Application Over Education

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.  James 1:22-25 NLT

I love reading the word.  I love how it takes me places mentally I wouldn’t have gone before, and when it challenges a thought I had, it makes me shift my momentum.  I love it when I must rewrite a devotion because when I actually read God’s word, I come up with a different conclusion.  I love the conflict and chaos that it creates in my life, and is such a disruptive force that it frustrates the daylight out of me.  You are probably reading this and asking yourself, “What the heck is wrong with Kent today?!?!?”  Rest assured everything is fine.  You see, a vibrant growing Christian faith sounds like this.  However, this is only half the equation.

You see, loving the word means nothing unless I am actually willing to apply it.  The fact it expands my mind forces me to utilize it sometimes in the exact same way I previously had to see how different it is today. It makes me stop running one way, and now I must crawl, walk, then run the other way.  It balances my writing like Proverbs 27:17 (As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend).  It makes for constant thought and debate in my mind and heart.  However, the best thing about application of the word is when those things come out of me, and it actually changes others.  It attracts them not to me but to God.  This is the application of those things I have learned.

One can only love God’s law by using it actively.  The Book of James is filled with lots of great words that challenge our beliefs in a healthy way (ex. Faith by works is dead – see James 2:17).  In reading today’s verses, James makes the straightforward case of applying God’s law into our lives.  I felt a personal gut punch reading to “see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.”  That is both humbling and convicting as I must acknowledge that I am not quite the man God would want me to be.  Yet, it is also motivating as I strive to be better in my walk of faith, and with each step, God rewards me for my using what He has instilled in me.  We have all heard the saying, “I can’t hear you because your actions speak so loud.”  This is what we as Christians must always aspire to do.  Our actions will always be a bigger indicator of our faithfulness to God.  Thus, while reading the word is paramount, it means little if we are not able to translate into tangible change in our lives.  Furthermore, it must be seen not for others to observe but for God to bless our each and every step that shows both submittal to His will and love for His teachings.

Jesus is the ultimate applicator.  There can be no doubt of how great a teacher Jesus is, and even those who studied the laws of the Bible acknowledged Him as such.  However, He at numerous times chose to apply His teachings in a way that showed a clear example for us to live a life devoted to Him.  There was His telling the people without sin to cast the first stone to the adulterer.  Then Jesus Himself as the only one who could have stoned her forgave her (John 8:3-11).  Or what about when Jesus said to His disciples, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13). Then He allowed Himself to be put on the cross so that we could have eternal life.  So, what are we to take from all this?  Quite simply, my prayer is that we take Christ’s example and focus on application over education.  Amen

Replacement part

Late last night my husband found that we had water all over in the sub-pump room of our basement.  We quickly discovered that there was a hole in the connector and it was spraying water.  It was just a small hole so we put some plumbers putty on it and that seemed to hold it until we’d be able to get it fixed today.  By the time we woke up this morning, the small patched hole was now a larger hole and it was spraying pretty good.  Thankfully we had put towels all around so the we didn’t end up with flooding however it was clear that we needed to get something done quickly. 

I started thinking about how this is kind of like sin in our lives.  Sometimes sin can seem like something so small.  We might try to “patch” our sin but if we don’t do a full repair, all it will do is later give way and become an even bigger sin.

I John 1:8-10

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

We ended up having to replace a part on the sub pump.  It was not something that could simply be patched. 

In our lives, Christ has offered us the “replacement” part of himself to fix the leak of our sin.  Each of us needs to be looking for those areas that sin takes over and needs the replacement of Christ in our lives.

Trace His Hand

“Commit your way to the Lord, trust also

in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”

     Psalm 37:5 (NKJV)

This is one of my favorite Psalms and I come back to it again and again.  But as many times as I’ve read this verse, something new struck me this time.  By exhorting us to commit our way to the Lord, the psalmist implies that this is a process---i.e., that we should keep growing and doing new things for and unto the Lord, which requires us to again commit our ways to Him.  It’s been said that our faith should not be stagnant and that if we’re not going forward, we’re in danger of backsliding.  There’s no neutral gear in the Christian walk and we shouldn’t be idling for any length of time.  What new things are you starting or planning?  Have you felt any prompting to branch into a new area of ministry or service?  Is there anyone new you should be praying for or witnessing to? If you’re not sure what to do, pray and seek God’s guidance and commit yourself to do His will.

“Commit everything into God’s hands. . .and then you will see God’s hand in everything.”  I read that recently and was so encouraged by it.  I love looking back and seeing God at work in the circumstances of my life, and in the hearts and lives of others (especially those I’ve been praying for).  When we experience God’s faithfulness, that helps us to trust God even more and in situations that might otherwise cause us to be nervous or fearful.  If God has helped in the past, surely He will help us again.  He promises never to leave us nor forsake us.  Even when we don’t at the time experience His presence at work, we can trust that He knows of the situation and will work for good in it.  He’s done it before, He will do it again.  Take a moment to trace the hand of His faithfulness and be strengthened. 

Thursday Devotional - A Kid's Prayer

We got to drive to Connecticut to visit my youngest sister and her family to celebrate Easter this past weekend! My sister, Mary, took this picture of us on Easter.

James and Sarah really enjoyed playing with their younger cousins. In fact, James cried off and on and complained about having to leave for at least the first hour of our drive home. ☹ He wished we lived next door to them. 😊

James wasn’t always the best role model as the oldest kid for the weekend, but he easily spotted when another kid wasn’t doing the right thing. In fact, when James, Sarah and Jack (almost 3) were playing under their deck, Jack picked up a big stone. James recounted this story to me later and said he didn’t think that was a good idea. I think James may have told Jack to put it down and he didn’t. A parent wasn’t right there and James said he wasn’t sure what to do so he asked God what to do. Right after he prayed, Jack put the stone down! James said it was a miracle! Yes, God had answered his prayer!!!

I was thrilled to hear James is learning he can pray about anything at anytime! We’ve been studying Solomon together in Bible Study Fellowship, all the wisdom God gave him and all the wisdom we have access to today through the Holy Spirit, prayer and God’s Word. Praying for wisdom is one of the best things we can pray about, especially when it isn’t for selfish motives.

In fact, on our way to CT, we had read James chapter 4 together as a family the night we spent in a hotel. The first part talks about praying with the wrong motives.

James 4:1-3 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

What are most of your and my prayers about? Are they for wisdom or selfish desires? God wants to answer our prayers and desires that they be in line with His purposes and for His glory!

Alice

The Best Wingman

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”

But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?  We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”  Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  Luke 23:39-43

The wingman.  One of my favorite movies was ‘Top Gun,’ which is a movie about fighter planes.  In the movie, there is a reference to the expression called ‘the wingman.’  The role of the wingman is quite important.  They were there to help or intercede in case the other person was engaged in fighting with one plane and an enemy plane would come in.  The wingman could thus either prevent trouble that might erupt or ensure success if it was in jeopardy.  That person was on your side, and when you went into a situation where danger lurked or something required you to have a backup, they were with you.  Now if you’re someone on the dating scene, the term ‘wingman’ may mean something different, but it amounts to a similar role.  In thinking about this spiritually, I asked myself, “Could one say that Jesus might very well be a wingman?”  Maybe.  In fact, might He be the greatest wingman ever?  Then answer is quite simply … yes!

Jesus is the best wingman we can ever have.  In today’s verses, let’s focus on the plight of the man on the cross accepting guilt.  Here he is.  Humbled.  Admitting of guilt.  Rightfully punished.  Understanding that, he could very well have been like the other man scoffing at Jesus and looked to blame someone else for the things he ultimately was responsible for.  But instead, he accepted responsibility for his crimes, and only asked that Jesus remember him when His Kingdom would come.  The reason why these verses are such a favorite of mine is because it should be very easy to see whose story this is.  It is mine, and for many of you, it’s yours too.  Broken.  Saddled with guilt.  Feeling unworthy.  That is where I was when I looked and said, “I am not deserving of such grace, but maybe what I have learned can be of use to someone so that they may learn how wonderful God is.”  And Jesus answered much like He did to the humbled man on the cross.  “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise,” He said.  Here is the thing.  This is not just a story about coming to Christ.  It’s about having the assurance that the one true living God is always there.  Watching.  Protecting.  Providing.  Loving.  There is no danger we can’t go into, and He is there to intercede when trouble is present.  That’s ‘wingman’ type stuff!

It is so good to know God is ours and we are His.  The first time I ever spoke on these verses, I spoke of the man being Jesus’ right hand man.  Well I was right, and I was wrong.  I was right that he understood Christ was the leader and he was the supporting cast looking to do right by Him.  Where I was wrong was that in our lives, Jesus is our right-hand man.  He makes all things possible, and though we are not perfect, we are made perfect through Him.  You might argue that Jesus is the leader of your life, and you would be right.  But God can’t lead unless we allow Him to.  We must want that, and while God has the script, the book of our lives is … well … ours.  Even Mercutio had a story in Romeo and Juliet.  Let us own our story being God’s humble servants and trusting He will be there for us.  How can you change your scoffing toward being more accountable for your life?  How can you better humble yourself before God in your confessions?  I pray we lead a life as Jesus would want us to knowing He is always there as our ‘wingman.’  Amen.

Forgiven

I’m sure each of us can honestly say that we have judged something or someone on an outward appearance at one point or another.  It may not even have been intentional.    The Pharisees were no different.  In Luke 7 we see this happening.  Jesus on the other hand, did not judge this sinful woman that washed his feet with her tears.

Luke 7:44-47

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.  You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.  Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

The Pharisees were had judged the woman and felt that she was not worthy of being in the presence of Jesus.  Yet Jesus put them in their place, telling them that she had been forgiven. 

Each of us have been forgiven in a big way, therefore we should also show love to others in a big way.

Living Hope

“Blessed be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ, who

according to His abundant mercy

has begotten us again to a living

hope through the resurrection of

Jesus Christ from the dead.”

     1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)

As we get ready to celebrate the joyous resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, I read some disturbing news.  “Only 46 percent of self-identified British Christians believe Jesus died on the cross to save them from their sins, a new poll has found” (from a 4/15/19 article in Christian Today).  It's likely there are similar numbers among U.S. Christians.  How can someone profess to be a Christian if they don’t believe this central tenet of the faith?  I'm afraid this shows how people can be lost and not even know it.  That’s the state I was in. 

Jesus died to pay the penalty for all sinners, but we have to accept that gift personally in order to receive the promise of eternal life.  I didn't realize that even though I spent most of my growing up and adult years in mainline churches, and thought I was saved; yet my heart was not converted.  If we think we're basically good people in ourselves, we have no need for a Savior.  But when the Lord graciously opened my eyes, I saw my sinful self and the punishment that I deserved.  Then I could truly appreciate that Jesus died as payment for my sins!  By grace, through faith, He became my Savior and I was born again, hallelujah!

Do you believe Jesus died for your sins?  Have you trusted in Christ and Christ alone for your salvation?  Do you believe that Jesus was raised from the dead and is alive today?  Have you been born again?  If so, rejoice in the blessed and living hope that we have through the resurrection of Jesus Christ!  If not, please don’t delay---accept this wonderful gift today so you too can know that your sins are forgiven and you are heaven-bound!

Thursday Devotional - Calm versus Nervous

As we look forward to celebrating Easter this Sunday, we can take some time to remember all Jesus endured leading up to His death and resurrection.
Tonight would have been the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested.
Matthew 26:47-56     
 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 
⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
What do you notice about Jesus during this whole interaction?
What do you notice about everyone else?
I see a very calm and confident Jesus who is sure of God's Sovereign power and plan.
I see very nervous priests and disciples who are trying to control situations with their own wisdom and strength.
Who are you and I like?
Are we more like calm and confident Jesus, who trusts completely in God?
Or are we more like the others who are trying to control situations in our own wisdom and strength?
Join me in thanking Jesus for calmly enduring all of this for your sake and mine!


Alice

Representing Versus Idolizing

So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.  You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ?  1 Corinthians 10:14-16

I wear a charm of a gold cross around my neck.  It is a symbol not to tell others that I am Christian.  It is a reminder to me of my commitment to Christ.  I have worn it now for nearly fifteen years, which is when I first was born again.  Every so often, I will look in the mirror and stare at it.  The design of it is simply beautiful, but it is not relevant.  It is but a symbol.  Not an idol.

Many on this holy week are deeply saddened by the burning of the church of Notre Dame.  Others are equally distraught by the burning of African American churches by a man in Louisiana.  Both are indeed tragic, but I had to ask myself.  What really matters?  Does a church burning in one place bare less significance than another?  How would God view these?  It has nothing to do with who goes to which church.  It has everything to do with people being displaced from the place where they praised God.  I must remember that the buildings are symbols of God, but they are not God.  That’s how you know whether your heart represents Him and not an idol of His.

We must focus on our heart with God to be able to discern a symbol from an idol.  There are many verses that speak about God disliking our worship of false idols.  In today’s verses, it speaks of something that is very easy to fall into the trap of symbolism becoming idolization.  When we say grace at meal time, do we think of it as sacred time to give thanks to God or just a ritual before we eat?  My wife and me push our children to say grace.  Even our grandchildren including the little ones say it.  It’s not because they are at the point where they have this deep relationship with Christ.  Instead, it is preparing them so when they ultimately make the decision to follow Him, they will go to Him with their hearts open and body filled with His spirit.  A pastor did something that really helped me make it more intimate than ritualistic.  In saying grace, he would pray for those who helped prepare the meal.  Whether it be my wife at home, family members at an outing, members at church, or the people at the local restaurant, it forces me to focus on those around me as a reminder that it is never about me.  It’s always about God and my neighbors.  This is how it became a symbol of my faith instead of a ritual of just words.  This is not to say everyone needs to change how they say grace.  What it says is we are to always check our faith meter whenever we do something.  Whether saying grace at the table, worshiping at church, or reading God’s word, we must always ensure we are understanding its intent and not just ‘going through the motions.’

There is a clear distinction between the relationship with and the things that represent God.  As we focus on Easter, we must remember to reflect on the love Jesus Christ had for us on the cross.  Not that He just died there for us.  Remember He rose to glory to show us a pathway to a relationship with Him.  Not that He just overcame death for our sins.  Our goal is to make clear our relationship with God has meaning and is not just saving grace for if the distinction seems blurry, we may very well have fallen out of the love for God and ventured into the love of those things that represent Him.  Jesus said, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”  We can appreciate the structure for its beauty.  Let’s not lose sight of what the church really is; the parishioners.  What aspect of your life needs an awakening?  How can you better distinguish between something representing God vs. it becoming God?  My prayer is that in all we do, we focus on representing Him and not idolizing the things of Him.  Amen.

Submitting to authority

Tax Day! 

Today is a busy day for a lot of people in our industry.  As individuals within the United States, today means something to all of us that must file taxes.  While everyone has an opinion on taxes, the reality of it is that this is something from as far back as the Bible.

Romans 13:1-7

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.  For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.  For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.  Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.  Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

While we have authorities that we must answer to here on earth, ultimately our authority is God.  Just as we have laws that we must follow in our lives, so is true about our spiritual lives.  Have you submitted yourself to the authority of God today?