Crosswalk.com--The Devotional

[Judy Harder]

May 12, 2010

Slippery Humility
by Katherine Britton, Crosswalk.com News & Culture Editor

"He mocks the proud but gives grace to the humble." - Proverbs 3:34


Pride possesses an uncanny ability to find loopholes in our attitudes. As soon as we recognize the disease in one area of our life, it crops up in another area. Those familiar with the southern terror of kudzu, the unstoppable plant that takes over acres of other foliage no matter what measures are taken to keep it at bay, understand pride's infuriating habit of creeping back into one's life. The ultimate irony is when we think we've temporarily conquered the monster, only to find that we're giving ourselves credit for the job. And suddenly, the monster is reincarnated.

C. J. Mahaney, in his book about humility, found this dilemma ever present. "If I met someone presuming to have something to say about humility," he wrote, "automatically I'd think him unqualified to speak on the subject." How many humble attitudes have died as soon as they were recognized?

Webster defines humility as "lowliness of mind; a modest estimate of one's own worth; a sense of one's own unworthiness through imperfection and sinfulness; self-abasement; humbleness." But I think that definition is faulty. Many with low self-esteem nonetheless cling to shreds of pride, displayed in their self-consciousness and self-focus.

Mahaney's definition shows another component of humility: a relational focus. He writes, "Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God's holiness and our sinfulness." More than a "modest estimate of one's own worth," isn't it? The end result of pride is self-consciousness; the end result of humility is consciousness of holiness, something totally outside ourselves.

What a countercultural concept.

In these days of Twitter, Facebook, reality TV, consumer marketing and the like, we become so bogged down in our own world - our own sin - that we fail to see the possibility/need for grace. Self-focused creatures that we are, our jobs, our families, and our recreation become excuses to capitalize on our strengths to earn accolades. Or they become shields to hide our weaknesses. In either case, our inward attitude blinds us to the greater picture. In walks sin - the attitude that puts the focus on ourselves before our focus on God's glory.

"When we have much of God's providential mercies," the great preacher Charles Spurgeon wrote, "it often happens that we have but little of God's grace, and little gratitude for the bounties we have received. We are full and we forget God: satisfied with earth, we are content to do without heaven. Rest assured it is harder to know how to be full than it is to know how to be hungry - so desperate is the tendency of human nature to pride and forgetfulness of God."

Amid all our blessings, has our vision become so short-sighted that we can't see beyond them? That we can't recognize sin? That we can't recognize how far short we fall of holiness? Pride is slippery, and the heart is deceitful when we compare ourselves to, well, ourselves. Let's renew our comparisons where they matter. 

Intersecting Faith & Life: Manahey writes, "The warnings from Scripture about pride could not be more serious and sobering. But they're an expression of God's mercy, intended for our good. Don't you think God is merciful to warn us in this way?" Wrapped up in our self-consciousness, we don't see the gaping holes that lie ahead. Grab a concordance and read a few of the references under "pride" and "proud" (you'll find quite a few). Pride has no room to creep back in when we leave ourselves behind, so let's refocus our hearts on true holiness.

Further Reading

The Perils of Pride
Isaiah 66:2
James 4:6

[Judy Harder]

May 13, 2010

My Life with Girls
by John UpChurch, Editor, Jesus.org

"I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."  (Mark 10:15, NIV)

Red heads. Two of them. Both girls. Every so often I have one of those surreal moments when my mind tries to process the seemingly sudden changes that have led me from single to married to Daddy. The transformation took five years, but in those moments, my brain compresses everything into a collage of memories—births, swings, kisses, diapers.

I also realize how much I want to be like my daughters. Not the peanut butter smeared on their faces (although that is fun) or the drool from teething or the occasional temper tantrums, but the joy they have in living. I see in them the aspects of faith that adulthood often strips away in college loans, leaf raking, broken promises, and car trouble.

When Jesus tells us in Mark 10:15 that we have to accept the kingdom of God like a child, the concept, at first, makes me want to splutter about how impossible that is. After all, we can't really understand the kingdom of God until we're adults. But therein lies the core of the verse. Being an "adult" often gets in the way.

My daughters, especially the oldest, demonstrate the aspects of faith that can be lacking in me. Sure, I'm usually okay, but sometimes I get so wrapped up in being an adult that being an adult becomes my focus. Here are the things I often miss:

Wonder: With my daughters, every unexpected pine cone or beetle or waterfall is new. Stories of God's goodness are also new. They listen; they notice; they explore. Too often I merely glance at something, take a picture, and move on. And I do that with God: read a verse, close my Bible, and plunge back into the "other stuff." I'd rather examine the words like they do dandelions—poke it, prod it, toss it around for a while.

Simplification: I multiply problems. Give me a difficulty, and I can think of thousands of what-ifs to compound it. But my daughters amaze me by reducing their problems into simple actions. If my oldest can't reach something, she simply asks for help. There's no long pause to consider how bad the situation will be if she isn't able to get said item; there's no fretting about what she'll do next month if the object is still out of reach. She assesses and asks and then moves on. How much less my frustrations would be if I just realized the difficulty, asked God to either deal with it or show me how to, and then let it drop. No gut-churning anxiety involved.

Excitement: When we tell our oldest about Jesus, she's excited. She loves making her mommy and daddy sit down to tell us the story of Jonah (thank you, talking vegetables), and she loves reading her Bible each night. I'm ashamed to compare that to myself. While I love talking about Jesus, the excitement isn't always there. I don't always love reading my Bible, and I certainly don't embrace the joy of salvation like I should.

Peace: My daughters just sleep. Sometimes they have their issues with hunger, thirst, and nature calls, but they don't lie awake worrying about their toys being there the next day. I can't say the same about me—well, not necessarily the toys part.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Receiving the kingdom of God like a child—the phrase is easy to pass over without another thought. But watching my own children has taught me that there's more to the phrase than just an interesting rhetorical device. God wants us to trust Him, to seek Him with all the attributes that children retain but adults often let fall away: simple wonder, excitement, and peace.

Further Reading:

Mark 10

Luke 18

[Judy Harder]

A Mouth That Got Washed Out
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.

Psalm 141:3

Have you ever had your mouth washed out with soap?  I have.

It's not coming back to me very clearly as to how old I was at the time, but I remember the scene.  Well, sort of.

My mother and I were talking at the dinner table.  In fact, my whole family was on hand as we were finishing up our evening meal.  I remember disagreeing with something she had said or maybe just not liking whatever instruction she had given to me.  And before I knew it, out came the dreaded words. 

I knew that I shouldn't say them.

They were forbidden in my household.

I knew that they were disrespectful.

They were so very far from honoring to my mother.

And yet, I wasn't deterred.

So out they came ...

"Shut up!"  Gulp.  Help me, Jesus.  Before I knew it, my mother took me by the collar and marched me down the hallway to the main bathroom.  On went the faucet.  Whether it was hot or cold water, I can't remember. 

Next, in a frenzy the bar of soap was quickly lathered.  And then the unthinkable:  my mother washed out my mouth.  Suds and all.  For what seemed like HOURS.

I know that I gagged, and I'm sure I played it up for dramatic effect as I cried with giant tears and struggled against the cleansing agents (my mom and the soap).  But you know what?  It worked.  Never again did I say "shut up" to my mother.  I had learned that lesson.  And my mouth was a little less full of bacteria to boot.

At this point in my life, I'd like to share with you that this act of getting my mouth washed out has translated into all of my speech patterns and conversations going forward.  But alas, as someone who is afflicted with chronic foot-in-mouth disease and having a mind that thinks and reacts quickly, combined with a tongue that is happy to join forces and play along, I routinely find myself feeling sorrowful for things that I have just said.  (In fact, as I'm writing this, I can think of two different instances in the past week where I've said something that I'd like to take back—and one of them just earlier today!)

While the tongue may be one of the smallest parts of the human anatomy, could it not be one of the most dangerous?  In all of our cases, a thousand times yes! (James 3:6).

Like David, in Psalm 141, I know that there is one side of me that really does want to please the Lord with my speech and make sure that it is right and pure.  But then there's that other side that really wants to appear witty and funny and, yes, truthful.  But what may seem witty and funny and "truthful" to me can very quickly become that which kills a relationship, crushes a spirit, pollutes a mind, spreads hurtful information or divides a family or a group of friends. 

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths," says Ephesians 4:29.  "But only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Today, I'm going to do a virtual cleansing of my mouth.  And then I'll take a thorough mental inventory and do some soul-searching to see what other unkind or sinful words I'm being convicted of saying.

Will you join with me?  Let's ask the Lord to help us be wiser and more edifying in our conversations (Proverbs 15:4).  Let's think before we speak (Proverbs 13:3).  Let's say less and listen more (Proverbs 21:23).  And then let's see what happens in our interactions with others (Proverbs 16:24) and in our walk with the Lord (Psalm 50:23).

Intersecting Faith & Life:  Write or print out Ephesians 4:29 and affix it to your bathroom mirror, your rearview mirror in your car, somewhere on your desk or at your kitchen sink, or wherever you will see it the best—and most frequently.  I've already done so, and I hope that we will both be able to hide these words in our hearts over the coming week and think about them before opening our mouths. 

Further Reading:

Psalm 37:30

Proverbs 16:21

[Judy Harder]

May 17, 2010

Battling the Green-eyed Monster
Sarah Jennings, Family Editor, Crosswalk.com

For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from the Father.
John 16: 27, NIV


Have you ever been in a situation where another was blessed with the very thing you ached to have?

Lately, the green-eyed monster of envy seems to be lurking everywhere. I think she comes out of hibernation right around the month of May - when the weather changes from chilly to divine and traditional celebrations such as graduations, pregnancies, births, and weddings fill up our schedules.

These events are truly worthy of celebration but can be especially painful if we're struggling with our careers, family size, or marital status. It's easy to feel left out of the celebrations, especially when it seems like everyone around you has a miracle or blessing to announce... except you.

Sometimes our loved ones don't make the struggle any easier on us. I'm not proud to share this story, but I might have burst into tears at a friend's wedding reception once. So many happily married guests had inquired about my lack of a ring that I lost control of my emotions.

Why does God allow this to happen? Why does it appear as though there are some seasons when he showers his blessings on so many except a few? I don't fully know, but I do empathize with the complex emotions that come with these situation. And even though I am in a different phase of life than I was at that fateful wedding, I've come to realize this monster can make an appearance at any phase of life and rob you of your joy.

I think at the root of the struggle often lies fear:

*Fear of being left out by those you love.
*Fear of God not loving you as much as he loves everyone else.
*Fear of your life going "all wrong."
*Fear that God's blessings are limited and he'll run out before he gets to you.

If you grew up feeling second fiddle to a sibling or family member, these fears may be even more deep-seated. So when I was reading this week's scriptures for church, I was struck by this simple gospel reading in John where Jesus assures his followers that the Father loves them and hears their prayers. After Jesus' resurrection and ascension, we aren't left with a Father who merely puts up with us. No, the Father himself loves you and hears you. In fact, Scripture is clear that through Christ we are adopted sons and daughters, co-heirs with Christ.

Oh, and nowhere in Scripture does it say "except you." Yes, if you're a Christ-follower, it looks like you're pretty much stuck with the Father's love.

So what do we do in the meantime? When our feelings are wreaking havoc on us and causing us to question God's Word? I've found opting out of the comparison game helps tremendously. You know that sneaky little voice in your head that says, "Wow, look how much better her life is... "? Smack that voice. Yes, I give you permission. It's a completely unfair way to judge yourself and another person and a quick way to disturb your peace.

In fact, right when I find myself thinking such thoughts I try to stop and pray for that person... for any trials they may be going through (because if they're human, they have a cross even if it's not showing).

I've also found forgiving myself is especially helpful. After all, God doesn't condemn us for feeling sad so why should we condemn ourselves? When we're truly mourning a loss, it's okay to cry. We're not less holy just because we have emotions, and I think sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves to be "perfect" Christians. I think it's even okay to bow out of an event early or send a gift in the mail if a situation is too charged.

When nothing else helps, I meditate on the times Jesus was left out. I'm sure he had some great times in his life -- being God no doubt has its perks. I always imagined him being popular as a kid and having a great family life with Mary and Joseph. But we know for a fact that there was a time when he truly felt alone and was treated like an outcast, a criminal, and a nobody. When I meditate on Christ's sense of humiliation, isolation, and shame, I realize I am not really alone when I feel most alone.

I don't have all the answers for why life sometimes feels incredibly unfair nor am I a wild success at coping with the emotions that come wtih that. But what I do know is this: God hasn't forgotten any one of us, and we are not alone.

Intersecting Faith & Life:  If you're struggling to get through the month of May, give yourself a break. Allow yourself to RSVP "no" and spend some time with a good friend or on a short spiritual retreat.

Further Reading

Acts 18:23-28
Psalm 47:2-3, 8-10
John 16:23-28

[Judy Harder]

May 18, 2010

Freedom from the Bonds of Sin
Alex Crain
Editor, Christianity.com

"...if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
Romans 8:13

While reading this week in chapter eight of Francis Schaeffer's True Spirituality where he is speaking about freedom from the bonds of sin, I was reminded of the story of an experienced, 27 year-old rock climber named Aron Ralston. One beautiful spring morning in 2003, he jumped into his truck with just enough food and water for the day. He took off by himself and drove a hundred and fifty miles south of Salt Lake City to his favorite spot—a remote canyon area that used to be the hideout for wild-west outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

By afternoon, he was suspended seventy-five feet high off the canyon floor—climbing in a crevice that was just a few feet wide. It was a perfect day. But then without warning, a boulder suddenly broke loose from the rock wall above him, hurtled down and trapped Ralston's right arm against the wall, completely crushing his hand. At that instant, Aron's hand—one of his greatest assets—had now become his greatest liability.

Five whole days passed as he tried various ways to free himself—all to no avail. His efforts to chip away at the boulder with a pocket knife only made a small dent. Rigging up a pulley system to move the boulder proved fruitless.

Finally, a moment of decisive clarity came. The thoughts came fast and furious: he could break his forearm, cut through the muscle with his dirty pocket knife, detach his arm, and use a piece of rope as a tourniquet.

Aron explains that he was driven by "some sort of autopilot" as he went about the gruesome task of amputating his own right arm just below the elbow. After he was finished, Aron lowered himself down and began trudging slowly in the direction of his truck. Later, he stumbled across two hikers who used a mobile phone to call in a rescue helicopter. Amputating his right arm was a radical act, but it was one that saved his life and reunited him with his family.

God calls us to deal with sin in our life in a way that is surprisingly similar. The Bible doesn't offer a laid-back, live-and-let-live approach at all. It's so radical, that we don't really like hearing about it or talking about it. Recall what Jesus said in Matthew 5:30, "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell." While Jesus was not literally talking about physical amputation, He was saying that sin's deadly effects call for extreme measures. Even though it hurts, we must rid sin from our lives. In fact, our eternal destiny hinges on how we deal with sin.

Really? Well, why else would Jesus talk about hell in the same breath that He talks about how we are to deal with sin if He didn't mean to teach that our eternal destiny hangs in the balance? Clearly, it's a matter of preferring one destiny over the other. Outward behavior indicates what the heart primarily loves. If Aron Ralston had stayed there on the canyon wall with his hand pinned down by the boulder, he would have died. But because he was willing to kill his hand, his life was saved.

The same goes with us as we deal with sin. It really comes down to what we value most. Colossians 3:5 says, "Put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." The world may tell us to laugh about sin, to lighten up about it, to tolerate it, and just let it be... that it's not idolatry; it's not an issue of worship. God says the opposite is true.

Intersecting Faith & Life: 
What is robbing you of the blessings of peace with God?
What is keeping you from treasuring the Lord Jesus Christ above all other things?
Pray for grace to heed God's radical call to amputate sin from your life in His strength.

Further Reading
Romans 8:10-18

"Is Christianity just a bunch of rules for how to live?" (by John Piper, DesiringGod.org)

Between a Rock and a Hard Place (by Aron Ralston, © 2004 Simon & Schuster)

[Judy Harder]

May 19, 2010

The Faith for Big Prayers
by Katherine Britton, Crosswalk.com News & Culture Editor

"Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven" -- Daniel 10:12

One Sunday morning shortly after my husband proposed, I remember singing at church on a fairly unremarkable Sunday. I don't recall the sermon or anything else that day, but I do remember one of the praise songs - "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord." The song personalizes Israel's trials in the wilderness and the abundant streams of the promise land for the believer's life today, directing her to sing praise no matter the circumstances:

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
'Lord, blessed be Your name!'

Sitting in church that day, I momentarily stopped singing. After dating this guy for almost four years, I finally had a ring on my finger. I finally had a token that what I longed for so hopefully was coming. The slightest hint that the world could be otherwise - and I could still praise God - baffled me at that moment. My selfish heart did not have the faith to pray that prayer, not at that moment.

Recently, I encountered another prayer that I couldn't quite pray:

"God, I'm asking for two things before I die; don't refuse me - Banish lies from my lips and liars from my presence. Give me enough food to live on, neither too much nor too little. If I'm too full, I might get independent, saying, 'God? Who needs him?' If I'm poor, I might steal and dishonor the name of my God." (Proverbs 7b-9, The Message)

Few of us have trouble asking God to keep us out of poverty. But asking God to keep us from being too comfortable? I'm too American to pray that without hesitation. By contrast, consider the boldness of these people:

Hannah, the formerly barren woman who gave birth to the prophet Samuel - "And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."  (1 Samuel 1:11)

The psalmist who wanted nothing hidden from God - "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts." (Psalm 139:23)

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego before being thrown into the fiery furnace - "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18)

Jesus Christ, who would later use this verse in the Garden of Gethsemane - "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)

Do we have the kind of faith that can pray hard verses like these and mean them? It's easy to pray for blessings, wisdom, health, and the "joy of the Lord." Those prayers make our lives better, we think, and don't require a sacrifice or change of plans. When we come across difficult verses, however, we so easily shy away. Why?

Sometimes my response is too much like Ahaz's, who was offered a sign from the Lord as evidence of Isaiah's prophecy. Instead, Ahaz proudly said, "I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test." He deluded himself. He passed off his lack of faith for his unwillingness to "test" God. Instead of praising his decision, Isaiah announced that he - and God - were about out of patience.

Contrast this to the apostle James, who urged the church to ask with abandon so that they could see God at work. But he gave them this warning: "But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as  unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind"  (James 1:6).

Intersecting Faith & Life: Are you avoiding a difficult prayer? What's your reason? Disbelief that God will really answer? Refusal to acknowledge God's imminence? Fear that God will upset your apple cart? Ask yourself what's holding you back. Let's pray for humility and understanding, and the rest will follow. 

 

[Judy Harder]

May 20, 2010

Anything and Everything
by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:32


My children, aged almost-five and almost-three, know my weakness.

They know it's not ice cream, baseball, or their mom's chili... or even a hug or puppy-dog eyes from them.

See, none of the above make me cry (although the chili almost did once). Yes, my children have seen their father cry. It's not something I wanted, or intended. I'm a man, after all. I go to work, show my strength. I coach, help, show, point, and guide. I communicate, discipline, and lead. I pray. I do not cry.

...Except when I read Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree, that is.

And like I said, my children know this. And oh, do they twist that knife, the little devils. We must own a couple hundred children's books, but if it's a night where Daddy is doing the bedtime reading rather than Mommy, what do they invariangly pick (while smirking)? Of course! The Giving Tree!

I've been reading this book, first published in 1964, since I myself was a child, and no matter how many times I do, I am unable to de-sensitize. I mean, when I watch the movie Field of Dreams and Ray has a catch with his ghost-dad, that gets me. But if I see the scene over and over within a certain time frame? Nah. No sweat, no tears. But this blasted children's book... well... what's going on here?

First of all, you're probably wondering that very thing if you aren't familiar with the story. A tree and a boy are the best of friends during an idyllic childhood for the young man where he eats apples from the tree, climbs her trunk, swings from her branches, and rests in her shade. Then things change, as things do, and we see the boy approach the tree at all the various stages of his life, caught up - understandably, even - more in wanting and needing than in just being. Every time he has a "need," the tree obliges... and is happy for having done so. She doesn't have much, but gives all she has until eventually, she is nothing but a stump. At the end of all things, however, it turns out a stump is just what the old man needs - a quiet place to sit down and rest and reflect. "And the tree was happy. The end."

And I am undone... again.

Is it because I am reading the story to my children, and I know our stories will be very much like that of the tree and the boy, where they are my delight but eventually I must simply become provider as they go out into the world? Yes and no.

Is it because our family copy of the book - the one I read to the kids - carries an inscription from my wife on our first Christmas as husband and wife that says, "With God's help, may I love you like this"? Yes and no.

Is it because I once read the book aloud at at emotional family Thanksgiving, illustrating how we too infrequently practice the "giving" half of the word? Yes and no.

Is it because as my father lay dying seven years ago that I told him of the story (he wasn't familiar with it), and how he had been that tree for me? That's definitely part of it. My mother, I remember, commented that she didn't recall it being a "Christian" book. I didn't really have an answer to that, only to what I saw in it. Which is...

Complete love to the point of emptying. Unquestioning sacrifice, even for someone who isn't appreciating or understanding what they've been given. A desire only to have communion. An entering into final rest. In other words, a perfect example of the immensity of what Jesus did for me, desired from me, provides for me, and will carry me to.

That is why I always cry.

So every time I finish the story, eyes full of tears, my kids look at me as if to say, "Are you okay?" My little one asks, "Why you cry, Dad?" And every time I explain, I think she understands just the tiniest bit more. These are tears of being overwhelmed by the enormity of the giver and the gift. I only pray these children will open their hearts and receive it, and that they won't miss the other lesson: all our Giver really wants in return is our time, for us to come to Him as we did as children.

Intersecting Faith & Life: But can any of us actually hope to become more like the tree in the story? Parents know what it means to give every last ounce of everything they are to the betterment of their children. We have reason for doing so. Do you know anyone who empties themselves this way for those they don't have a familial reason to love? What steps can you take to emulate their Christ-like, unconditional love?

Further Reading

Giving is What Living is All About
2 Corinthians 8:3-12

[Judy Harder]

May 21, 2010

That's What Friends are For
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Entertainment Editor

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17, NIV

Remember the '80s ballad, "That's What Friends Are For"? Its chorus wasn't really profound, but more of a feel-good reminder about friendship:

Keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowin' you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for

It would be nice if all friendships could be as "smilin'" and "shinin'" as the one described in this song. But that's not always the case, such as earlier this spring when one of my friends said to me, "You stink as a friend." 

Nice. Well, in hindsight I believe that the Lord was showing me that I truly was not being a good friend at all. And it took the ending of this friendship to show me where I was lacking in all of my friendships across the board. 

In this particular case, I apologized and tried to reconcile, but the friend wanted nothing more to do with me. So after crying and wiping away my tears, I decided that I would learn from this situation.

My quest took me to the book of Proverbs: a source of wonderful life lessons that are as simple to understand as they are deep in their layers of meaning. Let's take a look and see what it says that true friends are for. ...

Proverbs 16:28 ... "A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends." When friends share their most private thoughts with us, we should file them away for safekeeping. Don't be a source of drama. Instead, protect your friends' personal business and be the tie that binds and builds trust.

Proverbs 17:9 ... "He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends." Have you ever "covered" for a friend before? This is one of those acts that really forces us to mature and put on some big boy (or girl) pants in a hurry. Even when you've been hurt, love doesn't broadcast.  It forgives and gets over the wrong.

Proverbs 17:17 ... "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Whether the sun shines or the skies burst forth in torrential downpours, true friends and relatives stick with you through thick and thin and are not of the fair-weather variety. Are you a faithful friend who purposes to remain?

Proverbs 18:24 ..."A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." True, you have to be a friend to make friends. But are you supposed to be bosom buddies with everyone? You can be friendly to all, but it is better to be selective when determining your closest, most dependable inner circle of friends.   

Proverbs 27:6 ... "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." The bottom line is this: a real friend will tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear. Sure, it hurts to hear the truth (even in love!). But afterward, you'll see how much better you feel and realize how much your friend truly cares about you.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Based on the above verses, how are your friendship skills measuring up? Is it time to do a little fine-tuning? Are there some friendships that should be added or subtracted from your life? Take time to assess and thank God for the friends he has placed in your life.

Further Reading

The Making of a Friendship
Do You Yearn for Meaningful Friendships?

[Judy Harder]

May 24, 2010

Enemies... You Gotta Love 'Em
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Entertainment Editor

But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 6:27-28, NIV

What's the hardest thing to do? 

No, this is not a trick question. And no, the answer is not "whistling after eating saltines." Or "keeping a straight face when an unsuspecting person sits on a whoopee cushion."

The answer, my friend, is this: Loving your enemies. 

A few weeks back, the Lord called me on this very thing. You see, someone had backed into my car's rear bumper. I was a bit startled, but quickly got out of my car to check for damage. Naturally, I assumed that the other driver would quickly get out as well-perhaps to offer an apology or at the very least to inspect his vehicle for damage.

Imagine what I thought when nothing happened. Unbelievable!  That's right-the driver did not get out of his vehicle. Instead, he had quietly pulled forward into his parking space, as if the entire incident had never even occurred. 

I stood there for a moment trying to decide what to do. Am I dreaming this or did this guy really hit my car? Finally, I started walking slowly toward his driver's-side door to see if he was going to at least roll down his window or something. But ... nothing.  Well, there was something. Through the heavily-tinted windows, I did see the driver slide downward in his seat.

At that point, I decided it would be safer to get back into my vehicle than to continue in my pursuit of righting a wrong. For all I knew, the driver could have been one banana peel away from going postal.

That night, I didn't sleep a wink as I went over and over and over this scenario in my mind. I had begun to question what had really happened: Why had this guy hit me? Why wasn't he showing any remorse? Did I deserve what he had done to me? Why couldn't I just let this go and fall asleep?

The next day, a funny thing happened. I felt a sense of release almost immediately after I awoke. Now I don't know how, really, because I hadn't even prayed about it yet. I had only stewed.   

But the Lord showed me right then and there that I needed to let it go. There was nothing more I could do and getting upset and rethinking the entire situation was not going to help me. And it certainly wasn't going to help me "bless" the one who had done me wrong. 

So just like that, I let it go. Because it is not at all in my nature to let go of wrongs done to me-especially not so quickly-I can only credit the Lord and his work in my heart that morning to help me get closer to loving my enemy.

May I continue to get out of the way, so that God may show his love to my enemies through me... and in spite of me.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Has someone treated you poorly recently? How did you respond? Did you have an internal struggle before you turned it over to the Father? As you are empowered by the Holy Spirit, you will be able to "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

Further Reading:

Matthew 5:44, NIV
The Command to Forgive

[Judy Harder]

May 25, 2010

Tell it, Lord!
by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

He saw a man, called Matthew, sitting in the tax office;
and He said to him, "Follow me!"
Matthew 9:9


In the margin of my Bible next to Matthew 7:11 is a notation dated 9/1/90. It says:

"I love verses with exclamation points!"

That particular verse, in case you were wondering, says, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!"

I wish I knew the inspiration or emotion that prompted me to make the notation. All I know is that it would have been made during the first or second week of my sophomore year of college, and at the time I was a Youth Ministry major. And that the sentiment has continued.

Coming across that notation again recently prompted me to look up more verses in which Jesus in particular is credited with having expressed some extra "oomph." Of course, the original manuscripts were not inscribed with punctuation marks. Those have been left up to various translators through the years. In my New American Standard version of Matthew's gospel, however, the emphasis has been added to several statements the Lord made, and some of those may be categorized as follows:

Rebuke of Temptation

Matthew 4:10-11: Then Jesus said to him, "Begone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'" Then the devil left Him...

Matthew 16:23: But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."

Rebuke of Hypocrisy

Matthew 23:23-39: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!... You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!... Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!... Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!... O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!... Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you shall not see Me until you say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"

Matthew 11:18-19: "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon!' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."

Matthew 12:12: "Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

Stern Warning

Matthew 9:30: "And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See here, let no one know about this!"

Matthew 6:23: "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!"

Regarding Spiritual Warfare

Matthew 8:32: And he said to them, "Begone!" And they came out, and went into the swine..."

Matthew 10:24-25: "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher, and the slave as his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more the members of the house!"

Stirring to Faith in Action

Matthew 12:13: Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand!" And he stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other.

Matthew 14:16: But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!"

Matthew 14:29: And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

Matthew 9:9: He saw a man, called Matthew, sitting in the tax office; and He said to him, "Follow me!"

Remembering the Father's Provision

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!"

Making a Radical Point

Matthew 12:49-50: "And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold, My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."

Sadness

Matthew 26:24, 46: "The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!... Arise, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays me is at hand!"

Matthew 18:7: "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!"

Regarding the End Times

Matthew 24:19: "But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days!"

The Father's Confirmation

Matthew 17:5: Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"

Listen to Him indeed. What is He saying? How emphatically is he saying it? Don't mess around when temptation comes. Don't disgredard the spiritual realm and the forces that oppose you. Be stirred to action. Recognize once and for all that God has provided for you like the loving Father He is, so that you are free to do His will without worry. Following Christ is a radical road, but those that betray the Way and put stumbling blocks in the road will be left to God's judgment. Dangerous days are coming. But in the end, your belief is in the Son of Almighty God!

Intersecting Faith & Life: Pick another one of the Gospels and study the points of emphasis you find the Lord saying there.