I was thinking about time this morning. Time is that which really has no real image or portrait. I know we measure it in hours, days, months, and so on, but that's not quite what I mean. To a person trying to recover from an addiction, the "rest of his life" sounds like and impossibility to abstain from whatever has been troubling him. To a ten year old kid who can't wait until his sixteenth birthday, six years is a long time to wait so that he can finally drive the dream car he might be imagining in his mind. To a person who is approaching his ninetieth birthday, he may look back and wonder where all the time has gone. How did ninety years go by so quickly?
Moses prayed a prayer that asked God to, "...teach us to number our days, so that we may present to You a heart of wisdom." Jesus told His followers to, "...not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." James in his letter reminds us that we, "...are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." None of us are guaranteed tomorrow, or the rest of today for that matter. We have no assurance that our lives will go on for a long time or a short time. What we do know is that we are here today, this moment, and this is where these verses can be an exhortation for us.
We live each day one day at a time. We've heard it said that yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not promised, so make the most of today. That's good advice especially for the follower of Jesus. We can live today with a view of being the type of person God calls us to be. We can utilize our time in each day to make the best use of the hours we've been given. We can shape our attitude and thinking to purposefully remember God's promises to us, and His instructions to us as to how we can and should live. The past is over. The future is in the hand of our Almighty Savior, who wants nothing but our best and His glory through our lives. We can choose to live with this mindset-today.
This doesn't mean that we don't set goals for the future, we should. Nor does it ignore the reality that sometimes past actions have negative impact on our lives today. What it offers us is the reality that negative consequences of the past on today will not last forever. There will be an end to the struggle. We know we can handle them-today. It also means that we can chart our course to achieving our goals, work toward them under the Lordship of Christ, faithfully doing what we're able to do-today.
We can do either of those for one day!
So no matter where we find ourselves on this continuum we call time, whether we're looking ahead into a future that seems so far away, or looking back wondering how we got to where we are now, it's a good idea under the mighty hand of our Savior Jesus to ask, how should I live-today? What should I BE, takes priority over, what should I DO. We will be amazed at how God will guide and create doors of opportunity as His good and perfect will unfolds upon the life that is devoted to Him for just one day-today!
My prayer for us all is to have a blessed day-today!
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
No Scripture Verse Needed
I saw a rare example of love this morning. I was at an assisted living facility where I serve as a chaplain and was visiting with a man who was there to see his wife. She has been a resident at this place for around two years, and is suffering from an ailment that greatly reduces her mental and emotional abilities. Eventually it will take her life, and that day seems to be approaching quickly. As we talked he shared some pictures with me of better times, times that were not that long ago, and he was very grateful for the days that he and his wife were able to live, share with their sons, and experience the joys and blessings that sometimes we take for granted.
Now she is in hospice care, and sleeps most of the time, yet he comes every day to see her, care for her, as he has every day for the past two years. She recognizes him when she wakes up, smiles and appreciates him being there, but those moments are few now and very fleeting. Yet, this man comes each day, stays all day until the evening, and lovingly cares for his wife in the best way he knows how.
As we talked I could sense the burden in his soul, the unvoiced hurt of seeing his wife of more than sixty years in such a hurtful and weakened condition, and his own loneliness. He missed his wife. But he still spoke of God's grace, His control in all things, and that somehow he finds strength and courage to "dig in" as he put it, and go forward and get things done that need to be done.
I was very deeply moved by the depth of his love and devotion to his wife who is in desperate need of his love and support. Even though she may not realize her own surroundings or condition the majority of the time, he is there for her. His love for her and commitment to care for her is not dependent on her acknowledgement. He is there regardless. If there is a more fitting example of the love of God in Christ, I have yet to see it. This husbands life and love is a living scripture verse, and speaks more beautifully of the love of Jesus, than the most eloquent sermon.
Now she is in hospice care, and sleeps most of the time, yet he comes every day to see her, care for her, as he has every day for the past two years. She recognizes him when she wakes up, smiles and appreciates him being there, but those moments are few now and very fleeting. Yet, this man comes each day, stays all day until the evening, and lovingly cares for his wife in the best way he knows how.
As we talked I could sense the burden in his soul, the unvoiced hurt of seeing his wife of more than sixty years in such a hurtful and weakened condition, and his own loneliness. He missed his wife. But he still spoke of God's grace, His control in all things, and that somehow he finds strength and courage to "dig in" as he put it, and go forward and get things done that need to be done.
I was very deeply moved by the depth of his love and devotion to his wife who is in desperate need of his love and support. Even though she may not realize her own surroundings or condition the majority of the time, he is there for her. His love for her and commitment to care for her is not dependent on her acknowledgement. He is there regardless. If there is a more fitting example of the love of God in Christ, I have yet to see it. This husbands life and love is a living scripture verse, and speaks more beautifully of the love of Jesus, than the most eloquent sermon.
Monday, August 6, 2018
Are You A Sacrifice?
For most followers of Christ a morning devotion or prayer time is a habit that we have developed and have found to be useful and beneficial. We'll spend some time reading the Bible and praying. I usually have my prayer time in the morning, but anytime is fine, the point is to spend some time alone with God in prayer and listening to His still voice apart from the hectic pace of our usual routine.
I noticed an interesting passage that made me think of the benefits of such a discipline. It is in Psalm 5:3, " O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch." This verse is in the ESV version of the Bible and I really appreciated the wording of this verse. The psalmist of course is referring to the ritualistic offering of an animal or grain sacrifice required of the Old Testament people of Israel. Fortunately, we who are followers of Jesus no longer need to offer such sacrifices because the perfect sacrifice, Jesus Himself, has been offered for us, once for all time and our sins are forgiven and wiped away because of that.
However, there is another sacrifice that we offer and are encouraged by Scripture to offer it each day. Romans 12:1 tells us to offer our very bodies, ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God. Isn't this what our devotion or prayer time is designed to do? It is there in those quiet moments that we recommit ourselves to obey our Savior. There is where we decide to follow Him throughout our coming day, or to review and evaluate the day as it draws near to a close. It is the time when we in prayerful decision and faith say, not my will, but Yours be done today Lord. That is the sacrifice that we are making.
Each day in our devotional time we decide to reject sin, fear, discouragement, sorrow, illness, poverty, lack, despair, and any other hurtful or negatives that we are so easily prone to. Conversely, we receive holiness, courage, motivation, hope, faith, joy, health, abundance, provision, encouragement, and other positives by faith, trusting our God to provide them all in His own way and time. Personally, I do this for real, and out loud. I say, verbally, " Lord I reject fear, discouragement...etc. and then, I receive holiness, courage, ...etc."
Our devotional time is when we are preparing ourselves to be a living sacrifice, not only so we can gain blessings, but so we can be people who pass them on to others and let them know that as God has done for us, so He will do for them through faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin.
Are you preparing a sacrifice today? You are the sacrifice! Maybe you need to start a devotional time as part of your daily routine. I would strongly encourage you to do so if you haven't yet. But as you do, remember that it's not just a good habit to develop, but rather it is an expression of Lordship and a willingness to follow our Lord where ever He leads, and into whatever plan He may have for us.
That is preparing a sacrifice, but then by faith, watch! Watch and see how God will bless, lead, comfort and fulfill the longings of our hearts!
I noticed an interesting passage that made me think of the benefits of such a discipline. It is in Psalm 5:3, " O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch." This verse is in the ESV version of the Bible and I really appreciated the wording of this verse. The psalmist of course is referring to the ritualistic offering of an animal or grain sacrifice required of the Old Testament people of Israel. Fortunately, we who are followers of Jesus no longer need to offer such sacrifices because the perfect sacrifice, Jesus Himself, has been offered for us, once for all time and our sins are forgiven and wiped away because of that.
However, there is another sacrifice that we offer and are encouraged by Scripture to offer it each day. Romans 12:1 tells us to offer our very bodies, ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God. Isn't this what our devotion or prayer time is designed to do? It is there in those quiet moments that we recommit ourselves to obey our Savior. There is where we decide to follow Him throughout our coming day, or to review and evaluate the day as it draws near to a close. It is the time when we in prayerful decision and faith say, not my will, but Yours be done today Lord. That is the sacrifice that we are making.
Each day in our devotional time we decide to reject sin, fear, discouragement, sorrow, illness, poverty, lack, despair, and any other hurtful or negatives that we are so easily prone to. Conversely, we receive holiness, courage, motivation, hope, faith, joy, health, abundance, provision, encouragement, and other positives by faith, trusting our God to provide them all in His own way and time. Personally, I do this for real, and out loud. I say, verbally, " Lord I reject fear, discouragement...etc. and then, I receive holiness, courage, ...etc."
Our devotional time is when we are preparing ourselves to be a living sacrifice, not only so we can gain blessings, but so we can be people who pass them on to others and let them know that as God has done for us, so He will do for them through faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin.
Are you preparing a sacrifice today? You are the sacrifice! Maybe you need to start a devotional time as part of your daily routine. I would strongly encourage you to do so if you haven't yet. But as you do, remember that it's not just a good habit to develop, but rather it is an expression of Lordship and a willingness to follow our Lord where ever He leads, and into whatever plan He may have for us.
That is preparing a sacrifice, but then by faith, watch! Watch and see how God will bless, lead, comfort and fulfill the longings of our hearts!
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Truth, Freedom, Division
One of the most sublime utterances of Jesus is found in John 8:31-32, "If you continue in my word then you are truly disciples of mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They are words of great promise yet great mystery for those who heard them back in that day, as well as today. They promise to make people free, but free from what? They responded to Jesus by saying they were not slaves, what did He mean free? He told them of the slavery that holds us all in a death grip and that is sin. The reality of sin is that each one of us is born into it, and it is inbred into us from day one. It enslaves us and we are prone to do things that cause hurt to ourselves and those around us, and eventually will destroy our lives and lead us to death for eternity apart from Jesus Christ and all of the new reality in glory.
Jesus said that the way to freedom is conditional. It is dependent on what we decide to do about Jesus Christ and His word preserved for us in the Bible. He said if we continue in His word, then we are His followers, those who are learning from Him daily. That is the path to freedom. Any other way is a cruel delusion and snare of the enemy of all humanity the devil. It isn't accepted by very many in today's culture that there is only one singular path to peace with God and to heaven, but Jesus said that is exactly the case. No one can come to the Father but by Jesus, and even then it is the convicting, drawing action of the Holy Spirit that enables us to move forward to decision. Offensive as it may be to some, that is the path to freedom taught by Jesus.
When truth is received, it brings the freedom from sin that we all need. But it also brings a division between people. Now, this might sound like a bad thing, since we as a nation seem to be more divided than ever before in our history. But it isn't. Rather, it is a positive division that reaches across all races, economies, classes, even families. It divides humanity into two categories- those who belong to God through faith in Christ and those who do not. It is those who are continuing in the faith and those who are not. It is those who are continuing in the words of Christ in obedience and deepening faith who are His followers. They will be increasingly distinct from the corruption and sin of this world and will be able to demonstrate the higher life of a follower of Jesus Christ. This is a godly and positive division enacted by Jesus Himself.
So don't be afraid of the right type of division. Take your stand for the truth, and demonstrate the path of freedom to people who are enslaved, and do not even realize it. It is no accident that the freedoms we enjoy in our nation were derived from truth, the truth of the Bible that our founders recognized. It will be no accident for you either, when you stand for truth in your personal life, that freedom from sin and that which destroys will be increasingly abundant for you. The truth really will set you and me free.
Jesus said that the way to freedom is conditional. It is dependent on what we decide to do about Jesus Christ and His word preserved for us in the Bible. He said if we continue in His word, then we are His followers, those who are learning from Him daily. That is the path to freedom. Any other way is a cruel delusion and snare of the enemy of all humanity the devil. It isn't accepted by very many in today's culture that there is only one singular path to peace with God and to heaven, but Jesus said that is exactly the case. No one can come to the Father but by Jesus, and even then it is the convicting, drawing action of the Holy Spirit that enables us to move forward to decision. Offensive as it may be to some, that is the path to freedom taught by Jesus.
When truth is received, it brings the freedom from sin that we all need. But it also brings a division between people. Now, this might sound like a bad thing, since we as a nation seem to be more divided than ever before in our history. But it isn't. Rather, it is a positive division that reaches across all races, economies, classes, even families. It divides humanity into two categories- those who belong to God through faith in Christ and those who do not. It is those who are continuing in the faith and those who are not. It is those who are continuing in the words of Christ in obedience and deepening faith who are His followers. They will be increasingly distinct from the corruption and sin of this world and will be able to demonstrate the higher life of a follower of Jesus Christ. This is a godly and positive division enacted by Jesus Himself.
So don't be afraid of the right type of division. Take your stand for the truth, and demonstrate the path of freedom to people who are enslaved, and do not even realize it. It is no accident that the freedoms we enjoy in our nation were derived from truth, the truth of the Bible that our founders recognized. It will be no accident for you either, when you stand for truth in your personal life, that freedom from sin and that which destroys will be increasingly abundant for you. The truth really will set you and me free.
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