Mysterious Detours
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Posted:Oct 16, 2014 5:41 am
Last Updated:Oct 16, 2014 5:43 am 18960 Views
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Read: Genesis 12:1-10; 13:1
Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You delivered them.
Psalm 22:4
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 47-49; 1 Thessalonians 4
Before my wife and I embarked on a 400-mile road trip, I set up the GPS with our 's home in Missouri as the destination. As we traveled through Illinois, the GPS instructed us to get off the Interstate, resulting in a detour through the city of Harvey. After the GPS directed us back to
I-80, I was baffled by this mysterious detour. Why were we directed off a perfectly good highway?
Iâll never know the answer. We continued on our way, and we trusted the GPS to get us there and home again.
That got me to thinking about detours in life. We may seem to be traveling on a smooth pathway. Then for some reason, God redirects us into an unfamiliar area. Perhaps it is an illness, or a crisis at work or school, or an unexpected tragedy occurs. We don't understand what God is doing.
Abraham faced a mysterious detour when God told him, Get out of your country, from your family and from your fatherâs house (Gen. 12:1). Surely Abraham must have wondered why God was routing him to the Negev desert. But he trusted God and His good purposes.
A GPS may make mistakes, but we can trust our unfailing God
(Ps. 22:4). He will guide us through all our mysterious detours and lead us where He wants us to go.
We seek Your guidance, Lord, but we understand
that our path won't always be without challenges.
Help us to trust You through the detoursâknowing
that You have our best interests and Your honor at heart.
We don't need to see the way when we stay close to the One who does.
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Seeing Upside Down
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Posted:Oct 15, 2014 4:18 am
Last Updated:Oct 22, 2014 10:04 am 19019 Views
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Read: Matthew 8:1-4; 9:9-12
Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Matthew 9:12
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 45-46; 1 Thessalonians 3
In India I worshiped among leprosy patients. Most of the medical advances in the treatment of leprosy came about as a result of missionary doctors, who were willing to live among patients and risk exposure to the dreaded disease. As a result, churches thrive in most major leprosy centers. In Myanmar I visited homes for AIDS orphans, where Christian volunteers try to replace parental affection the disease has stolen away. The most rousing church services I have attended took place in Chile and Peru, in the bowels of a federal prison. Among the lowly, the wretched, the downtroddenâthe rejected of this world God's kingdom takes root.
Taking God's assignment seriously means that we must learn to look at the world upside down, as Jesus did. Instead of seeking out people with resources who can do us favors, we look for people with few resources. Instead of the strong, we find the weak; instead of the healthy, the sick. Instead of the spiritual, the sinful. Is not this how God reconciles the world to Himself? It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. . . . I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners (Matt. 9:12-13
To gain a new perspective, look at the world upside down as Jesus did.
We know, Jesus, that You sought the lowly ones
who were rejected by others. We want to be like
You. Open our eyes and show us how.
We long to be used by You to bless others.
Do you see a needy world through the eyes of Jesus?
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A Forever Hello
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Posted:Oct 14, 2014 6:51 am
Last Updated:Oct 15, 2014 4:29 am 18751 Views
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Read: 2 Corinthians 4:16,5:8
He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 5:5
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 43-44; 1 Thessalonians 2
After a weeks vacation with her and 4-month-old grandson, Oliver, Kathy had to say goodbye until she could see them again. She wrote to me saying, Sweet reunions like we had make my heart long for heaven. There, we won't have to try to capture memories in our mind. There, we won't have to pray for the time to go slowly and the days to last long. There, our hello will never turn into goodbye. Heaven will be a forever hello, and I can't wait. As a first-time grandma, she wants to be with her grandson Oliver as much as possible! She's thankful for any time she can be with him and for the hope of heaven where the wonderful moments will never end.
Our good days do seem too short, and our difficult days far too long. But both kinds of days cause us to long for even better days ahead. The apostle Paul said that he and the Corinthians longed to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life (2 Cor. 5:4 niv). Although the Lord is with us in this life, we cannot see Him face to face. Now we live by faith, not by sight (v.7).
God made us for the very purpose of being near to Him always (v.5). Heaven will be a forever hello.
Face to face blissful moment!
Face to face to see and know;
Face to face with my Redeemer,
Jesus Christ who loves me so!
Now we see Jesus in the Bible, but then, face to face.
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Timely Words
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Posted:Oct 13, 2014 5:46 am
Last Updated:Oct 13, 2014 5:47 am 18575 Views
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Read: Proverbs 25:11-15
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Proverbs 25:11
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 41-42; 1 Thessalonians 1
You may have heard the adage, Timing is everything. According to the Bible, good timing applies to our words and speech too. Think of a time when God used you to bring a timely word to refresh someone, or when you wanted to speak, but it was wiser for you to remain silent.
The Bible says that there is an appropriate time to speak (Eccl. 3.7 Solomon compared properly timed and well-spoken words with golden apples in a silver setting beautiful, valuable, and carefully crafted
(Prov. 25:11-12). Knowing the right time to speak is beneficial for both the speaker and hearer, whether they are words of love, encouragement, or rebuke. Keeping silent also has its place and time. When tempted to deride, belittle, or slander a neighbor, Solomon said that it is wise to hold our tongue, recognizing the appropriate time for silence (11:12-13). When talkativeness or anger tempts us to sin against God or another human being, resistance comes by being slow to speak (10:19;
James 1:19).
It's often hard to know what to say and when to say it. The Spirit will help us to be discerning. He will help us use the right words at the right time and in the right manner, for the good of others and for His honor.
Heavenly Father, thank You for using others to
speak words of encouragement and challenge to
me. Help me to be wise in how and when my words
or my silence may be helpful to someone else.
Timely words are works of art.
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The Lesson Of The Hula Hoop
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Posted:Oct 10, 2014 6:36 am
Last Updated:Oct 10, 2014 6:36 am 18896 Views
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Read: Mark 6:34-44
Let us not grow weary while doing good. Galatians 6:9
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 34-36; Colossians 2
One of my favorite childhood toys is making a comeback the hula hoop. My friend Suzi and I spent hours on the front lawn perfecting our technique and competing to see which of us could keep a hoop circling our waist longer. This year I relived that part of my childhood. While sitting in a park, I watched as of all ages and sizes tried their hardest to keep hula hoops from falling to the ground. They twisted and turned with all their strength, but despite their exertion the hoops landed on the ground. Then a young woman picked up a hoop. With hardly any motion, she moved it smoothly and rhythmically up and down from her waist to her shoulders and back to her waist. Her success depended on strategic movement, not vigorous motion.
In our spiritual lives, we can expend all kinds of energy trying to keep up with others in service to God. But working to exhaustion is not a virtue (Gal. 6:9). Before feeding thousands of people with only five loaves and two fish (Mark 6:38-44), Jesus called His disciples away to rest, proving that He doesn´t need our frantic exertion to accomplish His work. The truth Jesus taught His disciples, He wants to teach us: Quiet obedience accomplishes more than wild activity.
Help me, Lord, not to compare myself and
what I do with others. May I serve where You
want me to serve and do it in Your strength.
I love You and give myself to You.
Jesus wants willingness, not weariness.
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What Do You Expect?
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Posted:Oct 9, 2014 6:45 am
Last Updated:Oct 9, 2014 6:47 am 18871 Views
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Read: John 16:25-33
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 32-33; Colossians 1
In C. S. Lewis book God in the Dock, he wrote: Imagine a set of people all living in the same building. Half of them think it is a hotel, the other half think it is a prison. Those who think it a hotel might regard it as quite intolerable, and those who thought it was a prison might decide that it was really surprisingly comfortable. Lewis cleverly used this contrast between a hotel and a prison to illustrate how we view life based on our expectations. He says, If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable; think of it as a place of training and correction and it's not so bad.
Sometimes we expect that life should be happy and pain-free. But that is not what the Bible teaches. For the believer, this world is a place of spiritual development through both good times and bad. Jesus was realistic when He explained what to expect in life. He told His disciples, In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the worldâ (John 16:33). In facing life's blessings and bruises, we can have the inner peace that God is orchestrating events according to His sovereign plan.
Christ's presence in our lives enables us to be of good cheer even in the midst of pain.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
In the midst of troubles, peace can be found in Jesus.
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A Faithful Helper
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Posted:Oct 6, 2014 5:49 am
Last Updated:Oct 9, 2014 11:47 am 19064 Views
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Read: Jeremiah 20.7-13
The Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Jeremiah 20:11
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 26-27; Philippians 2
As a young boy, my father had to deliver slop to hungry pigs on the farm where he grew up. He hated this job because the hogs would knock him over when he entered their pen. This task might have been impossible except for a faithful helper who accompanied my dad a German shepherd named Sugarbear. She would maneuver herself between my father and the pigs and hold them back until my dad finished his chore.
The prophet Jeremiah had the difficult job of proclaiming God's messages to the Israelites. This required him to endure physical abuse, verbal attacks, imprisonment, and isolation. Although Jeremiah struggled with deep discouragement, he had a Helper through all of his trouble. God promised him, I am with you . . . to deliver you (Jer. 1:19).
God did not desert Jeremiah, and He will not desert us. We have His continual aid through the power of the Spirit who lives inside every believer (John 14:16-17). The Helper gives us hope (Rom. 15:13), steers us toward spiritual truth (John 16:13), and pours out God's love in our hearts (Rom. 5:5). We can trust that God faithfully helps us as we endure hardship. We can say with Jeremiah, The Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One (Jer. 20:11).
You, God, have been our help forever.
And You are our hope now and into eternity.
We thank You that You will never desert us.
You will be faithful.
Our greatest hope here below is help from God above.
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Filtered Light
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Posted:Oct 3, 2014 1:55 am
Last Updated:Oct 9, 2014 6:51 am 19228 Views
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Read: 2 Corinthians 4:1-12
It is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts.
2 Corinthians 4:6
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 17-19; Ephesians 5:17-33
The painting A Trail of Light by Colorado Springs artist Bob Simpich shows a grove of aspen trees with golden leaves lit by the autumn sun. The topmost leaves are brilliantly illuminated while the ground beneath the trees is a mixture of sunlight and shadows. The painter said of this contrast, I can't resist the light filtered through to the forest floor. It weaves a special magic.
The apostle Paul wrote to the followers of Jesus in Corinth, For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). Paul goes on to describe the reality of life in which we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; . . . perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed (vv.8-9).
There are times when it seems that the light of God's face is dimmed because of our difficulty, sorrow, or loss. Yet, even in these dark shadows, we can see evidence of His presence with us.
If we walk in filtered light today, may we discover anew that God's light Jesus is always shining in our hearts.
Lord, shine the light of Your face on us that we may
find our way to Your salvation. Shine Your light into
the darkness that envelops our world that we may
see who You are and show others the way to You.
In dark circumstances, God's light is still shining in our hearts.
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In The Storm
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Posted:Oct 2, 2014 5:54 am
Last Updated:Oct 2, 2014 4:36 pm 19254 Views
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Read: Mark 4:35-41
[Jesus] said to the sea, âPeace, be still! Mark 4:39
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 14-16; Ephesians 5:1-16
A storm was brewing not just on the horizon but also in a friendâs home. When I was in Hong Kong, she shared, âthe local meteorological service announced that there was a superstorm approaching. But more than the storm that was looming outside my window, there was a storm brewing at home. While my dad was in the hospital, family members were trying to balance their home and work responsibilities while also traveling to and from the hospital. They were so tired that patience was wearing thin, and the situation at home was tense.
Life can feel like a storm tossing us around with winds of misfortune, grief, or stress. Where can we turn? When Jesus disciples were caught in a great windstorm and wondered if He cared, they still knew
where to turn. He demonstrated His power by calming the howling storm (Mark 4:38-39).
But often He does not calm the storm immediately. And, like the disciples, we may feel that He doesn't care. To calm our fears, we can cling to faith in who God is and what He can do. We can take shelter in Him (Ps. 91:1). We can find His help to relate to others with grace. We can rest in an all-powerful, all-wise, and all-loving God. He is with us in the storm and cradles us through the storm.
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or demons or men, or whatever it be
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of the ocean, and earth, and skies.
One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think.
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The Power Of Ritual
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Posted:Oct 1, 2014 7:43 am
Last Updated:Oct 2, 2014 4:36 pm 19075 Views
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Read: 1 Corinthians 11:23-34
Do this in remembrance of Me. 1 Corinthians 11:24
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 11-13; Ephesians 4
When I was growing up, one of the rules in our house was that we weren't allowed to go to bed angry (Eph. 4:26). All our fights and disagreements had to be resolved. The companion to that rule was this bedtime ritual: Mom and Dad would say to my brother and me, Good night. I love you. And we would respond, Good night. I love you too.
The value of this family ritual has recently been impressed on me. As my mother lay in a hospice bed dying of lung cancer, she became less and less responsive. But each night when I left her bedside I would say, I love you, Mom. And though she could say little else, she would respond, I love you too. Growing up I had no idea what a gift this ritual would be to me so many years later.
Time and repetition can rob our rituals of meaning. But some are important reminders of vital spiritual truths. First-century believers misused the practice of the Lord's Supper, but the apostle Paul didn't tell them to stop celebrating it. Instead he told them, As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes
(1 Cor. 11:26).
Rather than give up the ritual, perhaps we need to restore the meaning.
Lord, when we observe the Lord's Supper, help
us avoid the trap of letting our observance
grow routine. May we always be moved with
gratitude for the wonderful gift of ritual.
Any ritual can lose meaning, but that does not make the ritual meaningless.
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