Feeling Is Not Worship

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Have you ever felt like this? “You wake up one morning and all your spiritual feelings are gone. You pray, but nothing happens. You rebuke the devil, but it doesn’t change anything. You go through spiritual exercises . . . you have your friends pray for you . . . you confess every sin you can imagine, then go around asking forgiveness of everyone you know. You fast . . . still nothing. You begin to wonder how long this spiritual gloom might last. Days? Weeks? Months? Will it ever end? . . . It feels as if your prayers simply bounce off the ceiling. In utter desperation, you cry out, ‘What’s the matter with me?’” (Floyd McClung Jr., Finding Friendship with God; Ann Arbor, MI: Vine Books, 1992; 186).

There are times in the life of a Christ follower when God seems far away, distant. When it happens, a common thought is that He is angry with you, or punishing you for some sin. It’s true there is a disconnect from intimate fellowship with God when we sin. But sin is not always the case. 

Sometimes, the feeling of estrangement is a test of faith. Ask any Christ follower. I don’t know of one who hasn’t felt abandoned in their relationship with God. The question is: Will you love Him, trust Him, obey Him, serve Him, and worship Him even when there is no visible evidence of His work in your life?

Another common mistake among Christ followers is seeking an experience with God that produces feelings instead of seeking God. They look for those experiences, and when and if they happen, their conclusion is, “I’ve really worshipped God today.”

Don’t be fooled. Seeking a feeling, even the feeling of closeness to God, is not worship. Worship happens when in our public, family, and private life — in all of life — we glorify God, feelings notwithstanding. 

I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. But he knows where I am going. Job 23.8-10a (NLT)

Life with Meaning

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

I’ve been reflecting on my reading of Ecclesiastes. It’s an interesting book, written by an interesting man — a king, the son of David. He was a man who had everything and nothing at the same time. The book is like a reflective journal of his pursuit of meaning and purpose. And like the majority of people, his search led him to all the wrong things in all the wrong places. 

He was wealthy beyond imagination. But wealth did not fill the hole in his heart. 

He was a king. But all his power left an empty taste in his mouth.

He had more women than he could handle. But their beauty left his emotions cold. 

All of these paths led to dead-ends. He came to the only logical conclusion: “Meaningless!” (Vanity, KJV). 

“Everything is meaningless,” he said. While his life was overflowing with everything he could possibly want (and what many today are seeking after), his soul was empty. Thirty-five times in Ecclesiastes he described his life’s effort as “meaningless.”

After all his extravagant life, Solomon came to a simple realization: “Fear God” (worship), “Keep His commandments” (live a holy life), and “Remember, judgment is coming” (we will give an account of our life before God). By doing that, life transforms from “meaningless,” to “meaningful.”

That’s where Solomon should have started. It’s where we should start too.

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12.13-14

The Precious Blood of Christ

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

It’s horrifying to look at, but please don’t turn your eyes away. You’re at the cross of Calvary and crimson rivulets of blood are streaming down. It isn’t merely blood, it’s “precious” blood. Peter called it “the precious blood of Christ.” 

Precious because it redeems. Precious because it atones. Precious because it reconciles. Precious because it cleanses; “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” [Isaiah 1.18]. Redemption through His blood means there isn’t a spot or stain of sin remaining in the life of a Christ follower. That alone should motivate us to holiness. 

The precious blood of Jesus is unstoppable. It’s how we overcome the accuser; “and they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb” [Revelation 12.10-11]. Wow, the one who fights with the precious blood of Christ does so with a weapon that doesn’t know defeat.

Oh, the precious blood of Jesus! Sin stops at its presence. Death bows to its power. Heaven's gates will one day open to those whose sins are covered with it. 

Oh, the precious blood of Jesus! It has not lost one bit of power since the day it was shed for you and me. The songwriter said it well: “The blood that Jesus shed for me… will never lose it’s power!” 

(© 1966, The Blood will Never Lose Its Power, Andre Crouch)

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1.18-19

I Know My Redeemer Lives

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

“I know my Redeemer lives.” You would think these words were spoken by a Christ follower. The truth is, they came from the lips of an Old Testament character we associate with suffering: Job. 

Job’s comfort lies in the little word “my” — “MY” Redeemer. “A” Redeemer, or even “THE” Redeemer, is of less value than when He is your personal Redeemer. It’s like gold in a mine. It’s nice, but when you possess the gold, when it is in your pocket, it is of much greater value. A Redeemer who has not redeemed you personally, what benefit is that?

That's why you should never be content until you can say with all confidence, “I’m my beloved’s and my beloved is mine” [Song of Solomon 6.3].

But let’s not overlook two other important words, “I know.” Notice it isn’t I “think” or I “hope.” To reach Job’s level of confidence, we must proclaim “I know… no ifs, ands, or buts!” When you know your Redeemer lives, then dark is a lot less dark. Life, even with its hurts, is a lot less painful. 

If Job could come to that conclusion ages before Christ intervened in this world, how much more can we? “I know my Redeemer lives!” A Redeemer who is truly mine, is joy unspeakable. 

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth. Job 19.25

Whose Fault Is It?

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

God has blessed us in so many ways, but I’m sorry to say that there are those who make little use of His spiritual blessings. But stranger than that, many make little use of God Himself. He is our God! Why do we so scarcely give ourselves to Him, or ask so little of Him?

He’s ready in counsel, but we don’t ask for it. We lose direction in life, yet we scarcely seek His guidance. We bear many burdens rather than casting them on the One who cares for us. 

Let me be completely honest with you, my readers; it’s OUR fault that we don’t enjoy the fullness of our God. We should never be wanting while we have a great Shepherd who leads us to green pastures and still waters. Why do we fear when we have a Shepherd who is always with us?  

It’s OUR fault if we don’t go to God early and often. He is our God. Run to Him. He’s given us that privilege. Reach out in faith. If things are dark, God is your Light. If the enemy has attacked you, God is your Shield. Can’t find your way in the maze of life? God is your Guide, He will direct you.

What an amazing, awesome God we serve! He’s everything you want and more, able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all you can ask or think” [Ephesians 3.20].

Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us. Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear Him. Psalm 67.6-7

They Are Not Gods

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Idols and idolatry are not new to mankind. When archaeologists dig up ancient cities, they typically find quite a variety of gods, made of a variety of materials: stone, ceramic, wood, et al. 

One great besetting sin of the ancients was idolatry. But before we get all high and mighty, we’re vexed with the same folly today. Our “golden calves” are standing everywhere. We set up our altars wherever we can find space for them. It seems that our flesh just can't get enough of our gods, and our displays seems to be endless. 

It is accurate to say, “but they are not gods.” You won’t find real blessings there. Their counsel is dangerous. And try to find them in your hour of need. Why are we so drawn to these false gods? How is it that we are so bewitched with their vanities? 

We pity those poor “heathens” that worship gods of stone, and yet we worship the gold god every day. Where is the vast superiority between a golden god and a wooden one? The folly of the sin is the same in either case. Hence, we compound the sin; we turn from the true and living God, and turn to idols. That, dear friend, is a grievous iniquity! 

The hymn writer said it well…

The dearest idol I have known,

Whate’er that idol be;

Help me to tear it from Thy throne,

And worship only Thee.

(O for a Closer Walk with God, William Cowper, 1772)

Do people make their own gods? Yes, but they are not gods! Jeremiah 16.20

We the People... of God

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

“We the people.” You’ll probably hear those words many times over the next day or two as we celebrate our nation’s birthday. “We the people” are the first three words to the Preamble of our Constitution.

They can be applied to saints as to no one else, but in a much more significant way: We the people… of God. Over and over in Scriptures God called His Elect, “My people.” What a sweet title! 

Of course, there is a general sense in which all belongs to God. “The heaven, even the heaven of heavens, is the Lord's, and He reigns among the children of men” [Psalm 115.16]. But here’s the specialty: those whom He has chosen He calls “My people,” something He says of no others. 

If you are a Christ follower, God has brought you to Himself. He has set His great heart upon you. He loves you with an everlasting love. How strong is that love? Strong enough to withstand death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things present , things to come, height, depth, and any created thing - it is inseparable love [Romans 8.38-39].

Do you have that hallowed fellowship with Him so that, like Thomas, you cry out, “My Lord and my God?” If so, then God says of you, and all others like you, “My people!” You are the object of His divine love — “accepted in the Beloved” [Ephesians 1.6]. 

And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be My people. 2 Corinthians 6.16