Room And Board
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Posted:Jun 4, 2014 4:36 am
Last Updated:Jun 4, 2014 4:38 am 7760 Views
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Read: John 14:1-11
I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2
Bible in a Year:
2 Chronicles 21-22; John 14
On a recent trip to England, my wife and I visited Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon. The house is more than 400 years old, and it was the childhood and family home of William Shakespeare's wife.
The tour guide drew our attention to a table made with wide boards. One side was used for eating meals and the other for chopping food. In English life, different expressions grew from this usage as the word board became associated with food, housing, honesty, and authority. An inn would offer room and board that is, sleeping and eating accommodations. In taverns where customers played cards, they were told to keep their hands above board to make sure they werent cheating. And in the home, the father was given a special chair at the head of the table where he was called chairman of the board.
As I reflected on this, I thought about how Jesus is our room and board. He is our source of spiritual nourishment (John 6:35,54); He empowers us to live a life of integrity (14:21); He is our loving Master (Phil. 2:11); and He is even now preparing our eternal home. He promised: I go to prepare a place for youâ (John 14:2; see also 14:1-4,23). His grace has provided our everlasting room and board.
Christ meets our needs now and for eternity.
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The View From The End
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Posted:Jun 3, 2014 4:06 am
Last Updated:Jun 3, 2014 4:06 am 7625 Views
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Read: Deuteronomy 8:1-3, 11-16
All things work together for good to those who love God.
âRomans 8:28
Bible in a Year:
2 Chronicles 19-20; John 13:21-38
Over the course of one year, Richard LeMieuxs lucrative publishing business collapsed. Soon, his wealth disappeared, and he became depressed. Eventually, LeMieux began to abuse alcohol and his family deserted him. At the lowest point in his life, he was homeless, broken, and destitute. However, it was during this time that he turned to God. He later wrote a book about what he learned.
The Israelites learned some valuable spiritual lessons when God allowed them to endure homelessness, uncertainty, and danger. Their hardships humbled them (Deut. 8:1-18.
They learned that God would provide for their needs. When they were hungry, He gave them manna. When they were thirsty, He gave them water from a rock. God taught them that, despite difficult times, He could bless them (v.1). Finally, the Israelites learned that adversity is not a sign of abandonment. Moses reminded them that God had been leading throughout their 40 years in the wilderness (v.2).
When we encounter desperate times, we can look for the spiritual lessons embedded in our difficultiesâlessons that can help us rely on the One who causes all things to work together for our good and for His glory (Rom. 8:28.
Dear God, please give me the faith
to believe that You can bring good out of
any situation. Help me to see what You
want to show me during adversity.
The clearest view of everything that happens comes from heaven.
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The Careful Walk
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Posted:Jun 2, 2014 5:11 am
Last Updated:Jun 2, 2014 5:13 am 7678 Views
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Read: Ephesians 5:1-17
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise. Ephesians 5:15
Bible in a Year:
2 Chronicles 17-18; John 13:1-20
One of my favorite places to visit in Jamaica is Ocho Rios, home of Dunns River Falls spectacle that never ceases to amaze. Water cascades down a long series of rocks as it makes its way to the Caribbean Sea. Adventurers can climb the falls, scrambling over rounded rocks on an invigorating trek to the top. The flowing water, the potentially slippery surface, and the steep angles make the going slow and a bit treacherous.
To make it safely to the top, climbers must watch every step. If a person is not careful, he or she could fall on the journey. The keys to a successful climb are concentration and caution.
I can't think of a better picture of what Paul is saying in Ephesians 5:15 when he says, walk circumspectly. We should be very careful . . . how [we] live (niv). Clearly, with all of lifes possible dangers coming our way as we climb through life, it is vital that we take each step with Jesus wisely and cautiously. A fool, the passage says, lives carelessly; a wise person watches each step so he does not stumble or fall.
Our goal of beingâimitators of God (v.1) is met, Paul says, as we walk carefully in love (vv.2,15). Through the Holy Spirit's guidance, we can walk in a way that honors God.
Consistency! How much we need
To walk a measured pace,
To live the life of which we speak,
Until we see Christs face. .
As we trust God to rule our hearts our feet can walk His way.
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Jordyn's Journey
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Posted:May 30, 2014 3:41 am
Last Updated:May 30, 2014 3:44 am 7760 Views
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Read: Philippians 4:10-13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
Bible in a Year:
2 Chronicles 10-12; John 11:30-57
Jordyn Castor was born blind. But this doesn't hold her back from living a full and productive life. The documentary Can You See How I See? tells her story. She excels at school and with a little help she enjoys biking and downhill skiing.
Of her sight, Jordyn says: If I could give my blindness back, I wouldn't do it. I think God made all of us the way we are for a reason . . . and I think my blindness is part of what I am going to do with my life. She is now a university student majoring in computer technology. Her dream is to assist in developing new computer software that will help the blind.
How can Jordyn maintain such a positive outlook on life? As a Christ-follower, she understands that God is in control of the circumstances of life. This gives her confidence to pursue opportunities that others might not have believed possible. Certainly, Jordyn's life illustrates this truth from Philippians: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me 4.13.
No matter what our strengths or weaknesses might be, God's providential hand can give us what we need to make a difference for Him in our world. Rely on His strength to help you as you take a step of faith.
I will strengthen, so take courage,
of God, so weak and frail;
God has said so, and it must be,
For His promise cannot fail!
God's call to a task includes His strength to complete it.
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Quest For Stolen Treasure
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Posted:May 29, 2014 3:33 am
Last Updated:May 29, 2014 3:35 am 7590 Views
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Read: Matthew 4:18-22
[Jesus] said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19
Bible in a Year:
2 Chronicles 7-9; John 11:1-29
In J. R. R. Tolkiens The Hobbit, the dwarfs gathered to go up against Smaug, the fierce dragon, to retrieve their stolen treasure. In spite of the dangerously frightening quest, Balin, the dwarfs second-in-command, expressed confidence in Thorin: There is one I could follow. There is one I could call King. His commitment to the mission, as dangerous as it was, was empowered by his confidence in his leader.
At the beginning of Jesus earthly ministry, He gathered a group around Him that would join Him in the kingdom task of rescuing the treasure of lost souls from our enemy, Satan. When He called them, He said, Follow Me (Matt. 4:19). For them, following Jesus would mean a radical transition from catching fish to the enterprise of being fishers of men and women who were lost in the grip of sin. But the task would not always be easy; Jesus referred to the quest as taking up our cross to follow Him (see Matt. 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23).
How do we stay engaged in the battle to reclaim Christ's lost treasures when it seems intimidating or awkward? By keeping our eye on our Leader. He indeed is worthy One we can follow, the One we call King!
Lord, in the face of intimidation and fear when
seeking to engage others with the gospel, remind
me that they are Your lost treasures. I count it
a privilege to follow You into others lives.
Follow your Leader into the lives of those around you.
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The Crash
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Posted:May 28, 2014 4:05 am
Last Updated:May 28, 2014 4:07 am 7600 Views
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Read: Micah 7:8-9,18-20
He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness. âMicah 7:9
Bible in a Year:
2 Chronicles 4-6; John 10:24-42
For years after the Great Depression, the stock market struggled to win back investorsâ confidence. Then, in 1952, Harry Markowitz suggested that investors spread their stock holdings over several companies and industries. He developed a theory for portfolio selection that helped investors in uncertain times. In 1990, Markowitz and two others won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for their theory.
Like those jittery investors, we followers of Jesus may also find ourselves frozen in fear after a âcrashâ in our personal lives, unsure how to pick up the pieces and move on. We might even spend our remaining lives waiting for a âMarkowitz moment,â when one big idea or action can help us recover from a previous failure.
We forget that Jesus has already done that on our behalf. He covered our shame, and He set us free to fellowship with God and serve Him daily. Because He gave His life, and rose from the dead, when we âfall,â we can âariseâ with Him, for âHe delights in mercyâ
(Micah 7.8,18.
The moment we find Jesus, our eternity with Him begins. He walks alongside us so He can change us into the people we long to be and were created to be.
Father, my actions arenât adequate to fix my
failures. Thank You for doing that through
Your Jesus who gave Himself for us.
Help me to look up and walk with You.
Look up from your failure, and youâll find God standing ready to receive you.
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Blessed Forgetfulness
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Posted:May 27, 2014 9:23 am
Last Updated:May 27, 2014 9:25 am 7569 Views
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Read: John 10:1-10
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved. John 10:9
Bible in a Year:
2 Chronicles 1-3; John 10:1-23
My office is downstairs, but I make frequent trips upstairs to various rooms in my house for one thing or another. Unfortunately, by the time I get upstairs I often forget what I was planning to do when I got there. Researcher Gabriel Radvansky has come up with an explanation for this phenomenon. He proposes that a doorway serves as an event boundary.
After conducting three different experiments, he theorized that a doorway signals the brain that the information held in memory can be filed away but it's frustrating when I'm standing there trying to remember why I came upstairs. However, forgetfulness can be a blessing. When I shut the door to our bedroom at night and settle down to sleep, it's a blessing to forget the worries of the day.
When I think of the fact that Jesus called Himself âthe door
(John 10.7,9, I gain a new appreciation for this metaphor. When sheep enter the pen, they enter a safe place protected from thieves and predators. For believers, the Great Shepherd is the door between us and our enemies. Once we enter the sheepfold, we can forget all dangers and threats. We can enjoy divine forgetfulness and rest in the protection of the Great Shepherd.
Thank You, Father, for the peace of mind
that comes from knowing You are standing
watch over the events of our lives. Help us
to rest securely in Your protection.
Christ is the door that keeps us in and keeps the dangers out.
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A Call Of Comfort
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Posted:May 26, 2014 2:54 am
Last Updated:May 26, 2014 2:57 am 7502 Views
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Read: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3
Bible in a Year:
1 Chronicles 28-29; John 9:24-41
In their book Dear Mrs. Kennedy, Jay Mulvaney and Paul De Angelis note that during the weeks following the assassination of US President John Kennedy, his widow, Jacqueline, received nearly one million letters from people in every part of the world. Some came from heads of state, celebrities, and close friends. Others were sent by ordinary people who addressed them to Madame Kennedy, Washington and Mrs. President, America.â All wrote to express their grief and sympathy for her great loss.
When people suffer and we long to help, it's good to recall Paul's word-picture of âthe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Father of mercies and God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3). Our heavenly Father is the ultimate source of every tender mercy, kind word, and helpful act that brings encouragement and healing. Bible scholar W. E. Vine says that paraklesis the Greek word translated comfort means a calling to one's side. The words comfort and consolation appear repeatedly in today's Bible reading as a reminder that the Lord holds us close and invites us to cling to Him.
As the Lord wraps His loving arms around us, we are able to embrace others with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (v.4).
Father, thank You for letting us share with You
our worries and cares. We're grateful that You
stand beside us to comfort and guide. Help us
to console others as You look out for Your own.
God comforts us so that we can comfort others.
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More Than We Deserve
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Posted:May 23, 2014 4:49 am
Last Updated:May 23, 2014 4:52 am 7380 Views
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Read: Psalm 103:6-18
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.
Psalm 103:10
Bible in a Year:
1 Chronicles 19-21; John 8:1-27
Sometimes when people ask how I'm doing, I reply, Better than I deserve. I remember a well-meaning person responding, Oh no, Joe, you deserve a lot, to which I replied, Not really. I was thinking about what I truly deserve God's judgment.
We easily forget how sinful we are at the core of our being. Thinking of ourselves more highly than we should diminishes our sense of deep indebtedness to God for His grace. It discounts the price He paid to rescue us.
Time for a reality check! As the psalmist reminds us, God has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities (Ps. 103:10). Considering who we are in light of a holy and just God, the only thing we truly deserve is hell. And heaven is an absolute impossibility except for the gift of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. If God never does anything more than redeem us, He has already done far more than we deserve. No wonder the psalmist says, As the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him (v.11).
Knowing ourselves for what we are, we can't help but say, Amazing grace, how sweet the sound! He gives us so much more than we deserve.
Lord, thank You for not dealing with me according
to my sins. I am indebted to You for the love and
grace that You demonstrated on the cross to
purchase my pardon and forgiveness far beyond what I deserve!
If God never does anything more than redeem us, He has already done far more than we deserve.
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Listening
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Posted:May 22, 2014 3:58 am
Last Updated:May 22, 2014 4:00 am 7245 Views
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Read: Job 2:11-13
Oh, that I had one to hear me! âJob 31:35
Bible in a Year:
1 Chronicles 16-18; John 7:28-53
In her book Listening to Others, Joyce Huggett writes about the importance of learning to listen and respond effectively to those in difficult situations. As she relates some of her own experiences of listening to suffering people, she mentions that they often thank her for all she's done for them. On many occasions, she writes, âI have not done anything. I have just listened. I quickly came to the conclusion that just listening was indeed an effective way of helping others.
This was the help Job sought from his friends. While it is true that they sat with him for 7 days in silence, for they saw that his grief was very great (2:13), they didn't listen when Job started talking. Instead, they talked and talked but failed to comfort him (16:2). Oh, that I had one to hear me! Job cried (31:35).
Listening says, What matters to you matters to me. Sometimes people do want advice. But often they just want to be listened to by someone who loves and cares about them.
Listening is hard work, and it takes time. It takes time to listen long enough to hear the other person's true heart, so that if we do speak, we speak with gentle wisdom.
Oh, Lord, give us a loving heart and a listening ear.
I cried, and from His holy hill
He bowed a listening ear;
I called my Father, and my God,
And He subdued my fear.
When I'm thinking about an answer while others are talking I'm not listening.
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