Crosswalk.com--The Devotional

[Judy Harder]

February 7, 2011 

Servants, not Celebrities
by Ryan Duncan


Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

I have a daily routine. Every morning I get up at 7:00 am, shower, shave, and get dressed. Then I start preparing my meal for the evening. As I'm a single male just out of college, this usually boils down to finding whatever looks edible and tossing it in a crock pot. After that's finished I start packing my lunch for the day. Again, I am a single male, so crock pot leftovers are the daily special. Finally, once those are finished, I pour myself a bowl of cereal and log on to CNN.com.

I admit most mornings I'd rather be on Hulu catching up on my TV programs, but I've found that CNN helps me stay up-to-date on events and issues I'd normally miss. One of my favorite features is the CNN Heroes tribute. In 2007, CNN began a worldwide news campaign that highlighted individuals who were fighting to make the world a better place. 

This tribute has continued in the following years, taking nominations that included Dan Wallrath, a man who builds mortgage free homes for wounded soldiers, and 2010's signature hero, Anuradha Koirala, who fights to save girls from human trafficking rings in Nepal.

I can remember reading about these heroic individuals and being stunned that I had never heard of them before! On a whim, I googled a list of famous people. Do you know who names dominated the list? Lady Gaga, Stephen Colbert, Megan Fox, Mark Zuckerberg.       

In Mark 10: 44-45, Jesus says "Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be a servant of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as ransom for many."       

There's nothing wrong with being a celebrity. There's nothing wrong with pursing dreams to become a famous singer, writer or athlete. But what we Christians must remember is that God called us to do wonderful, extraordinary things that may just go unnoticed by the rest of the world.   

Our work is not meant to draw the spotlight on us but to point others toward the grace and forgiveness we were shown by Jesus Christ. Because truthfully, celebrities come and go -- replaced every year with newer, younger talent. But the actions of a godly heart, the spirit that strives to follow Christ, those are the things that truly last.

Intersecting Faith and Life         

What are you putting before God? Take some time to pray and reconnect with Christ.

Further Reading

Galatians 5:13               

[Judy Harder]

February 8, 2011 SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST | LISTEN TO DEVOTIONAL

Don't Forget to ...
Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor


Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. ... Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Deuteronomy 8:2, 11, NIV

Whoever invented Post-it® Notes is my hero. Really. Truly.   

If you came to my home, you would see at least one of these self-adhesive squares of paper somewhere, in some room, on some surface, at all times. As my mind is aging, I really need all the help I can get to remember what I'm supposed to do, where I'm supposed to go, who I'm supposed to be with and at what time.

Just yesterday, I wrote "Don't forget to bring in the cyclamens!" on a note and stuck it to my bathroom mirror to remind me to bring these little potted plants inside before the temperatures dipped below freezing overnight. It's safe to say I would have forgotten them had I not put this visual reminder to myself in a prominent place where I would see it (The mirror is a gal's best friend, yes?).

I use Post-it® Notes to remind me of other important things to grocery lists, chores, people to call, inspiration for writing projects and more. I'm so thankful that I have a relatively painless and inexpensive way to get my attention so that I will take action and complete these tasks. These little scraps of paper keep me focused and keep my mind on what I need to be doing.

Back in Bible times, there weren't any of these types of handy-dandy items per se, but the people definitely had their own ways of remembering. Altars were built, geographical landmarks were given special names and temple ceremonies and family observances and rituals were constant reminders of where people had come from, what God had done, was doing and would do in the days ahead and what his purposes were in their lives. 

In Deuteronomy 8, Moses exhorted the Israelites not to forget what the Lord had done in bringing them through the wilderness:

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years ... He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna ... Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years ... For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and the hills ... a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing ... When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God. ...

Oh, how easy it is to forget when we get to the other side of a test or a trial in our lives! We all do it. We quickly close the chapter on what was uncomfortable and painful, on what made us unhappy and on what caused us fear or doubt or unrest.

And oh, how all of us would do well to look back and with grateful hearts thank the Lord for leading us through these "wilderness" times in our lives—for guiding us, for sustaining us, for not giving up on us when we gave up on him.

Whether you are in the "wilderness" today or if you are experiencing a time of prosperity, let us not forget who God is and what he has done, is doing and will do in our lives in the days to come.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Perhaps a particularly painful or trying time period in your life came to mind as you read the above devotional today. How did you feel then? And how do you feel now? List out the ways that God provided for you then and how he has blessed you since. Praise him for leading you and providing for you whether in times of plenty or want and purpose to remember his blessings in your life every day.

Further Reading:

Genesis 22:1-18, NIV

Psalm 34:9-10, NIV
Philippians 4:19, NIV 

[Judy Harder]

February 9, 2011

The Person Behind the Plan

Katherine Britton, Crosswalk.com News & Culture Editor

"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me!" - Psalm 139:1

Consider the last conference you attended. Or just remember back to your days at summer camp. If the event coordinator had any talent at all, you probably didn't spare a thought about this person's help in planning your activities. You bustled through your day and merely assumed that the schedule was planned so that you could reach each seminar, speaker, meeting, or perhaps the next camp activity in time. You assumed logistics would be properly worked out. Especially if you're remembering your camp experiences, you probably didn't stop to ponder the "big picture" of your week at the lake, the archery course and the rock climbing walls. You placed inherent faith in the plan, and perhaps gave event coordinators the obligatory applause at the end of the scheduled activities.

The knowledge that "God has a plan" provides me with great peace of mind and heart. Too often, however, I go through my little life with an automatic faith, giving God the obligatory kudos as the grand events coordinator and little else. In other words, I'm most prone to remember him when my "schedule" clashes with my agenda.

How often do you consider the person behind the planning? His personality? His motivation behind the scheduling and planning? The interpersonal relationship between you and him?

The miracle of the Gospel is almost a paradox: God so loved the whole world that he would have died for only one sinner. To say it another way, God's grand plan for the universe complemented an intimate desire to know each of his people. Consider the way the psalmist talks to God in Psalm 139, as he remembers the Lord's plan for his life from the moment of conception. He stands amazed that this God of the universe will be with him wherever he goes. He sees God's grace not only in the Lord's plan for him, but also the Lord's relationship with him. In doing so, the psalmist discovers the mercy of God's care for him, and finds that the Master Planner also accounts for the smallest of our needs. A humbling juxtaposition, isn't it?

My daily challenge is to follow God's plan, yes, but it's so much greater than that. My daily calling is to better know this God who makes the stars spin while caring for the sparrow. When that happens, we can appreciate his plan all the more because we know the person behind it. Let's not cobble together the obligatory applause, but give him the heartfelt praise he deserves.

Intersection of Faith & Life: My mother often told me, "When you can't see God's plan, trust his heart." And how can we trust a person we don't know well? When push comes to shove, the authentic Christian life will be defined not by trust in a nebulous master plan, but by knowing the God who orchestrates all things for his glory and our good.

Further Reading
Ephesians 1:3-10

[Judy Harder]

February 10, 2011 

Community Commitment
by Sarah Phillips, Crosswalk.com Family Editor

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. 2 Timothy 1:1-5

Who passed the faith on to you? Who gave you your first Bible or explained the meaning of the Cross in a way you could understand? Who influenced you to keep persevering when you felt like giving up?

Not long ago, I was awakened to the necessity (and challenges) of passing on the faith to the next generation. I walked into a Sunday school classroom prepared to assist the 8th grade teacher -- but she never showed. A family emergency prevented her from arriving on the very first day. Did I mention I'd never taught Sunday school before?

While my teaching skills won't be winning any prizes, we all walked away mostly unscathed. But one thing became clear to me that day - these middle schoolers need someone older and wiser to mentor them or their faith won't survive life's challenges.

Of course, we can't expect 8th graders to make radical, lifelong commitments to Christ without assistance when even the apostles who personally knew Jesus relied on one another to grow in faith. In Acts, we see Peter and the others sorting out the details of early Christian doctrine among each other. And Paul's letters, some of the most quoted versus in the Bible, were written for encouragement and instruction to individuals and Christian communities.

One reason we rely so heavily on one another is that God set it up that way. He created the Church with Christ as the Head and you and I - believers -- as the Body:

But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love. Ephesians 4:15 - 16

In our individualistic society it's easy to reduce faith down to a personal preference or a private journey. But just as our bodies rely on our organs to work together to thrive, the Body of Christ relies on its members to work together to thrive. So whether we like it or not, we're part of a community and people depend on us. While I don't always feel like the "perfect" Christian, God wants to work through me - and you - to further His work here on earth.

Intersecting Faith & Life: We all have at least one person who acted as a vehicle of God's grace in our lives. This week, honor a pastor or teacher who was influential in your faith journey. If you're not already mentoring a younger believer, find a way to get involved. You don't have to be perfect!

Further Reading:
1 Cor 10: 17
Colossians 2:4-12

[Judy Harder]

February 11, 2011

"Overcoming the Past"
By Stephen Sanders
Audio/Video Editor for Salem Web Network

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. Philipians 3:12-14 (The Message) 

Last night, I went to a college basketball game with my wife and kids. For the first time in a really long time, I was overwhelmed with a sense of not fitting in with those around me. As we sat and waited for the game to begin, my discomfort level steadily increased with every college kid that filled that arena. The clothing trends, the blaring hip-hop music and the comradery between the students took me back to a place in time that I tend to block out. As I drove home, I couldn't help but ponder all the pressures of my teenage years.
Now don't get me wrong, I love to reminisce about the good ole days just as much as the next guy. I think we all have at least a few fond memories that cause us to close our eyes and think about the things that we really miss. For example, if you are anything like me, there will never be a better era for music than when I was in high school.

Grunge bands like Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden and Stone Temple Pilots were still cranking out mainstream hits. Bands like Incubus and Limp Bizkit were at the forefront of what would soon be called the Nu Metal movement. And I was still faithfully rockin' that same green flannel shirt from middle school. Yep, those were the days...

The good memories are something that I revisit quite frequently at this point in my life. After all, I am in my 30's now, and I am getting a gray hair or two in the old beard. I even noticed the other day that I'm starting to make strange grunting noises when I sit down or stand up, like I'm in pain or something. What's up with that?!?! I also have a pre-teen living in my house, which never fails to take me back to all that teenage drama. My point is: it's fun to think about the fun stuff, but usually not so fun to relive the not-so-fun stuff.

For me, the not-so-fun side of high school was being the loner. Now I'm not talking about that super cool James Dean or even that Arthur Fonzarelli kind of loner/rebel. See, I was always the guy in high school who didn't really fit in with anyone; at least, I never felt like I did anyway.

It's funny because I don't tend to be that way anymore. Since I became a Christian in 2002, I feel like I've slowly become more confident in who I am. I don't tend to be so concerned about how other people perceive me, but rather try to understand that everyone has been created differently; that all we have control over is ourselves and how we choose to interact with the other 7 billion people on planet earth.

So, last night as I drove home from the game, I asked God to help me learn from what I was feeling. Why was I so uncomfortable and so bitter towards these strangers? What was it about this event that made me so judgmental towards people who I knew absolutely nothing about? It's funny because I didn't get a direct answer from God. All I can tell you is that I had a peace about what I was feeling. The sin within myself that had stunned me just a few hours prior had now been covered by the promise of my savior. It was no more a part of my life than that hideous green flannel shirt my wife threw out years ago.

Intersection of Faith and Life

The difficult things in life, past, present of future, all pale in comparison to the joy we have found in Jesus Christ. In Philipians 4:11-13, Paul said, "...I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Today, my hope is that, no matter how good or bad our circumstance is, that we choose to focus on the strength that is available to us in Christ.

For Further Reading

Philipians 3 & 4

[Judy Harder]

February 14, 2011

The Month of Love

by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Managing Editor

Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church - a love marked by giving, not getting.
Ephesians 5:25, The Message

For once in my marriage, I really did something right.

My wife's name is Valerie - Val for short - so she's always held Valentine's Day in even higher esteem than most women. Not only that, but her birthday is March 15, so she's always believed that February 14 though March 15 = "The Month of Love" = it's all about her for one-twelfth of the year.

One year, I decided to agree. Each morning for 31 days when she woke up, there was a small hand-made red envelope (amazing what useful skills one can learn watching children's programming) stuck on some wall of our house. Written in sparkly marker (chicks dig the sparklies) on the outside of the envelope was one of her top character qualities. Inside the envelope was a Bible memory verse related to that quality. Embedded in the memory verse was a clue to where a small hidden gift could be found in or around our home.

I just thought this could be a nice little way to tell her I love her. Boy was I short-sighted. I could have bought her the Taj Mahal and she wouldn't have appreciated it more, been more thoroughly impressed. "He went to Jared"? No way. He went to PBS and Ben Franklin. But already Val is considering how to pass this story down to our grandchildren. She says I will never top myself. And she was saying these things before she even knew about the surprise at the end when all the envelopes could be arranged so that the first letter of each character quality would spell out the grand prize: that she had her choice of a new wardrobe, upgraded wedding ring, or vacation, any of which would be shopped for together, 'cause she's big on that. Of course, this was back when she was working, so we had money in the bank. Even so, she never took me up on the grand prize. I can't say I wasn't a little bit disappointed, but she was definitely exercising the wisdom of foresight. And anyway, to her, the biggest gift had already been received.

Valerie thinks this took me ages to dream up and hours to prepare, but it took me about 10 minutes per day, plus a weekly trip to the store to stock up on a few minor gifts. But the outcome net me - if not crowns in Heaven - at least major returns in this life. Anytime a group of gals gathers together and asks each other, "What the best gift you've ever received," I get bragged upon. Several times during the Month of Love itself I was told to take an evening to myself and go see a movie. And I learned something I thought I already knew - diamonds aren't a girl's best friend. Her husband is, if he even shows a rhinestone's-worth of interest in her.

Not every wife speaks the same "Love Language." I know some who truly would have preferred a simple one-time big purchase. Some would just be satisfied with a husband who washed dishes and dusted shelves. But this I can be fairly sure in saying about wives: what all of them really want is a husband that makes an effort to understand them and speak their language, whatever it is, without being told. Yeah, I know, and all one has to do to make millions in the majors is hit a curveball. But unlike the major leagues, in marriage, most of the time, simply making the effort is appreciated.

Intersecting Faith & Life: If you haven't already, read The Five Love Languages with your spouse. Once you learn what says, "I love you" to him or her, come up with a special way of saying so. 

Further Reading

Hebrews 13:4
Languages of Love

[Judy Harder]

February 15, 2011 

What Is True Spirituality?
Alex Crain
Editor, Christianity.com

"When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate."
Genesis 3:6 NASB



It seems clear to me that the root of all human sin is unbelief. Doubt. I've heard people argue that the most basic sin is pride, and well, I suppose that's somewhere lurking on the other side of the coin. But if we start at the beginning of the Bible, the Genesis 3 account shows that Eve first doubted God. That was her sin. After her unbelief came the outward act of disobedience.

Francis Schaeffer, commenting on this, said: "By her doubting she called God a liar. Eve doubted... mankind in revolt doubts God" (chapter seven, True Spirituality).

On the contrary, the person who is at peace with God does not doubt Him. Rather, he/she trusts God. Schaeffer says this is the simplest way to describe true spirituality: it is believing God.

But it is more than just believing God at one isolated point in life. It is believing God and having ongoing belief in Him. There must be moment-by-moment personal communion with Him.

God created us to be relational, not mechanical. Healthy relationships depend on good communication. But communication is an always-in-flux, moment-by-moment kind of thing. That is why all our mechanical efforts at the Christian life fail. It's not about reading a set number of chapters of the Bible each day. It's not about praying for so long.

No. What is needed first, and what inspires trust is, throughout the day, seeing before us the most basic teachings of the Bible:

God exists and He is personal.

God is holy and sin will be judged, but Christ's atonement removes the guilt of sinners.

We are saved from condemnation by the finished work of Christ, and we are brought into a proper relationship with God in a personal way.

We are joined to Christ spiritually.

We can enjoy communication with the Creator on the basis of what Christ has done. (1 John 1:5-9)

These truths don't change, regardless of how I feel at any given moment.

The rediscovery of believing God and these truths moment-by-moment is what lifted Francis Schaeffer out of a long, dark season and re-energized his life.

In our lives, what generally causes us to distrust Christ and run elsewhere is that we often think that we have a better way. We think that, somehow, God really doesn't have our best interests at heart. Like Eve, we think that God is withholding something good from us.

I know for me, personally, distrust happens mostly when I am "Law-minded" in a way that discounts or obscures the gospel. One writer, Milton Vincent, in his A Gospel Primer for Christians provides a helpful counter to this erroneous and sinful way of thinking (p. 18):

"...when I begin my train of thought with the gospel, I realize that if God loved me enough to sacrifice His Son's life for me, then He must be guided by that same love when He speaks His commandments to me. Viewing God's commands and prohibitions in this light, I can see them for what they really are: friendly signposts from a heavenly Father who is seeking to love me through each directive, so that I might experience His very fullness forever." (see Deut. 5:29)

Intersecting Faith & Life: 
The rediscovery of believing God and these truths moment-by-moment is what lifted Francis Schaeffer out of a long, dark season and re-energized his life. If you've come to see that God doesn't deserve our suspicion, seek His aid to maintain this moment-by-moment walk of faith with Him. I look forward to seeing you on the next leg of the journey. 

For Further Study:
Isaiah 30:15 "Thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, 'In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.'"

For further study, read Romans 6-8 and 1 John 1:5-9 

[Judy Harder]

February 16, 2011 

The Bible is Not a Cheat Sheet
by Ryan Duncan, Fish.com Editor


Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Psalm 119: 33-34

I have a confession to make. Back when I was still in school, I attended a chemistry class that I hated. The building was cold and smelled like chemicals. The lessons were slow, with hours of homework assigned afterwards. On top of everything, I had never been good at chemistry, and my frustration usually boiled over faster than our science solutions did.                 

The class did have one upside though; the way the room was set up allowed me a perfect view of the desks in front of me. So, whenever an exam was held, I cheated. I used a variety of excuses to justify this. Chemistry wasn't my gift, so why should my GPA suffer? The answers were there, they were available, why shouldn't I use them? Who cares how I got the answers so long as they're the right ones?

It was only later that I realized my mistake. Sure, I knew the correct answers, but I didn't understand how the formulas constructed those answers. Without that, my knowledge of chemistry was surface level at best. I was completely and utterly lost.

I think sometimes we like to use the Bible as a cheat sheet. When the world confronts us with a problem, we open our Bibles and yell, "See, the Bible says it's wrong, end of story!" But the Bible was meant to serve as a textbook, not a cheat sheet. If we don't study God's word, we won't understand why Jesus said the things he did. We fail to ask questions, and we breeze through passages without taking time to consider their meaning. We are, quite frankly, bad students.     

Try to think of it this way. Before a doctor can heal a person's illness, they must first understand the disease at work. They have to understand where it came from, what affect it has on the patient's body, what types of treatment can fix the problem, why those treatments work, and which of the treatments is best for the patient. If the doctor does not understand this, there is a good chance they'll end up hurting their patient. God calls us to be healers and lights to the world, but without understanding his word first, we become heavy-handed.

We must not be afraid to question our faith. Instead, we must study it with an open mind and faithful heart. That way, when the real exam comes, we pass with flying colors.

Intersecting Faith and Life 


What questions do you have about the Bible? Take some time to talk them over with a friend or Pastor.

Further Reading
 
Psalm 119           

[Judy Harder]

February 17, 2011

Have You Chosen What is Better?

Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42, NIV

In the case of Mary and Martha, Mary certainly "got it." She chose what was "better."

What is so genius about the story of these two sisters is how simply it is told in Luke 10. There's really no guessing at all as to what Jesus means in his assessment of the situation. But part of this lesson really escaped me until I was reading it again recently in a Bible study.

Jesus was on the road and stopped in Bethany, which was just east of Jerusalem. It was also his last week on earth—and I think that's important to note here, as I'm sure Jesus' heart was heavy and he probably wanted to share as much as he possibly could before leaving.

No doubt weary, but ready for some fellowship with friends, he settled in to the sisters' home. But as he was trying to connect with them through small-group teaching, he probably couldn't help but notice that only one sister was listening. 

"Mary ... who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said."

So while Mary was paying attention, Martha was buzzing around the kitchen. Perhaps she had a chicken roasting in the oven and it needed constant monitoring. Or maybe her potatoes gratin wasn't bubbling up fast enough or needed some extra cheese grated on top. Who knows what was keeping Martha away from Jesus! Whatever it was, she had made it a higher priority and it was causing her to miss out on what was better.

I'm sure, like most women, Martha was trying to do it all and didn't ask for help. And then playing the "martyr card," she finally went public with her irritation.

"Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

Oh Martha. I just love her, because she reminds me so much of myself. Her attention was directed toward that which seemed more important, but in reality it wasn't nearly as important as the message she was missing out on right there in her living room. How could she miss that? Jesus, in the flesh, teaching in your own home?

"But wait a minute," you might say. "Isn't taking care of company and making sure there's food on the table important, too?" Well yes, of course it's always good to make sure you are serving others. But if what you make a priority is at the expense of seeking the Lord first, then you have to rethink your priorities.

Jesus then kindly answered a frazzled and frustrated Martha.

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed."

Now, insert your own name there and think about that again. And just for kicks and grins, I'll insert mine.

"Laura, Laura" the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed."

Really, Lord? But what about what's going on in this possible relationship in my life right now or what about what's happening in the economy and in my dwindling 401K or what if I don't work on this urgent project right now and I miss the deadline?

And then Jesus gently answers.

"Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Simple as that. And it is our choice. What is better is choosing time spent with the Lord, hearing from him and gleaning from the teaching of his Word. And that is what can never be taken away.

That was a new lightbulb moment for me in rereading this passage. When we choose time spent with the Father, the benefits cannot be taken away from us. Scripture that you hide in your heart, spiritual truths that you study and learn ... these are treasures that you have stored within you. They will not burn. They are investments in the Kingdom. And they are eternal and everlasting.

Remember, when you choose to make God a priority in your life, you will always choose what is better and it will not be taken away from you.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Put down the phone. Set down your agenda. Put any whining children in time out. And get in the Word. If you're in a meeting or driving your car, then meditate on Scripture. Ask God to help you choose what is better in every situation, in every hour and in every decision today.

Further Reading:

Psalm 25:4-5, NIV

Hosea 12:6, NIV

Hebrews 10:19-23, NIV 

[Judy Harder]

February 18, 2011

When 'Good Morning' Is a Bad Word
by Katherine Britton, Crosswalk.com News & Culture Editor



If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse. - Proverbs 27:14

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. - Ephesians 4:29

I am not a morning person.

My college friends and I still joke about the semester our intrepid Bible study (we were studying Romans with just about every denominational background represented) decided it was a good idea to change our meeting time to Saturday mornings. My nocturnal habits often made me the least inclined to drag myself from repose, and I confess that I used the "I think I'm coming down with a cold" excuse more than once. On one such morning, another member of the group decided she would jumpstart my lethargic spirituality. While I was groggily ignoring my roommate's gentle encouragement to come to Bible study, she walked the dorm room, threw open the curtains to the sunshine, and loudly proclaimed, "GOOD MORNING, KATHERINE!"

I have no idea what I said in response, but I'm sure it wasn't Christian.

I respect my friend's abiding faith in early bird philosophy, but I was delighted a few months later when I discovered Proverbs 27:14. The Message clarifies the verse by putting it this way: "If you wake your friend in the early morning by shouting 'Rise and shine!' It will sound to him more like a curse than a blessing."

I immediately told my friends that my discovery. I had found concrete evidence that God was not a morning person.

Of course, the verse's real point deals less with God's waking hours and more with speaking wisely. Proverbs once again brings the focus back to the power and timing of our words when we relate to other. The funny illustration demonstrates that wisdom is more than a wholesome word or truth. Wisdom is also a truth aptly spoken.

Sunday School has drilled the catchphrase "Speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) into our heads, but even this approach can lack grace. Paul himself encouraged his readers to consider that not every word is fit for every occasion. Even the comforting promise of Romans 8:28 - that God works all things for good of those who love him - should sometimes give way to grieving when the cancer diagnosis is first announced or a loved one dies. Those are obvious examples, and the more subtle situations are myriad. But here's the lesson I take away from this verse: We're supposed to consider the impact on our hearers. Wise words do more than offer the right word and expect our friends to recognize its truth even if we choose an inopportune moment. Instead, I have to recognize that the right word offered at the wrong time might as well be a curse instead of a blessing.

I take comfort in knowing that I don't have to spew every nugget of knowledge at every pertinent encounter. We're not supposed to be somebody else's Holy Spirit, convicting them of every errant or off-color word. Nor are we supposed to be perpetually perky saints, walking around singing hallelujahs all the time. There's a place for bold ministry, but too often I confuse boldness with my very human need to "say something" - and the results are rarely "good for building up" or "as fits the occasion."

Intersecting Faith & Life: Don't be the neighbor who yells, "Good morning" too loudly. Let's encourage each other with words that "will give grace to those who hear" this week. Our goal is not to make others see our point of view or our wisdom, but to build each other up with the love of Christ.

Further Reading:

Ecclesiastes 3