Monday, July 31, 2017

"Mad at God" July 31 Readings: Job 11-12, Acts 23:12–35, Psalm 89:21–27, Proverbs 19:5–6



Today's Readings - Job 11-12, Acts 23:12–35, Psalm 89:21–27, Proverbs 19:5–6

(Fair Warning - this is more of a short sermon than a "devotional" - but I feel it's important)

Devotional 



Have you ever been mad at God?

Of course, you were raised in the church and you know better to call it that, right? You are discouraged, depressed, down-hearted, disappointed - and probably several other words that start with d! Life hasn't gone the way you want and you feel you've gotten a raw deal. You may take in out on your spouse and kids, or on the guy who cuts you off in traffic.

But at the root of it, the person you are angry at is God. You thought if you gave your life to him he would come through in ways he hasn't. You thought he would provide things he hasn't provide, deliver in ways he hasn't delivered, protect you from things he hasn't protected you from.

I've gone through times in my life when I was mad at God - deep in my heart. I might not have admitted it to myself, but that is where I was. Angry. Upset. Hurt. Why, God?

I remember a time during my previous pastorate when I was invited to a "party" at the church. I was in a deep funk and didn't want to be around anyway. I wanted to stay home, but had to go. When I did I sequestered myself in my office because I didn't want to be around anyone else. All my expectations at that church had come crashing down around me. After a time of genuine revival and renewal, there was one crisis after another arising - out of nowhere. At one point I counted 8 major problems that had arisen within the congregation and I couldn't understand it. I felt like God had let me down.

At that moment, though, I didn't realize that was what I was feeling. I was blue and I hated life! So, I hid in my office. There was a knock on the door and all the young couples came inside. I found out that this was not just a party, it was a "Pastor Appreciation" party. I felt stupid!

Job knew what it was like to blame God for the bad times in his life. As his three "friends" dropped the hammer on him, as they blamed him and said that his problems were his own fault, God's punishment for his sin, Job began to lose hope and lose perspective. He was growing angry at God. There were two things that Job knew.

1) He knew that God was in control and that what was happening to him was not outside of God's sovereign work.
Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?  Job 12:9

Though Satan was the agent of the destruction, God permitted the suffering for his own reasons and never shirked responsibility. We ought never assume when we suffer that somehow Satan did an end-run around the plan of God. Job did well to remember that God is in charge in this world. 

2) What he had forgotten was the goodness of God!

He had lost sight of the fact that the sovereign God is also the good God. 
Whatever he tears down cannot be rebuilt;
whoever he imprisons cannot be released.
When he withholds water, everything dries up,
and when he releases it, it destroys the land. Job 12:14-15
The God he had joyfully worshiped is now a God who "tears down" and "imprisons." He works to dry up a man's life - to "withhold." He no longer believes that God has his best interests at heart. Read verses 16-25. It is not that these verses are inherently untrue - God does at times bring down the haughty and arrogant. But the problem here is that Job now views God as a capricious and cruel God who is messing with him for entertainment. 

Life makes it hard to hold on to both of these truths. God is God and God is good. He is the sovereign ruler of this world and he is a good God. There are many times when my life gives no evidence of that goodness. When Job's life lost evidence of God's goodness he stopped believing in it. We must hold on to this belief by faith when we cannot know it by sight. 

When there is little evidence in my life of the relentless goodness of God, when I cannot see how this impossible situation can work out, when I do not understand how God can bring his glory and my good from this tragedy, when I'm losing hope and out of joy - that is when I need to hold on to the hope of Jesus by faith. I need to believe the Bible and what it says. I need to hold on to the truth that God will reveal himself in time!

A year and a half ago, I was angry and feeling abandoned by God (again - you think I'd learn). The details are not important here, but it had to do with a real estate deal that went south. Why was God angry at me? Why was he punishing me? Why? In a month, my granddaughter  (and her parents) will move into that home and will grow up there. God had a plan all along, one I could not see. All the things I thought were God's punishment were his rod and staff guiding me! He is a good shepherd. My job is to stop being such a difficult sheep!



Father, next time, help me to trust you and remember that you are good, even when I cannot see it!

Think and Pray


Sunday, July 30, 2017

"A Theology of Despair" July 30 Readings: Job 9-10, Acts 22:22–23:11, Psalm 89:14–20, Proverbs 19:3–4



Today's Readings - Job 9-10, Acts 22:22–23:11, Psalm 89:14–20, Proverbs 19:3–4


Devotional 


Job 9 is the beginning of a turn for Job in his verbal sparring with his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. At first, he had been too overwhelmed with grief to say anything and for seven days they sat in silence with him. Then, Job spoke, crying out to God in anguish, confusion and grief. Instead of simply expressing sympathy and compassion, his friends took the training wheels off their theologies and tried to straighten him out. Theology is great, but bad theology is one of the most destructive forces on earth! The gist of their view is that God is a righteous God and if all these things happened to him, it must be his fault. Repent and God will forgive you, Job, they have said, and will say time and again.

In chapter 9, Job begins to react negatively to their views and fight back. Each time he speaks, each time he responds to their judgment, he gets a little more strident, a little more angry, a little more confused - despair begins to overwhelm him. Chapter 9 gives several hints of the pain he is going through and what he is feeling as a result of his friends' words. Instead of leading him into the arms of a loving God, they added to his suffering.

Let us examine some of what Job was thinking and feeling in his despair. His circumstances (not to mention his friends' bad advice) were leading him to believe that life was unfair

First, he had begun to believe that there was no justice in the world. His friends said that God was just and so there must have been sin in his life that caused his problems. Job knew that he, while not perfect, had committed no sins so extreme that these terrible things were justified.
Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him;
    I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.  Job 9:15
I may be in the right, but God is not interested in giving me justice! I can beg for mercy, but God isn't going to listen to my appeal, to my case. 

Second, Job was starting to believe that God was distant, unfeeling and unconcerned with his plight. 
If I summoned him and he answered me,
    I would not believe that he was listening to my voice. Job 9:16
Why bother? God's not going to listen to me. I'm small and insignificant; why would he bother to take the time to hear my cries? Job knew that God was sovereign and that God was holy, but he seemed to be unaware that God was also imminent, a God who revealed himself and entered into relationship with us. 

Next, Job was actually beginning to believe that God was cruel, angry, capricious and punitive. 
For he crushes me with a tempest
    and multiplies my wounds without cause;
he will not let me get my breath,
    but fills me with bitterness. Job 9:17-18
His view of God was warped - God was a heavenly bully who seemed to enjoy pushing Job around, battering him and multiplying his wounds; relentless in his bitter wrath. Christian, God is not mad at you. He loves you; he is working to bring his best into your life. Even non-believers are recipients of God's mercy here in this world. Yes, this sinful world can be tragic and God does sometimes break in with judgment. But when you begin to see God's wrath and anger as his primary characteristics, you are not understanding the God of heaven. 

When your view of God is that warped, it is not surprising that despair and meaninglessness seem to take over. 
I am blameless; I regard not myself;
    I loathe my life.
It is all one; therefore I say,
    ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
When disaster brings sudden death,
    he mocks at the calamity of the innocent. Job 9:21-23
Can you hear the hopelessness in his tone? I don't care about my own life! You even see self-destructive ideas creeping in - I renounce my life. "It is all the same," he says. There's no point in any of it. No point in doing good, in obeying God, in living for him. All this can still come crashing down on you. It's just not worth it. God doesn't care. Despair drips from his words.

It is natural for people to go through feelings like this in the middle of suffering. That natural response is made worse when people like Job's friends come along, attempting to force their twisted views of God on those who are hurting.

Our God is both holy and loving. Today, many have forgotten his holiness and think his love is permissive and without standards - as if God encourages us just to do whatever we feel like doing. But in the middle of suffering, sometimes we begin to forget the love of God entirely and believe that God is angry and cruel. He is not. Everything he does, all that he allows to happen to us is part of his purposes to glorify himself, redeem a people and transform them to be like Christ. God is love and God is good.

Don't let your circumstances lie to you. Don't believe the whispers that you hear from the happenings and events of the world. The truth is that God loves you, even when you can't understand him, even when events seem to indicate that perhaps he does not. God is there and will never leave you.

Don't believe anything else!

Father, thank you for your faithful love, so faithful that it is still real and powerful even when I forget about it. 

Think and Pray


Do you ever forget the goodness of God and allow your mind to stray to falsehood? 
What false ideas about God sometimes capture your mind? 
Do you find yourself falling into the trap of believing that God's love for you is seen in the circumstances of your life? If God loves you, things will go well. If things go wrong, he must be mad? Reflect on how the book of Job gives the lie to that theology. 

Saturday, July 29, 2017

"A Confusing God" July 29 Readings: Job 7-8, Acts 21:37–22:21, Psalm 89:7–13, Proverbs 19:1-2



Today's Readings - Job 7-8, Acts 21:37–22:21, Psalm 89:7–13, Proverbs 19:1-2


Devotional 


What did Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar do that was so wrong?

At the end of the book of Job, after God has broken in and ministered to Job, after he has restored Job and strengthened his soul, he turned his attention to the friends. They came under his withering judgment. But why? What did they do that was so wrong?

In Job 8 we hear from the second of Job's friends, Bildad the Blowhard. Educated Eliphaz has already given his analysis of things and the rantings of Zealous Zophar will follow in later chapters. But in this chapter we see in Bildad some of the root problems of the friends response.

At the root of the problem is this simple issue. In the early days of a tragedy, when someone is dealing with deep pain and agony, even good theology is often not of great help. But the kind of weak theology that Bildad and the others were operating under was of no help at all. When someone is suffering, it is not our duty to explain all of God's workings - because we can't. It is our job to remind the hurting of what we know is true. God is good even if we can't see it. We can trust him even when we don't understand his workings.

That is the ultimate sin of the friends. They acted as though they had God figured out, as if every action of God could be categorized and explained. God's workings in this world are often beyond our understanding and explanation. Bildad had a simple theology. If you do bad things, bad things happen to you. If you do good, good things happen. So, the bad that happened to Job must have been evidence of his own sin. He had it all figured out. And his pushed his false view of the world on Job. That drove Job to despair.

Here's the truth. This world is messed up. Badly. In this messed up world, messed up things happen - even to good people. Godly men and women get sick, get in accidents, suffer tragedies. People sometimes do terrible things to good people, to people who love and serve Jesus. Having a relationship with God does not shield us from hardship or tragedy.

The three friends failed to understand that Job was not abandoned by God, under God's judgment, but that he was still under the mighty hand of God. Though terrible things had happened to him, God was still at work to accomplish his wonderful plan in his life. Job couldn't understand it and neither could his friends, but God was still at work.

Bildad erred by thinking that he could force God to act within the boundaries of his theology or that he could explain every action of God according to his own understanding. Our job is not to always understand, but to trust the sovereign God we often do not understand. Eventually, Job learned that lesson and came to trust the God of heaven.

Father, may I trust you even when I am confused, even when I do not understand. 

Think and Pray


Do you ever find yourself trying to explain God or give simple solutions to complex situations? That is usually dangerous. 
Reflect on the truth that God is not always to be understood, but loved and trusted!

Friday, July 28, 2017

"When You Do Right and It Goes Wrong" July 28 Readings: Job 5-6, Acts 21:17–36, Psalm 89:1–6, Proverbs 18:21–24



Today's Readings - Job 5-6, Acts 21:17–36, Psalm 89:1–6, Proverbs 18:21–24


Devotional 

Paul's ministry changed the church - entirely, in every way. It began when God sent Peter to Cornelius, but things really got going when God tabbed Barnabas and Saul and sent them off on their missionary quest. A funny thing happened - Gentiles got saved. A lot of them. In fact, by the time that Paul returned to Jerusalem in Acts 21 to meet with the remaining apostles, the church beyond the borders of ancient Israel was a majority Gentile body.

And there were a lot of folks back in Jerusalem who didn't like it one bit. After Paul recounted the glorious things that God was doing among the Gentiles, James and the other leaders rejoiced, according to verse 20. They were glad, but they were also nervous because the gospel was spreading rapidly among the Jews in the homeland. Unfortunately, among these Jewish converts, there was still a loyalty to the old ways, to the Jewish traditions, and there were stories circulating about Paul's ministry.
You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. Acts 21:20-21
I don't know how to process this here. I hope that James tried to confront the lies that were being told about Paul, but one wonders if he had some reservations about Paul's ministry, if the council of Acts 15 had resolved all the issues related to the Jewish nature of the church. But James had a suggestion for Paul. There were four men going to the temple to finish a vow. Paul could go with them and demonstrate that his loyalty to Judaism was still strong and that the rumors  that were coming back from Paul's enemies were false.
Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow;  take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.
So Paul did exactly that. Though he had done nothing wrong and was proclaiming the true gospel to all men and women, Paul submitted himself to James' desires and in an effort to make peace he went to the temple as he was asked. 

And it all worked out great. Everyone joined hands, had a giant group hug and sang "Kumbaya" together. Right? 

Actually, no. The opposite happened. Verses 27-36 tell us about this turning point in Paul's life. Some of his enemies from his travels in Asia (Asia Minor, likely in Ephesus) recognized him and stirred up the crowd against him with lies. He was arrested and if the soldiers had not intervened, he might well have lost his life. 

Paul tried to do the right thing and everything went wrong! It can happen folks. In fact, whoever said that doing the right thing was a guarantee that everything would work out and that everything would go well for you evidently didn't have a Bible! God's holy and perfect Word is full of stories of people who did the right thing for the right reasons and everything went wrong. That's life in this wicked world. 

But God was still in charge and even this evil led to the furtherance of the work of the gospel. You cannot judge the rightness of your work by how well things work out in the world. That's not how God judges. He looks for obedience and faithfulness. There's no guaranteed outcome - in this world. You may, like Paul, suffer hardship. But God is faithful and will continue to use you even in the most difficult of circumstances. 

Father, you are great. Help me to faithful and obedient whatever the outcome. 

Think and Pray


Do you labor under that idea that when you serve God and walk in him that everything will go well and will work out?


Remember that God is calling us to service not to success. Are you willing to suffer for Christ? Are you willing to obey even if others oppose you, if some persecute you?

Thursday, July 27, 2017

"What to Say?" July 27 Readings: Job 3-4, Acts 21:1–16, Psalm 88:11–18, Proverbs 18:19–20



Today's Readings - 


Devotional 


I stared at him like he was an alien, with horror and embarrassment. We were looking at old pics of our high schools days and I saw one with someone I didn't recognize. "Who is that?" I asked. "That's my brother," he responded. His brother, during his college years, had become despondent and committed suicide. What should I say? How should I respond? I didn't know. I panicked. I said nothing as the awkward moment passed. I'd love to go back to those days, with what I know now, and offer my friend a word of encouragement.

You might have had a moment like that, when you did not know what to say to minister to someone in a time of grief and pain. There is a lot to learn from Job's friends, both positive and negative, about situations like that.

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, performed one of the most amazing acts of friendship anyone has ever seen. When they came to comfort their friend Job, after he had lost his wealth, his home and his children in horrible accidents, they sat with him in silence for seven days. They simply sat there and let him know that they cared and that they were there to help him.

They communicated to Job, by their presence and their silence, the two most important messages hurting and grieving people need to hear.
  • I care about you. 
  • I am here for you. I'm going to be here for you. 
Had Job ended with chapter 2, these men would have gone down as three of the greatest men who ever lived. But everything changed in chapter 3 when Job began to cry out and express his grief, depression, and despair. Look at Job 3:3-5.
“Let the day perish on which I was born,
    and the night that said,
    ‘A man is conceived.’
Let that day be darkness!
    May God above not seek it,
    nor light shine upon it.
Let gloom and deep darkness claim it.
    Let clouds dwell upon it;
    let the blackness of the day terrify it..

That's when the trouble started. They lost their chance to go down in history as some of the greatest men who ever lived when they opened their mouths. Instead of supporting their friend, they wheeled out their faulty theology and tried to force Job's situation into its parameters. They tried to explain everything God was doing, fit everything neatly into their cliched spiritual box and by doing so, drove Job to anger and even to sin.

All the troubles that Job went through could not cause him to sin. He faced the loss of his wealth and his family with faith and dependence on God. But when his friends tried to force their false and simplistic theology on them, it did what Satan's machinations could not.

In chapter 4, we are introduced to Educated Eliphaz who acted like God's professor, explaining everything God did based on his outlook. Next, we will meet Bildad the Blowhard and Zealous Zophar. Each has a different view but they all say the same thing - it's your fault, Job. Your sin brought this on and you need to repent.

If only they'd kept their mouths shut!

When someone is suffering, you don't need to try to do the Holy Spirit's job. You cannot explain all of the activity of the sovereign God. But you can communicate two messages to them by your words and your deeds.
  • God loves you and is not going to abandon you no matter how things look. Trust God even when you don't understand him. 
  • I love you and I'm not going anywhere!
Just don't be like Job's friends, who smugly thought they knew everything and that they could explain all of God's workings to a hurting man.

Father, I trust you even when I can't understand you. Help me to be a friend to those in need, not like Job's friends, but a true friend!

Think and Pray

Have you had one of those moments when you didn't know what to say?
Think through those types of scenarios and what you should and shouldn't say.





Wednesday, July 26, 2017

"Finish Well" July 26 Readings: Job 1-2, Acts 20, Psalm 88:4–10, Proverbs 18:16–18



Today's Readings - Job 1-2, Acts 20, Psalm 88:4–10, Proverbs 18:16–18


Devotional 

I have competed in sports all of my life, but there is nothing like the thrill of crossing the finish line of a marathon. I've finished dead last in a marathon. Absolutely true. Both words. I was last and I was nearly dead. I did one a few years back in the desert mountains of White Sands, NM, that took me over 11 hours. But crossing the line makes all the pain, all the suffering, all the hard work worth it. There is nothing like finishing a marathon. The thrill of victory and the agony of de-feet.

But I've also given up, quit. One time, 22 miles into a marathon, with only 4 miles to go, I gave up and wimped out - and I've regretted it ever since. Had I walked I would have probably had my best time ever, but I quit and I still regret it.

Paul was very concerned about finishing the race God had set before him. In Acts 20:24, he foreshadows his declarations in 2 Timothy 4, saying to the elders of Ephesus,
But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.
His life was not about himself, but about running the race to the very end and completing the ministry God had laid before him. We remember what he said in 2 Timothy 4, that he actually did finish the race and keep the faith and that he expected a reward, a crown, when his life ended (as it was about to). 

As we read the stories of Israel's kings, we see so many who started well, with great promise and wonderful potential, but they fell into sin and squandered the opportunity God had given them. Paul did not want to be a failure but was determined, even at the point of death, to finish the race. If it meant suffering, or ostracism, or rejection, or hatred, or martyrdom, he would devote himself to living for and testifying to the grace of Christ to the very end. 

Life can be hard but Jesus is worth it.
Father, help me to finish well the race you have set before me. 

Think and Pray


Are you feeling like giving up?
Ask God for the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other, to continue in Christ.
Never give up!

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

"In the Darkness" July 25 Readings: Esther 9-10, Acts 19:21–41, Psalm 88:1–3, Proverbs 18:14–15



Today's Readings - Esther 9-10, Acts 19:21–41, Psalm 88:1–3, Proverbs 18:14–15


Devotional 


The secret we pastors talk about with one another but seldom share with our people is how often we struggle with discouragement, despair, and even depression - being trapped in the "dark night of the soul." Marty Duren uses Winston Churchill's descriptive phrase and speaks of "when the black dog howls." Leaders and preachers are not the only ones who suffer this. We all do - those times when the whole world seems to be crashing down around you, when nothing makes sense, when the joy of life is gone. There are few who do not walk through that valley from time to time.

Unfortunately, the church is too often no refuge during these dark nights. Voices tell us that if we just loved God, read the Bible, understood the gospel, or were more like them, our gloom would lift and all would be peaches and cream. There is enormous pressure in the fellowship of the saints to put on a happy face, deny your pain, and act the part of the joyous saint at all times, or feel condemnation.

So what ought we to do when the black dog howls? To whom do you turn? How do you find the strength to go through the valley and find solid footing on the other side?

Of course, the easy answer for anyone who believes in Christ is, well, Christ. It is by finding refuge in the harbor of our Savior's love that we find solace, comfort, strength, and hope when the lights have gone out all around us. That is truth, not a cliche. Jesus is the answer. In my darkest moments, it is the "Light of the World" who has been the light of my soul. What people forget is that turning to Christ is often not an instantaneous fix but a process of persistence, holding on when you feel like giving up.

But there is more to it than that. In Proverbs 18:14, there is a tidbit of wisdom that we need to remember, that I must remember.
A person’s spirit can endure sickness,
but who can survive a broken spirit?

"A person's spirit will endure sickness."  What is Solomon telling us? Human beings have a remarkable ability to endure hardship and trial. I remember visiting a lady yesterday whose life span was measured in days, but her spirit was strong. How? She knew the Lord, of course, but there was something else. She had a husband beside her who loved her and had walked with her every step of the way through this terrible illness.

It is when our spirit is crushed that we lose our ability to hold up. I think of the times my spirit has been crushed, when I've walked through the "valley of the shadow of death" and there is one common denominator. In addition to often failing to seek the comfort and strength of Christ as I should, I've felt alone. Isolated. I'm on an island all by myself! You know what I mean, right?

Every one of us is going to walk the valley, to come to that moment of the dark night of the soul when everything is wrong and life hurts. That's a given. When that happens, first and foremost we need to seek the Savior, the One who gave himself for us on the cross, who loves us with an infinite and everlasting love.

But we also need each other. We need to be encouraged. When I feel like there is someone walking with me on the road, my spirit is not crushed. I am strengthened both by the work of Christ and by the fellowship of the saints.

So, here's our lesson for the day. If I need that, I need to be that! I need to be an encourager, a helper, a strengthener! I need to turn people toward Christ, but I also need to be a shoulder people can lean on and cry on when they need. I must be the agent of Christ to comfort those in need.
What I need when I am hurting I need to be to those who hurt today!
What does "encourage" mean? Simply, it means to put courage into someone's life, to help them and give them strength! In this hurting, horrible, harsh world, let us be encouragers, let us be spirit-lifters, courage-givers, those who help the hurting find hope!
Father, may I be a man of encouragement and grace, who seeks to lift the spirits of those around me. May people find courage to face life because of what you are doing in and through me. 

Think and Pray


Have you heard the howling of the black dog? How did God bring you through that? Was there a person or persons who helped you through it?
Commit yourself to being an encouragement to the weak, one who lifts up those who have fallenand helps discouraged.





Monday, July 24, 2017

"Our Mighty God" July 24 Readings: Esther 7-8, Acts 19:1–20, Psalm 87, Proverbs 18:11–13



Today's Readings - Esther 7-8, Acts 19:1–20, Psalm 87, Proverbs 18:11–13 


Devotional 


Having recovered from his humiliation when he was forced to parade Mordecai around the city in honor, Haman's spirits were lifted by his invitation to again dine with the king and Queen Esther. By himself. How many people get invited to an intimate dinner party with those two? His ego was strengthening after the severe blow it had just taken.

He sat through the dinner, enjoying the food and the wine, until at the end the king once again asked Esther to tell him what she wanted as a reward for the excellent repast (and his general regard for her). "Whatever you seek, even half the kingdom, will be done." He was jovial and generous.

But her request was different. It was not for power, prestige or possessions. It was for the protection of her people from one who was attacking them. Esther 7:3-4 records her plea.
“If I have found favor in your eyes, Your Majesty, and if the king is pleased, spare my life; this is my request. And spare my people; this is my desire. 4 For my people and I have been sold to destruction, death, and extermination. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept silent. Indeed, the trouble wouldn’t be worth burdening the king.”

Now the king was incensed. Who was this scoundrel who was seeking the destruction of his beloved queen and her people? Who dared to do such a thing? You can almost imagine Esther turning, pointing her finger and saying, in verse 6,
"The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman."
Suddenly, all of Haman's plots and schemes came crashing down on his own head. He had not secured the destruction of God's people, but he had placed his own life in jeopardy. Esther was a Jew. Who knew? And now he was in big trouble.

The king left the room to cool down and Haman fell at the feet of the queen to beg from her the forgiveness and mercy he had planned to withhold from all Jewish people. But he stumbled and fell upon the queen as she reclined at the table. The king walked in and saw him, assuming that he was trying to molest the queen. That was pretty much it for Haman.

In a divinely-ordained irony, he was hanged on the gallows he had constructed for Mordecai's execution. And the Jews were protected by a royal decree from the attacks Haman planned. And Esther was given ownership of all of Haman's property. And Mordecai was given Haman's ring and place as a trusted adviser.

The lesson is pretty clear.
Don't mess with God's people
God loves his people and will act to protect them when they are doing his work. That does not mean that we will never suffer harm - sometimes God allows our suffering for his purposes. But it does mean that those who come against the people of God come against God himself, and that is not a wise choice. Ever. Child of God, know that you are never abandoned by God and that as you serve him, he will be your rock, your fortress, your deliverer, your protector - your mighty God.

Father, thank you for the certainty I have that you will not abandon me and that you will work in your power when this world comes against me. 

Think and Pray


Are you trusting God?
Remember that he is more powerful than your enemies, than those who would harm you.

Sunday, July 23, 2017

"Sovereign Unseen" July 23 Readings: Esther 5-6, Acts 18:18–28, Psalm 86:9–17, Proverbs 18:9–10



Today's Readings - Esther 5-6, Acts 18:18–28, Psalm 86:9–17, Proverbs 18:9–10


Devotional 


Esther is a strange book. It recounts some strange behavior from Esther and Mordecai; actions hard to square with the Law of God. But the oddest thing is that from the first verse to the last God's name is not mentioned a single time. How strange that a book of the Bible, inspired by God, free from error, should fail to even once mention the God who is over all.

But though God is not mentioned in the book, he is certainly present in it. He is working behind the scenes, in the background, accomplishing his purposes and protecting his Chosen People from yet another genocidal maniac. The sovereign God of the universe may be unseen and unmentioned in this book, but he is ever-present.

Chapter 6 is one of the funniest stories in the Bible. Haman hated Mordecai so much that he went off the rails and schemed to destroy all the Jews in the kingdom. He devised a plot and suckered the king into signing off on it. But in the meantime, while God was at work behind the scenes to protect Israel from destruction, he also was working to bring the haughty and hateful Haman down a few pegs.

The king had a sleepless night and took to reading the chronicles of days gone by - a sort of stroll down memory lane. He came upon a story of a plot against him that was foiled by Mordecai, who informed palace officials of the plan. The assassination attempt failed, the traitors were hanged, and life went on. The king asked his attendants if anything had been done to honor Mordecai for saving his life, and they told him no. So, the king determined to right this wrong and honor his savior.

He approached Haman, his top adviser, the next day and asked him how he should go about giving a proper fete for someone he desired to honor. Haman immediately assumed that the king was going to honor him - enamored of his own greatness, he could not imagine the king had anyone but Haman on his mind - so he came up with a plan, recorded in Esther 6:8-9.
"Let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set. And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’”

He could hardly wait for the parade to start, probably already daydreaming of the glory he would feel as he was paraded through the city square with people cheering him. But then, the king spoke words that cut deep into Haman's heart. Look at verse 10.
“Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.”

Be honest. Wouldn't you love to see a recording of the look on Haman's face as the king said that. The man he hated most in the world would be honored with the parade he had designed for himself. Not only that, Haman was tasked with leading him through the streets and bestowing this honor. It was the worst day of his life (up until in his effort to get revenge on Mordecai he brought about his own death - but that story comes later).

Bad luck, eh? No. No. No. This is not a world of coincidence and luck. It is a world run by a sovereign king. Sometimes his work is clear and plain - manifest for all to see. Sometimes, he is the sovereign unseen who works behind the scenes to accomplish his purposes, protect his people, punish his enemies, and glorify himself.

You may not always see God's work, but he is at work. You may not always understand God's plan, but he has one. You may not always hear God's voice, but he is speaking and working and acting and guiding. Just because he is sometimes unseen does not change the fact that he is the sovereign over all.

Father, I thank you for those times your work is clear and plain. But I also know there are times when your hand is unseen and your plan is unclear. Help me to trust you, serve you and obey you whether everything is clear and plain or there is fog and clouds block the light. 

 Think and Pray


Do you find yourself, at times, wondering if God has forgotten your number?
Remember that even when God's work cannot be seen, even when he is silent, his plans and purposes are being worked out and his sovereign hand is in control.
Thank him by faith even if (especially if) you cannot thank him by sight.

Saturday, July 22, 2017

"In a Dark Hour" July 22 Readings: Esther 3-4, Acts 18:1–17, Psalm 86:1–8, Proverbs 18:6–8



Today's Readings - Esther 3-4, Acts 18:1–17, Psalm 86:1–8, Proverbs 18:6–8


Devotional 


The Psalms have such variety. They ascend the heights of God's glory and plumb the depths of human wickedness. There is hardly an emotion, a life issue or an aspect of a man's relationship with God that is not explored at some point.

But the most common of all of these topics is human pain and suffering. The Psalmist asks why. He rages and moans. He calls out to God for sustaining grace, provision, and protection. In Psalm 86, David delves into many of these issues.

We don't know what the provocation was for this psalm. It could have been betrayal by one of his friends, an attack from an enemy, or some other grief or hardship in life. Perhaps it is best that we do not know what was troubling David, since each of us has different struggles and troubles, none of which was likely common to the king of Israel. One of you who reads this may be struggling with illness, dealing with the devastation of a diagnosis that horrified you. Or perhaps it is finances - you are drowning in debt or your job is in jeopardy. Many suffer with the most common and painful of struggles as they live with their daily concern over a spouse or a child or some other family member who is far from God and making choices that are foolish and destructive. There are myriad struggles that life can throw at us, but David's response to his struggle is a model to us all.

In verse 1, we learn two things - both what he did and how he did it.
Listen, Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
He brought his pain and suffering to the God who cared about him and he came in an attitude of humility and weakness. He did not stride into God's presence in pride demanding his rights, but came as "poor and needy" asking God to hear and answer his prayers. He realized that even though on earth he might have been king, his earthly standing meant nothing before heaven. He needed God's grace as much as the pauper or beggar.

We see another attitude in verse 5 that is essential. He recognized sin as an impediment to prayer and he came to God for grace and forgiveness.
For you, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive,
abounding in faithful love to all who call on you.
He was not coming to demand what he had earned but to seek the grace of a God who forgives sin (through Christ, we now know!). He sought the undeserved favor of God. David lays claim, even in this psalm, to being "godly" and a servant of God. But he also realizes that he is what he is because of what God has done for him.

David was persistent in prayer, call out to God (verse 3) "all the day." His prayers were constant, fervent and faithful. God knows our needs and desires, and he hears our prayers, but the Bible makes it clear that he responds to persistent prayer by his people.

When life was hard, David turned to God and called out to him. And every time, he found God faithful. God heard his prayers and forgave him, delivered him, provided for him and protected him.

Father, when I am in distress, may I do as David did and seek you. Thank you for being a good, loving and forgiving God who gives me what I don't deserve - your forgiveness and love. 

Think and Pray


Do you take your problems, your hurts and your pains, to God? Or do you suffer in silence or complain to others?
When you pray, are you humble or demanding?
Always remember that our God is gracious and forgiving.

Friday, July 21, 2017

"Good News that Offends" July 21 Readings: Esther 1-2, Acts 17, Psalm 85:9–13, Proverbs 18:4–5



Today's Readings - Esther 1-2, Acts 17, Psalm 85:9–13, Proverbs 18:4–5 


Devotional 


Paul was a brilliant man; in fact, there are some who believe he would have been a known quantity in history even had he not met Jesus on the road to Damascus. When he wandered into Athens and began to debate with the Epicureans and Stoics, he was more than able to hold his own. He was not intimidated or overwhelmed by them or their philosophical intricacies.

But then he came to that moment that every gospel presentation comes to - no matter what. You can be tactful, but there is a moment where tact goes out the window. You can be intellectual, but there is a moment at which you abandon sight and walk by faith. There is always a moment of offense every time the truth of Jesus' work on the cross is shared.

It came in Athens when Paul mentioned the resurrection of Jesus Christ (17:31). His intelligence might have impressed them to that point, but as soon as he talked about Jesus rising from the dead he lost them. What an idiot! Seriously? You believe this guy Jesus came back from the dead? You have a screw loose!

The gospel is good news (that's what gospel means). It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. It is truth. But it is also an offense. It tells people that they are sinners who cannot save themselves. It tells them that who they are is not good enough. It tells them they cannot just "be themselves" but that they must humble themselves and repent before God. It tells them that God's judgment and eternal hell awaits those who do not trust Christ. It asks people to believe things that reasonable people do not believe - creation, miracles, resurrection, and a long list of other things.

You can try to be tactful as you share the gospel - and you should. There's no reason to stand on the street corner and shout at people that they are going to hell as if you are glad about that! You can be loving and kind and build relationships and build bridges and contextualize and do all those things. But there comes a point where you have to drop the bomb!

An inoffensive gospel is no gospel at all. If you are worried most about what people think of you and whether they like you, you will stay silent as sinners march inexorably toward hell. To honor Christ and proclaim truth you must be willing to speak the unpopular truth and offend sinners with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
Father, may we be willing to speak the clear and unvarnished truth, even at the risk of offense. 

Think and Pray


Do you shy away from speaking truth that will offend?
Do you care more about what people think of you, or whether they are right with God?




Thursday, July 20, 2017

"Revive Us Again" July 20 Readings: Nehemiah 11-13, Acts 16:25–40, Psalm 85:1–8, Proverbs 18:1–3



Today's Readings - Nehemiah 11-13, Acts 16:25–40, Psalm 85:1–8, Proverbs 18:1–3


Devotional 

It is the heart-cry of so many believers today in this land, that God would revive his church and his people and reverse the moral and spiritual trends we observe. Could there be a true follower of Jesus Christ whose heart would not strongly desire such a revival.

Many of the Psalms are calls for God to renew and revive his people, Israel, who had fallen into sin. Of course, we Americans often act like America is the new Israel and Americans are the chosen people of God. It is not true. The church is the chosen people of God today and it is we who must seek the renewal of God. I do not believe it is an insult to say that our church needs revival today. Doesn't yours?

In Psalm 85:4-5, the Psalmist called out to God for forgiveness and restoration.
Return to us, God of our salvation,
and abandon your displeasure with us.
Will you be angry with us forever?

Will you prolong your anger for all generations?
God is a righteous and Holy God who demands obedience and fidelity from his people, the church of Jesus Christ. Too often we have lived in the ways of the world, walked in the flesh and gone our own ways instead of God's. We cannot ask for God's blessings and renewal while we are walking in sin. Any sort of revival begins with repentance that brings us back into contact with God. 

But ultimately, revival rests in the faithful love of God. Whatever we do, we do because of what he did. We love because he first loved us. We return because he holds his arms out to receive us. We do not revive ourselves but are revived by God's grace and love. In verses 6-7, the Psalmist calls out for that faithful love of God to restore the people. 
Will you not revive us again
so that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your faithful love, Lord,

and give us your salvation.
That is the cry of our heart today. Lord, revive us again. Return to us and restore us. Bring your church to repentance from all that displeases you. Show us again how great your are, how awesome and glorious. You have saved us once from our sins, now restore the joy of your salvation. Save us from this mess we find ourselves in today, a mess we've created with careless living and the love of this world. Your love and faithfulness, God, are greater than our sin and failure. 

Revive us again, fill each heart with thy love.  
May each soul be rekindled with fire from above. 
Hallelujah, thine the glory. Hallelujah, Amen. 
Hallelujah, thine the glory, Revive us again. 

Think and Pray


Paul told Timothy to "fan into flame" the gift within him. Are you in need of having your heart revived - fanned into a new and fervent flame?
This comes when we seek God, submit to him, and he fills us completely.
May the words of the old invitation hymn become a reality in your life - "I surrender all."


Wednesday, July 19, 2017

"Barnabas , Paul, Timothy" July 19 Readings: Nehemiah 9-10, Acts 16:1–24, Psalm 84:8–12, Proverbs 17:27–28



Today's Readings - Nehemiah 9-10, Acts 16:1–24, Psalm 84:8–12, Proverbs 17:27–28


Devotional 


There is an old adage that Christianity is always one generation from extinction. It is, in reality, true, though if we believe the church is founded by Christ for God's eternal purposes, we also believe that hell cannot stand against it and though its success may ebb and flow, it will never be completely stopped. The thought behind the adage is still a good one. If we want the church to continue we must pass it along to younger folks who will continue the work.

Chapter divisions can be unfortunate, causing us miss the continuation of important ideas. In Acts 16, it may prevent us from seeing an interesting juxtaposition. When Paul was Saul of Tarsus, enemy of the Cross, converted on the road to Damascus, one man stood beside him, put his arm around him, and brought him into the fellowship of the church. When young Saul went off by himself to learn the things of God it was Barnabas who went and found him and brought him to Antioch to get him involved in the ministry of that church. Barnabas and Saul headed out into the Galatian region to share Christ and plant churches. Paul became what Paul became because of the discipling and encouragement of Joseph, known as Barnabas, the son of encouragement.

Then, the sad events of the end of chapter 15 took place which separated Paul and Barnabas, at least for a time, and led to two missionary teams instead of one going out. Paul took Silas and headed back to the areas they had gone before and Barnabas told Mark, "Let's go west, young man."

So, as Paul's ministry partnership with Barnabas is being severed, what is the first thing he does? Acts 16:1-3.
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Paul, having absented himself from his mentor, found a young man whom he could mentor. This is conjecture, but perhaps Barnabas convinced him of the need to train young men. Paul was unwilling to make Mark that trainee, but in Derbe and Lystra he found Timothy and in him he found a young man into whom he could pour his life, a young man who could carry on the work when he was gone. A wise man is always looking for a younger man he can train to carry on the work when he is gone. Is that a lesson he learned from Barnabas? We'll have to ask him when we see him in glory, I suppose. 

What I do know is that there is truth in the old line:
Every man of God needs a Barnabas and a Timothy! (Women, it's true for you too!)
Actually, like Paul, we should seek several Timothy-types. Read through Acts and note that everywhere Paul went he took someone with him. I'm a ministry-loner. I study by myself. I work by myself. I visit by myself (most of the time). It's a failing in my ministry. Paul did everything in a group. 

Why? There are a number of reasons. It's great for accountability and mutual encouragement. There's less temptation in a group than there is when someone is by himself. When one person is blue, or upset, or discouraged, the others can lift him up. They can pray together and learn from one another. But more than anything, these young men got to watch Paul and learn. He was able not just to pass on some doctrines and teachings, but his very life. 

There is no greater heritage any of us can leave in this world than a small army of well-trained kingdom warriors who will carry on the work when we are gone. I can only fight the good fight for so long. But if I find a Timothy and a Titus, I can keep fighting through them even when I have gone to glory.
Father, may my life count in the lives of others. 

Think and Pray




Are you pouring your life into the lives of others who are growing in Christ? Do you have a Timothy whom you are leading and discipling?







Tuesday, July 18, 2017

"No Capes Needed!" July 18 Readings: Nehemiah 7-8, Acts 15:22–41, Psalm 84:1–7, Proverbs 17:24–26



Today's Readings - Nehemiah 7-8, Acts 15:22–41, Psalm 84:1–7, Proverbs 17:24–26


Devotional 


In one sense, the story makes me happy, in another, it makes me very sad. After the conference in Jerusalem that dealt with the conflict over Gentiles coming into the church, and how Jewish the church would be, Paul and Barnabas decided the time was right to head out on another mission trip to visit the churches they had already planted and to extend the gospel even further.

Then, according to Acts 15:36-41, a problem arose, having to do with Mark. Barnabas, always the encourager, wanted to bring him along and give him another chance - let him succeed this time. Paul was having none of it. The momma's boy had cut and run when they needed him and could not be trusted. This was important business they were doing and there was no way that they could trust a man like this again, at least not this soon. And the argument became pretty heated.

36  Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

 It is clear what makes me sad about this story.  Two great men, great friends, great servants of God, came to a parting of the ways because they could not work this issue out. Barnabas was the man who stood by Paul when no one else would and had been Paul's mentor, his discipler. Now, they were on the outs. It is a tragic story.

But what makes me happy? It makes me happy that the Word of God is REAL. It is not fictional make-believe in which people never make mistakes. Ever read a biography of a great Christian? We have a tendency when writing the life stories of great men or women to build them up into spiritual superheroes who could leap tall buildings in a single bound.

The Bible never does that. It tells us the real stories of real people. Jesus was perfect but the people who served him were not. Paul was a man - a man of God but also a sinner who had a temper and got his feelings hurt and struggled to forgive and - well, a man who was messed up just like me. Moses made mistakes. Elijah got discouraged. Abraham's faith failed him a time or two. David, the man after God's own heart, fell into grievous sin.

I love that the Bible is not about spiritual superheroes but people like me who struggle to keep it together, who fail and start over and who do things they wish they hadn't.

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. Mark eventually became a useful friend and coworker, laboring with Paul in the gospel. We can hope that Barnabas and Saul's friendship survived this and thrived in the days ahead, though they ministered separately. God used even this sad episode to work his grace and to extend the kingdom.

The good news for you and me today is simple - God is not looking for spiritual superheroes to accomplish his kingdom work. He takes people like you and me, and Paul and Barnabas and he uses us - regular, ordinary, flesh and blood, sinful folks! God infuses us with the power of Christ and fills us with his Spirit to accomplish his mighty work through us.

Leave the cape at home. You don't need it to serve our mighty God. 

Father, thank you for your grace. I am weak, but you are strong. Thank you that the only superhero in your kingdom is the One who rose from the grave and who is my Savior and Lord.

Think and Pray

Are you a perfectionist, thinking that you are required to be faultless to be useful to God?
It is Christ who is sinless and Christ alone.

Be thankful today that, while sin is never "okay," it is the goodness of Christ and his perfection that matters, not ours.








Monday, July 17, 2017

"That the Evil Might See" July 17 Readings: Nehemiah 5-6, Acts 15:1–21, Psalm 83:13–18, Proverbs 17:22–23



Today's Readings -  Nehemiah 5-6, Acts 15:1–21, Psalm 83:13–18, Proverbs 17:22–23


Devotional 


Who hasn't seen the despicable video in which Planned Parenthood treat human life as a commodity, or ISIS videos depicting unspeakable cruelty. What a world we live in. They anger us, disgust us, and fill us with indignation. And, frankly, they make us want to strike back at these people.

The psalmists knew that feeling. The Psalms are full of prayers that pour out anger over the sin of the world - often called imprecatory prayers. Psalm 109 is among the most extreme of these, but Psalm 83 is definitely in the category. In it, Asaph calls on God to destroy the enemies of Israel and invokes previous instances in which that took place.

He asks God to make these enemies like Sisera (83:9), who was killed when Jael drove a tent peg through his skull while he slept. I've had enemies but I've never prayed that God would arrange tent pegs through their skulls. He mentions kings who came against Israel when Gideon was judge and were killed because they butchered Gideon's family. In verses 13 and 14 he calls out for God to make these enemies like whirling dust and chaff, and to rain fire down on them, to "pursue them with (his) tempest and terrify them with (his) storm."  That is harsh.

There are a lot of issues working here but the last verse of this Psalm explains the heart of this strident prayer-song coming from Asaph's lips. The fact was that these people had set themselves against God and against God's people. They were working against what God was doing and they were doing so with impunity. They lived as if there was no God in Israel who would take note of the evil deeds and respond.

So, Asaph prays, in verse 18,
May they know that you alone—
whose name is the Lord—

are the Most High over the whole earth.
The primary motivation of these prayers is the fact that people live in ignorance of the power and glory of God. They act as if they can do as they please, treat God's people any way that benefits them, and live with impunity. These sinful people need a wake-up call, a reminder that there is a God in heaven who sees, who will respond, who will accomplish his purposes, protect his people and to whom each of them must answer.

At its core, Asaph's prayer is that these sinful people will realize that there is a God and that he is sovereign over this world. 

When we pray for sinful, rebellious, destructive, abusive, hurtful people today, we need to pray the heart of this prayer. Jesus told us to love our enemies and one of the best ways to love them is to pray that they will see and understand God, that God alone is Most High over all the earth and that they need to live their lives in obedience and submission to him! We ought never pray for their destruction, but for their eyes to be opened to the power and glory of the God who created and rules this world and will one day consummate its history in his glory.

That is what solves mankind's problems. Not money, or counseling, or education, or any other human solution. The revelation of the glory of God is what we need. 

Father, may we never be vengeful or destructive toward those who stand against you, against your church and who seek to hurt your people. But I pray that you would reveal yourself in such a way that these people know you are real, you are God, and you are all in all. 

Think and Pray


Do you have enemies, people who seek to make your life difficult, unhappy, or stressful?
Do you pray for them, and ask God to reveal his glory to them?




Sunday, July 16, 2017

"Pray Hard, Fight Hard" July 16 Readings: Nehemiah 3-4, Acts 14, Psalm 83:6–12, Proverbs 17:19–21



Today's Readings - Nehemiah 3-4, Acts 14, Psalm 83:6–12, Proverbs 17:19–21


Devotional 


Nehemiah was operating under the call and blessing of God, who had put it on his heart to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. God had further blessed him by granting him favor with the king who sent him on his way in favor. When he arrived, he was faithful to do the work of God carefully and diligently. The walls were being built.

Of course, that meant that everything went well, everyone cheered him on and supported his work and things fell into place. Amen?

Uh...no. There was a man named Sanballat, his friend Tobiah and many others who were opposed to the work Nehemiah was doing. They marshaled their strength to oppose the work that was being done. Sanballat was furious about the progress God's people were making.

The fact is, God's work will always be opposed. Jesus was opposed. Paul was opposed. Every great figure in the Bible experienced great opposition from the enemies of God, even sometimes from within God's people. When you determine to draw near to God, to seek him with all your heart, and to serve him in this world, expect that you will be opposed. Jesus promised that the world that hated him will hate us. Christians who walk in the flesh will oppose those who walk in the fulness of the Spirit. That is just the nature of things in this fallen world.

Nehemiah's approach to dealing with Sanballat and his minions is instructive. In verse 9, it says,
"So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night."
There are a couple of times in God's Word where his people were told to do nothing but stand and watch God work. "Stand still and see the salvation of God." Sometimes, they were told to do acts of obedience to display their faithfulness to God (like march around Jericho). But most of the time, God sent his people out to battle to fight against their enemies. The vast majority of biblical encounters follow this pattern.
Depend on God and fight hard
Nehemiah bathed everything he did in prayer. He asked God's wisdom to know what he should do. He asked God's blessing and protection as he did it. He never operated independently from God or live out his own agenda. He sought God faithfully.

But he also set a guard. The vast majority of the time throughout the Bible, God's people, depending on him, having prayed for his blessings, had to take up arms and fight. In the Old Testament that fighting was often literal. In the New Testament era the weapons are spiritual. But the fact is that we must not only pray for God's direction, wisdom and power, but we must fight the good fight. We must go out in this world and work in God's name. We must face down the enemies of God and stand in Christ's victory.

Father, forgive me for when I have failed to pray and seek your wisdom and power and gone out on my own. Forgive me as well for when I have prayed for your power to be revealed but failed to take up the weapons of warfare you have given me and gone to battle in your name. 

Think and Pray


Do you remember to seek God, knowing that everything you do is dependent on him and his mighty power?
Do you ever use prayer as an excuse for laziness or inactivity? "I'll pray about it" does not excuse us from picking up the sword and standing guard.



Saturday, July 15, 2017

"When There's No Applause" July 15 Readings: Nehemiah 1-2, Acts 13:35–52, Psalm 83:1–5, Proverbs 17:17–18



Today's Readings - Nehemiah 1-2, Acts 13:35–52, Psalm 83:1–5, Proverbs 17:17–18


Devotional 


We all say, "I do all I do for the glory of God," but the test of that comes when people stop applauding you for the things you do. In serving the Lord, criticism is natural. Sometimes people find your faults and justly criticize you. Sometimes, they find a small fault and drive a Mack truck of criticism through it. And sometimes, they simply make it up. How we respond when the hammer of negativity falls determines much of our eternal significance in ministry. I tend to either get angry and strike back (usually with my big fat mouth) or I crumble into a puddle of goo and spend days in a dark mood obsessing over the criticism.

Paul had a different wisdom. He was a human being and I'm sure the rejection and criticism hurt his feelings. But he never let these things destroy him or derail him from the work God gave him. Anyone who wishes to make an impact for the kingdom will have to learn to deal with criticism.

In Acts 13, Paul was in Pisidian Antioch on the first of his missionary journeys and as usual the reaction was mixed. Some latched on to his message and believed in Jesus Christ. Others, though, rejected what he taught. Usually, they did so because of personal reasons - their personal power and control was threatened.

Paul preached often about unity, about love, about trying to make things right and living in peace, but he did not let his critics control his life. He was not cruel or insensitive, but he continued doing God's work regardless of what others said, how they responded, or how they treated him. His life was about the Kingdom of God, not about himself, so what people thought of him was secondary to obedience to Christ.

In Acts 13:46, when the Jewish leaders rejected the gospel and rejected Paul, he simply turned his attention to the Gentiles and began to proclaim Christ to them. The response was enthusiastic. Many came to faith in Christ.

That did not make his detractors happy and the opposition grew, bursting out in verses 49-50 into a full-fledged persecution. What did Paul do then? According to verse 51, he shook the dust off his feet and moved on to Iconium to proclaim Christ there. He did not let criticism or resistance derail him from the purposes of God.

Again, this is no excuse for being calloused toward the feelings of others, but servants of God cannot be enslaved to criticism, opposition and false accusation. We serve him and must continue to do so whether people like us, whether they speak well of us, whether they support us, or not.

Father, too often I have lived by the opinions of others instead of giving myself fully to your work. Forgive me and strengthen me to live solely for your glory. 

Think and Pray


Is perseverance and faithfulness a marker of your ministry?
Is pleasing God your highest priority, even more than pleasing other people?