"Church-Boy Righteousness" January 6 Readings: Genesis 13-14, Matthew 5:21-48, Psalm 5:1-5, Proverbs 1:16-19

Today's Readings - Genesis 13-14, Matthew 5:21-48, Psalm 5:1-5, Proverbs 1:16-19

Devotional - Church-Boy Righteousness

I've spent my life in church. I started attending regularly about nine months before I was born and have missed only a handful of Sundays, generally with very good excuses, in the years since. I was a pretty good kid too. I can look you in the eye and tell you that I have never done most of the things that were considered big sins. I've never murdered anyone or robbed a bank. Never! I have not committed adultery (let's ignore Jesus' "in the heart" thing, for this purpose) before or after I said "I do" to my wife. I was raised with solid Christian values and have tried to live those out in my own life.

If it were not for Matthew 5:21-48, I could grasp my lapels with smug self-righteousness, set myself up as the judge and jury for the "sinners" of this world and look down my nose at them in judgment. Jesus' words in that passage made that impossible. He took the wind right out of the sails of pharisaical self-righteousness when he told the people that their righteousness must actually exceed that of the Pharisees or they would never enter God's kingdom. That was shocking to those who view the Pharisees as the pinnacle of religious achievement.

Jesus would look at a good church boy like me and say, "Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the good church boy, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Our works will never get us there. No matter how good we think we are, our goodness is not enough. Jesus would say:

Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the average American church-goer, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

That is because of the way that Jesus raised the stakes on righteousness in this passage. I've never murdered anyone, but I've held hate in my heart and Jesus said that gives evidence of the same guilty heart as murder. Obviously, the consequences are different between murder and anger. But they both come from a selfish heart, a heart of disdain and hatred. I can look my wife in the eyes and tell her that I have been faithful to her every day of our marriage, but if you ask me if I have ever "looked on a woman with lust in my heart" I might decide to plead the fifth amendment. Let's move on, please. I may never have robbed a bank, but is my yes always yes and my no always no? Do I love my enemies as Christ commanded?

Jesus took things beneath the surface, to the heart. On the surface, my life looks decent, but in my heart live the seeds of unrighteousness even if they have never sprung to the surface. My upbringing, my parents, my life in the church - all these things might have helped me to hide the filth in my heart but it is there nonetheless.

That is why I need Jesus. He does more than just whitewash the outside of our lives. He goes deep inside to cleanse us. By his blood, he purchased our redemption and with that blood he washes us whiter than snow - from the inside out. Only Jesus can do that.

Thank God that Jesus blew my self-righteous, lapel-grabbing, judgmental ways out of the water. That is the way of death because we can never be good enough to earn God's favor. Jesus provides a righteousness that exceeds that of the Pharisees, that of the self-righteous "church boys" like me. He redeems us by his blood and clothes us with his righteousness, and that is our only hope of eternal glory.

Father, may I never be content with simply cleaning up the outside, with impressing others with my "church boy" righteousness. I thank you that your Son died for me. Cleanse me from the inside. Purify me. Give me true love, real joy, a pure heart, a passion for you. 

Think and Pray

Which of the readings spoke most powerfully to you today?
Is the Spirit of God moving you to repent of something you are doing, to begin something new, or to change something about your life as a result of your readings? What?

Is your righteousness won by Christ at the cross, or are you infected with "Church-boy righteousness?" (or church-girl?)

"Blessed" January 5 Readings: Genesis 11-12, Matthew 5:1-20, Psalm 4, Proverbs 1:10-15

Today's Readings -  Genesis 11-12, Matthew 5:1-20, Psalm 4, Proverbs 1:10-15

Devotional - Blessed

There are few truths that are more contrary to normal human thought than the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10). Each one stands in stark contrast to the way we think; our natural feelings and intents. The Word of God calls us to leave normal behind and live in the light of Christ's person and character.

It begins by telling us that we are blessed when we realize that we are spiritually impoverished, when we realize that we cannot purchase God's favor with our own spiritual resources and are completely dependent on God's grace. We admit our sin and mourn over its

We are spiritually impoverished and must remember that we have nothing to offer God to earn our place with him. We would never make it in this life without his gift of grace. When we recognize this fact, we must mourn over our sin and failure. This creates in us a humility, a meekness that leads us to both depend on God and to abandon arrogance toward others. Being devoid of our own righteousness, we hunger and thirst for that righteousness that only God can give.

This attitude of humility and dependence on God changes the way we treat other people. A man who realizes his own spiritual poverty can be merciful instead of judgmental, critical or demeaning toward others. One who mourns over sin becomes pure in heart, his desire for the world and its impurities replaced by an overwhelming passion for God and his glory. One who is meek toward God becomes a peacemaker among others. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are willing even to suffer for that righteousness for the glory of God.

Oh, every one of us struggles with this. It is not natural to admit your poverty of spirit. It is natural to be self-centered, to "do-it-yourself," to lift yourself up in pride. But we are called to live supernaturally, not naturally. No, that is too mystical. We are called to live Christlike lives!

The Beatitudes are, at their core, a description of the earthly life of Jesus Christ. While he was not a sinner like me, he was still humble and meek. He was merciful, pure, a peacemaker, and endured suffering for the glory of God. Jesus is the embodiment of the Beatitudes.

Each believer has a choice. We can live "normal" lives - by worldly values and fleshly power. Or we can live Christlike lives - living the Beatitudes. Let us choose the Christ-life.

Lord, you are great and glorious. I am weak. Nothing. But I thank you that you can use me even in my weakness. May I live the Christ-life you have set forth for me. Thank you, Lord. 

Think and Pray

Which of the readings spoke most powerfully to you today?
Is the Spirit of God moving you to repent of something you are doing, to begin something new, or to change something about your life as a result of your readings? What?


Do you live your life by the way of Christ defined in the Beatitudes, or are you governed by more worldly values?

"Tempted" January 4 Readings: Genesis 8-10, Matthew 4, Psalm 3, Proverbs 1:8-9

Today's Readings - Genesis 8-10, Matthew 4, Psalm 3, Proverbs 1:8-9

Devotional - Tempted

It was only two days ago that we read of the tragic fall of Adam and Eve into sin in Genesis 3, where they chose to rebel against God and listen to Satan's lies. Today we read Matthew 4 and we see what happened when Satan brought all of his craftiness to bear against Jesus Christ. The outcome of this confrontation in the wilderness was very different from the one in the Garden.

In the Garden, Satan convinced Adam and Eve that God's Word was not true or trustworthy. In the wilderness, Jesus exposed his life and magnified the God of Truth, testifying that the Word of God was the source of life, better even than bread he could create from stones with his power. 

In the Garden, Satan told Adam and Eve that they needed to go out on their own to find the most out of life. Only through disobedience could they become "like gods" - reaching their full potential. But Jesus would not glorify himself and refused to "put the Lord to the test." He was focused on God's glory, not his own. 

In the Garden, Adam and Eve chose to give up all that God had given them to go their own way, but in the wilderness, Jesus told Satan to leave, because he was going to worship the Lord and serve him only. With the word of God, our Savior sent the devil running. 

The garden was the beginning of sin, but the wilderness was the beginning of the end of Satan. In that cosmic confrontation, Jesus did what we could not; he said no to sin. Because of that, he was the pure and sinless Lamb of God who could die for our sins instead of his own. And now he lives to not only wash away our sins but to free us from their power over our lives. Because of what Jesus did in the wilderness, he could go to the cross for us. Because he went to cross for us we can be freed from slavery to sin.

It is the ultimate tragedy of my life (and perhaps yours) that we spend so much time wallowing in the sin Jesus died to free us of. Those of us who have been redeemed and forgiven have the power of Christ to say no to temptation as he did that day. 

I have failed so often I sometimes want to give up. I have followed the example of the first human pair more times than I can count. But Jesus defeated my enemy and now through his amazing work of grace I have victory instead of defeat, power to overcome my weakness - all the resources of God. 

Life can seem overwhelming, even crushing at times. But remember this, the one who stood strong against all that Satan could throw at him dwells within us and by the Spirit empowers us to stand. Do not lose heart or grow faint. There is power. There is strength. Defeat is never final and sin never has the last word in the life of God's saints. 

Father, we thank you that our Savior was the Victor over the one who defeated us. We will rely on your power and grace every step of the way. May this year be one in which we are "more than conquerors" through Christ and his work in us. 

Think and Pray

Which of the readings spoke most powerfully to you today?
Is the Spirit of God moving you to repent of something you are doing, to begin something new, or to change something about your life as a result of your readings? What?

Remember that you, as one who has been redeemed, have the strength of Jesus against temptation. His forgiveness washes away your sins and his power strengthens you against sin.

"Loved" January 3 Readings: Genesis 6-7, Matthew 3, Psalm 2:7-12, Proverbs 1:7

Today's Readings - Genesis 6-7, Matthew 3, Psalm 2:7-12, Proverbs 1:7

Devotional - Loved

As Jesus came up out of the waters of baptism, the Father looked down from heaven on his obedient Son and gave his imprimatur on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.  In Matthew 3:17, the Father said,

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”  

Jesus was the only person who has ever drawn air on this earth who was able to please the Father fully.  The rest of us have failed; we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  But Jesus was the righteous and sinless Son, and with him, the Father was pleased. 

How is it good news for a sinner like me that God is pleased with his Son? According to God's Word, we who believe are "in Christ" - clothed in the righteousness of Christ. In other words, God treats us on the basis of who Jesus in!

The sinless Christ bore our sins in his body and paid for them fully.  When we turn from our sins and trust Christ, our sins are fully forgiven and we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. 

So, when the Father looked down on the Son he was “well-pleased.”  Now, I am clothed in the righteousness of Christ and God deals with me not on the basis of who I am (a hell-deserving sinner) but on the basis of the righteousness of Christ.  God is pleased with me because I am in Christ. 

That is true when I succeed or when I fail.  That is true when I feel good or feel bad. My relationship with the Father does not depend on what I do but on my relationship with the Son.

That is not an excuse for me to sin. But I do not serve God so that so that I can somehow become worthy or accepted.  I am accepted in Christ. I am loved in Christ. God is pleased with this sinner in Christ. Because of that love, I live for him. I serve him. I love him. I bring my body under submission so that I can better glorify him.  Living the right way does not earn me points with God, but it brings honor to the God who clothed me in Christ. 

Psalm 2:11-12 tells us,

“Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Kiss the Son.”  

I often struggle with my own failures and my fear of what others will think or what they might say about me. But I must remember that I am loved and accepted in Christ. In Christ. Because of who Jesus in - the Son whom God loves!

Even as I struggle and fail, I need to keep my heart focused on the unshakable, eternal, unconditional love of the Father. 

Father, I thank you for the blood of Christ that washed away my sins and the robes of righteousness in which you have clothed me.  I want to do better, to walk in righteousness and in the fullness of the Spirit as a response of love to you, as a way to bring glory to you and so that I may serve you better.  But I thank you that I do not have to earn your love. 

Think and Pray

Which of the readings spoke most powerfully to you today?
Is the Spirit of God moving you to repent of something you are doing, to begin something new, or to change something about your life as a result of your readings? What?


Do you do your Christian duties and works in an attempt to gain the favor and love of God?
Or do you accept the love of God in Christ, rejoice in his love, and serve out of a full heart of joy?

"Eating Desert Sand" January 2 Readings: Genesis 3-5, Matthew 2, Psalm 2:1-6, Proverbs 1:5-6

Today's Readings - Genesis 3-5, Matthew 2, Psalm 2:1-6, Proverbs 1:5-6

Devotional - Eating Desert Sand

Genesis 3 deserves a month of devotionals all on its own. In this chapter, we see the path of temptation that Satan sets before us; we see the ease with which we are duped by his lies; we see the terrible effects of sin and the curse it brings on our lives; and most gloriously, we see the intent of God to redeem (3:16) as he promises to send one who will crush the Serpent's head.  

But I was struck by the first line in the chapter, “The serpent was more crafty than any other…” Of course, we know from the rest of Scripture that this serpent was the rebel Satan. He has an ability to deceive human beings into making bad choices that cost us God's blessings and bring judgment on us.

Consider the irony of the situation. God gave Adam and Eve a paradise – a place beyond our wildest imaginations. Beauty. Joy. Sustenance. Companionship. Pleasure. What more could they ask for? And all God required was that they would honor his Lordship to him by refusing to eat of one tree. One tree out of a thousand? A million? That one tree belonged to God and they were to treat it as holy in obedience to the Father.

Could God have been any better to Adam and Eve?

And yet, Satan was able to convince this first human pair that God was against them, that he was robbing them of the joy of life, that he was holding them back. Look at his question. 

“Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 

With these crafty words, Satan turned the goodness of God into meanness - how could he withhold that wonderful tree from them? Was he that cruel and oppressive?  He made the gift of God seem like a burden. 

Then, Satan made an assertion about God's warning that disobedience would bring death. Not so, he said.

“You will not surely die!” 

The Liar of Liars calls the God of Truth a liar – and Adam and Eve bought it. Satan has been calling the truth of God's words into question ever since. The Bible isn't accurate. You can't trust what it says. Its teachings are outdated and have been replaced by the wisdom of today's experts. You can ignore God's word and cast it aside without concern or consequence. You will not surely die. 

Finally, he said, “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

God is trying to hold you down and keep you back. If you want to reach your potential and get the most out of life, you must cast off the shackles of God's control and do as you please. Obeying God will ruin your life, or limit its potential at the least. No one should be Lord over you! You will only be "all you can be" if you "do your own thing."

It was nothing but a lie, a mirage in the desert. All Satan offered was a single piece of fruit. It would cost them paradise, the blessing of God, intimacy with God, the life that God had created for them. They gave it all up for one bite of fruit. Satan convinced them that one bite of one piece of fruit was better than all that God would give them. 

Adam and Eve fell to the lies of Satan and brought death and destruction into this world. Still today we listen to Satan's lies. We too often fall prey to the belief that God's commands are oppressive, that we can get away with disobedience, that our lives will be better if we walk our own paths instead of God's. And as we listen to those lies we find again that all Satan offers is a mirage. Time and again we drink desert sand instead of the water of life that comes from God when we give our lives to him. 

It is the Word, this Word that we have committed ourselves to reading, that exposes those lies so that we may walk in the truth. This is the year we drink the water of life instead of Satan's desert sand! 

Lord, you are Truth. May we listen to your truth and to God’s Word rather than to the lies of the Enemy. Let this year be the year that we expose the works of darkness with the light of truth. May we stop settling for Satan's desert sand and drink deeply from your living water. 

Think and Pray

Which reading spoke most powerfully to you today?
Are you drinking the desert sand of deception or building your life on the truth of God's word?

A New Year's Bible Reading Challenge - 2019

Studies have shown that consistent Bible reading is the key to spiritual growth. The Christian who reads his or her Bible faithfully tends to grow in every other way. The believer who does not will struggle. It is no simple panacea - one must apply what is read, "be a doer of the word, and not a hear only, deceiving yourself." But your chief spiritual resolution this year should be to be a student of the word.

This is year 6 of our Southern Hills Bible Reading Challenge, and we are going back to the format we have used in the majority of those years. We have varied a couple of times with chronological reading plans, but this year we are doing the standard plan - reading from the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Psalms, and Proverbs. Doing this, we will read the entire Bible in one year.

Obviously, while all the Bible is inspired and useful, some of it is more inspirational for devotional purposes than others, perhaps. With this plan, when we are reading the dietary or ceremonial laws of Leviticus or the genealogies of 1 Chronicles, those passages (that have truth and value, but can be laborious to read) will be balanced by other passages.

I have also written a devotional which I will attach to the readings. Some may be new, some are revisions, others will be repeated from previous years. But please, if you only have time to do one thing, read what God wrote, not what I wrote!

This is not a legalistic thing. Many people get behind. If you do, you can follow along at your pace or just skip ahead. Do whatever you wish. There are no rules. But read the Bible! Read it regularly and deeply and consistently and passionately.

There is no substitute.

"Resolved" January 1 Readings: Genesis 1-2, Matthew 1, Psalm 1, Proverbs 1:1-4

Today's Readings - Genesis 1-2, Matthew 1, Psalm 1, Proverbs 1:1-4

Notes

In these daily readings, we will have a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of Psalms, and of Proverbs.

Today is a day of beginnings.

Devotional - Resolved

I want 2019 to be a year of change and growth for me. In many ways, last year was a good year, but in others, it was the toughest of my life - 3 surgeries, my first bout of cancer, and the realization that I am no spring chicken anymore. I am hoping to be "Comeback Player of the Year" in the Kingdom of God in 2019.

• I need to continue to lose weight and to get my body in order. 
• I desire to be more faithful in the reading and studying of God's Word. 
• I want to be more diligent in prayer as well. 
• I want to be more active in sharing my faith, both in Senegal (if my health allows) and in Sioux City. 
• I hope to devote more time to my writing ministry and finish several of the books I've got floating around my hard drive. 
• There are a number of ministry projects and other things I want to take care of in 2018. 

And it's all going to take a lot of work. If I want to accomplish any of those goals, I've got to give myself fully to those noble aspirations. I've got to make some significant changes. I need to use my time more wisely during the say so that I can get to bed at a better hour, get more sleep and have more time and energy during the day for the tasks I am seeking to accomplish. I need to turn off ESPN and NCIS to devote more time to that writing ministry, to prayer and to the other things I want to do. To add some things to my life I've got to give up some other things.

It's not going to be easy. It's going to be labor. Work. Struggle.

And then I read Genesis 1:3.

"And God said, 'Let there be light." 

And there was light. He spoke it into being. God didn't stress or strain to create the world. He spoke and it was. There was nothing - empty, void, shapeless, nothing. Then God spoke and there was something.

That is the God I serve. His power is unlimited and he is willing to release that power to enable me to become everything he wants me to be. Make sure you heard that correctly! I did not say that God would work to help me become everything I want to be. We need to stop sipping on that kind of man-centered poison. God will change me, transform me, renew me and empower me to be everything he wants me to be.

This year is a new adventure, a gift from God. God is not limited by what I used to be. He looked at emptiness and spoke to it, making it something. He can empower my life to be all he wants it to be. God's restoring and transforming grace is at work in me as it was in creation.

My success or failure this year depends on three things.

First, am I devoting myself to and engaging in the projects and purposes to which God has called me and for which God has gifted me? Am I living on God's agenda? If I am on my own agenda, I will likely fail. But if I am seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all the other things I desire will tend to fall in line as they should.

Second, am I depending on the power of the One who spoke the world into being? I've tried through my own moral will, through "doing my best," to do those things that need to be done. That is why I have consistently failed at those things that I have resolved. But God is powerful. If I am depending on his power and the fullness of his Spirit in me, I can do everything I need to do. I can walk in power, withstand storms, serve God, be all he wants me to be and do all he wants me to do.

Finally, my ability to discern the agenda of God and to walk in the power of God is directly related to my discipline in reading God's Word. The Christian life cannot be lived successfully without constant dependence on and obedience to the written word of God.

Psalm 1:3 makes this plain. The one who delights himself in the law of God and meditates on it day and night...

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

My desire, my prayer, is that this year, that might be me!

Father, I thank you that your grace is sufficient and that your power is unlimited. Nothing is impossible with you. We come to you this year asking for renewal, for power and strength, for a new experience of your grace. May this coming year, as we commit to reading your Word regularly, be a time of growth for each of us. Help each of us to follow through on our commitments to this Challenge.

Think and Pray

• Whatever your plans, hopes, and dreams are, will you commit yourself to Bible reading, prayer, and spiritual disciplines in the coming year? 
• Remember, in all of that, that our success depends on the power of God not your own will, strength or effort. Rely on him.