Crosswalk.com--The Devotional

[Judy Harder]

What Are You Hiding?
Laura MacCorkle

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11, NIV

My parents enrolled me in a Scripture memory program at a very young age. I was only three years old.

I remember the very first memory book I had that was specifically for preschoolers. Each letter of the alphabet coincided with a verse:

A: "All we like sheep have gone astray."

B: "Be ye kind one to another . . ."

C: "Cast all your cares upon him for he careth for you."

D: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

And so on . . .

My mother worked the most with me in helping me to memorize the allotted verses, and then I would recite them to a "hearer" at my church each week. A "hearer" was a neutral-party person, and in my case it was a fellow church member who happened to be the mother of one of my good friends. She was very kind and when necessary gently corrected me or prodded me along as I would recite my memory verses to her.

As I got older, in grade school, junior high and onward, I began to resent having to memorize Bible verses. It was just another "chore" in my weekly doings, another task to cross off the list. I also memorized Scripture at church: in Sunday School classes, in Pioneer Girls club, in "big church" and later on in the high school youth group and in other Bible studies.

They were just words to me during those years. I knew it was good that I was memorizing from the Word, but it just didn't mean a whole lot to me then. Seeds were being planted, but nothing was growing in my heart.  Everything lay dormant.

Until . . .

Many, many years later, something began to happen. After living life my way, after numerous mistakes and poor life choices, I finally gave up and gave in to God.

"Lord, I know you can redeem the years I have wasted. Please invade my heart. Take over. Make something good out of the mess I've made."

And he did. Slowly but surely I began searching the Scriptures (hungrily and with desperation this time) to help me apply Truth to my life. And the verses I had memorized came back to me! The treasure that had been stored years ago had not been snatched away. It was still there, hidden in my heart. And it was growing! Perhaps I couldn't recall all of the references, but I knew the words. And I still do to this day.

Friends, the Bible is powerful. It is so worth your time. And it is our lifeline here on earth. If you want to see real and radical change in your life, if you're looking for hope in a hopeless world, if you desire to know who God is and if you want to share this Good News with someone else, then get in the Word and start hiding it in your heart.

I promise you this: as you draw closer to God in this way, he will draw close to you. And you will never be the same.

Remember Isaiah 55:10-11:

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

It is never too late to start hiding God's Word in your heart. Begin with one verse a week. Write it on a sticky note and place it on the bathroom mirror in your house or the rearview mirror in your car. Speak it out loud, consider its meaning and ask the Lord to help you apply it to your life.

Further Reading:

Ephesians 6:17, NIV

1 Thessalonians 2:13, NIV

Hebrews 4:12, NIV

[Judy Harder]

Is Your Soul Healthy?
by Sarah Phillips

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness... For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (2 Peter 1: 3 –

When I first became a believer, I was like the woman with the alabaster jar (Matt 26: 7). I loved much because I had been forgiven much. But as the years slipped by something happened in my life that happens to many believers: my gratefulness towards God's mercy transformed into frustration at my lingering sinful nature. I understood why I failed so greatly before knowing Christ, but it was difficult to accept my failings when I felt I should know better.

It's easy to beat yourself up, even run from God, when you fall. Out of frustration and shame, I have begged God to rid me of my sinful tendencies. Of course, God didn't instantly heal me with a lightning bolt, but answered me with a different kind of grace. The answer to my prayer came in the form of a Sunday school lesson on "holy habits," more traditionally known as virtues.

Practicing virtue is a lot like lifting weights – it's exercise that builds health in your soul. There are many virtues, but as we learned in class that day, the foundation of all virtues can be found in the four natural virtues or cardinal virtues. These were first articulated by Plato but hardly belong to Plato. They are part of what theologians call "natural law" – God's design for humanity woven into our beings since the beginning of creation. When a person cultivates these virtues in his or her life, they are cooperating with the Creator's design for the human soul.

It's important to note here that pursuing a virtuous life is not the same as trying to earn salvation. Our salvation is a gift that flows from God's grace. But in our Christian journey, it's important to do our part to improve our character so that we can grow in character and more accurately reflect Christ's goodness to the world. Now let's take a closer look at each cardinal virtue:

1. Wisdom: For wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. (Prov. 8: 11). You've probably known people with book smarts who lack common sense. Or perhaps you know someone with street smarts who lacks knowledge. A person who has cultivated the virtue of wisdom can not only discern truth but has the ability to implement their insights appropriately in any given situation. According to scripture, characteristics of wise people include those who prepare properly for hard times (Prov. 21: 20), those who humbly heed instruction and correction (Prov. 9: 8-9), those who hold their tongues from saying foolish things (Prov. 10: 19), and those who fear the Lord (Prov. 14: 16, 1: 7). Because wisdom allows us to discern right from wrong, this virtue sets us up to practice all other virtues.

2. Justice: Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed (Isaiah 1: 17). Most of us have some sense of justice from a very early age when we yell, "It's not fair!" A just or righteous person gives to others what is deserved, keeps his word, and acts fairly even when no one is looking. According to scripture, a just person favors the innocent over the wicked (Prov. 18: 5), never accepts bribes (Prov. 17: 23), aids the poor, fatherless, and widows (Prov. 29:7, Is 1: 17), and experiences joy (Prov. 21: 15).

3. Courage: In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence (Prov 14: 26). While most of us associate courage with lack of fear, courage has more to do with fear put in proper perspective. A courageous person chooses right even when a decision is frightening or comes with personal cost. Among many traits, the courageous person exalts Christ (Phil 1: 20), holds on to God's promises (Acts. 27: 25), and gives an effective witness for Christ (Acts 4: 13). A person can not exercise any virtue for long without courage because sin often appears easier or more attractive than virtue.

4. Temperance: Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control (Prov. 25: 28). Temperance is an old-fashioned word for moderation. A temperate person exercises self-control, building a wall against unhealthy, sinful extremes. Among many qualities, scripture tells us that a temperate person does not gossip (1 Tim 3: 11), does not vent anger (Prov 29: 11) is respectable and able to take on leadership roles (1 Tim 3: 2), and is sexually pure (1 Thes 4: 2 -5).

So, are any of these virtues lacking in your life? I can see some areas where I am still weak. Thankfully, with God's grace and a few good decisions, we can grow in our effectiveness and productiveness for Christ.

Identify which cardinal virtue you struggle most with. Ask God for the grace to grow and make one positive change in your behavior this week that will help you develop this "holy habit."

Further Reading:

Matthew 25: 23
Ref: Kreeft, Peter. "Justice, Wisdom, Courage, and Moderation: The Four Cardinal Virtues". (c) 1986 Ignatius Press.

[Judy Harder]

Daniel's Prayer: Longing for Rescue
Kelly Givens, Editor at Salem Web Network

"We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.  O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive!  O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name." - Daniel 9:17-19

If you're ever trying to find something to study in the Word, one neat thing you might try is reading the great prayers of the Bible.  Think Abraham's prayer for Sodom and Gomorrah, Hannah's anguished prayer for a child, Jonah's prayer in the belly of the great fish, and of course, The Lord's Prayer, which Jesus himself taught his disciples. I've found these teach us more than just how to pray. Through these prayers we learn what it means to be people of faith. We also see God's character revealed to us and learn why prayer is important to God.

Chapter nine in the book of Daniel contains one of these great prayers: Daniel's prayer to God on behalf of the Israelites. In the first few verses, Daniel tells us that after reading the writings of the prophet Jeremiah he understood that the exile-- which he had been apart of for most of his life-- was nearing an end. We might expect Daniel to celebrate, but instead he says, "I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting and in sackcloth and ashes" (v. 3).

What in the world is going on here? If Daniel truly believed God's promise to end the exile, why is he praying as if he didn't? When I thought through this, I realized Daniel didn't doubt God would deliver on his promise. Rather, he understood that prayer is an expression of faith in the promises of God. It also helps us align our hearts to God's will and purpose in the world.  Daniel was essentially saying, "God, this is awesome news. I want this so badly. Don't let our sinfulness keep you from acting on this great plan. Don't delay, rescue us soon!"

We too have been promised an end to our own exile of sorts- Jesus promises to return and bring his Kingdom with him when he comes. He promises the end of our captivity to sin and to bring us into ever-lasting life in the New Jerusalem, in his presence forever!

This is an incredible promise.  But are we praying for it the way Daniel was praying for Israel's return from exile? We pray "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done," but do we really mean it? I know I often don't. I'm usually content in this broken world, in captivity. I'm comfortable here; I'm used to it. I don't often long for the Jesus to come back.

But God desires us to be like Daniel, to remember our sinfulness, confess and to pray that Jesus would indeed come back soon.  God's promises are intended to encourage us to pray, not to make us shrug our shoulders and say, 'Oh well, it'll happen one day, regardless of if I pray or not." 

We need to pray as Daniel did, not because God needs our prayers to accomplish his purposes, but because we need to submit ourselves to his plans. We need to long for what he longs for, and for Christians today, the number one thing on our prayer list, our number one longing, should be the return of Jesus.

Intersecting Faith and Life:

God has promised us that he is coming back to claim this world as his own and to rescue all those who have placed their faith in him. Are you living in light of this promise? If not, meditate on scripture that affirms Jesus' return, and pray your heart would desire this as much as God does.

Further Reading:

John 14: 1-4
Revelation 21: 1-5
Revelation 22: 7

[Judy Harder]

Are You There God?
Laura MacCorkle

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? Psalm 13:1, NIV

Are you there, God? I am hurting. Please be near to me.

I remember the first time I cried out like this to God. Really cried out from a place of pain and agony. Of confusion and of understanding that was little to none.

Still really just a child, I was only 17 and had just learned of what was really going on in my family. It apparently had been broken and troubled for many years. But I did not know up until then, and had been shielded from the truth.

In one afternoon, though, everything I had believed in—the image of a strong family unit I thought I knew and could trust in—all came crashing down. Like a house of flimsy cards.

A couple of years later, my parents would divorce. And this time of trial in my life would continue through many more years of grief, withdrawal, and searching for something or someone to offer comfort and heal my pain.

I dare say I felt a lot like David did in Psalm 13:

How long, O LORD?  Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

Now David was in a serious time of trial when he wrote this. He was facing an illness, and his condition was dire. His enemies would have liked nothing more than to see him defeated (even unto death).

I know this feeling, too. In a different manner—but in the same reality—I was also asking to be delivered from my circumstances. From the horrible pain of the dissolution of my family as I knew it.

Whether divorce has touched you in some way or not, all of us have been through some sort of trial that has shaken us to the very core. That has rattled our bones. That has turned our lives upside down. Whether it be a broken relationship, the death of a loved one, the dashing to pieces of a dream, childlessness, defeat in your career or prolonged singleness . . . we all know what it means to lose something or to have a void in our lives.

During times like these, I believe that the Enemy would like nothing more than for our faith to die and for us never again to bear fruit. But it is during our trials that we must continue seeking God. For it is while our faith is being tested that we are being molded into the image of Christ.

As believers, we are advised many times throughout Scripture to expect trials. Yes, we will know both suffering and rejoicing as we walk with the Lord. We are promised as such. And whether we are just coming out of a trial, are currently in the midst of one or are unknowingly getting ready to go through one, we must cling to the knowledge that trials produce a faith that results in praise.

Never forget: God is there. He is good. He is sovereign. And he is in control.

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD for he has been good to me (Psa. 13:5-6).

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Like the old hymn says, "there is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole" (Jer. 8:22). Only God can heal us and bring us through. Let us cling to the knowledge that despite our trials, God sacrificed his Son for us and is worthy of our praise.

Further Reading:

1 Peter 1:6-9, NIV

James 1:2-4, NIV

[Judy Harder]

How I Came to Enjoy Raisins
by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Managing Editor

Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. -- 1 John 2:10

Worst advertising slogan ever: "Two scoops of raisins in Kellogg's Raisin Bran." Blech. But apparently it worked on my mother, who bought the stuff like it was going out of style, while referring to delicious breakfast desserts such as Lucky Charms and Crunchberries as "cardboard." So unfair. So there I sat, choking down my raisin bran, or even oatmeal cookies with raisins in them, always suffering the same horrible fate: the bran or cookie part would be chewed and swallowed before the gooey chewy raisins, leaving me a mouthful of not-nearly-as-tasty goop.

I despised raisins. Thought about writing Kellogg's and telling them that backing off to one scoop would be plenty (nothing like getting to the bottom of the bowl and finding no flakes, only 10 little black things. Ew).

Flash-forward a quarter century. I'm having a similar issue to the raisin problem with people. Specifically, I'm loathe to admit, some Christian people. No, I haven't been eating them, but sometimes, I do find us hard to swallow. Part of the problem, ironically, is my job! Here at Crosswalk we often receive angry emails from fellow Christians who don't like the movie we reviewed, the way we said something, the ad we ran, or the author we allowed to appear on the site. Criticism's fine, even justified; I just have a hard time when it comes with a "You call yourself Christian?" or a "Have you even read the Bible?" punch to the gut. Sometimes it feels as if we Christians are concerned more with hammering home universal truth no matter how bluntly, or railing against _(fill in the blank)_ than genuinely loving people and meeting needs. Of course, the obvious irony here is that I then, looking in the mirror, find myself in short supply on genuine love myself. Which is not where Christ wants any of us to be. In fact, in Revelation 12:10, the title "Accuser of the Brethren" is given to our enemy Satan at his judgment. Yikes. Do I really want to claim that monicker for myself?

So what does this have to do with raisins? Well, recently I discovered I kinda like the shriveled little things! I pack 'em for snacks, and eat them with the kids. I like the nutritional value, the fiber, the chewiness. What's changed? My tastes? No. The raisins? No. Not the packaging, not the flavor, not even my effort (I'm not choking them down because they're good for me, I genuinely like them). I realized that what has changed is my perspective. It didn't happen overnight, but about the time "Craisins" (dried Cranberries) came on the scene, I began enjoying all sorts of dried fruits. And here's what I noticed: I like cranberries, ergo I like dried cranberries. I like apricots, therefore I like dried apricots. I love grapes, so obviously I... hate raisins? That didn't seem to make logical sense. Maybe it was time to give raisins another try. Maybe I shouldn't even think of them as raisins. Maybe I should just think of them as "dried grapes!"

That may sound extremely silly... but it worked! I felt like I had come into the light. The texture was suddenly different. The way I savored them changed... everything. And a fun new world of food possibilities has re-opened to me, simply thanks to a different way of looking at something.

1 John Chapter 2 is all about Light, who it comes from, what it helps us do, and what it shows about us when we walk in it. Light is a perspective-changer. It reveals the true nature of hidden or darkened things. It doesn't change them, but it can and does change how they appear, how they are perceived, and the details we notice. Our verse today says, "Whoever loves his brother lives in the light," and I think it also works backwards: "Whoever lives in the light loves his brother." It's not going to be easy for me to see fellow redeemed sinners - especially the angry ones - as Jesus does, but it's clearly possible, and commanded, and in the raisin example it wasn't about my efforts anyway - just turning on a light.

Intersecting Faith & Life:  Who's got your goat? Have you ever tried seeing that individual, group, or faceless internet personage in a different light, from a different perspective, or even as God sees them? Have you considered how you might look different to others in a new light? Try filling these blanks in for yourself: "I like ____(x)_____, therefore I like even __________  _____(x)_____."

Further Reading


John 1: 4-11
Light and the Nature of God, by Regis Nicoll
How to Deal with Angry People, by Gary Chapman

[Judy Harder]

Seven Habits of Truly Effective Living
Alex Crain, Christianity.com

The phrase, "begin with the end in mind" will be familiar to anyone who has read the life management book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey).1 But if you aren't familiar with the phrase or the book, the general idea of "begin with the end in mind" is fairly straightforward.

Simply stated, before beginning any project, you should always ask the question "How do I want this to turn out?" Otherwise, you may end up climbing a ladder, but not find success because your ladder is leaning on the wrong wall.

While the advice in Covey's book can help sharpen focus and cultivate good work habits, something that's missing from the book is the God-sized perspective on life that we see in Psalm 92.

Stephen Covey invites his readers to the pathway of success by beginning with their own desires. In other words, "Imagine life as you want it to be." Naturally, the ideal life for most people is one surrounded by beauty, expensive things, favorite people, etc. We want plenty of leisure time and the health to enjoy these things. But without God, such a life is depicted in Scripture as empty and deceptive. It is a dream that springs from a heart tainted by sin. Frustration and disappointment results when our primary source of motivation is the self.

If we are to be truly effective at living, we must humbly begin with God's end in mind.

Psalm 92 paints a picture of the ideal life as that of a righteous person who bears good fruit, even to old age. He is "full of sap and very green." In other words, he is filled with spiritual vitality at the end of life when the temptation to grumble and express radical selfishness is often the strongest.

The roots for a strong, 'sap-filled' soul are found in Psalm 92. Here, the seven habits of truly effective living are unfolded for us:

#1  Seeing thankfulness and praise to God as something desirable, not as a duty (v. 1). Far from complaining, his lips are filled with praise—declaring that there is no unrighteousness in God, his Rock (v. 15).

#2  Focusing on God's lovingkindness in the morning and His faithfulness at night
(v. 2). For the righteous man, each day begins and ends with God, implying that God is central in his thoughts throughout the entire day. Literally, lovingkindness refers to God's covenant loyal love, which features His promise of salvation. The righteous person is not self-righteous, or externally moralistic. Rather, he looks to God's promises and unchanging character as the basis for his right standing before his Creator-Judge. The Lord Jesus Christ is, of course, the fulfillment of these promises. So, the one having faith in Christ is counted righteous and delivered from a petty life of vain pursuits. 

#3  Enjoying resounding music and singing for joy at God's great works (vv. 1, 3-4).

#4  Pondering the deep thoughts of God (v. 5)—not being characterized by a shallow, pragmatic view of God that sees Him merely as a means to get other things.

#5  Praising the transcendence of God—declaring that God is the "Most High" who is above all His creatures. The righteous one realizes that man is in no way equal to God. Thus, he can never legitimately view God with suspicion or call Him into judgment (v. .

#6  Resting securely in the fact that, in the end, God will have the final say on all matters. He will deal justice to the enemies of righteousness (vv. 9-11).

#7  Depending continuously upon God for strength—for "fresh oil" (v. 10), knowing that yesterday's supply never carries over to today.

Perhaps you know an older believer who embodies these seven habits. My own 'eighty-something' grandmother is one such saint. We affectionately call her "Meme." Not long ago, Meme lay in a hospital bed with a serious health situation. I called her on the phone expecting to cheer her up, but she was the one who brought cheer to me.

Instead of complaining about her pain, she spoke with delight about truths she had just read that morning in her well-worn Bible. She told me of the various hymns and spiritual songs had been going through her mind throughout the day. She took time to ask me about my family and how things were going in ministry at our local church.

Her prayer at the close of our conversation was full of gratitude and praise to the Lord. The tone of her voice showed a deep awareness of God's presence right there with her. While I listened, I thought: This is Psalm 92 in action—here is someone who, throughout her life by God's grace, has learned and is still practicing the seven habits of truly effective living.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

If these seven habits aren't part of your daily life, why not pause right now and ask God to make them so?

Further Reading:

Philippians 2:12-18
Numbers 14

Notes:

1. https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits.php

[Judy Harder]

Who Wants a Free Gift?
Ryan Duncan, Editor at TheFish.com/Crosswalk.com

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. – Hebrews 4:16

"Who wants a free gift?" I don't know about you, but that's a statement that often gives me pause. The reason why is because almost every day I'm bombarded with offers to receive a "free gift" that isn't really free. You probably know what I'm talking about. Credit card companies offer me "free rewards" if I spend more that eighteen thousand dollars with one of their cards. Airlines say they'll give me "free miles" if I book a trip to China right now, and then there are those pesky infomercials that offer me "free" steak knives if I buy their grease cooker for only $19.99!

As a Christian living in a world where there's no such thing as a free lunch, it's sometimes hard to understand the meaning of grace, and even harder to teach it to others. So when my father was asked to teach a group of middle school students about grace, I admit I had no idea how he was going to pull it off. But my father is a pretty shrewd guy (you're welcome Dad), and as soon as he got the lesson he went out, bought a Hershey bar the size of a laptop computer and covered it in wrapping paper. On Sunday morning he walked to the front of the room, held up the present, a said "Who wants a free gift?" No one moved.

Finally, one brave kid got up and ran forward to take the present from my father's hand. It's that simple. Every day God calls to us, offering the free gift of his grace, and all we need to do is accept it. Grace doesn't require a down payment, it doesn't ask you to do something first, and it's never a bonus for something you've already accomplished. Grace is a gift, the only thing in this world that is truly free.           

Intersecting Faith and Life

Do you want to receive a free gift? Take a moment during your day to reconnect with Christ.   

Further Reading

Ephesians 2:8

[Judy Harder]

Theocratic Bilateral Dispensationalism
Ryan Duncan, TheFish.com

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 3:11

The immortal bard, Dave Barry, once wrote "The problem with writing about religion is that you run the risk of offending sincerely religious people, and then they come after you with machetes."  All humor aside, I can't help but agree with Mr. Barry, especially where Christians are concerned.  You see, we Christians have a habit of tangling our faith in things other than Jesus Christ. As a kid, I can remember my initial confusion when words like "Baptist", "Catholic", or "Calvinist" where added alongside "Christian". This didn't bother me much, they still meant Christian after all, but it surprised me how these words sometimes caused tension between believers.

Soon, other words started finding their way into the term "Christian". Words like Republican, Democrat, Moderate, occasionally Communist, Egalitarian, Complementarian, Theocrat, or Dispensationalist. Aside from being really confusing and hard to spell, these words caused more than one disagreement among Christians. The first disciples saw their fair share of division too. In fact, Paul dedicated most of 1st Corinthians to calling for unity within the Church. 

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.  My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas "; still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. – 1 Corinthians 10 – 17

I can just imagine Paul madly shaking some ancient Christian and yelling "DON'T YOU GET IT! IT DOESN'T MATTER! CHRIST IS ALL THAT MATTERS!" and he's right. As Christians, it is important that we be on our guard against false teachings, but it is equally important that we do not let ourselves become divided. God never meant for his children to become separated, and when we allow issues like denominations or political leanings to cause strife between us, the message of the Cross becomes obscured.       

We were meant to be one body, one family, unified, as brothers and sisters. In his infinite grace, Christ called us to be Christians.   

Intersecting Faith and Life

Are you letting political or personal issue keep you from loving fellow Christians? Read 1 Corinthians and reflect on Paul's words.

Further Reading

Psalm 133 

[Judy Harder]

Wisdom From Above
Debbie Wright, Assistant Editor at Crosswalk.com

Recently I participated in a small group discussion of Christ-like humility. Our discussion leader had pulled up several Scripture passages for us to reflect upon, and one of them has been racing around in my brain ever since:

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy (James 3:17).

Christ prayed and always sought wisdom from above before speaking and acting. Thus, as Christians (Christ-followers) we should be constantly seeking this godly wisdom and applying it to our lives and relationships. But that verse is a big verse. What does it look like to have this wisdom from above?

1.     It is first of all pure. Our motives for doing anything should reflect a desire to live like Christ and be in right relationship with God. If our earthly "wisdom" tells us to approach a situation with impure motives such as greed, selfishness, or pride – that is not wisdom from above.

2.     It is peaceable. Sometimes we get preoccupied with the imagery of Spiritual Armor and treat everyone we meet like an enemy solider. We must remember that Ephesians 6 says this battle is "not against flesh and blood." Our Lord is a Prince of Peace, and we have a duty to act as citizens of peace.

3.     It is gentle. A gentle answer turns away wrath. If we speak gently, others are more likely to accept and understand God's work and wisdom. But gentleness is not just about tone of voice. Remember the gentleness and patience with which Jesus dealt with children, sinners, and his apostles. Gentleness is a way of life.

4.     It is reasonable. Another translation of this reads "willing to yield to others" – and both are absolutely crucial elements of wisdom. It may seem impossible to live a pure lifestyle while being reasonable and willing to yield, but the Bible says we must. We were given an astounding level of intellect and reason – let us use it! We mustn't buy in to the lie that "reason is the enemy of faith." It is necessary to yield to God daily with every decision we make. But it is also possible (and necessary, and wise) to yield to others. Whether it's a matter of selfless giving or resisting the urge to have angry, theological debates, we are called to yield.

5.     It is full of mercy. That parent who abused their authority? That government leader who makes you cringe? That blogger who sounds heretical? Wisdom from above tells us to look on them with mercy. After all, has not God shown us the greatest mercy of all?

6.     It is full of good fruits. I'm sure many of us can list the fruits of the Lord's Spirit. When we use godly wisdom to discern what we should do, we will consider the fruits of our choices. Do we strive to make choices that result in the fruits of the Spirit manifested in our lives?

7.     It is unwavering. Perhaps it might be strange to think that wisdom from above can be both "willing to yield" and "unwavering." But don't think of them as opposites. Perhaps think of it like a marriage or a friendship. Each person in the relationship must listen to reason and be willing to yield to the other. But the relationship itself must be unwavering. We must be bold enough to live unwaveringly as followers of Christ and good stewards of the earth, no matter the opposition.

8.     It is without hypocrisy. If something seems like wisdom to you but causes you to be double-minded or deceitful, it cannot be wisdom from above. What we believe must match what we say. What we say must match how we behave. Otherwise, we misrepresent Jesus and the lifestyle we claim to live.

Intersecting Faith and Life

The next time you're faced with a decision, take a moment to match up your actions with "wisdom from above."

Further Reading

Ephesians 6:10-18

Galations 5:22-23

Psalm 111:10

[Judy Harder]

The Failure of History
John UpChurch, Senior Editor of BibleStudyTools.com

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)

To their credit, my two little girls sat patiently as the Cherokee peace chief explained his slit ears, metal breastplate, and high-heeled shoes. On the table in front of him sat a rifle, swan feathers, a clay mug, and other shards of the past. This is exactly what I love to do on a Saturday morning.

You see, I love the way history feels because I'm something of a nostalgia junky. The narratives that draw together people, locations, and wars latch onto me. The connections that run through mountains, rivers, and small towns dig under my skin. The history of grace absorbs me.

I have to be careful, though. Otherwise, I'd spend too much time living back there and not paying attention to grace here and now.

There's something in history that we often overlook. Sure, learning about the past supposedly keeps people from repeating mistakes (though I've yet to see that be the case). And we need to see where we've come from, to understand the ebbs and cycles in the story of civilization. But it's more than that.

History—much more than just a learning tool—is the story of human failure. If that sounds morbid, it is. The big picture of our history is how humans have failed to love, failed to live up to God's standards. There are tiny currents that push back against the raging waters of failure (and those are some great stories to focus on), but the overall direction has been clear.

What we learn, if we care to glance back, is that humanity has no chance—that is, no chance apart from grace. Our history lays bare the need for a raw, relentless love. We've stumbled and scrambled, fought and exiled. And yet no amount of human effort has ever satisfied the searching, the wanderlust. We've pushed on, pressed on, killed on. And never reached our goal.

But always there is God. The history we have points to the sparks He created in the darkness, the fires He kindled in the tragedies. Always there is God, appearing where you least expect. Always there is God, breaking through.

I love history because God's there in the midst of our failures. He never lets go; He never disappears.

Intersecting Faith & Life

One reason I always challenge others to keep a journal or a blog is because it gives us all a place to record our own histories. It's a place where we can see the pursuing love of God as He picks us up from our failures and loves us anyway. It's a place to learn from past mistakes. Take a moment today to capture your own story and keep at it. You'll always be amazed at the grace that shimmers through.

Further Reading

Romans 5