Devotions

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I the LORD, search the heart, and test the mind, even to give every man, according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10, NKJV

 

Sometimes I wonder why God did not stick with His original design and begin life for human beings in the adult years. Adam and Eve did not go through the “early childhood years,” or the dreaded teenage years. Oh, right – that plan did not end well! When I read that the human brain does not fully develop until the years between age twenty-five to thirty, the all too often poor decision making prior to this timeframe makes perfect sense. If only poor decision making had a cutoff date, then only God knows what the world could be like. Our Creator Father knew in the perfect Garden of Eden that when giving humans a choice, He was opening the door to rebellion, and history proves we walked right through it and have been defiant ever since. Choosing rebellion over obedience is part of the natural human sinful condition (Genesis 3).

 

Recently, I have had dreams with a repeated theme—choosing between doing the right thing, versus doing the wrong thing. The circumstances in each dream are different but the premise is always the same, will I make the right choice? In the dream, like a person with multiple personalities, instinctively, I know clearly what to do, but despite clarity, I make the wrong choice. These dreams are stressful. When finally awake, I am so happy knowing it is only a dream…or is it?

 

Gracious Father, how many opportunities do I have throughout each day, when I am fully awake and conscious, where I make bad decisions and poor choices? Do I make excuses for my careless words or unkind thoughts toward others? Do I express my actions to You with evidence of having been wrongly treated, and thereby believing myself justified? Forgive me, Lord! Cleanse me from within, so that both my heart and mind line up with Your desire for making choices wisely. In the name of Jesus, Amen.   

Previously published on Sweet Monday

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33, NKJV.

If you have ever bought something requiring instructions that have need of assembling, then you have no doubt discovered a section with the instructions entitled, “Quick Start.” Frankly, I must be honest and confess that I look first for the shortcut approach, because usually, I do not have the discipline, nor the desire to read through the longer version. Okay, maybe I am a little attention challenged, but I will pray about it…

 

In the meantime, let us consider the scripture reading from the Book of Matthew. Perhaps God had someone like me (or you) in mind when He instructed Matthew to write, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…(emphasis mine)” Many people claim to have read The Bible, who also say, that while it is inspiring, they believe the content to be allegorical and words written by mere flawed men, rather than the inspired infallible Word of God written down by fallible men (2 Timothy 3:16). Two principles are at play here: (1) anyone can read the Bible from cover to cover and still come to the end, missing the simple, yet deeply rooted meaning and purpose of discovering God; or (2) anyone can take the “Quick Start” approach, “Seeking God first,” and trusting Him to make His instructions clear, as one reads and ultimately chooses to study the Bible, knowing God is in the details.

 

Finding God is rooted in the human heart that longs to know God. Jesus Christ, Immanuel, God came into the world to lead the Way to the Father. Everything Jesus did on earth exemplified the love of God; He purposely sought out simple people as His followers, rather than the scholarly. Why? Because God is approachable to all people, who will “seek Him first,” not only to those who are well read. Oh, yes, Jesus also spent a lot of time in the synagogue, trying to reach the teachers of the Law, the Torah, which were the only Scriptures that existed at that time (when I get to heaven one day, I hope to find Nicodemus sitting at the feet of Jesus, read John 3:1-21).

 

After the resurrection, Jesus spent forty days showing Himself to those who sought Him. Friend, will you “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness?” Because if you do, then “all these things shall be added to you.” What are “all these things?” I am so glad you asked! Please read Matthew 6:1-24 for the Complete Instruction Version.

Previously published on Sweet Monday

“So, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12, NKJV.

 

Gone are the “good old days,” when physical calendars were our only resource for keeping track of daily activities. One often had their calendar hanging by a magnet on the refrigerator (ah yes, magnet-ready refrigerator doors are “good old days” gone too!). In those days, each family member was expected to enter upcoming commitments for all to see, so that schedules might run smoothly. Large XX’s appeared in the blocks crossing off past days, no longer applicable except to document historical events. (Promise not to tell anyone, but I still keep a physical calendar because I am such a visual person).

 

According to the introduction of Psalm 90, we are told Moses is the author. We have no idea how Moses or the people of his generation kept track of time and events, but we do know he understood the importance of both. “Teach us to number our days…” is one way of saying, remember your past, “that we may gain a heart of wisdom” and learn from it. After spending forty years in the desert in search of the “Promised Land,” Moses, who was God’s appointed leader of the Israelites experienced the good, bad, and ugly characteristics of humanity, including those of himself. A journey that should have taken only a matter of days to complete turned into a generation of self-identifying whiners, and God-identifying “stiff-necked people” (Exodus 32:9).

 

Through the “magic” of technology, today we have a glimpse into the generation in which we now live. People like posting everything for all to see…what they eat, do, and think in real time. Life, for such people, is often unfiltered and raw. Friend, every new day offers unexplored opportunities for self-identification and God-identification through the characteristics of our human expression. As we number our days and learn from them, I pray, God if You determine our actions be made visible for all the world to see, Lord, let Your life lessons mold and make us into the image of Your Son, Jesus. Give us the kind of wisdom that lets the world see more of Jesus in what we say, do, and think, and less of ourselves. Amen.

 

Previously published on Sweet Monday

John 11:35, NKJV

The scripture verse above is often quoted as “the shortest verse in the Bible;” it is in reference to the story of Lazarus, the dear friend of Jesus. Lazarus, along with his two sisters, Mary and Martha, lived in the town of Bethany. Like family, Jesus would spend time in their home for fellowship, rest, and relaxation. Besides His twelve chosen disciples, Lazarus was Jesus’ closest friend. As John writes the story, by the time Jesus arrives in Bethany, Lazarus is dead and has been in the tomb for four days. Mary and Martha, in deep grief confront Jesus asking why He did not come sooner, believing He could have saved their brother. Weeping, Jesus asked to be taken to the tomb, where the story goes on to reveal the miraculous raising of Lazarus back to life. So, all’s well that ends well, right?

 

How is it that death, so predictable and absolute to the human experience, feels like a gut-punch when it happens? For anyone who has stood at the grave sight of a loved one the answer is obvious…loss, visceral pain so deep in the soul, that taking a single breath in the moment is the most difficult thing to do. I speak from personal experience. When I said goodbye to my husband, my life partner of almost fifty years, I thought I might die too. Richard was my first love at the tender age of sixteen years old. Now, soon to be eleven years since his passing, that “gut-punch” revisits me from time to time as though his death just happened.

 

Much has been speculated about why Jesus wept upon His arrival in Bethany at the death of Lazarus. Jesus was sad knowing His friend had died. Jesus cried at the sadness of Mary, Martha, and the others grieving. Jesus wept because of the lack of faith that He could raise up Lazarus from the grave. For another perspective, let us return to the beautiful Garden of Eden at the beginning of the creation story. In the middle of the garden were two trees that produced fruit for eating; the “Tree of Life,” and the “Tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” “God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may eat; but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die’” (Gen. 2:16-17).

 

At any time, the humans in the garden could have eaten the fruit from the Tree of Life and never experienced death, but they chose to rebel. While death is “predictable and absolute,” death was never God’s desire in His design of creation. The first actual death came by the hand of God when He killed the first animal and “made tunics of skin, and clothed [Adam and his wife]” (Gen. 3:21). The “final death” also by the hand of God was when He clothed Himself in flesh and died on the cross, so that through Jesus Christ and His resurrection, humanity might live.

 

In the Book of Deuteronomy 30:19, God said, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live” (NLT, emphasis mine). Jesus is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” This day, will you make the decision to choose Jesus? To choose life (John 14:6)?

Previously published on Sweet Monday

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12, NKJV

 

Fewer words in the Bible capture my attention more than the word, therefore; as soon as I either read it or hear it, I know I am being challenged to build a bridge of understanding. Without getting too technical, the word, therefore, according to Merriam Webster Dictionary is a conjunctive adverb, meaning, “for that reason,” or “consequently.” Like a finger poking into my chest, I consciously think to myself, pay attention!

 

God’s word is powerful. Unlike human authors and writers, God does not waste a single word with frivolous space fillers, as though He is trying to reach His word count goal for the day. God is thoughtful and deliberate; every word He dictated to the human hand that appears on the pages of the Bible is “God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

 

One of my favorite Bible verses using the word, “therefore” follows:

 

Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witness, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” (Hebrews 12:1, NKJV, emphasis mine).

 

The writers of the Bible did not use chapter and verse when documenting the word of God. So, imagine the apostle Paul has just finished writing (chapter 11) to his readers, reminding them of the remnant of people throughout history who laid the foundation of faith by trusting in God; however, not even one of them lived to see their faith come to fruition through the coming of the Messiah. In essence, Paul is saying, so if these faithful few died believing, though not seeing, you who live and having seen should feel empowered by living in the shadow of such good company.

 

The next time you see the word “therefore” in the Bible, take the time to review the precept that precedes it; therefore, you will have a complete and perhaps deeper understanding of God’s message.

Previously published on Sweet Monday

“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33, NKJV

 

“To be or not to be, that is the question…” William Shakespeare.

 

Pretty deep, huh? Although I barely squeaked by with a B in philosophy, I love this stuff! Don’t ask me why, because I’m not really sure. However, God designed me, from my earliest days of consciousness with a mind that is fascinated with thoughts that require more than a passing glance to understand. Recently, I subscribed to a group online who discusses such thoughts and philosophical terminologies, out of sheer curiosity. As you might imagine, some participants in the group dive deeply into the realm of mind consciousness that is, well, way over my head (wait, “dive deeply” and “over my head” don’t sound compatible…). Now I know why I only garnered a B in my philosophy class.

 

How happy am I, that the Author of all knowledge and deep things of the human mind has given humanity His word, the Bible, translated for even the least learned among us to understand and apply. The following scripture is from 1 Corinthians 1:27, written by the apostle Paul to the church in Corinth. Apparently, the church was divided into factions, each claiming greater wisdom and understanding depending on which teacher they followed: “Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ’” (1 Cor. 1:12, NKJV). In the 21st century, the church is still divided, perhaps more so than ever. The various Christian denominations have been shaken up, some landing on one side or the other of the cultural philosophies divide, while others are simply straddling the fence. What in the world is going on? The answer is not as difficult as it may seem. Going against the culture has never been easy or popular, and who wants to be “that group” who gets targeted as “insensitive,” or “unloving” toward the cultural differences the Bible calls, “sins?” So, what are we as Christians to do?

 

Jesus is the perfect example. When God put on flesh and lived among us, He demonstrated beautifully how to address humankinds’ sinful condition. To the haughty self-righteous, He pointed out their hypocrisy; to the labeled “misfits and sinners,” He showed compassion and the pathway to redemption; to those who chose to follow Him, Jesus reflected the words of Isaiah, “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21, ESV). With Jesus, there was no fence straddling or capitulation; there was no confusion in the message, for anyone and everyone could understand “the Way.”

 

My dear friend, you do not need a degree in philosophy, or a seminary degree to understand the ways of God. His desire is not to confuse us, rather to guide us with clarity by His Word. If you come to the proverbial fork in the road of the cultural divide, listen carefully to the “word behind you” which has not changed and never will change with the cultural currents, “This is the way, walk in it.”

Previously published on Sweet Monday

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8, NKJV

The last few days, my family and I have had the opportunity to spend time in a warm climate, leaving behind the chilly days of winter at least for a brief time. My grandchildren are older and spread across the United States in different colleges, so these are cherished moments, especially for me; moments I never take for granted.

One of my favorite hymns is In the Garden by Charles Austin Miles.The lyrics tell the story of God leisurely walking with one of his children in a beautiful setting. God is attentive, not out of duty, but out of love. He is not distracted, in a hurry, or looking at his phone to see who else might be on social media. God is fully invested in the moment.

As much as I love my family and long to be with them whenever possible, my heavenly Father wants even more to spend time with me because I am one of His children. The good news is that God is never too busy to find time for any of His children. Would you invite God to stroll with you today in the beauty of His creation? Tell Him what is on your mind and heart. Winter, spring, summer, or fall He is waiting.

Previously published on Sweet Monday

“Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool.” Isaiah 66:1, NKJV

A few years ago, I had the wonderful occasion to watch a documentary about the Hubble telescope. If you have never seen the images captured from space as depicted with this amazing telescope, you must do so without delay. Looking beyond the earth’s atmosphere into the vastness of outer space, one can only feel so small and insignificant. The beauty and placement of every planet and star is awe-inspiring. Distances in space need to be measured in light years. According to Google, one light-year equals about 5.88 trillion miles. WOW! My brain has a hard time trying to grasp such information. Perhaps even more perplexing in my brain is the reality that God, the Creator of all things both seen, and unseen has written in His Word, “Even the very hairs on your head are all numbered” (Luke 12:7). What?

If you find the absolute greatness of God mindboggling, you are not alone. On one hand, God envelopes everything on the largest scale, yet He directs the smallest organisms as seen through the most powerful microscope. Admittedly, I am no expert in either science or math, however, I do understand enough to worship my heavenly Father, who knows me better than I know myself; this truth is both awesome and scary at the same time.

When God created humankind, He knew that at the height of our intelligence we would still be limited in taking hold of who and what He is and always has been. No unit of measurement can calculate His size; no AI programming can surpass His intelligence; and nothing can escape His knowledge of what has been or ever will be. When identifying Himself to Moses, God simply said, “I am that I am” (Exodus 3:14).

If something in this writing about the characteristics of who God is has not touched your senses, let me leave you with this thought: The “I am that I am” delivered Himself into the world He created, as one of the most vulnerable among us, a baby. He became one of us. Why? The most obvious answer is because He loves us.

Previously published on Sweet Monday