Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

February 14, 2010

Showing Real Love

READ: John 13:1-5,33-35

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. -John 13:35

Chinese New Year happens to fall on the same day as Valentine's Day in 2010. While these two festivals have very different origins, there are some similarities in how they are celebrated. In both cases, loved ones give gifts to express love for one another. Whether it is giving roses to your beloved on Valentine's Day or hong bao (red packets with money) to family and friends on Chinese New Year, they represent tokens of love.

Our Lord Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to "love one another," because "by this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35).

The love that our Lord wants His disciples to have for one another is different from the romantic kind displayed between loving couples and the brotherly kind shown between friends or family. It's an unselfish love. The Greek word John used in Jesus' command is agape-God's kind of love that expects nothing in return. That was what Jesus showed to His disciples when He "poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet" (v.5). That is the kind of love He displayed when He went to the cross for us.

Today, look for someone to whom you can show such unselfish love.  - C. P. Hia

Lord, teach us the secret of loving,
The love You are asking today;
Then help us to love one another;
For this we most earnestly pray. -Anon.

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. -Galatians 6:2
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The Right Word at the Right Time

Proverbs 15:23 contains a powerful truth,

A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

Notice that this verse talks about not just a word spoken, but a word spoken in due season-at the proper time.  How good it is!

It is critical for words of encouragement, words of comfort, words of counsel, words of wisdom, and even words of correction to be spoken in due season.  Timing is just as important as content.

I read once about a lady who invited family and friends over for Thanksgiving dinner.  When they received the invitation, they let her know that they were going to come.  In fact, they were looking forward to the day.

She really put on quite a spread.  She baked pies and bread; she cooked a turkey with all of the trimmings-an incredible meal.  When the time came for her guests to arrive, she lit candles and put the finishing touches on decorating the house. 

The only problem was, no one showed up.

Then she remembered the calendar she had picked up from a local business.  On that calendar it said that Thanksgiving was on the 21st rather than on the last Thursday of the month as it normally is every year.  At the time she thought it was strange, but she figured that they must have moved the holiday.

She had prepared her sumptuous banquet a week early!  The content was great but the timing was not so great.

So it is with our words.  They can be just the right words, perfect for the need of the person, but if not delivered at the right time, they can fall short.

Be sensitive to pick the right time to speak as well as the right words to say.
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Read: Philippians 2:1-4

Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. - Philippians 2:2

TODAY IN THE WORD
Everyone in China has a file of documents that comprises their official identity. They include university diplomas, grades, test scores, and work evaluations. Because of their value, they are locked up tight in government offices. But two years ago, the documents belonging to Xue Longlong "vanished," supposedly lost when files were moved from one floor of a government building to another. He believes that corrupt officials sold the files to people looking for fresh starts and better jobs. Without a file, he has only been able to get positions serving drinks and selling real estate door-to-door. His fiancée left him, and his mother had a nervous breakdown. Many such cases of identity theft have been reported across China.
Fortunately for us, our identity in Christ is in safer hands, a truth undergirding today's reading from Philippians, often called the "epistle of joy." The "if" phrases in verse 1 are not really conditionals, because the conditions are not uncertain. "If" here serves as rhetorical device, more like "since" or "because." We don't need to think about whether or not we have "any encouragement from being united with Christ" or "any comfort from his love"-we know we do!

We also have fellowship with His Holy Spirit and a Christ-like ability to show compassion. Because we are united with Christ, we should be united in Christ, demonstrating a oneness of love, spirit, and purpose. We should not live based on pride and selfish ambition, but rather within the body of Christ we should be humbly putting His glory and others' needs ahead of our own (vv. 2-4).

The hinge phrase is "make my joy complete" (v. 2). By living in a manner worthy of the gospel, the Philippians could bring joy to the Lord as well as to Paul. Their unity, humility, and selflessness would stimulate or fill up his joy, representing a kind of completion of his efforts to plant a church and disciple them as new believers.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Valentine's Day is about love, which the world often represents as chubby cupids shooting arrows of romance into lucky people's hearts. Love from a Christian perspective, however, is all about the humility and attitude of service found in today's passage. What if we as believers made this holiday a day for expressing our love in Christ for one another? Perhaps one or more of our Valentine's Day cards could be a "timely word" (Prov. 15:23) to a fellow believer who could use some encouragement.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 15, 2010

Defining Failure

READ: Hebrews 11:24-34
Who through faith . . . out of weakness were made strong. -Hebrews 11:33-34

During the Great Depression, many people in the US lived in shantytowns made up of plywood, tarps, and blankets. These decrepit dwellings, known as "Hoovervilles," housed those who had been evicted from their homes. Many blamed President Herbert Hoover for the economic woes.

Ironically, Hoover's apparent ineffectiveness as a leader was in sharp contrast to his previous record. Earlier, Hoover's expertise in geological engineering led to successful mining projects in Australia and China. He also effectively spearheaded humanitarian efforts. But when the stock market crashed in October 1929, President Hoover was in circumstances beyond his control. He would be forever tied with the economic depression of the 1930s.

One major fiasco, however, does not mean one's whole life is a failure. What if we remembered Abraham only as a deceiver (Gen. 12:10-20), Moses as disobedient to God (Num. 20:1-13), or David as a murderer? (2 Sam. 11). Despite their sins, these men are remembered for their persevering faith: "who through faith . . . out of weakness were made strong" (Heb. 11:33-34).

Our life is not a failure if we've repented of our sins. God can still use us to serve Him.  - Dennis Fisher

The lessons we learn from our failures
Are lessons that help us succeed,
And if we are wise and we heed them,
Then failure is just what we need. -D. De Haan

Success often rises out of the ashes of failure.
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A Word of Encouragement

I want you to look today at a passage of Scripture that helps guide us in what to say, who to say it to, and when and how to say it.  Isaiah 50:4-5,

"The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.  He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.  The Lord GOD has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away."

First, we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.  He will teach us how to speak a word in season to the person who is weary.  As it says, He will awaken our ear.

Jesus made it very clear in Matthew, chapter 10 verses 19-20, that the Holy Spirit is quite able to give us the right words to say at the right time.  In Isaiah 51:16, God says, "I have put My words in your mouth."  In Isaiah 57:19, He says, "I create the fruit of the lips."

Chances are there is someone in your world today who needs to be given a word of encouragement.  The key is being sensitive and available.  Sometimes we are so embroiled in our own struggles that we don't even give a thought to the fact that there may be someone around us who needs encouragement...a coworker, a neighbor, your spouse, your child.

I personally think our children need to be given encouragement every day.  Like the little boy said, "Daddy, let's play darts.  I'll throw, and you say 'Wonderful!'"  Children crave affirmation and encouragement.

There is someone who you either have contact with now, or you will have contact with, who needs encouragement.  And you are God's messenger.
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Read: James 1:2-8

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. - James 1:2

TODAY IN THE WORD
Death Valley, California, is one of the hottest, most barren places on earth; it averages less than two inches of rain per year. In the spring of 2005, a once-in-a-lifetime event happened-six inches of rain fell! The result was astonishing. Colorful wildflowers-pink, purple, orange, white, blue, and golden-bloomed in the desert. Where there had been only sand, salt flats, and black basalt mountainsides, there sprang up a kaleidoscopic rush of blossoms. These flowers' seeds have coatings so thick they can lie dormant for decades, waiting patiently for enough moisture to grow. When they do, for a few months Death Valley becomes a showcase for the beauty of God's creation.
What a striking picture of today's reading! Christians who "consider it pure joy" in the midst of trials and sufferings are, from the world's perspective, as unexpected as flowers in the desert. James's instructions go against all reason and emotion.

How and why are we supposed to do this? To "consider" or "count" (ESV) is like putting a label on something. We're not being told to fake a feeling, but rather to rejoice in the results of a spiritual process. As with yesterday's reading, when Christ endured the cross for "the joy set before him" (Heb. 12:2), we are to count trials as "pure joy"-uncorrupted by cynicism or doubt-because testing develops perseverance and perseverance leads to maturity (vv. 3-4). The experience doesn't feel pleasant, and it might even involve shame and suffering, but the spiritual outcome can transcend the feelings and inspire present joy.

In this reading, James has two other pieces of advice for getting through trials. One is to ask God for wisdom (v. 5). Wisdom is practical knowledge about how to live in godly ways, especially under difficult circumstances. The other is to "believe and not doubt" (v. 6). Affirming what we know to be true about God is faith, a rock that cannot be moved by any storm of life.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are you undergoing trials and suffering? It need not be as dramatic as the persecution recounted at the beginning of the devotion two days ago. It might be a neighbor who spreads the word to stay away from the "crazy religious person" next door. It might be malicious workplace gossip prompted by resentment of your integrity. It might be a child who is straying from the Lord. To be able to consider such things "pure joy" goes against our grain and requires complete dependence on the Lord.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 16, 2010

Detecting Toxins

READ: Galatians 1:3-10
There are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. -Galatians 1:7

San Francisco and New York City are using bluegill fish to check for the presence of toxins in their water supply, which could be a possible target for a terrorist attack. A small number of bluegills are kept in a tank at the bottom of some water treatment plants because the fish are sensitive to chemical imbalances in their environment. When a disturb-ance is present in the water, the bluegills react against it.

Like these bluegills, Paul wanted the Galatians to beware of and react against any toxic disturbance in the "true gospel" that was being preached. The toxin was defined as the false principle that God grants acceptance to people and considers them righteous on the basis of their obedience to a set of rules (especially circumcision and dietary laws). In short, obedience to the law was needed, apart from faith in Jesus. This false teaching was a toxic disturbance of the truth and the Galatians were told to react strongly against it. Paul said that anyone preaching a gospel that is not based on grace through faith in Christ alone should be accursed (Gal. 1:8-9).

Let's faithfully study the Scriptures so we can detect the toxins of false teaching and proclaim the truth of God's wonderful salvation through faith in Jesus.  - Marvin Williams

Lord, teach us from Your holy Word
All error to discern,
And by Your Spirit's light help us
From Satan's snares to turn. -Bosch

If you know the truth, you can discern what's false.
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Sow Good...Reap Blessing

As I mentioned in yesterday's devotional, God wants to bless your life, and the richer, more frequent blessings come to those who do a particular thing.  We find that thing in Galatians 6:9-10,
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

The seasons of blessing come due more often to those who consistently sow, to those who seize opportunities that are afforded them to do good.  Notice again in verse 9, Let us not grow weary while doing good.  Verse 10 says, Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all.

This same truth is reinforced by verse 7, which states,

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

If we sow good, we will reap good.  A season of blessing will come.

What many Christians tend to do is stand before a field in which they planted no seed, and pray, "God, give me a miracle harvest."

Now, God is God, and He certainly can do things out of the ordinary.  But He also works according to laws and principles that He has set into motion.  One of those laws is the law of sowing and reaping.

Whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap.  Therefore, do not grow weary while doing good.  In due season, you will reap, if you do not faint.  When you have opportunity, do good.  Get some seed in the ground.

Because the richer and more frequent blessings come to those who sow good.
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Read: Psalm 4

You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. - Psalm 4:7

TODAY IN THE WORD
Eighth-century missionary Boniface prayed: "Eternal God, the refuge of all your children, in our weakness you are our strength, in our darkness our light, in our sorrow our comfort and peace. May we always live in your presence, and serve you in our daily lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord." Amen.
This is the prayer of a man who delighted in the Lord. David was such a man as well, and in Psalm 4 he taught us that joy is to be a constant dimension of the life of faith. How is this possible? Joy is not primarily a feeling we muster up, but rather it flows naturally from dwelling in God's presence. In other words, cultivating a close relationship with the Lord brings joy, because He is the source and giver of all true joy.

In Psalm 4, David was in trouble, as seen in the four requests embedded in his invocation: "answer me," "give me relief," "be merciful to me," and "hear my prayer" (v. 1). He looked to God for help, not because he deserved it but on the basis of God's mercy and faithfulness. He knew that God does indeed answer prayer (vv. 2-3). No matter how far away He might seem, there is no excuse for turning to false gods. We must remain faithful (vv. 4-5).

In private, we should search our hearts and discipline our thoughts to follow truth. In public, we should keep trusting and not give up fulfilling our religious duties. Waiting for God to answer and act is difficult, but it's no excuse for faithlessness. Doubt may be natural, but His blessing is supernatural and sure (vv. 6-7). The light of God's face will shine on us again.

David spoke of joy filling his heart as if it were an accomplished fact, so much so that he closed his psalm with an announcement that he was going to bed (v. ! Because of God's presence in his life, he wouldn't lose any sleep over his troubles.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If we asked you for a mental picture for joy, probably the first picture that would spring to mind is not one of someone sleeping peacefully. But since that's the picture David left us with, it's worth our consideration. Hard-working Americans like to put up verse plaques in their homes that begin, "Unless the Lord builds the house . . ." But the very next verse reads: "In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-for he grants sleep to those he loves" (Ps. 127:1-2).

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 17, 2010

In The Car Wash

READ: Isaiah 43:1-13
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. -Isaiah 43:2

I'll never forget my first experience using an automatic car wash. Approaching it with the dread of going to the dentist, I pushed the money into the slot, nervously checked and rechecked my windows, eased the car up to the line, and waited. Powers beyond my control began moving my car forward as if on a conveyor belt. There I was, cocooned inside, when a thunderous rush of water, soap, and brushes hit my car from all directions. What if I get stuck in here or water crashes in? I thought irrationally. Suddenly the waters ceased. After a blow-dry, my car was propelled into the outside world again, clean and polished.

In the midst of all this, I remembered stormy times in my life when it seemed I was on a conveyor belt, a victim of forces beyond my control. "Car-wash experiences," I now call them. I remembered that whenever I passed through deep waters my Redeemer had been with me, sheltering me against the rising tide (Isa. 43:2). When I came out on the other side, which I always did, I was able to say with joy and confidence, "He is a faithful God!"

Are you in the middle of a car-wash experience? Trust God to bring you through to the other side. You'll then be a shining testimony of His keeping power.  - Joanie Yoder

How wonderful to know that He
Who watches from above
Will always keep us sheltered in
His ever-present love! -King

A tunnel of testing can produce a shining testimony.
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Real Treasure

Proverbs 15:6 says,

In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.

Notice that this verse does not just declare there is treasure in the house of the righteous.  It says there is much treasure in the house of the righteous.

You can also find treasure in the house of the wicked, but Solomon says it is laced with trouble.  The income of the wicked has a bunch of trouble with it.

But the same is not true for those who are right with God.  When the treasure is found in their house, it does not have the same trouble that it does when it is found in the house of the wicked.

If you read on, the Lord shares two things that must accompany this treasure if it is going to be enjoyed.  First, you must have a right relationship with God.  Proverbs 15:16says, Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble.

It is better to have almost nothing and have a right relationship with God than to have everything money can buy and not have a relationship with God.  We must get our priorities right.

The second thing we need to have is a right relationship with people, lest the treasure become hollow and become a curse.  Proverbs 15:17says, Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.

Some people have more prosperity than they know what to do with, but all of their relationships fail.  They do not have love.  Consequently, there is a vacuum they can never fill with things, that they can never fill by accumulating more possessions.

Pursue your relationship with God, and a right relationship with people.  Then you will enjoy the treasure God gives you! 
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Read: John 15:1-15

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. - John 15:11

TODAY IN THE WORD
Americans have religious faith . . . sort of. A 2009 survey by Parade magazine found that 69 percent of Americans believe in God, 77 percent pray outside of religious services, and 75 percent believe parents should give children a religious upbringing. But 50 percent rarely or never attend worship services, and 24 percent labeled themselves "spiritual but not religious." Only 12 percent identified their own religion as the one true faith, while 59 percent said all religions are valid.
Many Americans seem to be confused. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). And according to today's reading, no one lives a joyful life of faith and obedience except by abiding in Him. Jesus taught this to His disciples "so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (v. 11). When we abide in Christ, joy also abides-His joy and our joy intermingle. How incredible that the very joy of Christ Himself can be experienced by us in our relationship with Him! Just as Christ's joy flowed from obedience to His Father's will, so too does our joy flow from obedience to Christ's commands (v. 10).

Spiritual abiding is conveyed mainly through the metaphor of a vineyard (vv. 1-8). The gardener (God the Father) tends the vine branches, a care that includes pruning and cutting. How does He choose what to do? The criterion is fruitfulness, not in a business sense of profit, but in a spiritual sense of virtue and godliness. The vine (God the Son) is the source of that spiritual fruitfulness and life. The branches (believers) have only one function, to bear fruit, and only one way to do that, by abiding in the vine. If we are attentive to Christ's words, they take root in our hearts and bring forth obedient prayers and other actions (v. 7). One specific and the supreme example of this kind of obedience is sacrificial love (vv. 12-13).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Those of us familiar with gardening know there's a lot of hard work involved. One doesn't plant squash and walk away, or smile at beans and tomatoes in passing, and expect fresh vegetables to grow. A garden needs water. It needs good soil. It needs us to get down on our hands and knees and pull some weeds. It needs us to keep an eye out for pests and take steps if any are found. Abiding in Christ likewise hard work takes commitment in order to cultivate this relationship.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 18, 2010

Tell It All

READ: Psalm 62
Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. -Psalm 62:8

A clerk who helped me purchase a small digital voice recorder told me that he kept one just like it in his car when he worked in California. "When I began driving home after work I switched it on," he said, "and I talked about everything that happened that day on the job, good and bad. When I pulled into my driveway, I hit the erase button." Then he smiled. After telling everything to his voice recorder, he apparently had no need to go over the day's problems with his wife or family.

It reminded me of how often I needlessly rehearse my disappointments and problems to others instead of telling them to God. The psalmist wrote: "Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us" (Ps. 62:. Twice he spoke of waiting silently for God, his rock and salvation (vv.1-2,5-7).

While there is great comfort in sharing our difficulties with a friend, we miss the greatest help if we fail to bring them to the Lord. Joseph Scriven said it so well:

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!  - David C. McCasland

No matter where we are, Jesus is only a prayer away.
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Overrated

We read in Proverbs 23:4,

Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease!

First, I want you to notice that this verse does not say don't work.  And it does not say don't work hard.  It says don't overwork.

There are some people in God's family who are not led, they are driven.  They are so focused on reaching their goals and achieving whatever level of success they are going after, that they are making a lot of sacrifices along the way.

But they are making the wrong sacrifices.  They are sacrificing their marriage and they are sacrificing their relationship with their kids.  Why?  Because they overwork.  And, friend, that is not healthy.

In fact, I would say that overworking is as unhealthy as not working.  You miss out on the grand things in life, the important things in life.  With some people, even their relationship with God gets squeezed out because they overwork.

You need to be motivated; you need to work hard; but you don't want to overdo it to the point that you don't have time for your children.  You don't want to work so hard that you don't have time for your spouse.  And you don't want to so overwork that you don't have time for your God. 

You are missing life if you are just after possessions, and you are sacrificing the more important things along the way.

How does your work life measure up today?  Are you overworking at the expense of your marriage, your family, and your relationship with God?  If so, determine today to get your life back in balance.

Overworking is overrated!   
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Read: Psalm 20

We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. - Psalm 20:5


TODAY IN THE WORD
In A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World, author Paul Miller offers six cures for cynicism in prayer. One is to "cultivate a childlike spirit": "Cry out for grace like a hungry child. As soon as I begin simply asking for help, I have become like a little child again. I've stopped becoming cynical. Oddly enough, my prayer is answered almost immediately because in the act of praying I've become like a child. . . . Instead of critiquing others' stories, watch the story our Father is weaving." He goes on to identify a childlike spirit as one that interprets life through the lens of Psalm 23 and our Good Shepherd's care for us.
In the life of the believer, answered prayer is a source of joy. Formally, Psalm 20 is a prayer of the king on the eve of battle, but more generally we can understand it as a petition that prayers for help to be answered. Like David, we can pray for God's name to protect us, for Him to grant us support, for Him to remember our worship and come to our aid, and for Him to give us the desires of our heart and make our plans succeed (vv. 1-5; cf. Ps. 37:4). The assumption is that God is great, we are in distress, we need His help, and that He will give it. When He does so-given the occasion, the picture is of a battle won and victory banners raised-we will shout for joy!

When it comes to war, some trust in horses, chariots, military armaments, and the size of the army. Humanly speaking, victory depends on abilities and resources. But we don't put our faith in such things. We trust in the Lord, who is sure to answer our prayers and save us. In the end, those who trust in chariots and horses end up on their knees, defeated and humbled, while we "rise up and stand firm" (vv. 6-9). The joy of answered prayer is joy in God's power and love.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
There are many good books available at bookstores or online to assist us with the spiritual discipline of prayer. One is the recent release mentioned in today's devotion, A Praying Life by Paul Miller. Other excellent resources include A Journey to Victorious Praying: Finding Discipline and Delight in Your Prayer Life by Bill Thrasher, and Hearing God's Voice by Henry and Richard Blackaby. Those with a more historical bent might prefer The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 19, 2010

If Day

READ: James 1:1-11
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. -James 1:2-3

February 19, 1942, was a fascinating day for Canada. It was "If Day"-a World War II staging of a fake Nazi invasion of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The intent was to show what it would be like "if" Canada fell under the harsh occupation of Nazi forces, and so that Canadians would support the war effort more fully.

As one person described the event: "If Day brought home the reality of Nazi occupation. Manitobans got a very bitter taste of nearly every aspect of Nazi brutality." The key word there is nearly. While "If Day" was a valiant attempt to educate people about danger in the world, it could not begin to recreate the actual suffering that was sweeping Europe.

Real trials in life are not ifs-they are whens. In fact, life's most profound lessons cannot simply be observed, they must be experienced. It is there, in actual seasons of heartache and loss, that we gain greater insights into life, faith, and our need of God. To that end, James wrote, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" (James 1:2-3).

Trials come because we live in a broken world, but we decide if we will learn the lessons taught. There are no "ifs" about it-it is an important way to grow.  - Bill Crowder

Though you cannot see the outcome,
Trust the Lord-He knows what's best;
Be assured He sees your trial,
And He's with you in your test. -Hess

Tough times can teach us to trust.
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Only Temporary

In our last devotional, we looked at Proverbs 23:4.  Today I want us to look at the next verse.  I will bet you can relate to it.  Verse 5 says,

Will you set your eyes on that which is not?  For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.

Does it ever seem to you that your money has wings?  That it just flies off more quickly than you would have ever imagined?!

Money can be very temporary, very transitory in nature.  Proverbs 27:24 reinforces that truth when it tells us,

For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.

You need to understand that wealth is temporary just like our time here is temporary.  What are the implications for how we live our lives?  As believers, it is so important for us to have a pilgrim mindset and realize that we are just passing through.

This world is not our home.  This life is a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.  If you begin to think that somehow things are permanent, and you plan as if it is all permanent, you are going to get off course in your life with God.

Moses is a great example of someone who made a choice to live life with the right priorities.  You can read about it in Hebrews 11.  In that chapter, Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than to enjoy all the riches of Egypt.

Moses had everything at his fingertips, but he made the right choice.  He said, "You know what?  There are more important things.  My priorities are different than this."  And his lifestyle changed pretty radically in a hurry.

But looking back, it's obvious that Moses made the right choice isn't it?  He changed the world and right now he is in heaven enjoying the presence of God.   
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Read: Psalm 98

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music. - Psalm 98:4

TODAY IN THE WORD
In Central and South America today, one of the most popular hymns among evangelical Christians is "No Hay Dios tan Grande," or "There's No God as Great." The music features a Hispanic folk tune, while the lyrics celebrate the "mighty wonders" God accomplishes in guiding His church. "Not by our weapons, nor by our power, but by your Spirit we are led." This song of joyous confidence is often accompanied not only by piano and guitars, but also by rhythm instruments including maracas and castanets.
In countless languages and circumstances around the globe, we Christians love to express our joy in the Lord through worship and singing! "Sing to the Lord a new song" has been the motto of generations of Christian musicians. The reason for our joy is God's salvation (vv. 1-3). He comes to our rescue to demonstrate His power, reveal His righteousness, and reaffirm His love. "All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God" (v. 3).

The sound of our joy is exuberant praise (vv. 4-6). Take a look at all the action verbs in this short psalm-sing, shout, burst into jubilant song, make music, shout for joy, resound, clap hands, sing together, sing before the Lord. Several musical instruments are also summoned, including harp, trumpets, and ram's horn. We are given a mental picture of a congregation or mass choir, along with a worship band or orchestra, joyfully and energetically making music.

The scope of our joyful song is worldwide (vv. 7-9). In the psalmist's vivid imagery, we see not only all nations joining together to praise the Lord but also all nature. The seas roar, the rivers clap their hands, and the mountains sing to honor their Creator. The power, righteousness, love, and justice of our God demand no less. As another psalm puts it: "Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!" (Ps. 47:1-2).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Making music before the Lord comes in many forms. Talented musicians audition for the choir or worship band. Others of us just put on a good CD and sing "joyful noises" in the shower. Gifted singers sing parts, the musical lines appropriate to their voices. Others of us just sing into the hymnbook so as not to throw our neighbor out of tune. No matter where you fall on the spectrum of talent, all of us can lift our voices to God, and He is honored and delighted by our joyful praises.


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 20, 2010

Parked For Now

READ: Numbers 9:19-23
I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. -Psalm 40:1

Parking my car has been a lifelong problem for me. It really wasn't a high priority with my driving instructor, so I never learned to back up into a parking space until many years later. He also skipped the parallel parking lesson, and I still avoid that unless there's enough space for two or three cars.

I've also struggled to understand a statement I heard when I was a young Christian: "God can't steer a parked car." I took that as a challenge to shift my life into motion, and along the way God would guide me in the right direction. It's an interesting thought, but it's not always the way God works. Occasionally, God does want us to "stay parked" for a while.

At times, when Moses was in the wilderness, God kept the Israelites in one place. He led them by a cloud, and when it stayed still for many days, "the children of Israel . . . did not journey" (Num. 9:19). Waiting isn't always easy, but sometimes God wants us to stay right where He has put us. The psalmist reminds us, "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart" (27:14).

You may feel that you're stuck and just spinning your wheels in your service for God. But keep your heart open to God's leading. Then you'll be ready to shift gears when you hear God say, "Let's go this way."  - Cindy Hess Kasper

Praying, resting, waiting, trusting-
These are words that tell a story;
As we wait for God to lead us,
He responds, "Just seek My glory." -Hess

God orders our stops as well as our steps.
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Untrustworthy

Proverbs 11:28 uncovers a powerful truth,

He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.

Solomon is giving us an important warning:  He who trusts in his riches will fall.  Why does he tell us this?  Because it is our natural tendency, when prosperity comes, to trust in that prosperity and to have that become our source of security.

As Psalm 62:10 says, If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them. There is a tendency in every human heart to do just that, and that is why God warns us.  If the blessing comes, if prosperity comes, if you achieve a degree of success, do not set your heart on the wealth.

Instead, make sure your trust remains in God because riches are not trustworthy.  In fact, if you trust in your wealth, you will fall!

The New Testament echoes this same truth in 1 Timothy 6:17.  In this passage, Paul is writing to his son in the faith, Timothy.  He is giving him some instructions to pass along to other believers,

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

Like Solomon, Paul is warning us that riches are uncertain.  Do not put your trust in them.  Instead, make sure your trust is in God.  If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.  And I like the last part.  He said to put your trust in God, Who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

Where is your trust today?  Are you trusting in your money and wealth?  Or is the object of your trust God?  I hope you will answer honestly.  If you find yourself trusting in riches, just remember, they are untrustworthy!     
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Read: Psalm 119:105-112

Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. - Psalm 119:111

TODAY IN THE WORD
Two years ago, the classic children's book, The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame, celebrated its 100th birthday. The four friends in the book, Mole, Water Rat, Badger, and Toad, launch and experience whimsical and creative adventures in lyrical prose that has appealed to generations of readers. Many illustrators have done their part in literally hundreds of editions to bring these characters and their stories to life for us.
Among classic books, the Bible as God's Word is of course in a category by itself. Do you open it expecting to find joy? The writer of Psalm 119 did. His joy in Scripture is quieter but no less powerful than the joy in Psalm 98 (see February 19).

The key is verse 111: "Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart." In the psalm's poetic parallelism, joy is connected with the idea of "heritage" or inheritance (NASB). The Bible is God's gift that incorporates and also transcends tradition and history, recorded for us by believers of old and divinely preserved by the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, it is God's revelation to us of what He has said and done for His people.

Paul saw it in the same terms when he commended the Ephesian elders "to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32). Because Scripture is the inspired written record of God's redemptive work in the world, it is indeed the joy of our hearts!

Today's reading also captures other truths of God's Word and our relationship to it. The Word guides us like a lamp along the path of righteousness. It preserves our life. We are called upon to honor it, obey it, and set our hearts upon it. But biblical truths aren't absorbed by osmosis. We have an ongoing responsibility to teach and learn them, as well as to obey them in the face of temptation and opposition.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
"The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart," wrote David. "They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb" (Ps. 19:7-14). If joy is found in God's Word, it can also be found in the discipline of Scripture memorization. Rather than thinking of it as a chore, consider it a taste of honey or the pursuit of joy. You can choose a verse or passage from this month's study to commit to memory as a way to keep the theme of joy in your heart and mind for days and weeks to come.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 21, 2010

Running In The Right Direction

READ: John 6:53-69
Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." -John 6:68
One of the most difficult experiences in my years as a pastor was telling a member of our church that her husband, her son, and her father-in-law had all drowned in a boating accident. I knew the news would shatter her life.

In the days following their tragic loss, I was amazed as she and her family responded with unusual faith. Sure, there was deep brokenness, haunting doubt, and confusion. But when nothing else made sense, they still had Jesus. Rather than deserting Him in the midst of their desperately difficult days, they ran to Him as the only source of hope and confidence.

This reminds me of the reaction of the disciples to Jesus. After some of them "went back and walked with Him no more" because He was hard to understand (John 6:66), Jesus turned to His inner circle, and asked, "Do you also want to go away?" (v.67). Peter got it right when he responded, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (v.68).

Whatever you face today, be encouraged by the words of Peter and by the example of a family who went through the fire with their faith intact. As long as you're running in the right direction-to Jesus-you'll find the grace and strength you will need.  - Joe Stowell

Jesus is the One to run to
When our lives bring grief and pain;
He provides His strength and guidance
With a peace we can't explain. -Sper

When all is lost, remember that you haven't lost Jesus. Run to Him.
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The Path to Maturity

1 Peter 5:10 provides a very critical principle for those times when we are going through trials, a principle that is easy to miss,

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

You need to realize that even though God did not initiate your trouble, He can still use it to work something good in you.  What the devil means for evil, God can turn into something good.

Even though the devil's purpose is to destroy you, if you will respond correctly, God can work good things.  Notice the verse saysafter you have suffered a short season, God will perfect.  It brings maturity to you.

While we might hate it, how we respond in times of trial makes us who we are-and it fits us to accomplish God's will.  I hate some of the things I have gone through!  But you know what?  I would not be who I am had I not experienced those things.  It has fitted me to do the will of God.

And while it may not seem like it, your present difficulty may be instrumental in your future success.

It reminds me of the guy who was shipwrecked on a deserted island.  One day he decided to go across the island for food.  When he got to the other side he looked back and saw a plume of smoke in the sky.  He ran back only to find that his shack burnt to the ground!

It stung him to the core!  Except the next morning a ship arrived and rescued him.  When he asked the sailors, "How'd you know I was here?" they said, "We saw your smoke signal."

Your present trials just may be fitting you for something you would never expect!       
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Read: Galatians 5:16-26

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. - Galatians 5:22-23

TODAY IN THE WORD
Urban farmer Will Allen works to provide healthy foods to underserved populations in Chicago and Milwaukee. Co-founder and CEO of Growing Power, Allen and his staff run innovative farms and gardens, make bulk food purchases through a national cooperative, and teach inner-city young people about organic food and the business of agriculture. One of his farms combines fish and vegetable farming, called "aquaponics." Allen was honored for his work in 2008 with a MacArthur Foundation "genius grant."
Like fresh fruits and vegetables, the gardens of our spiritual lives require care and cultivation. In today's reading, we find the roots of godly joy-God Himself. Part of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to cultivate joy. This passage is built around a contrast between, as it were, two gardens. One garden (vv. 19-21) is filled with "acts of the sinful nature," or things God hates. It is clear that these sins oppose joy. For some items, such as "fits of rage," this is plain, while for others it is not as obvious. For example, the world tends to encourage "selfish ambition" as a key to success, and sexual immorality provides a kind of happiness and immediate gratification that not everyone recognizes as counterfeit or false. But the truth is that all of these are sworn enemies to godly joy.

The second garden (vv. 22-26) is filled with the "fruit of the Spirit," or things God loves. Together these qualities go a long way toward describing a godly character. How do we get there? "Keep in step with the Spirit"; live as people who have crucified the sinful nature; and take joy in obedience. Joy is second only to love on this classic list. The Greek term, chara, includes the feeling of gladness, the act of rejoicing, and the cause or occasion of joy. The cause or occasion can be a person, bringing us full circle back to God Himself.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Genuine joy has deeper roots than appearances or external behaviors. We see a sobering example of inauthentic joy in the parable of the seeds (Luke 8:13). The seeds that landed on rock at first received the word with joy, but without roots they withered when tested. In theological terms, there are people who hear the gospel with great enthusiasm, but when tested they fall away and it turns out they were not true believers after all. Godly joy is much more lasting than a momentary feeling.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 22, 2010

Short-Timers

READ: Romans 5:1-5
Hope does not disappoint. -Romans 5:5

I served in the Armed Forces many years ago and have always been thankful that I was able to give those years to my country. I must say, however, that my most memorable time in the service was the brief interval when I was a "short-timer."

Short-timers are soldiers who have but a few weeks before discharge. They spend their last days "mustering out"-visiting the commissary and the quartermaster's office to clear accounts and return equipment. What I remember most about that period was my jaunty pace and the happy, carefree spirit with which I carried out my tasks. I had duties but few worries, for I knew I was going home.

Now that I'm an "old-timer," once again I'm a short-timer. It won't be long before I'm discharged from my duty here. Again, my pace is jaunty and my spirit is light for I know that very soon I'll be going home. That's the outlook that Jesus and His apostles called "hope" (Acts 24:15; Rom. 5:2,5).

Hope, in the biblical sense, means certainty and assurance. It is the firm, unshakable, indomitable belief that we will be raised from the dead (as Jesus was) and will be welcomed into our eternal home. That's enough to put joy in our heart and a spring in our step this day!  - David H. Roper

God has given us a life abundant
As we serve Him in this world below;
Though our time on earth is surely fleeting,
Hope of heaven makes our pathway glow. -Hess

The risen Christ will come from heaven to take His own to heaven.
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Rich Blessings

Let me ask you a question.  Do you believe God wants to bless you?  You may say, "Yes," but in your heart do you really believe this to be true?

Take a moment to read Ezekiel 34:26,

"...I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing."

I believe the Bible teaches us that just like there are seasons of trial, there are seasons of exceptional blessing that come from God.  And those seasons of exceptional blessing should not be taken for granted.  We should capitalize on them and seize the momentum when those seasons come.

Don't get me wrong, God is good all the time, and He is good to all.  His tender mercies are over all His works.  He causes His sun to rise on the good and on the evil, and He sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  The fact of the matter is, God is good even to people who are not good because it is His nature.

However, there are richer, more frequent blessings that come from the hand of God.  And they come to those who do a particular thing.

Tomorrow I want you to look with me in the book of Galatians.  As we look at these verses, we will find that though God is good to all, the richer and more frequent blessings come to those who do a particular thing.  Together we will see what that thing is.

Today, I just want you to grasp the truth that God does want to bless your life in an extraordinary way.       
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Read: Philippians 1:18b-30

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. - 3 John 4

TODAY IN THE WORD
Christian Smith, a sociologist at the University of North Carolina, says that the kind of religious faith found most often among American youth is "moral therapeutic deism." As he explains in his book, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Life of American Teenagers, this basically means, "God created and watches over the world but otherwise is only to be called upon to solve problems." What about obeying His commands? "All He requires is that people be nice and fair to each other." And the purpose of life? "To be happy and to feel good about oneself."
When Jesus Christ becomes merely a means to the end of personal happiness, discipleship is dead. Ironically, the pursuit of this kind of happiness can never lead to true joy, for as today's reading teaches, it requires real discipleship to progress in joy in the faith. Paul exhorted the Philippians to stand firm, be unified, and contend without fear for the sake of the gospel, even in the face of suffering and persecution (vv. 27-30).

Paul was rejoicing even in the face of the suffering experienced by both him and the Philippian church. He understood "what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance" (v. 19). Although he was under house arrest at the time he wrote this epistle, he knew he would be released. But the joy he felt wasn't primarily about his physical circumstances; it was mostly the spiritual reality of bringing glory to God (v. 20).

Paul's greatest desire was to be with Christ, the One whom he loved and served (vv. 21-23). On the one hand, death would bring him into Jesus' presence. On the other hand, to live was also Christ, and God had shown him that his service was not yet completed. Work yet remained to be done. "Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me" (vv. 25-26).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you been tempted by "moral therapeutic deism," seeing God as a beneficent force who can give you what you want if you're a good person? This will never lead to joy. Instead, joy comes from the desire for Christ's presence above all else. In your prayer time today, first repent of any desires that you've placed before Christ. Then commit yourself to the discipline of following Jesus and seeing your circumstances as an opportunity for joy. Finally, ask the Holy Spirit to enable your life to bear the fruit of joy.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 23, 2010

Foreign Worship

READ: Acts 17:16-31
"[Paul] seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods," because he preached to them Jesus. -Acts 17:18

During a trip to the Far East, I visited an unusual shrine made up of hundreds of statues. According to our guide, worshipers would pick the statue that looked the most like an ancestor and pray to it.

A few years ago, I read about a student named Le Thai. An ancestor worshiper, he found great comfort in praying to his deceased grandmother. Because he was praying to someone he knew and loved, he found this to be personal and intimate.

But when he came from Vietnam to the US to study, Le Thai was introduced to Christianity. It sounded like a fairy tale based on American thinking. To him, it was the worship of a foreign God (see Acts 17:18).

Then a Christian friend invited him to visit his home on Christmas. He saw a Christian family in action and heard again the story of Jesus. Le Thai listened. He read John 3 about being "born again" and asked questions. He began to feel the pull of the Holy Spirit. Finally, he realized that Christianity was true. He trusted Jesus as his personal Savior.

When friends see Christianity as foreign worship, we need to respect their heritage while sharing the gospel graciously and giving them time to explore Christianity. And then trust the Spirit to do His work.  - Dave Branon

Man gropes his way through life's dark maze,
To gods unknown he often prays,
Until one day he meets God's Son-
At last he's found the Living One! -D. De Haan

God is the only true God.
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His Stuff

You have probably noticed that over the last few days of devotionals, we have been focusing on material blessings and how we should view those blessings.

1 Chronicles 29:14-16 is very helpful to see God's perspective,

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this?  For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You.  For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, as were all our fathers; our days on earth are as a shadow, and without hope.  "O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own."

In these verses, King David is actually talking to the Lord as an offering is being received, and resources are being collected for the building of the temple (something his son Solomon is going to achieve).

We see that David recognized that everything he had, everything the people had, literally belonged to God.  They were just giving God back something that belonged to Him in the first place.

I am going to let you in on a little secret:  You and I are just stewards, and one day the Owner will call us into account for how we handled His stuff.  Every one of us will give an account for our stewardship of His possessions.

While He gives us richly all things to enjoy, He is going to ask you if you did what He told you to do with His stuff.  It is not our stuff.

Material treasure is a stewardship, and we must do what the Owner wants with it.  This means we have a responsibility to be listening for the Owner's voice and following His instructions with His goods.   
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Read: Luke 2:1-20

I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. - Luke 2:10

TODAY IN THE WORD
Fyodor Dostoevsky and two fellow prisoners had been sentenced to death. Last rites had been offered. A firing squad stood ready to execute the condemned men. At that dramatic moment, a messenger from the Russian Tsar appeared with a pardon. Their lives had been spared! Apparently this had been the plan all along-the mock execution was conducted only to teach them an unforgettable lesson. The other two men immediately went insane. Dostoevsky, on the other hand, went on to become a great novelist who wrote such books as Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov. He never forgot the power of grace and forgiveness.
Like the messenger who brought good news to Dostoevsky, the angels in today's reading made a dramatic announcement that brought good news for all humanity. The Christmas story is a vital part of our study on joy. Throughout this month we've seen that joy is a result of God's power and presence, and the Incarnation is the ultimate example of both. The first announcement of His birth was delivered to shepherds, perhaps a symbolic nod to David, the shepherd-king who had received a promise that his throne would endure forever (2 Sam. 7:16). The shepherds were faithful to believe the message, find the child, and spread the word (vv. 15-20).

The birth announcement itself is familiar: "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (vv. 10-11). The phrase "Christ the Lord" clearly identifies the baby as both God and Messiah, an amazing and almost incomprehensible truth. God became a man!

Theologians are still searching for words adequate to this mystery. Furthermore, the Messiah had come not just for the Jews, but for "all the people." To God's glory, His plan of redemption was unequivocally revealed as worldwide in scope. "Glory to God in the highest" (v. 14)!
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Sharing the gospel of Christ is all about joy. The angels took great joy in sharing the good news with the shepherds. The shepherds in turn took great joy in sharing their experience with all who would listen. Sometimes we get sidetracked on evangelistic methods-the right number of steps, the right questions in the right order, or a personal testimony with the right ingredients. What if we put it more in terms of joy? Like Dostoevsky, we've received a pardon and want to shout it from the rooftops!

GOD BLESS!