Spiritually Strong

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

It’s Friday. As we head off into our weekend, I want you to be encouraged by these words: You are empowered by almighty God to be a steadfast Christ follower. I believe those words with all my heart, yet an alarming number of Christ followers seem to lack stability. Some are “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming" [see Ephesians 4:14]. Others succumb to moral impurity. Many are driven by emotionalism rather than sound thinking. Even though we claim to have a sovereign, omnipotent heavenly Father, our conduct often belies our doctrine. That’s why we desperately need to hear the words of Paul to the Colossian Christ followers when he told them that spiritual stability is ours when we allow the “knowledge of His will” to control our lives [see Colossians 1:9].

He went on in verse 11 to describe the power of God that enables us to walk in steadfastness and patience. We are “strengthened with [God’s] power according to His glorious might.” I love the words “according to,” because it means our steadfastness and patience is in God’s abundant supply of power, which is inexhaustible! The literal Greek says you are being "empowered with all power according to the might of His glory." 

When Christ followers walk in the light of that, we are stable. We respond to life in ways that are biblical—thoughtful and calculated; not worldly—emotional and uncontrolled. In other words, you bear up under the pressures and trials that come your way. You rejoice in your God because He is working out His good will in your life. You trust Him every step of the way. 

Paul told the Ephesian Christ followers to be “strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might” [Ephesians 6:10]. That is possible as we trust in our God and rely on His infinite supply of power; all of which are yours in Christ! 

Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience. Colossians 1:11

Restored!

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

My Dad was fond of saying, “Growing old is not for sissies!” He was right. It seems the older I get, the more I remember the days of my youth. Days when, with just a few hours of sleep, my body would be restored to its vigor for another day of adventure. Days when I could play baseball for hours without a sore bone in my body. Days when I could stay up into the wee hours of the morning with friends and then go to work the next day as if it were normal. I wish I could restore my body, but I can’t. 

It’s hard to see other things grow old too. Take my old neighborhood for example. It used to be alive with young families. There were tons of kids on the block we lived on. We roller skated and play hop-scotch on the sidewalks. We played hide-and-go-seek until our parents called us in for dinner. It was teeming with life. I went by the old place recently. It seemed so dead; houses with bars covering all the windows, stores boarded up, no life, it seemed to me. I wish I could restore the neighborhood. I wish I could blow the dust off the streets and make it all new again, but I can’t. 

But what about your soul, dear Christ follower? What happens when your soul becomes dry like the desert? What happens when your soul becomes weary, tired of the sinfulness all around? In times like that, I wish I could restore my soul, but I can’t…

I can’t, but God can! David, the shepherd boy turned King wrote, “[God] restores my soul.” He doesn’t reform the soul, He restores it. Like a Master Builder, He restores the soul to the original blueprints. He restores the vigor, the energy, the vitality, the life, the hope — He restores my soul.

Hallelujah! to the God who restores.

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:3

Untroubled in Troubled Times

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

It would not be an understatement to say that we are living in troubling times. Our newspapers and news programs are filled with troubling stories everyday—frightening genocide; radical extremists who swallow vast chunks of the Middle East; Judea/Christian principles evaporating in a culture that has no “fear of the Lord.” 

Lest you become too discouraged, let me remind you that all these things were predicted by none other than Jesus, Himself. In His famous Olivet Discourse, He told the disciples, “When you hear of…such things,” the end is coming, but the “end is not yet” [Mark 13:7]. I want you to notice that He didn’t say, “If you hear…,” but “When you hear….” Trouble will come, yet our Lord told us to be untroubled in troubled times.

The Psalms are filled with how to live in troubled times. Here are only a few of them. Review them over and over and see how you measure up in days of trouble: 

Psalm 27:5 - For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. 

Psalm 34:6 - In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; He saved me from all my troubles. 

Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 

Psalm 119:143 - Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, yet Your commandments are my delights. 

Psalm 138:7 - Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. 

Remember, it’s not if, but when. Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulations…” [John 16:33]. The Greek word for tribulations is “under PRESSURE.” What is the answer to troubling times? God’s answer to trouble is TRUST. Our answer to trouble is FAITH! 

When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. Mark 13:7

“Thy Word Is Truth”

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Christ followers are continually pressured to abandon the traditional, high value of the Bible in today’s culture. Here’s what Rob Bell, former mega-church pastor, had to say on Oprah Winfrey’s “Super Soul Sunday” program, speaking about same-sex marriage: "We're moments away. I think the culture is already there. And the church will continue to be even more irrelevant when it quotes letters from 2,000 years ago as their best defense.”

If by quoting 2,000 year old letters makes me irrelevant, then I’m guilty as charged. I hold a different view of the Scripture; one that thinks that the Scriptures are truth and life. The truthfulness of the Bible is upheld by both the Psalmist and Jesus, Himself. The Psalmist wrote, “The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting” [Psalm 119:160]. In His priestly prayer, Jesus said, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” [John 17.17].

Dear Christ follower, always treat the Bible for what it is: the very words of God. Never deny its truthfulness. Don’t deny it in your thinking. Don’t deny it in your living. Rather, “be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth” [2 Timothy 2:15]. 

The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. John 3:31-33

To the Praise and Glory of God

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

“Glory to God in the highest,” was a song that angels sang at the birth of our Savior, Jesus the Christ. It was no accident that they did so, because God’s glory is the priority of every true Christ follower. We read a lot about in it Scripture, but what does it mean, and how can I do it? When you think about it, how can I add anything to His glory since it never diminishes?

An interesting event happened in the life of Moses, which helps us here. Moses made a request of God to, “…show me Thy glory.” God’s response is enlightening. He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion” [Exodus 33:18-19, emphasis added]. For all intents and purposes, the “glory of God” is the sum total of His attributes—all His “goodness.”

What this answer implies is that we can glorify God by displaying HIS attributes in our daily lives. Think about it for a moment. Isn’t God glorified when we display His love? His mercy? His patience? His loving-kindness, et al? When we live that way, those around us will have a better sense of who God is and what He can do! 

So let me encourage you to carefully guard your actions and attitudes. Paul said it this way to his dear friend, Timothy: be an example: “…in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” [1 Timothy 4:12].

Since we cannot add to God's glory, let’s proclaim it with our lives. To glorify God is to reflect His character in your words and deeds.

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:9-11

Choose Happy

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Here is a truth that some Christ followers never learn: Your worth is not based on your net worth, neither is your value based on your valuables. Why is that, you ask? Because life is not about the accumulation of stuff, prosperity notwithstanding. The Lord Jesus, Himself, said it best, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own” [Luke 12:15].

That truth makes little sense to people who have bought into our materialistic culture. Unfortunately, they have yet to learn that “things” aren’t the greatest thing in life — God is! If you want to be truly happy in this life, you must choose between the Master and Madison Avenue.  

I once read about a multi-millionaire who committed suicide. At her funeral someone overheard two people in a conversation. It went like this: “I don’t understand it. She had so much to live for.” “No,” said another, “she had so much to live on, and nothing to live for!” 

Don’t buy the myth that more makes you happy. You don’t need it all to be happy. Truth is, you are as happy as you choose to be. A wise, country preacher once said, “Happiness is not what you have, but whose you are.”

But as for me, my contentment is not in wealth but in seeing you and knowing all is well between us. And when I awake in heaven, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see you face-to-face. Psalm 17:15 [The Living Bible]

How to be Successful

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

An old Jewish Proverb says, “In God’s will, no failure; out of His will, no success.” General George Patton said, “Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.” Good to know. But there is also a theological understanding of success. It has nothing to do with the outcome of what you are doing. Neither is it defined by wealth, position, power, respect, or awards. Success in a theological sense is faithfulness in tackling and accomplishing whatever task God hands to you each day. In other words, success is faithfulness is finishing your daily assignments, regardless the outcome. 

Listen to Paul’s advice to a member of the Colossian church, “Say to Archippus, ‘take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it’” [Colossians 4:17].

Listen to Joshua as he encouraged Israel before entering the land of the Canaanites, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” [Joshua 1:7-8].

It’s Monday, time to begin a new week of service to God. Don’t be worried about failure, instead, be faithful. Be faithful in where God leads you and what He would have you to say. That means, be faithful in your walk and your talk. That is how you spell SUCCESS God’s way!

I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. John 17:4

Worldly or Godly

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

If you were sitting on a pulpit committee, would you hire John the Baptist? I think very few would even consider his application. For one thing, he was a public relations nightmare. The Gospel of Mark points out that he neither dressed right nor had the right diet. Listen to his description: “His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey” [Mark 1:6]. How dare he!

And his preaching was as rough as his clothing. His messages were no nonsense. He was like a brawler continuously challenging people to get right with God because He is on the way [my loose translation of, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2].

Everything about John, his clothing, his diet, his challenging words, set him apart for a unique task: to be a voice “crying in the wilderness.”

John didn’t have to look like, and live like, the world around him to reach them for Christ, and neither do we. So don’t lower your standards. Don’t stoop to their level to raise them to your level. No, you don’t have to be odd to be holy because holiness doesn’t seek to be odd, it seeks to be like God.

Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God?  Psalm 71.19

Still At Work

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

I went to Bible College in the San Joaquin Valley, Fresno, CA to be exact. During those days I had the privilege of attending many “country” churches. On one occasion, a pastor was preaching about our responsibility as Christ followers to keep “a-growin’” and “a-workin’” for Jesus because, “He just ain’t done with you yet!” 

You may think God is through with you at times. Or maybe you think you’ve peaked. But I can assure you, He has more for you to do. Paul said it best in Philippians 1:6, “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Look closely at the verse again, dear Christ follower. When will the good work that God has begun in you be completed? When Jesus returns!

So let me be crystal clear and spell it out for you: Keep a-growin’ and a-workin’ because God just ain’t done with you yet!

He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:8

Confession Is Good for the Soul

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

An old, Scottish proverb claims, "Confession is good for the soul." Even if you don’t find that quote in the pages of Scripture, it is extremely good counsel. Why, you ask? Because God forgives the repentant heart. None other than the apostle John taught us that truth — if we confess, God forgives!

“If” is an important word here because there is little confessing of sin going on today. Instead you often hear, “ Well, deep down inside, I’m a pretty decent person.” Or, “I’m just as good as the next guy.” 

“Confess” is another important word. John said, “If we confess our sin…” not, “If we justify our sin,” or “If we rationalize or sin,” or “If we compare our sin…” No! These ideas may sound good. They may even sound American. But in God’s sphere, they are hollow, empty.  

When we get to the point of sorrow for our sin, when we admit there is no other option, then repent. God is waiting with open arms!

If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Exalt Christ, Experience Joy

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

There are times when I throw up my hands, let out a sigh, and say, “How did Paul do it? How could he remain joyful in all the difficulties he experienced?” It seems to me that next to Jesus, Paul is the greatest example of joy in the Bible, especially as it relates to joy in every circumstance. Isn’t that what he meant when he told the Thessalonian Christ followers to “give thanks [in every circumstance] for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus” [1 Thessalonians 5:18].

After years of thinking about this, I have come to the conclusion that the only way a Christ follower can live joyfully, as Paul did, is to have a goal other than human comfort. May I suggest to you that the greatest goal you can have is the exaltation of Christ. If exalting Christ is your goal, then anything that extends the Gospel will bring you great joy.

Even while Paul languished in a dungeon, he wrote with joy and contentment. His life seemed to bounce back and forth between life-threatening events and difficulties [see 2 Corinthians 11:23-33]. As a matter of fact, it seemed that he was destined for difficulties. Not long after his conversion, the Lord told Ananias to, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” [Acts 9:15-16] 

That’s amazing, in and of itself, in that Paul knew he was going to suffer, and yet he found a cause for rejoicing! Living a life of ease and comfort was not Paul’s main objective. He thrived on the exaltation of Christ. A great example of that is when he wrote to the Philippians while imprisoned. While there, some men in Philippi usurped his apostolic authority. Others preached Christ “out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.” Listen to his response, “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” [See Philippians 1:15-18]. 

Is that your perspective as well? If your goal is that Christ is exalted, whatever happens that furthers that purpose will result in joy!

O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. Isaiah 25:1

The Right Direction

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Daniel Boone was known for his many adventures in the Cumberland Mountains, especially helping people find their way through the Cumberland Gap [a low point in the Cumberland Mountains near where the states of Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia all meet]. Someone once asked him if he had ever be lost. He answered, “No, I’ve never been lost, but I was confused once for about three days!” 

It’s too bad he didn’t have a compass, it certainly would have helped. We humans need a compass too. Christ followers have found it in the Bible. It asserts that man is LOST and needs to find his way back to God. In its pages you’ll find the proclamation of God’s plan to seek out and save  His children. 

Sure, the Bible was written over a period of sixteen centuries by at least forty authors - beginning with Moses in the Sinai Desert and ending with John on Patmos, an island off the coast of present-day Turkey - but it has a central cord that holds it together: God’s passion and plan to save His children. 

What a great truth! To understand the purposes of God as written in Scripture, is to set your compass in the right direction. Calibrated correctly, your journey will be safe. Follow an uncalibrated compass and who knows where your journey will end!

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12