Thursday Devotional - A Different Sunday

Well, we didn’t meet in person with our fellow church members last Sunday. We did get to watch the live stream of our pastor’s sermon, which was encouraging!

In addition, since the President declared last Sunday a National Day of Prayer, we tried to pray together as a family most hours of the day. I compiled a list of things to focus on in prayer, Scripture passages to read, and songs we could sing together. We all took turns praying first, deciding which room of the house to pray in for that prayer time and what song to sing.  

Here’s what we ended up doing for our 7 prayer sessions throughout the day:

1. Prayed for the President/VP/Governor/other officials

I Timothy 2:1-3

Doxology (James’ pick)

2. Prayed for our church, pastor, and other church leaders

Acts 20:27-31

Deep and Wide (Sarah’s pick)

3. Prayed for the health of our family

Psalm 24:1-2

This is My Father’s World

4. Prayed for our school/director/teachers/families

Psalm 119:7-16

The B-I-B-L-E (James’ pick)

5. Praised God for His attributes and character

I Thessalonians 5:16-22

My God is so Big (Sarah’s pick)

6. Thanked God for His provisions and blessings

Psalm 150

I will Sing of the Mercies

7. Prayed for various needs of family members and friends

Acts 28:27

Amazing Grace

As we won’t be meeting corporately at church the next few weeks, I’ll probably plan something similar for the next few Sundays!

I Timothy 2:1-4  I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 

How did you spend last Sunday? In extra time in prayer, too? Many people need our prayers for wisdom and discernment. Let’s be diligent to pray.  

Alice

The Noise

On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled.  Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.  All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently.  As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply.  The Lord came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain.  Exodus 19:16-20

Quiet time.  One of the reasons I tend to write my devotions very early in the morning is because that is when my head is clearest.  It does not have distractions, and I can see God’s intent more clearly than when there is a bunch of calamities around me.  I think of how God through His word gives me instruction for myself and my family, and how He inspires me to write words that I normally would not come up with.  Do you appreciate those times?  Perhaps the reason that we hear God so clearly during these times is because of the noise outside of those times.  It made me think that if God is all knowing and can do anything, perhaps He knowingly inserts ‘the noise’ in our life as well.  It’s the noise that forces us to be present in the world, and through that noise, we realize that deliberate effort must be made to fully engage with Him.  It is in a way a test to make us focus.  That’s why prayer time is important.  Prayer is the discipline of focusing on Him despite all that is around you.  Thus, ‘the noise’ has a purpose just as the quiet times.

God always wants our attention.  In our journey of Moses, we get to where the Israelites reach Mount Sinai.  Prior to today’s verses, God had prepped Moses for what was to happen saying, “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch.” (Exodus 19:10b-11) Think of it like you are the councilman for town’s 4^th of July event, and the people putting on the fireworks show are telling you what’s going to happen.  You think, “Sweet!”  So, Moses shared with the people what was to occur.  In reading this chapter, one might think this sounds like a bunch of noise and bravado from God.  But let’s put this in context.  You see, God did not show off all this to amaze the people.  He did after all part the Red Sea and provided for them all throughout the journey.  That’s amazing all by itself.  But He wanted their attention because something big was about to happen, and in this case, ‘the noise’ gave them awareness of what was to follow.  The next thing to occur was the authoring of The Ten Commandments.  How often do we take noise as things to distract us from God?  While that often is true, sometimes the noise is the bell that notifies us something needs to happen.  Before a race is run, there’s the starting gun that goes off.  In much the same way, God can create moments that can trigger us to respond in a way He wants us to.

God is always in control.  If we believe this through all the good times, we certainly should remember this when there is so much around us going on.  With all the distraction and major disruption about us for the next few weeks ahead, this is perhaps the noise to awaken us to what really matters.  It is a time to seek out God and remember His sovereignty, wisdom, and presence.  Let’s make this time as the starting gun to a new sprint toward God and His love.  How has disruption in your life been a motivator for greater focus on God?  What will you commit to ensure more discipline finding Him in times of calamity?  My prayer is we are attentive when God inserts in our lives ‘the noise.’  Amen.

Partnering with God

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my

fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of

fowler and from the perilous pestilence.

He shall cover you with His feathers, and

under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,

nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.”

    Psalm 91:1-6 (KNJV)

Our intern pastor was talking last week about the seeming paradox in the Bible concerning God's role and ours. For example, in teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus said they should seek God's will to be done and to ask for God to give them their daily bread (Matthew 6:10-11, NKJV). Yet we don't just pray and then sit back, without doing anything, waiting for God's will to come to pass and for food to show up at our doors.  No, we're to pray and then go about our daily business, seeking God's help to obey His will and following the means of provision He gives us. In that way, we partner with God, doing our part and trusting Him to do His part.

I was thinking how this applies to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic and I turned to this psalm. It says that we should not be afraid of “pestilence that walks in darkness” and that God "shall deliver" us from the perilous pestilence. Does this mean we should stick our heads in the sand, do nothing and just presume that God will deliver us? Of course, God doesn't need us to do anything to accomplish His will. But He has given us common sense to use in situations.

So we express our concerns to God in prayer. We rest upon God’s sovereignty and remember that whether He chooses to deliver us from harm or through it, the Lord never leaves us nor forsakes us. We trust that God is our refuge and fortress, and that He will guide us through all our days. But we also should take reasonable precautions and measures recommended by health and other authorities to keep ourselves and our families safe, and then rest in Him.

With God as our partner, we can have His peace in our hearts, even while the world around us is in crisis.  

Thursday Devotional - Imperfect Picture

The Old Testament tabernacle, temple and sacrificial system were all put in place as a representation of Heaven and foreshadow of what Christ would do to give us access to Heaven. It was a picture of what was to come. It wasn’t a perfect picture, because the sacrifices didn’t really pay for our sins and the priests couldn’t forgive.

Hebrews 9:1-3, 7-9 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. ² A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. ³ Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place… But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. ⁸ The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. ⁹ This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.

God’s specific details, long-term plans, and creativity never ceases to amaze me!!! He had His plan of redemption planned out well before giving Moses the Law, before calling Abraham, and before flooding the world. He even gave hints of His plan to Adam and Eve after they sinned (Genesis 3). He knew we couldn’t do anything to pay for our own sins. He knew we couldn’t do anything to earn forgiveness and bring about restoration. He had to do it all, and do it all He did!  

Have you ever gone on a trip and been blown away by the beauty you saw? It was far better than the pictures you saw online ahead of time. The pictures didn’t do it justice. Similarly, let’s experience and appreciate the benefits of the new covenant with direct access to God and true forgiveness!     

Alice

By Themselves

Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him.  Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives.  But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.  They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you.  If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”  Exodus 18:19-23 

My mother was a tireless worker and determined woman.  She worked not only to raise her three sons of which I am the youngest but also for the civil rights of African Americans as a founder for a not for profit organization giving youth exposure to corporate America.  Back in the 70’s, the first generation of African Americans were growing up to have opportunities their parents never had, and through my mother’s organization, doors were opened to many who would later go onto college and universities seeking professions many of us today never knew were once unavailable.  Think of a time when you had no idea what you were going to do in your life, and one day, someone showing you a whole new world.  That was my mother to me and others.  One of the most famous sayings my mother told me time and time again growing up was that no one makes it in this world by themselves.  This was such wisdom my mother taught me that I have never forgotten.  It is why I am always open to listen to others because one never knows who God sends you to provide counsel in times of uncertainty. 

God always sends us what we need to move closer to His will being done.  In today’s verses, Moses was dealing with lots of things in Israel’s long journey.  I found myself at the part where Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came to visit Moses, and Moses shared stories of God and how He brought them this far.  Moses was heavily involved in dealing with the problems and concerns of the people, and having seen this, Jethro became the confidant Moses needed at that time.  Like a great time manager, Jethro asks, “What are you really accomplishing here?  Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?” (Exodus 18:14b) In today’s verses, Jethro laid the foundation of future prosperity for Moses and His people.  I asked myself why God didn’t just tell him this.  Then I remembered what my mom told me.  No one makes it in this world by themselves.  God sent Jethro, a voice Moses obviously trusted, to help him in his time of need.  We all need that voice, don’t we?  Whether it be a spouse, family member, or friend, God places people strategically in our walk of faith to not only help us prosper but also guide us.  

Through the Holy Spirit, we will know their counsel is of God (note in verse 19 how Jethro notes God’s guidance in his advice), and most importantly, we must act as if God Himself commanded us to. 

It is wonderful to have people surrounding us that God places in our lives.  Furthermore, it is equally as rewarding to know God places us in others lives to make a difference.  Jesus is the perfect example of this as Isaiah foretold of the coming of Jesus saying, “And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6b) It is important that we use God’s wisdom to choose our friends wisely and listen when He talks to us through others.  Otherwise, we may be missing out on what God’s plan is for our lives.  Let us be open to God’s counsel to make us better followers and leaders.  What trouble might you need God’s counsel in?  Who has God placed in your life that can aide in your journey or spiritual growth?  My prayer is that we open our minds and hearts to remember no one makes it in this world by themselves.  Amen. 

Love Is The Greatest

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:13

I told a friend I loved them the other day.  Yes, someone other than my wife.  Now to be clear, it was not the kind of love I have for my wife, and I made that clear to them.  For those of you not familiar with Greek history, it defines four common kinds of love.  There is Storge (affectionate), Phileo (friendship), Eros (romantic), and Agape (love for all).  C.S. Lewis described it almost like wedding cake. Storge is the frosting. Phileo is the punch that goes with the cake.  Eros is ‘the cake,’ and Agape is the offering of the cake to someone else.  The love I spoke of with this friend was Phileo, but before it got to that, I had to have Agape love or a love that is given freely devoid of fear of being hurt.  It made perfect sense as I read something else Lewis wrote that said:

To love at all is to be vulnerable; love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact…you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal…lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket-safe, dark, motionless, airless–it will change.  It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation.  The only place outside of heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.  – Four Loves

Some people say the word love is thrown around too freely.  I don’t buy into that.  I believe what they mean is that true love is not shown enough.  We don’t want to get hurt.  We do not want to feel the pain of it being broken.  Thus, as Lewis says so well, we lock it up where few can get in.  However, one of my most endearing philosophies of life has been that when your heart is broken, the pain you endure is the price for the love you have always wanted.  Having met my wife, nothing could be truer than that.

God’s love is the key that unlocks everything.  There is a reason love is the greatest of things.  Paul understood this even as he admitted to not know everything saying, “Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!” (1 Corinthians 13:9) Love is a mystery.  However, when I look at a picture of my wife and I when we got married, I feel love deep down.  As my wife loves me, I feel the love God has for me.  As I think of my parents love for me, I sense how God watched over me over the years nurturing and growing me.  I am so humbled God provided me with all of this as I know many may not have had what I had.  But no matter if your home was filled with love or had none at all, God gives you all of His love unconditionally, and when you give love, it eventually, and I mean, always comes back.

God’s love is an ever-giving free flowing gift.  However, like C.S. Lewis says you must be willing to open yourself up to it.  You see, it is like when Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” (Matthew 6:24) You will either be closed to love, which leads to no heart for God or others or take all that comes with love’s territory: pain, suffering, and ultimately glory.  Isn’t the latter the crucifixion in a nutshell?  Let us all take up the cross and share love with all we encounter so others will begin to believe the word ‘love’ isn’t thrown around enough.  Who can you show God’s love to today?  How can you be a shining example of the Agape love of God?  My prayer is we acknowledge Paul’s words in saying love is the greatest.  Amen

Sowing in Tears

“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.

He who continually goes forth weeping,

bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless

come again with rejoicing, bringing

his sheaves with him.”

    Psalm 126:5-6 (NKJV)

My study Bible indicates that this Psalm rejoices over Israel’s return from exile after the pain of captivity. It describes reaping a joyful return to the land after sowing tears of repentance. 

Israel was an agricultural economy, so often the Bible uses analogies that are agricultural in nature, such as in this psalm. But one commentator I read opined that the tears and joy in this psalm doesn’t really have anything to do with the sowing and reaping.  It’s not that sowing is a sorrowful job in itself or that reaping is always joyful. Rather, sowing and reaping represents the daily work that needs to be done even when we’re sad and grieving or glad and rejoicing. 

For me, this psalm speaks of tears sown in prayerful intercession and the hope that one day the fruit of salvation will be reaped in the lives of those for whom I pray. Even when I don’t actually weep, my heart aches for so many I know and care about who are lost.  And I bear seed for sowing in that I share God’s word with them and I claim God’s promises when I’m on my knees in prayer for them.

I’m grateful to know that He loves them even more than I do and wants them to come to a saving faith in Jesus.  That hope brings me great comfort and helps me to continue to keep on sowing even while I keep my hand to the plow with my daily work.

Thursday Devotional - Perfect Priest

Do you ever get frustrated relying on imperfect humans? Whether it’s for accurate work or accurate medical diagnosis? People make mistakes.  

My Dad and my friend’s husband need to some important medical resolutions this week. It can be worrisome to rely on other opinions and the ability to ask the right questions in order to make the best decision. We do have someone we can rely on perfectly, though, who is in heaven and sees everything!

Hebrews 7:28-8:2 ²⁸ For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, ² and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

Jesus is in heaven at the right hand of God! As we read last week in Hebrews 7:25, He is interceding for us. We can trust Him for perfect solutions. Let’s go to Him with all our needs and pray for ears to hear His answers.  

Alice

Hands Off the Hot Stove!

It was there at Marah that the Lord set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him.  He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.”  Exodus 15:25b-26

We have all had that moment where we heard our mothers tell us, “Don’t touch the hot stove,” right?  We touch a little bit and feel the warmth of it.  Then, we go a bit closer or maybe grab on a little longer, and the exhilaration continues to build as we keep pressing further and further until that one time where either the finger goes too far or the hand gets too close to the burning flame.  “Ouch!” We cry.  If you were like me, you probably got away with just that painful tingling sensation for the rest of the day.  Some of us had moms that would gladly call you out.  “I told you to keep your hand away from that!  I guess you learned that lesson, didn’t you?”  Oh, the utter pain of defeat.  If I had only listened more carefully to her instruction, I would not have had to shake my hand repeatedly trying to get the normal feeling back.

We are always rewarded for our submission to God, and as such, we should not be surprised that we are subject to His discipline as well.  We join our walkthrough of Moses after the soldiers of Egypt drowned in the Red Sea, and Pharaoh’s army were decimated completely.  The Israelites have entered the true beginning of their journey to The Promise Land.  So, as they reach their first stop, they were complaining about a lack of water.  This will be a recurring theme throughout the next devotions (remember the comments when they were captive and brutalized by the restrictions placed on them to build bricks without straw?).  What made this even more perplexing was the fact this occurred after the parting of the Red Sea.  There’s this part of me that wonders if God was looking down on them and simply saying, “Seriously?”  So, after He heard Moses’ prayer and made bad water good with a stick, He instructed Moses to tell the people to follow Him and nothing bad will happen to them.  Furthermore, to ensure His instructions were crystal clear He jogged their memories of all the diseases He placed on the Egyptians to help free them.  Care to touch that hot stove again?  Like a good father, God will provide us with guidance be it through His word, action, or maybe even a message through a friend.  No matter the delivery, the expectation is for us to simply follow or suffer consequences.  It sounds a bit harsh and threatening, but if we understand His intent is to protect and love us, it’s not a bad thing at all.

God is always on our side.  We may not at times understand why He instructs us in a certain way, and other times we simply lose context of all that He has done as we wander off the path.  The goal is for us not to find out the hard way through pain and discipline.  Instead, it is to grow spiritually and stay on the righteous path for as Jesus said, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate.” (Matthew 7:13a) Let us intently listen to God’s instruction to avert potential hardship and pain.  How can God’s past discipline provide guidance to your current walk of faith?  What lessons can you take from Moses’ submittal to God?  My prayer is that we listen to God’s voice and figuratively ‘keep our hands off the hot stove.’  Amen.

To Be The Shepherd

Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NLT

I am a huge Samuel L. Jackson fan.  I was watching the movie Pulp Fiction the other day, and marveled at the character named ‘Jules Winnfield’ played by him.  At various parts of the movie he quoted the Biblical verse of Ezekiel 25:17. He said:

The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.  Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children.  And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers.  And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

Now this sounds all good, but if you know your bible, you know this is not accurate at all (only the last part “And you will know …”).  However, I have learned over the years that if you dismiss something entirely, you might miss something important.  As I watched the final scene of the movie, I gained a level of understanding for the ending.  It is summed up best by Jules talking about an epiphany he had to a man named Ringo, who initially attempted to rob him but now found himself at Jules’ choice of mercy.  In that moment, Jules is trying to understand what the verse meant.  He tells the attempted robber, “The truth is you’re the weak, and I am the tyranny of evil men.  But I’m trying, Ringo.  I’m trying real hard to be the shepherd.”  This hit me because it at times describes a part of our spiritual journey so well.  We are all in this world, and at times, we will find ourselves part of its craziness and insanity trying hard to be the shepherd to others who have lost their way.

We must remember to represent the shepherd to others as Christ represented us.  While the scene focused on Ezekiel 25, I found myself gravitating to the message of Paul to the Corinthians.  Today’s verses, which focus on serving men, was particularly more fitting than the wildly misquoted verse used in the scene because the conversation was between two criminals: a robber (Ringo) and assassin (Jules).  Jules in this case was becoming the converted, and now was extending grace onto Ringo.  Now this even to me seemed like a stretch, but by putting in the context of today’s verses, it made perfect sense.  Paul said of his being, “to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.” (I Corinthians 9:21 NKJV)  Today’s verses are not about changing to be like someone else to win them to Christ.  Instead, they are to help us understand others and see their views and perspectives to better speak to them.  You can speak to an alcoholic about Christ, but only someone who has struggled with alcoholism and been saved can truly relate.  You see?  Sometimes when you cannot relate, you are the messenger, but when you can and truly understand another’s challenges and struggles, it is then, like Jules, you are the message.

God grants us His grace so that we may be of service to others.  Paul clearly understood this as he wrote to the Corinthians.  Jesus did as well when He ordered the Great Commission to the disciples saying, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19) Whether it be by action, deeds, friendship, or other relationship, we owe it to others displaying the love of Christ because Christ so loved us first.  Let us be the personal representatives that He has been for us.  Who can you show Christ’s love and grace to?  How can you be a better representative of Christ to others?  My prayer is that we remember the guidance of Christ, and through tough times, we try real hard to be the shepherd.  Amen.