ever been around someone who seems to complain about everything? Their job isn’t good enough, they often need more money, their relationships aren’t working out as they wished, their children regularly frustrate them, they want a nicer car or a bigger house and the list goes on. They would be happy if they could just… What are they really saying?

When Korah opposed Moses, Moses pointed out exactly who Korah was really opposing.

Numbers 16:8-11        ⁸ Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! ⁹ Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? ¹⁰ He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. ¹¹ It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?”

Moses pointed out that Korah and his followers were really opposing God, not Moses and Aaron. As we talked about a few weeks ago, Moses and Aaron had not chosen their position for themselves. God had appointed them as the leader and priest of Israel. 

Moses also pointed out all Korah’s and his fellow Levites’ privileges. Korah wasn’t satisfied with his privileged position as a Levite and community leader. He wanted to be priest.

Are you and I like Korah? With what are we not satisfied? Do we have the “never enough” attitude? Or, do we look at what we do have as privileges?

Do others have to point out our privileges to us, like Moses did to Korah? Or, do we regularly think about and list out all the privileges God has blessed us with?

God is Sovereign over each life. He has given each one enough unique blessings and privileges.

Alice

Joy over Happiness

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.  Psalm 100:1-3 (NKJV)

(This is Pt 7 of 8 – Turning the Tide – Representing God to a World that Misrepresents Him)

Happiness and joy.  These are two words with similar meaning, and in fact, joy in its definition has the word ‘happiness’ in it.  I used to believe in essence they were interchangeable even into my early days as a Christian.  However, that has changed.  One of my Christian mentors taught me that I should strive for joy and not happiness.  I did not understand why then, but today, the difference is clear in my head and heart.  I mentioned in a previous devotion that happiness is the feeling you have when something good is going on.  Joy, however, is lasting satisfaction that is continuous and never ending.  Joy is the knowledge that God is with you always, and happiness is the temporary feeling one has for only a fleeting moment.  Thus, one can still have joy when times are bad but not happiness.

We as Christians should have joy knowing God is always with us.  Today’s verses focuses on the word ‘joyful.’  There is a saying in the church that though we may have darkness in our life, joy comes in the morning.  I never quite understood that saying, but having studied the Bible more, it makes sense.  If Jesus Christ represents light (i.e. The Way, The Truth, and The Light), then ‘morning’ in that phrase signifies light for He said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12b)  The world focuses on the pursuit of happiness, but God shows us there is a better way.  We can have a light within us that cannot be either diminished or taken.  The world’s promises are only temporary much like happiness is.  God promises joy in our lives; a feeling that is everlasting and without fail.

There can truly be no joy without God.  Though there may be times in our lives where we have happiness, joy never ceases.  Milestones and accomplishments come and go, but through Jesus Christ, we are always blessed and thankful of those things that God has brought in our lives.  How can you find the joy that God instilled in you?  How will you seek joy above happiness?  In a world that looks for happiness that is consistently momentary, my prayer is that we focus on the light of Jesus Christ, which will show the world a never ending happiness called joy.  Amen.

Tues Devo: Investment?

Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (NASB)

Hello,

The word investment is powerful. We use it to convey the use of time, money, or other resources in the immediate time frame for a hopeful gain of return later. Sometimes we feel that gain is a sure thing, other times we admit is  a bit of a gamble.

I have no problem with investment….my issue is how quickly all of us have used the word investment as an excuse to do what we want to do. How much time have you “invested” into things that don’t matter later? How many resources have you put into things under the guise of investment, but you really know deep down that it is just about you and right now – and has nothing to do with later. Hey – even some of that is OK, but let’s call it what it is and not mix it with real investment.

I don’t want to get too picky here – but often times we use the word investment and it becomes a defense barrier to others. After all, how can someone argue against a good investment? But is that choice we are making really an investment…? Or is it an excuse to do what you want and not have to have accountability? These things do matter – no difference how much time or other resources you have, they are all limited! We must use our resources well, and part of that process will be improved when we true up our definition of investment.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Rule of Three

2 When the days of your siege come to an end, burn a third of the hair inside the city. Take a third and strike it with the sword all around the city. And scatter a third to the wind. For I will pursue them with drawn sword.  Ezekiel 5

A little later on is the explanation behind these actions.  A third of Jerusalem will perish due to plague and famine, a third will die by the sword, and the final third will be scattered.

I still remember my pastor from 20 years ago saying, "When God says something twice, he wants you to pay attention.  When he says it three times, you REALLY need to pay attention."  That's what's happening here.  The punishment is coming in a set of three, to show the city of Jerusalem that they REALLY messed up.

Is this rule-of-three really used any more?  I think that it is.  One weekend this past winter, my husband and I were going to take the family out to visit his parents.  The day before we were to leave, our toddler gets a cold.  He was in a good mood, but if you haven't been around a toddler with a cold, let me sum it up for you: SNOT EVERYWHERE!  We were still planning on making the trip, but packing lots of tissues.  When my husband got home from work, he said he was having some problems with his car so we'd need to take my car out.  I was due for an oil change, so I wasn't thrilled about putting 200 more miles on my car, but I agreed.  Then, we checked the weather.  A huge blizzard was due to hit right at the time we were planning on leaving.

Ok... I think I'm starting to get the message here.  My husband thought I was being superstitious about it, but I really did (and still do) believe that God was trying to send us a message.  We stayed home that weekend and his parents came to visit two weeks later.  Did we avoid a crisis by not traveling out to Cleveland?  I don't know.  Looking back though, I can see that I needed to see his parents just at that specific time, two weeks after we had originally intended.

I was dealing with post-partum depression.  I didn't have any problems with depression after our first child, but this second one was rough on me.  The worst of it hit shortly after we canceled the trip to Cleveland, which is when I finally shared with my husband the struggles I was going through.  It was a huge blessing that we had already rescheduled to have his parents come visit us because I was able to have some good time talking with my mother-in-law about what was going on with me.  She's a pastor, so we were able to discuss this on many levels (mothers, family, pastoral) and she really helped me through that struggle.

When you think God is speaking to you, listen!  It may not be that he's trying to make you avoid a certain peril that you don't know about, but he may be putting the pieces in place so that things will be in a better position to help you when you need it.  When you start to listen, he may send other things your way to make sure you're paying attention.

Thurs Devo: Response to Opposition

Being involved in church work can be messy. I can think of two different instances when I felt attacked by someone at church after doing what I thought was the right thing. One time was when I represented the pastor search committee and announced to the congregation that we were rescinding our nomination of a potential pastor. One person in our congregation immediately stood up and made some angry and critical remarks in front of the whole church because he had liked the guy. I tried to be diplomatic without giving all the details (since we discovered some apparent character flaws while checking references). Of course, inside, I wanted to defend myself and the rest of the committee and share all the dirty details.  

This was a very tiny attack compared to what Moses and Aaron experienced in our reading last week. Plus, this wasn’t the only time Moses had been opposed for doing what God had commanded him to do. Pharaoh, the Israelite elders, his own siblings, and the Israelite people (many times) had all opposed him. In fact, the time before this, the whole assembly talked about stoning Moses, Aaron, Caleb and Joshua (Numbers 14:10)!

So, how does Moses respond?

Numbers 16:4-7          ⁴ When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. ⁵ Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him. ⁶ You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers ⁷ and tomorrow put burning coals and incense in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!”           

Moses responds with humility. He doesn’t lash back with a list of all their failures. He doesn’t defend himself or try to explain his position. In fact, he puts the responsibility on God, where it belongs. God called him to this job and upheld him time and time again in the past. So, Moses could confidently trust that He would do the same again.

How do you and I respond when we are attacked?

Do we attack back? Do we make excuses?

Do we try and explain our position? Do we give up or run away?

Or, do we humbly go to God first before responding to ask Him exactly how He wants us to respond?

If we are doing what God has asked us to do, then we can leave it to God to defend our actions and position.

Alice

From Beginning to End

“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”  Revelation 1:8

(This is Pt 6 of 8 – Turning the Tide – Representing God to a World that Misrepresents Him)

One can never truly understand the worth of the end of a journey unless they know where the journey truly began.  For example, my youngest daughter has a positive magnetic personality with her classmates, and is a bundle of joy in my life.  But in the beginning, I was unsure if she would ever fit in with children her age because of a learning disability.  There were days she was in tears trying to understand how to say a word, and my wife and I would be frustrated trying to teach her things.  I tear up just thinking about those days because today she speaks as well as I do.  Understanding where she started gives me a much greater appreciation for where she is now.

Many in the world question when the world truly began and whether God created it.  In my life, I was once one of them.  However through experiences and circumstances, I know with certainty God is real, and furthermore, I know He has been there watching over me even before I was born.  While many around us question whether He exists, it is the fact they ask the question that should remind them of His very existence because it is deep inside their very fabric (i.e. The Holy Spirit).  How do we awaken the Holy Spirit within others to realize this very fact?

God has always been there, and it is that which we begin to chip away at the belief that He does not exist.  Revelation 1:8 is the very statement of God’s power.  He was here before we were thought of, and will be here to rule again someday.  We say this in our head trying to make sense of it, but yet, that is not what makes it real.  We do not know of God’s existence because of imagery or actual recollection of Him.  However, there were always things that happened in our lives that remind us someone was always there with us.  It is like that sense when we are about to do something wrong that says within us, “Don’t do that!”  It is those unexplainable things that have happened in our lives that when we put God in the equation suddenly makes sense.  The truth is that everyone has those moments.  Everyone has the Holy Spirit already within them, and if someone (insert you) is willing to simply say, “Yes, there is an answer to what is going on in your life,” one by one the world when know the truth; God has been there all along.

There is such comfort in knowing that we serve a God who is always there for us.  While none of us knows what our future holds, we boldly move forward knowing that whatever happens, God will take care of us.  In a world that questions His existence, we know better, and if we are willing to share that with them, they too will believe as well.  How can you help remind others of God’s existence?  What experiences assure you of God’s sovereignty today and beyond?  My prayer is that we remind others of their life’s journey to know that God has been there all along . . . from beginning to end.  Amen.

Tues Devo: The little(r) things

Titus 2:6-8 “Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.” (NASB)

Hello,

There is no doubt – we all mess up. Emotions run high, stress pressures us, disappointment slows us down. But we are asked to maintain our life and example of what Christ has taught us through all of it. The little things feel small, the littler things seem inconsequential. But there are no timeouts in this life. Things keep moving –the enemy keeps looking for an opening. Don’t give him that chance. While it is difficult, the long run is worth it. While it is tiring, Christ’s death compels us to keep going.

Perfection? Unlikely! But as we keep walking with our Jesus and learning to rely on Him, and paying attention to even the little things, we will see growth and improvement in these areas.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Run with Perseverance

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Ten years ago tomorrow, I said good-bye to my Grandfather!  When someone dies, it seems everyone tries to comfort those that grieve by saying they are in a better place.  I am thankful that I do believe my Grandfather is in a better place, however I question when people say this because not everyone that dies has heaven to look forward to. 

This world is not an easy place to live and profess your faith without being tested, growing weary and losing heart.  At the same time, everything that we face, Christ had it much worse!  He endured the cross, for you and for me.  He was tempted, mocked, and pushed to the limit. Yet he is the perfecter of faith!

My hope today is that when the race is over for each of us, that the world will be able to honestly say that we are in a better place.  Fix your eyes on Jesus and do not grow weary or lose heart!