Maximize Your Time

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1.17-19

I have several books of famous quotes and often, when writing sermons or devotionals like this one, I refer to them for a pithy nugget of truth. Here’s one from Benjamin Franklin referencing how we should conduct our lives: “Doest thou love life? Then do not squander time, for time is the stuff life is made of.”

There is a biblical truth in that statement: God has given each of us a certain number of days to make an impact in the world. Don’t waste a minute of it. I remember watching an old black and white western movie in which a father told his son to do his chores. The boy dawdled for a little bit and the father said, “Get on with it. Time’s awastin’!” Many professing Christ followers squander their time here on earth and do nothing that is of significance for the Kingdom.

The nugget of truth found in today’s passage is that while we are here in the world, what Peter called “exile”, God wants us to maximize our influence among others. 

Today begins a new day. Step into it with a renewed commitment to live it to the fullest for the sake of Christ. 

Fill ‘er Up, Please

Some of you may be too young to remember pulling into a gas station and having attendants coming to the car asking what they could do for you. I remember my Dad used to say, “Fill ‘er up.”

I was reminded of those experiences when I read today’s text from 2 Kings. A beautiful miracle was recorded that had to do with emptiness and filling. A poor widow was low on oil and didn’t have the means to purchase any. She was “running on empty.” Elisha instructed her to borrow empty vessels - a lot of them - from her neighbors.  When she closed herself in the house, she began to pour the oil into the empty vessels. She kept pouring and pouring and pouring until all the jars were filled. It was a miracle that continued as long as an empty vessel was available. 

Spurgeon wrote about this passage: “My Lord Jesus does not want your help. Abstain, resolve, repent, advance—do what you will. But do not join these poor things to His great salvation. Give up once and for all depending upon what you have done, even when you have done all—as an unprofitable servant quit all claims of wage and appeal to mercy only. Dismiss the proud notion of containing anything in yourself which comes of your fallen nature and yet can be acceptable with God. … Empty buckets are most fit for the well of grace—these shall be filled while the full ones stand idle at the well’s mouth.”

“Empty buckets are most fit for the well of grace.” I like that! God is drawn to our emptiness. Go to God with your emptiness and just say, “Fill me.” Your emptiness doesn’t disqualify you from God’s blessing; it attracts it.

Dottie Rambo said it so well in a song from 1959:

Fill my cup, Lord;

I lift it up Lord;

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.

Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more.

Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole

© 1959 renewed 1988, Word Music

And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” 2 Kings 4.2–4

Just Wait

Don’t you just love waiting? I know I do. NOT! There’s nothing fun about waiting. Most of us detest it. That’s why we have so many instant foods — coffee, pudding, potatoes, oatmeal, grits … instant whatever. It seems like we simply don’t have more than an instant to wait. 

Not long ago, tapping my foot in impatience while left overs were being reheated in the microwave oven, I kept wondering, "when on earth the food would be hot and ready to eat!" As I thought about that incident this morning, it struck me that you can throw out the “microwave idea” when it comes to God. He doesn’t have one. To keep the cooking image going, God most often uses a Crockpot. “Through faith and patience we inherit promises,” so says the author of Hebrews. Haven’t you found that to be true? If we expect to see God work in our lives, we must be patience, waiting on His time, not ours

Waiting on God is one of the hardest things we Christ followers must do, make no mistake about that. We want our “miracle” and we want it now! That waiting period is fertile ground for frustration and disillusionment; thinking that if God really loved us, He’d act now. Listen, the truth is: God is never late. But also, He’s never in a hurry. As the old spiritual said, “He’s always right on time” … with grace to help in time of need.  

Believe God. Wait patiently on God. Receive from God.

… that you do not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:12

You Are Mine: A Valentine’s Day Devotion

Do you remember those little heart-shaped candies you got in the Valentine Cards you got as a kid in school? There was a word or two on them: “Sweet”, “Cute”, “Hug Me”, “My Valentine”. 

On this Valentine’s Day, I’m reminded of a Valentine (of sorts) from God when He said, “You are Mine!” It came through the pen of Isaiah; a message from God to His beloved Israel. It was in a time when they had wandered away and they felt the sting of His discipline. Still, He lovingly told them not to be afraid because He would take care of them. He promised them His presence, His protection, and His provision through it all. 

The Apostle Paul wrote something similar to the Ephesian Christ followers in a rather lengthy passage, 1.3-14. He told them that God created them, redeemed them, and called to them, “You are accepted in the Beloved” [1.6]. In other words, “You are Mine!”

Our loving God cares for His children — day after day, week after week, year after year. He loves you. You are His! Rejoice in His love for you.

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. Isaiah 43.1

A Gateway of Hope

If you are ever in Boston, Massachusetts, take time to visit the Liberty Hotel. Though now it boasts luxurious accommodations, upscale restaurants, and celebrity clientele, it once served as the Charles Street Jail. In its day, it hosted a much different clientele including: prisoners from a World War II German submarine; the thieves behind the Great Brinks Robbery in 1950; and Frank Abagnale Jr., the con artist portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie Catch Me If You Can.

It was built in 1851. In 1973, after 120 years, prisoners revolted because of the poor living conditions, after which the jail was declared unfit. It wasn’t until Memorial Day, 1990, that the last prisoners were transferred to the new Suffolk County Jail.  

Years later, the building was purchased by a group of investors and underwent a $150M renovation. When you walk into the “prison” today, you enter an Italian Restaurant where some tables sit next to jail bars and brick walls. The catwalk, where guards once stood to watch over the prisoners, is now an elegant balcony. One former prisoner visited the hotel and exclaimed, "How you could take something that was so horrible and turn it into something of tremendous beauty, I don't know.”

The prophet Hosea talked about a total transformation like this. The valley of Achor [or Trouble] was the place of disgrace and punishment which befell Israel on her first entrance into the Promised Land [see Joshua 7.25-26]. It would later be known as a gateway of hope. The sorrows of the past would be replaced with anticipations of hope. 

Greater still is the transformation God offers by turning opportunities for punishment in our lives into gateways of hope and restoration. God's justice has no place for evil. It will not allow Him to overlook it. Evil will not go unpunished. Yet, in His great love and mercy, God set in place a plan where His justice might become a gateway of grace and hope.

We do the same every time we extend forgiveness to someone who doesn't deserve it. What would our world look like if we allowed our resentment to be transformed into a gateway of hope and grace?

I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt. Hosea 2.15

Anxiety Buster

Philippians 4 is the Bible “anxiety buster!” That’s because when God, through Paul, confronted anxiety, He pulled no punches in diagnosing the problem and prescribing a remedy for it. This is truly important because so many downplay the repercussions of anxiety and worry and choose to think this particular sin is no big deal. Well, nothing could be further from the truth.

In Philippians 4.4-8, Paul commanded five things to do when you are worried and/or anxious. Here they are: rejoice, be gentle, remember Christ’s return, pray, and ponder good things. 

Consider this, if your heart is running low on joy, you might be more anxious than you care to admit. Or, if you find it more and more difficult to be gentle with others, then perhaps anxiety has found a home in your heart. Or, if your heart doesn’t regularly find victorious hope in Christ’s return, or if your prayer life is lagging, or if your thoughts don’t consistently settle on honorable, pure, and commendable things, then it may be time to confess the root problem — worry and anxiety. 

The first thing in dealing with any sin is to recognize it. Call its name, identify it. Repent, forsake, and turn from it. Then, prayerfully consider how to employ the five Holy Spirit inspired directives. God will do His part when we do ours. He will grant victory over the destructive sin of worry and anxiety. And, He will “guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” [4.7].

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is coming soon. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4.4-8

Romans 12.18 Kind of Peace

I think it’s safe to say most people want peace. Oh, there may be a few knot-heads out there, but for the most part, we want PEACE! In a television interview, Barbara Walters asked the successful actor Richard Dreyfus, “What one thing do you want that you don't already have?" His answer was instant, and one word, “Peace.” 

For many, peace is an elusive thing because they search for it like love … in all the wrong places. You’ll never find peace in alcohol or drugs or relationships. Not ultimately, anyway. Real, lasting peace comes from the Child who was born, the “Prince of Peace,” Isaiah said [9.6]. He also had it right when later he said, “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked” [48.22].

The Apostle Paul would also wrote about that peace. It affects our lives in many ways, but I’ll only touch on three of them.

1. There is peace with God. "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” [Romans 5.1]. When our sins are forgiven, there is no condemnation that is rightfully deserved of those who are guilty before heaven’s King. 

2. There is internal peace. This peace is the by-product of simply abiding in Christ. “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” [Philippians 4.9]

3. Where possible, there is peace with others. This one is made more difficult because it doesn’t solely depend on you. That being said, we must do everything we can to achieve it [Romans 12.18], which means you work hard to make peace with your spouse, your children, your parents, your siblings, your employer or employee, your classmate or teacher, even your ex (yikes!).

Achieving a Romans 12.18 kind of peace usually requires humbly sought after forgiveness. My Dad used to say, “If you mess up, fess up!” Those aren’t exactly Bible words, but they certainly express its intent. When we seek forgiveness, God is pleased and, typically, the offended party will respond in kindness — not always, but I have found that true in most cases. 

If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Romans 12.18