"Yesterday's Manna" New Year’s Spiritual Inventory - December 31 Readings: Exodus 16

A New Year's Spiritual Inventory 

Today's Reading:  Exodus 16          

The entire Israelite community departed from Elim and came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt. 2 The entire Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and ate all the bread we wanted. Instead, you brought us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of hunger!”

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. This way I will test them to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.”

6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “This evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the Lord’s glory because he has heard your complaints about him. For who are we that you complain about us?” 8 Moses continued, “The Lord will give you meat to eat this evening and all the bread you want in the morning, for he has heard the complaints that you are raising against him. Who are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord.”

9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your complaints.’” 10 As Aaron was speaking to the entire Israelite community, they turned toward the wilderness, and there in a cloud the Lord’s glory appeared.

11 The Lord spoke to Moses, 12 “I have heard the complaints of the Israelites. Tell them: At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will eat bread until you are full. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

13 So at evening quail came and covered the camp. In the morning there was a layer of dew all around the camp. 14 When the layer of dew evaporated, there were fine flakes on the desert surface, as fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” because they didn’t know what it was.

Moses told them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather as much of it as each person needs to eat. You may take two quarts per individual, according to the number of people each of you has in his tent.’”

17 So the Israelites did this. Some gathered a lot, some a little. 18 When they measured it by quarts, the person who gathered a lot had no surplus, and the person who gathered a little had no shortage. Each gathered as much as he needed to eat. 19 Moses said to them, “No one is to let any of it remain until morning.” 20 But they didn’t listen to Moses; some people left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. Therefore Moses was angry with them.

21 They gathered it every morning. Each gathered as much as he needed to eat, but when the sun grew hot, it melted. 22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, four quarts apiece, and all the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. 23 He told them, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil, and set aside everything left over to be kept until morning.’”

24 So they set it aside until morning as Moses commanded, and it didn’t stink or have maggots in it. 25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a Sabbath to the Lord. Today you won’t find any in the field. 26 For six days you will gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.”

27 Yet on the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they did not find any. 28 Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and instructions? 29 Understand that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he will give you two days’ worth of bread. Each of you stay where you are; no one is to leave his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 The house of Israel named the substance manna. It resembled coriander seed, was white, and tasted like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Two quarts of it are to be preserved throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’”

33 Moses told Aaron, “Take a container and put two quarts of manna in it. Then place it before the Lord to be preserved throughout your generations.” 34 As the Lord commanded Moses, Aaron placed it before the testimony to be preserved.

35 The Israelites ate manna for forty years, until they came to an inhabited land. They ate manna until they reached the border of the land of Canaan. 36 (They used a measure called an omer, which held two quarts.

Through the Bible Readings: Malachi 3-4, Revelation 22, Psalm 150, Proverbs 31:29–31 

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional:  Yesterday's Manna      

I was at a church's fiftieth-anniversary celebration, and it was a lot of fun because they were talking about things that had happened at the church in my childhood. But as I sat there I began to grow sad because I realized this church had little to talk about in the years since the "good old days." Nostalgia is great but living in the past is not. 

The Israelites received a lesson in this in Exodus 16. God gave them miracle bread from heaven, called manna and they were able to gather it every morning. But in spite of the warnings, someone got the bright idea of gathering a double batch of manna, keeping it overnight, and avoiding having to gather the next morning. But when they opened the Tupperware container they found that the manna had turned to maggots. Except on the Sabbath, when God arranged that the manna would last so they wouldn't have to work on the seventh day, they had to get new manna every day. Someone has put it this way, 

You cannot live on yesterday's manna. 

Have you ever had a wonderful meal that fully satisfied you? What happened the next day? You had to eat again. You need new food every day to sustain you. It is the same way with your soul. You need the bread of communion with God every day. Having a great day of worship on Sunday won't carry you through the week spiritually. You need to refresh and strengthen your soul every day. A great time with God today will not suffice tomorrow. It is not some kind of legalistic religious ritual, it is spiritual survival. Your soul needs constant sustenance. 

Where is this spiritual manna to be found? If you are reading this then you know what this old preacher is going to say. The word of God is our milk, our bread, our meat - the spiritual nutrition for our souls. As we read, study, and meditate on God's word, and then as the Spirit works in us using that word, our spirits are fed and we grow. 

Worship and fellowship with other believers is also an important soul-nourishing act. Christians need fellowship on a regular basis. In the early church, they met together daily in the temple courts. In recent years, many believers don't even make weekly worship a habit. 

We cannot live on our past accomplishments, resting on our laurels. We must continue to seek God, to grow in Christ, to learn of him. His mercies are renewed every day and our manna must also be renewed as frequently. 

Father, thank you for your constant renewing power. May I never try to live on yesterday's blessing, but seek the renewing power of Christ every day. 

Give Careful Thought to Your Ways:

Are you a periodic seeker of God, or do you go to him for daily manna? 
When you think of the great moments of your walk with Christ, are they long ago? 
Are you continuing to learn new things of Christ, grow, change, repent, be renewed? 

Hymn of the Day: 

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You

To receive the food of Your Holy Word.

Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;

Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,

That the light of Christ might be seen today

In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.

Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us

All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,

Holy reverence, true humility;

Test our thoughts and our attitudes

In the radiance of Your purity.

Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see

Your majestic love and authority.

Words of pow'r that can never fail—

Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;

Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—

Truths unchanged from the dawn of time

That will echo down through eternity.

And by grace we'll stand on Your promises,

And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.

Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built

And the earth is filled with Your glory.

Reading Through the Bible in 2021 - JOIN US!

 

 Through the Bible in 2021

In 2020, we ran 2 tracks for the devotional, the "through the Bible in One Year" reading plan for those who wanted a little more time in the Word and a more concentrated plan focusing on key passages and books of the Bible. 

It wore me out. I didn't know, of course, when I started that plan, that 2020 was going to be a COVID year and the dual-track plan took a lot of time and effort. It was also a blessing for me, because in times of discouragement it drove me to God's word when I might not otherwise have done so. 

However, this year I am reverting to something a bit simpler - reading through the Bible in one year. Each day we will have four readings: 

• A portion of the Old Testament. 
• A portion of the New Testament. 
• A portion of the Psalms. 
• A small snippet of Proverbs. 

You may have days you can't keep up. A Bible reading plan is not a religious duty that gains you points with God. It is designed to bring you into God's presence. It is not a punishment, but "time with God." Read as much as you can. If you get behind, catch up if you can but don't give up because you fall behind. You can just read today's readings and then read some of what you missed if you have time. 

I will have a devotional every day. PLEASE do not read my devotional and skip the Bible. You need Jesus more than you need my wisdom. Read God's word first then my thoughts if you have the time. 

It has been suggested by some that I publish these devotionals as a book. I might do that. This year will primarily be reusing and final editing of previous devotionals in preparation for that possibility. 

Studies have shown clearly beyond doubt that nothing grows Christians like reading God's word. These devotionals are designed to help you get into God's word and meet Jesus. 

My prayer for you in 2021 is that you will draw closer to the Savior!

"Revival" New Year’s Spiritual Inventory - December 30 Readings: Nehemiah 9

A New Year's Spiritual Inventory 

Today's Reading: Nehemiah 8-9            

Because of the length of this passage, it will not be copied here. 

Through the Bible Readings: Malachi 1-2, Revelation 21, Psalm 149, Proverbs 31:27–28

 

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional: Revival!       

Revival! Let's pray for revival!

You hear those words so often, but it means different things to different people. What is a revival? How can you quantify a revival? Is it even something we ought to seek as individuals, churches and nations?

Nehemiah 8 records what could safely be described as a revival. There is no standard definition of revival, but this one would satisfy most definitions. God's people, who had been wandering from him into sin, repent and return to him in such a way that the life of the nation was affected. Ezra led God's people in repentance and they recommitted themselves to him with passion and joy.

But how did it happen?

Of course, revival is an act of God to restore his people, but there are certain things that happened here that can be seen as a template for us as we seek revival.

First of all, the people gathered together, in fact, Nehemiah 8:1 says that they all came together. I can experience a personal renewal in my life, but genuine revival is something that happens to God's people as a group. If we want to see God revive us and our church, we must recommit ourselves to faithful fellowship within the Body of Christ. 

Second, revival is focused on God's word. Look at what happens in these verses. Ezra read publicly from God's word from sunup until noontime - at least 6 hours. As Ezra read the Law several Levites scattered through the crowd and explained its meaning. It was a six hour sermon! The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to do the work of God in the people of God. As the Scriptures were read and explained, the power of God came upon the people.

It is important to note that Ezra did not whip the people up into an emotional frenzy or manipulate guilt or any of the things so common today. It was the word of God that changed lives.

It also took time. You cannot microwave spiritual renewal. Not only did the people spend 6 hours listening to the word, but they stayed gathered together for seven days of worship and feasting. In the early church era, the believers gathered daily to fellowship and seek God. Not weekly for one hour, but daily. It takes time to draw near to God.

There was repentance among the people. There was rejoicing. God works in different ways in different times, but the common elements are the word of God being used by the Spirit. As the word of God was proclaimed, the Spirit of God came on the people and they began to repent. Their sorrow over their sin was so intense that Ezra had to remind them that the joy of the Lord was their strength, that they should not just repent but rejoice in him.

If we would be revived today, the Scriptures must be read and proclaimed clearly among God's people, that the Spirit of God might draw the church to repentance and spiritual renewal.

Father, I can feel it in my soul. I need a renewing of your grace and mercy. Help me to remember not only to repent of my sin, but also to revel in the joy of your love. 

Give Careful Thought to Your Ways:

Do you take the time to draw near to God? 
Are you consistently and faithfully reading and studying God's word? 

Is repentance and spiritual renewal a common practice for you?  

Hymn of the Day: 

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.


In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.


There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.


No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

"The Judgment Seat of Christ" New Year’s Spiritual Inventory - December 29 Readings: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Romans 14:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:10

A New Year's Spiritual Inventory 

Today's Reading:  1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Romans 14:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:10           

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.

Romans 14:9-12

Christ died and returned to life for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living. 10 But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.11 For it is written,

As I live, says the Lord,
every knee will bow to me,
and every tongue will give praise to God.

12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Through the Bible Readings: Zechariah 13-14, Revelation 20, Psalm 148:9–14, Proverbs 31:24–26 

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional:   The Judgment Seat of Christ     

Have you ever had a job where you had an annual or periodic review? Fun, wasn't it? You sit with your boss and your performance over the previous year is discussed and then you are rewarded with an appropriate raise (or you lose out on such). It is generally uncomfortable. 

Each of us, as believers, faces a similar review at the end of our lives, what the Bible calls the "judgment seat of Christ." There is an awful judgment mentioned in Revelation 20 called the Great White Throne in which sinners are called to account before God, are judged for their sins, and are sent to the lake of fire. But when the "judgment seat" is mentioned, something very different is in mind. 

At the Olympic games of the day, there would be a high seat on which the king or some other dignitary sat. After the games, he would pass out the appropriate rewards from his judgment seat.

In some way, after we are brought into the presence of God but before the eternal glory of heaven commences God will review our performance as Christians and give us rewards for the races we have run. There is no time for extensive development, but the following points are in order. 

• Heaven or hell are not in order, but rewards for running well as believers. 1 Corinthians 3 makes this very clear. 
• This judgment is less about sin and more about ministry. Again, 1 Corinthians 3 talks about building on the foundation of Christ, building up the body of Christ, and having those works set to flame to see if they endure. 
• In other words, the key issue is, have we ministered to others in ways that produce eternal fruit and results? 
• According to Romans 14, the path of the Lordship of Christ is key - we must walk in obedience to him in all things. 
• This is for all believers, not just for a special class, or for preachers. All must stand before Christ. 
• There is a reward of some kind for those who perform well in their ministry and service to Christ. We may never know until heaven what this reward looks like. Crowns, such as those given to runners who won races, are described in various places. Whatever it is, it is wonderful and desirable - it is worth serving Christ for this reward and it will be a tragedy to sacrifice it.
• There is a significant picture in Revelation of the saints laying their crowns before Christ, recognizing that Jesus Christ is the power that enabled us to earn any reward. 

The purpose of this is clear. We are to be motivated by a love for Jesus Christ, a passion for him, but we should also be motivated by this reminder that one day we will stand before our savior, who died for us, and give account for how we lived our lives, how we guarded the sacred trust he gave to us. 

Father, empower me to run well the race marked out for me so that when I am reviewed I will receive the crowns you have set aside for me. 

 

Give Careful Thought to Your Ways:

Take time to consider this thought - that Jesus will one day review your life and your ministry. 

• Are you living your life for eternal things? 
• Are you investing in others for the name of Christ? 
• If you faced the judgment seat today, what might the Savior say?

Consider these things prayerfully.

Hymn of the Day: 

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now I'm found,

Was blind, but now I see.

'twas Grace that taught,

my heart to fear.

And grace, my fears relieved.

How precious did that grace appear,

the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come.

'tis grace that brought me safe thus far,

and grace will lead us home.

The Lord has promised good to me,

His word my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be,

as long as life endures.

When we've been there ten thousand years,

bright shining as the sun.

We've no less days to sing God's praise,

than when we first begun.

"Living Sacrifices" New Year’s Spiritual Inventory - December 28 Readings: Romans 12

A New Year's Spiritual Inventory 

Today's Reading: Romans 12            

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. 4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. 6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; 7 if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; 8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 But

If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
For in so doing
you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.

21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

 

Through the Bible Readings: Zechariah 11-12, Revelation 19, Psalm 148:1–8, Proverbs 31:22–23 

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional:  Living Sacrifices      

Romans 1-11 is all about the amazing salvation God won for us through the work of Christ on the cross - the righteousness that he achieved that becomes ours through faith, not by works. Romans 1-3 plumbs the depths of human sin and concludes that there is no hope of righteousness for anyone - Jew or Gentile - by their own works. We are all under sin and facing God's just judgment. But starting in the middle of chapter 3 and going through chapter 5 he details the glories of our justification, how God demonstrated his love for us in the death of Christ and how his righteousness comes to us through faith. In chapters 6-8 the effects of a righteousness received by faith on the life of the one who receives it. It is a glorious life free of slavery to sin and the condemnation it brings, one in which we are more than conquerors over all of that which comes against us. Finally, Romans 9-11 explores God's eternal purposes in Israel and the church. It all ends with a glorious song of praise in the last few verses of chapter 11. 

It is an amazing story of love and redemption, truly the "greatest story ever told." And it is a story that demands a response. We cannot simply receive this great gift from God then continue in life as if nothing has happened. Such would be unthinkable, evil, and an insult to the work of Christ. 

But what must we do in response? How do we react to "so great salvation" as God has given us through Christ? Romans 12:1 makes that clear. It tells us what to do "by the mercies of God." In other words, in the light of all that has gone on in the first 11 chapters, in the light of the mercy of God displayed in justification by faith, here's how you respond. Verses 1 and 2 explain the response. Read them again, carefully. 

We are called in these verses to respond in two ways. First, we are to present our bodies to Christ. He doesn't ask for my money, or some of my time, or even a measure of my loyalty. He wants me. My whole body - yielded to him and his service. You cannot respond to the amazing grace of Christ with anything less than the complete surrender of myself - body, soul, and spirit - to him. 

The final verse of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" says it so well. If I owned the whole earth, it would be a present far too small to respond to the grace of God. Instead, the writer says, 

"Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all." 

Nothing else but complete surrender will suffice.

But a surrendered life is also a transformed life. No longer can we simply drift with the tide of this world, going along with its ways, succumbing to its standards, and imitating its behaviors. We must instead be transformed through the renewing of our minds which is accomplished in us by the work of the Spirit, primarily using the power of God's word.

Christians must be counter-cultural, living as citizens of God's kingdom in the kingdom of man, listening to him instead of following others or even our own hearts, being shaped by the Spirit's work and not anything else. We must submit to God and seek him, resist the devil, reject sin, and walk in the power of the fullness of the Spirit.

In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul says it clearly and directly. "You do not belong to yourselves. You were bought with a price." When someone does for us what Christ did for us, we are obligated to respond appropriately. The only appropriate response to God's love and mercy is a body surrendered fully to him and a mind renewed by his word!

Father, take all of me. Renew my mind with your word and my heart with your love. 

Give Careful Thought to Your Ways:

Are you actively and consistently renewing your mind in the word? 

• You can only be conformed to Christ by being renewed in your mind, which is a product of God's word. 

Are you using the gifts God has given you to build up the body of Christ? 

Read through verses 9-21 and examine your life according to the specific teachings of those verses.  

• Do you endure in doing what is right and good, even when you suffer for it? 
• Do you bless those who persecute you and return good for evil? 
• Do you refuse to seek vengeance but instead, let God handle things? 

Hymn of the Day: 

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

Save in the death of Christ my God!

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down!

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts

"First Love" New Year’s Spiritual Inventory - December 27 Readings: Revelation 2:1-7

A New Year's Spiritual Inventory 

Today's Reading: Revelation 2:1-7            

“Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. 3 I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Through the Bible Readings: Zechariah 9-10, Revelation 18, Psalm 147:15–20, Proverbs 31:19–21 

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional: First Love        

What a great church Ephesus was. This was no Corinth, with its immorality and its showy spirituality and its false doctrine. And it was certainly no Pergamum or Thyatira, no Sardis, and definitely no Laodicea. If I was the pastor of First Baptist Church of Ephesus (okay, it probably wasn't called First Baptist...) I'd think we had a pretty good thing going on!

Look at what Jesus himself said about the church in verses 2 and 3.

I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name and have not grown weary.

They were hardworking, laboring faithfully, and with endurance in ministry. They did not tolerate evil in their midst (a problem seen later in Pergamum and Thyatira). They tested and identified false teachers and found them to be liars. This was high praise from the Savior. 

And his charge against them seemed like such a small thing. He did not charge them with heresy or with immorality. His only charge against them had to do with their passion. They had left their first love. I don't particularly like the translation in the text we are using here - the HCSB - because it gives the idea of time. The concept here is priority. Jesus was no longer the #1 passion in their hearts. 

They were working for Jesus. They were wearing themselves out in the service of the gospel. They were doctrinally sound and careful to maintain theological discernment in the church - no false apostles were going to peddle their toxic wares in that congregation. But Jesus was no longer the driving passion of their hearts. 

Jesus is not willing to accept second place in the hearts of the redeemed and he is not willing to share first place. It is no small thing when a church or the people who comprise it let their passion for Christ trail off and replace it with a passion for anything else - even good things. A passion for sound doctrine and hard work in ministry is great, but it cannot replace a passion for Christ. 

Jesus must always be first. 

Father, I realize that too much of my life has been lived in Ephesus. Rekindle the fire of my passion for Christ every day. 

Give Careful Thought to Your Ways:

What is the highest priority and passion of your heart? 
Is it accurate to call Jesus your first love? 

If you have "left your first love" can you trace back to a place at which you departed? 

Will you repent and return to a full and complete passion for Christ? 

Hymn of the Day: 

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;

For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;

My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,

And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;

I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,

And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;

And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,

I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;

I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow,

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

"Misplaced Priorities" New Year’s Spiritual Inventory - December 26 Readings: Haggai 1-2

 

A New Year's Spiritual Inventory 

Today's Reading: Haggai 1-2           

Due to the length of the passage, it will not be copied here. 

Through the Bible Readings: Zechariah 7-8, Revelation 17, Psalm 147:8–14, Proverbs 31:17–18 

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional: Misplaced Priorities        

Haggai is one of those little books in the "Minor" prophets we often ignore. That is a shame because the message of this minor prophet is major! Another year is ending. We don't know how long it is until the world itself ends, but we know we are one year closer. This world and everything in it has an expiration date.  Haggai reminds us to live today with priorities that recognize that God is more important than anything in this world. 

If you see a house on fire, you don't run into it hide all your valuables there, do you? You remove them! You try to salvage what you can. In the same way, as Jesus said, we ought to store up treasures in heaven because whatever we invest in here on earth is going to rust, mold or burn.

A youth pastor I knew gave the best illustration of life I ever heard. He rented a limousine and took his small youth group out for a night on the town (in Cedar Rapids). He took them to a fancy restaurant, to museums, to all kinds of expensive places. Finally, he took them to the gates of Mt. Trashmore, Cedar Rapids' dump. He said, "Everything you saw today ends up here." Wow.

That's how we live our lives, isn't it? We devote ourselves to this world, which is destined to be destroyed, while we ignore the things of God. It is the worst investment decision any of us could ever make.

Haggai was a prophet to the people of Israel who had returned from exile in Babylon. They had come back to the land with the intent of rebuilding the Temple and reestablishing the worship of Yahweh. But, of course, they first had to erect places that they could live in and walls to protect them. Suddenly, it was many years later and they were living in comfort while the Temple still lay in ruins. They continually procrastinated. "The time has not come for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt." (Haggai 1:2). They had become so devoted to their own comfort and prosperity they had no time to build a place of worship for the Lord. 

God's patience with this procrastination was at an end, and he sent Haggai to warn the people, "Think carefully about your ways." They were living with (borrowing from Revelation 18) Babylonian priorities. Their minds were on their own comfort and convenience and they cared little for the things of God.

There are consequences to that. We could call it the Curse of Misplaced Priorities. When we invest ourselves in this world, we bring certain natural consequences, designed by God, upon our lives. Look at what God said through Haggai in 1:6.

You have planted much but harvested little.
You eat but never have enough to be satisfied.
You drink but never have enough to become drunk.
You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm.
The wage earner puts his wages into a bag with a hole in it.”

There is an inverse proportion principle at work in the kingdom of God. Jesus mentioned it often. "He who saves his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for my sake will save it." What you seek is not what you get. "Seek first the kingdom and all these things will be added to you as well. Here, the more you invest in your own life, the less you will have of peace, satisfaction, and contentment.

The less you focus on your own things and give attention to the things of God, the more you receive of peace, satisfaction, and contentment.

There are five statements there that describe the dissatisfaction, frustration, and futility of life with misplaced priorities. 

• No matter how much work you do, there is little return (eternally) on your investment. In the kingdom, a grain of mustard seed moves mountains. With misplaced priorities, we can barely move the mustard seed!
• The next three speak to satisfaction and contentment. When you invest in this world, it's never enough. Ever eaten a meal so good that you didn't want to eat again for a month? Of course not. The things of this world never satisfy for more than a moment. You eat, but its not enough. You drink, but you want more. You put on clothes, but you are still cold. This world offers fun and good times, but not satisfaction. 
• Finally, misplaced priorities produce lost opportunity - what might have been. You stick money in a bag, but the bag has a hole. The money goes away and you don't get to enjoy it. You had it all, but you squandered it. I hate writing this, because boy-oh-boy have I been there! But it is a marker of misplaced priorities that you squander the opportunities and blessings that God gives you. 

There is a solution, though. Build the house of God. In the OT, that was a building on a hill just above the City of David to the north. But we are the Temple of the Living God today - both individually and as a church. We need to build the church and we need to build our lives as sanctuaries of God's presence. Cleanse it. Honor God's presence. Make the sacrifice (well, honor the one Christ made) and devote yourself to the service of God. 

Father, I have seen so much of the Curse of Misplaced Priorities in my life - work without return, dissatisfaction and lost opportunity. Cleanse my heart as your sacrifice. I thank you for the sacrifice made for me once for all by Christ. Consecrate me, Lord, for your service. 

Give Careful Thought to Your Ways :

No, this is not a plea to begin a new building fund at the church - that would be doing violence to the meaning of this passage. 
This is about misplaced priorities. 
What are you living your life for? 

• Is your life devoted to God and eternal things? 
• Or are you devoted to money, fun, self, pleasure, advancement? 

Whose pleasure and applause means most to you? 

• Do you care most about pleasing God and receiving his "well done?" 
• Do you please people to receive their applause, admiration, and affection? 

What is the reward you seek? 

• Eternal and heavenly reward - the treasures Jesus promised in glory? 
• Earthly and temporal reward - the things of this world? 

Do the "curses of misplace priorities seem a reality in your life? 

• Do you work and work with little return on your investment? 
• Do you find little contentment and satisfaction in the things you do? No matter what you get you want something else? 
• Do you seem to squander the opportunities you have? 

Will you take time to "Give careful thought to your ways?" 

Hymn of the Day: 

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;

Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.

Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,

Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;

Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.

By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;

Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;

And run not before Him, whatever betide.

In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,

And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,

Each thought and each motive beneath His control.

Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,

Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

William D. Longstaff

Preparing for a New Year: Six Devotions to Ready Yourself for 2021

 

Are you a New Year's Resolution maker?
Are you a New Year's Resolution breaker?

Usually, if the answer to the first question is yes the answer to the second is also yes. We make promises and commitments to change, to make a fresh start, to give it another try, but we usually end up in the same old habits. For many years I simplified the resolution process. I just changed the date on last year's!

See, the problem is not willpower, commitments, resolutions, or any of those things. It is our hearts. They have a tendency to drift. The fire dies down and needs to be fanned into flame. We leave our first love, as Jesus warned the church at Ephesus (and we will examine in one of our devotionals).

So, between Christmas and New Year's Day I hope you will take a few minutes out of each day to examine your life. It is not just to make a list of fresh goals and promises to God, but to take a look at our hearts, our priorities, our lifestyles and to examine where we might have gone astray.

Why has my heart grown cold?
Why has my commitment waned?
Where did my zeal and passion for Christ go?

So, in these readings we will look at some truths that need to be remembered.

This can't be rushed. This is not a read-it-and-say-a-prayer thing. No, it will take time. We must think about what we are doing. What Christ needs to do in us, aligning our hearts with his!

I hope you will take the time to do that.

CHRISTmas Is Worshiping Jesus - December 25 Readings: Matthew 2:1-12

 

 

25 Days of Christmas

On the twenty-fifth day of Christmas, my Bible said to me...The magi did what mattered most - they worshiped Jesus. Worship Jesus today!

Today's Reading: Matthew 2:1-12           

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.

5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:

6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah:

Because out of you will come a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.”

7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.”

9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.

Through the Bible Readings: Zechariah 5-6, Revelation 15–16, Psalm 147:1–7, Proverbs31:14–16 

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional:        

NOTE: The following is a simple telling of the story of the Magi, based on historical research and biblical teachings. More mythology and lore has surrounded them. Just read and enjoy...and worship!

In Bethlehem, a baby was laying in a manger, is weary mother resting after the birth and his father caring for them both.  Shepherds were walking the streets of Bethlehem looking for the baby the angels had promised.    

Many hundreds of miles away, a group of astrologers scanned the night sky.  They were known as Magi and people respected them because they were believed to have special knowledge, by watching the movement of the stars they could discern the affairs of men. Parthians by descent, remnants of the Persian Empire, they lived in modern Iran. They held great political influence, helping to select kings by searching the stars.

This night, something strange appeared.  Far to the west, near the horizon, an odd star appeared; abnormal, unexpected. Their ancestors had passed down to them lore of a man named Daniel, a Jew who had been carried captive into Babylon. His insight was gained not from the stars but directly from God. He'd become the chief of Babylon's wise men and when Persia had conquered them he was pressed into service for them. He'd continued to demonstrate his worth and his godliness and character. A Persian king named Darius threw him into a den of lions but he emerged unharmed.  Daniel explained to the Persians the truths of God's Law and shared prophecies from the scrolls he had learned. One had stuck with them. "A star shall come out Jacob and a scepter shall rise out of Israel." This group of astrologers, seeing this unusual star, surmised the prophecy must have come true. The ruler Daniel promised had been born. 

So, a group of them, no one knows how many, set off after the birth of Jesus to find the baby whose birth the star announced. It was a long and difficult trip. Days and months went by as they trekked across the Fertile Crescent until finally they reached Jerusalem. What a stir they created when this troupe of Persian kingmakers wandered the streets of the city asking where the newborn king was. 

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  

No one in Jerusalem had much of any idea what he was talking about, but finally Herod heard of the disturbance and he was upset. He'd achieved the throne by political means and they were talking about someone who'd been "born king of the Jews." BORN king. He simply could not have that!So he determined to nip this in the bud. 

He summoned the scholars of the Jewish law and asked them to research where the Messiah was to be born. He entertained the Magi until the scribes returned and told him that Bethlehem, a little village in the hills about 6 miles south of the Temple Mount was the prophesied birthplace. In his most pious tone he sent the Magi to Bethlehem to find the baby and asked them to return so he could also worship him. 

It was night when they made their way out of Jerusalem. Did the fact that no one in Jerusalem seemed to care that their king had been born bother the Magi? We will never know. But they again saw the star they had seen the night of Jesus' birth and they followed it for a couple of hours through the hills to the little town. The star somehow pointed them to a house where they were greeted by a young man and his wife and a boy, now a toddler, perhaps learning to walk. His name was Yeshua...Jesus. Yahweh is Salvation. 

These proud, wealthy, powerful men fell on their faces before this little boy, as they would to pay respect to any king.  But they knew that this was no regular human king.  This was the king whom Daniel had promised, the scepter that would rise out of Judah.  They opened before him their treasures.  They gave him gold, the proper gift to pay tribute to a king.  They gave him incense; what the priests used in their prayers.  And finally, they gave him a precious spice called myrrh, which had many purposes; among them to anoint the dead for burial.  They gave him these gifts and they worshiped him. 

It is likely that they gave these gifts because they were valuable and for no other reason, but to us these gifts hold significance. The gold represents Jesus as King of kings - the rightful ruler and lord of all. The incense speaks of his divinity, the one who receives our prayers. He is Immanuel, God with us. The myrrh reminds us of the ultimate purpose of his life. He came to die. The next time we read about myrrh in the Gospels they are using it for Jesus' burial. He is the Lord of all, born to die for our sins. And they worshiped him!

The next day, when they arose, they departed for their own country.  God had warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod.  Like the shepherds so many months earlier, they returned to their homes rejoicing, for they had seen the king. Not just any king, mind you. They'd seen the King of kings. 

Father, thank you for your son. I join the Magi today to kneel and worship him. 

Think and Pray :

So much myth and lore have sprung up around the Magi, but one thing is known - they traveled far to worship Jesus. 
Worship Jesus today. 

Carol of the Day: 

We three kings of Orient are

Bearing gifts we traverse afar

Field and fountain, moor and mountain

Following yonder star

O Star of wonder, star of night

Star with royal beauty bright

Westward leading, still proceeding

Guide us to thy Perfect Light

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain

Gold I bring to crown Him again

King forever, ceasing never

Over us all to reign

O Star of wonder, star of night

Star with royal beauty bright

Westward leading, still proceeding

Guide us to thy Perfect Light

Frankincense to offer have I

Incense owns a Deity nigh

Prayer and praising, all men raising

Worship Him, God most high

O Star of wonder, star of night

Star with royal beauty bright

Westward leading, still proceeding

Guide us to thy Perfect Light

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume

Breathes of life of gathering gloom

Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying

Sealed in the stone-cold tomb

O Star of wonder, star of night

Star with royal beauty bright

Westward leading, still proceeding

Guide us to thy Perfect Light

Glorious now behold Him arise

King and God and Sacrifice

Alleluia, Alleluia

Earth to heav'n replies

O Star of wonder, star of night

Star with royal beauty bright

Westward leading, still proceeding

Guide us to thy Perfect Light