Jeremiah 10:5 2/28/2023*

“Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm, nor can they do any good.”

God has no problem speaking bluntly.  In this verse He points out the lunacy of worshipping something that you created.  Cutting down a tree, shaping it, dressing it up and then bowing down and worshiping it is stupidity, and it angers God.

Deuteronomy 7:26 not only says don’t have idols…it says we should “utterly detest” them. Idols are so offensive to God that they are forbidden by the very first commandment.  God views idolatry like we would view our spouses being unfaithful.

But our culture is too advanced to worship idols…right? We could never be duped into serving false powerless gods, right?... I don’t know… look at what you value. Does anything eclipse your devotion to Christ?  Does anything come close?

We should “detest” things that tempt us away from the true God. When I resist false gods is it because I despise them or out of a sense of duty?  Do I “loathe” the gold in their idols and the lust in their lifestyles, or do I begrudgingly abstain?

When I was young, I was enamored by the red glowing rings on our stove.  My mom told me not to touch them or I’d get burned ….so out of obedience, I didn’t…until I did. After that, they were no longer a temptation…I detested them. I saw them for what they were… dangerous.

If God calls something an abomination, I should never tolerate it.  Yet I sometime chase after, depend on, and in some ways worship worthless things… and God says that is hazardous to my relationship with Him. 

Idols aren’t exclusively golden sculptures… they come in the form of money, reputation, comfort,  power… anything that competes with my allegiance to God. Preoccupation with these things is dangerous. I must, acknowledge that God is my King and be solely devoted to Him out of gratitude for my redemption.

Examine your heart this morning… Carefully analyze the list of things you hold as valuable and eliminate anything that detracts from your devotion to Jesus.

“You don't have to go to heathen lands today to find false gods. America is full of them. Whatever you love more than God is your idol.”
- Dwight L. Moody

 

Daniel 4:18 2/21/2023*

^“This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me its interpretation, since none of the wise men of my kingdom is able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, because a spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

Nebuchadnezzar tells Daniel (whom he calls Belteshazzar) that he wants Daniel’s God to perform for him. King Neb will honor any god who will do what he wants…In this case he wants to understand a dream, and that is exactly what is about to happen.

Many people approach God like Nebuchadnezzar.  They seek Him when it is convenient. They avoid obligation to Him by saying things like, “I’m not religious, I’m spiritual”… or “there are many paths”…. Their meaning is “I have manageable deities, but they all serve me – I do not serve them”.

Nebuchadnezzar displays this type of “spirituality” by saying that  “a spirit of the holy gods” (plural), is in Daniel. But God is going to correct Nebuchadnezzar’s theology in a way that he will never forget. Since Neb listens to dreams, God sends him a doozy, informing him that he will live like an animal for 7 years - until he understands that God does not share His glory with others. … And that message is universal.  

God will not be one of your idols.  When repentance doesn’t change your actions, God allows sin to change your outcome. You can worship and follow the one true God, or not…but you can’t keep God on retainer, just in case a time arises when He might be useful to you.

Worship has always been found in human history … We were made in His image and our awareness of Him is undeniable. Yet like Nebuchadnezzar, some of us insist on trying to take His place.

Love involves free will… so God leaves the choice up to you.  But if you choose self-worship…you will only get as far as your own power can take you…and like Nebuchadnezzar, you will discover, that that is a barron, confusing place and not at all where you intended to go…

Even if you’re a king like Nebuchadnezzar, you will eventually have to acknowledge that there is only one God – and it isn’t you.

“You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself.”― Charles Spurgeon

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 2/14/2023*

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,  and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?” 

Do we do that? …Does God still expect us to? 

The New Covenant acknowledges our inability to keep the law but does not remove the requirement of holiness. Perfection is still demanded, to commune with God, and faith in Christ is the only way to fulfill that requirement.

Deuteronomy clarifies that loving God with all your heart and soul incentivizes you to begin “Serving Him, walking with Him, striving to keep His commandments”… Since you can’t perfectly keep His law, grace should cause you to chase holiness out of gratitude.

Unfortunately, instead of allowing God’s grace to change us we tend to emphasize God’s mercy to the exclusion of His Holiness. Since grace is free, we see obedience as sacrifice, thinking of ourselves as social martyrs, giving up the “fun” of sin for salvation. 

That is foolishness because sin is lethal. Countless men’s lives have been utterly ruined because they pursued what the world calls “fun”. It is essential to understand sin’s deadliness to be changed by God’s grace .

Christ’s brutal death at Calvary is the most expensive display of love in all of history. Yet we nonchalantly shrug at the price.  We claim to embrace the Cross – yet it does not affect our conduct. That is incompatible with the assertion that we love and walk humbly with God. 

You are saved by faith alone – but your faith should never be alone…. The best way to be sure that tomorrow is secured by your faith - is to see that your life today is transformed by it. 

It will change you when you understand that salvation has not been discounted. Jesus paid your debt in full …because He loves you, and you couldn’t pay the price yourself.  Let thankfulness for God’s unmerited love make you strive to be more like Jesus every day.

“It is no accident that the 10 commandments were smashed and then re-written exactly as they had been before….no matter how often we break His commands – they do not change.”   - Anonymous 

2 Kings 8:13 2/7/2023*

“Then Hazael said, “Surely not! For what is your servant, who is nothing more than a dog, that he would do this monstrous thing?” And Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”

“Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” 

Elisha weeps as he prophesizes that Hazael will commit barbaric atrocities.

But Hazael is offended at the suggestion. Insisting he is above such monstrous deeds, and that he doesn’t have the power to act even if he chose to… But soon Hazael will murder the king of Syria to gain that power and will go on to prove he is capable of astonishing brutalities. 

It is an extremely dangerous situation for me to believe I am too good to be tempted by a particular sin.  That egotism is an invitation to the enemy to “sift me like wheat”.

The belief that I am untouchable puts me in the vulnerable place that Proverbs speaks of when it says, “pride goes before destruction”.

Billy Graham was once asked how he had avoided scandal in his ministry.  The reporter probably expected a theological truth or bible reference…but Dr. Graham responded, “I run scared young man, I run scared.”… That in fact, is an astute theological response, acknowledging the treachery of sin and an indication of the humility that protected Billy Graham’s ministry.  

What about you?  Are you so confident that you are above sexual temptation that you make no effort to avoid it? Are you convinced no situation could arise that would tempt you to steal? Are you sure your desire for power and popularity won’t entice you to lie or gossip? The enemy is crouching at the door, whether you see him or not.

Dancing close to the fire because you believe you are impervious to the flames is foolish. Many men have been destroyed by sin they did not avoid because they were sure they were immune to it…

Recognize the power of sin and your own vulnerabilities and run scared young man. Guard your heart and build defenses against all sin in your life.  Remember that Hazael was sure there was no evil in him until he had the power to let it out. 

“Temptation likes best those who think they have a natural immunity, for it may laugh all the harder when they succumb.”— Catherynne Valente

Romans 8:31 1/31/2023*

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”

The phrase, “These things”, is referring to struggles the Roman Christians were facing.  Paul is questioning their anxieties as they face those challenges. I think he might ask us the same question… ”When did fear become our default emotion?” 

America thrives on anxiety. Fear has become our national pastime… We embrace it, promote it, and attack anyone who refuses to be scared with us. No one is immune and neither side has a monopoly on the method. Dividing us with fear has become the most common technique on the political landscape.

Even some churches today have stopped declaring the power of God and instead have become obsessed with the evil plans of people… We have stopped preaching and started whining… We don’t boldly stand on God’s omnipotence; we tremble at the attempts of sinners to change His plans. 

How foolish can we be?  

The Bible says, “The LORD Himself goes before you”… Why waste another day fixated on man’s attempts to thwart God’s plans? They will not prevail.  God is God. He is not worried or dismayed… So why are you?

James is not suggesting that you ignore dangers. He’s suggesting you stop letting fear control your life. Prudently assess threats… make good choices…and find peace in the confidence you have in your Heavenly Father. Fear isn’t from God, and it won’t improve your decision making. 

Turn off the media for a few minutes and read your Bible… Remember that this is the day the Lord has made and rejoice knowing He will control it.  Stop turning inward and trembling, look outward at the power of God… Instead of feeling threatened by people who disagree with you, try loving them like God loved you when you were lost.

Every Tuesday we discuss choices, and you have one to make today. 

Either follow the crowd and spend the day looking for reasons to be fearful… Or be different and trust God.

If you choose fear, you’ll blend in… If you choose faith, you’ll be distinctively peaceful, and people will be drawn to you like moths to a flame… Tell them God’s bigger than their problems... Let them know they can trust God and that today was created for something more productive than being anxious.

“Worry ends where faith in God begins.” – Anonymous 

Genesis 5:32 1/24/2023*

“Now after Noah was five hundred years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”

Noah’s dad Lamech was 182 years old when Noah was born, His grandfather Methuselah, was 187, and his great grandfather Enoch, was 65 when they started having children. So, Noah came from a prolific family with godly lineage.  But it took Noah twice as long to begin having children as any of his ancestors. 

In those days kids were seen as security. Sons were needed to work as parents aged. Noah probably prayed for a large family to insure his future. Yet for centuries the answer was “no”…or at least “wait”. 

This was problematic because Noah had no one to help him….and because childlessness was seen as a curse which impacted Noah’s social standing as well. He most likely prayed passionately for a son…yet God was silent.

What happens when you pray for something but hear no answer? Do you see it as punishment, or as an indicator that your prayer life needs work?  Consider that in this instance… God waiting to answer Noah’s prayer was not a punishment, but an act of mercy. 

Noah had no idea the world would be destroyed by a flood. He couldn’t foresee the problem a large family would face trying to survive on the Ark for a year. By keeping Noah’s family small, God insured none would be left behind … God’s timing was perfect, allowing Noah’s sons to become married men who could continue the human race - but not allowing the family to grow so big that they couldn’t all get on the boat. How merciful of God to save Noah from that dilemma. 

God’s plans are harder to understand for those of us who cannot see the future. Is there something you’ve been praying about for what feels like a long time?  Keep praying… Remember who you’re talking to and bear in mind that His vision is better than yours. Lean into the trial, trust God,  and look for His plan. 

Remember that Noah had years of waiting for an answer… which he probably questioned. He may have even gotten angry, convinced that his plan was better than God’s.  But my guess is that all that changed - as soon as it began to rain.

Never make the blunder of trying to forecast the way God is going to answer your prayer. – Oswald Chambers

Joshua 3:15 1/17/2023*

^“And it will come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, ...”

We have discussed this verse before, as part of a larger passage but it contains a concept that deserves its own devotional. God is telling His people that His plans usually require faith. In this case, a miracle is promised, but it will be triggered by the Priest stepping into the water. 

If you’re like me, you would prefer for the water to stop before taking the step… but that is seldom God’s way.  In most cases, even with a promise from God, we must get our feet wet. 

God wants faithfulness from His people… Trusting Him cannot be just one of many solutions you are considering. The Lord is interested in knowing if we are committed - or just assessing options.

There was no fallback position in this plan to cross the river. The Priests would have looked ridiculous standing knee deep in the Jordan if The Lord had not stopped the water… Declaring your trust in God is easier than stepping into the river, and He wants to see your faith, not just hear about it.

Am I willing to risk embarrassment,  or do I need a miracle before I move?  Will I risk looking foolish for God, or do I need a way to “save face” if God doesn’t deliver? 

Faith is only faith when you depend on it…. You may like a chair;  be impressed by its workmanship… You might even study the chairmaker …but you don’t have faith in the chair - until you sit in it. 

In the same way – you can be impressed by God, enjoy talking about Him, even study His history – but until you depend solely on Him for your salvation …. You haven’t demonstrated faith in God.

Being a Christian means I must be like the Priest walking out into the Jordan river with only two options ….drown or be rescued by the Lord.

Will I step in the river today…or do I plan to just stand here waiting for the water to stop?

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

1 Peter 4:1 1/10/2023*

"Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin.“

You can’t spread the gospel without accepting the risk of persecution. The threat of being ostracized when speaking the truth is real…In many places physical consequences are possible as well. But Peter is saying that some things are worth suffering for, and that enduring persecution diminishes the  fear of it.  

This passage also implies that the pain of persecution emboldens you by making you choose between a fleshly, or spiritual mindset.  This refines your view of sin and solidifies your goals.

If a running back’s only goal is to avoid getting hurt, he will be unproductive. Being preoccupied with injury will not only get you hurt, but it will also make you an ineffective football player.  It slows down your reflexes, makes you second-guess your movements, and causes hesitation. But if you accept that violence is part of the game, and stop being anxious about it, your focus becomes the endzone. You may still avoid collisions as part of your strategy to reach the goal line, but it will not be because you’re afraid of being hit.  

Spiritually we must seek the goal line as well. And fear cannot permit other objectives to get in the way. Pursuing popularity may interfere with speaking the truth. Needing acceptance, may cause you to preach tolerance at the expense of righteousness. Focusing on fund raising might cause you to water down hard truths. All of these can lead to ineptitude, and injuries in your spiritual life, and in the lives of those you love. 

To be effective you must choose your King and accept that opposition is inevitable. Arm yourself with the resolve that Jesus had and look persecution in the eye without blinking.  Begin today persuaded that you have one goal…  Don’t seek confrontation, but don’t avoid it either, if it means modifying the message. 

Your job is to inform others that truth and righteousness is provided and defined by God alone. Some people will be offended by that.  But no amount of disapproval should alter your resolve to speak the truth in love. 

God’s command was clear….”Go and make disciples”…regardless of the cost. 

“When we preach Christ crucified, we have no reason to stammer, or stutter, or hesitate, or apologize.” - C.H. Spurgeon 

Zephaniah 3:17 1/3/2023*

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing.”

I have learned to see God as my Father. My sin is covered by His sacrifice, and He is not angry with me.  I also envision God as a Warrior who protects me. ….But I still struggle to see Him so pleased with me that He would rejoice and sing over me.

When my nephew was an infant, he was very sick, and I remember seeing my mother softly singing over him in the hospital. Her love for him was evident. But how could God love me like that? How can God sing over someone who is guilty and unclean?

The life I have lived is not worthy of that kind of affection. That sounds like modesty, but that focus is the problem… when I concentrate on my own unworthiness, it is not humility – it is doubt.  It is questioning the power of the blood of Christ.  In God’s plan, it doesn’t matter who I WAS…It matters who I AM. The question is,  have I placed my faith in Jesus, and am I walking in His righteousness?

If you think you're not good enough for God to love…you are looking at the wrong set of qualifications…YOUR actions don’t deserve His love …But HIS actions …make you perfect and qualified. 

How liberating it is to realize that salvation is based on His love and power… Once I accept the gift of grace and take my eyes off me - it is easy to envision His wonderful song as I bring Him joy by walking in the holiness of His Son. 

By accepting His grace - I instantly become free to do good …Not so He will love me, but because He loves me… And I begin serving God from a position of security and strength…as a cherished child – not an imposter desperately trying to earn their way into His presence.  

Put joy in this new year by abandoning your efforts to be good enough for God to love, and instead rest in the completed work of Christ. Then you can focus on the unfinished work of spreading the gospel - which is what set you free in the first place. 

“It is finished” – Jesus 

1 Peter 2: 1-3 12/27/2022*

1 Peter 2: 1-3

"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word…”

That’s a pretty tall order to start the year.  Taking out the trash of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander - and replacing them with God’s Word.

I looked up the garbage to know what to get rid of:  Malice is the intention to do evil. Deceit is lying with words or actions. Hypocrisy is claiming to have morals to which you do not conform. Envy is feeling discontent because of someone else's position or possessions. Slander is lying and damaging a person's reputation. 

That’s a  lot to tackle …you may not have all of them but if you’re like me, you have most  - and there are a couple of favorites. When I struggle with things on this list the common thread seems to be selfishness…and a lack of concern for others.

If this year is going to be any better than last year, I  need to vomit those spiritual toxins out of my system and replace them with the pure milk of the Word of God…I need to consistently read the bible…you probably do to. 

So, you can respond to this in one of three ways:

1. Disagree, in which case next year will look a lot like this year.

2. Agree, and think to yourself that you should change some things…in which case next year will look a lot like this year.

 3. Or you can call a couple of friends and say “Let’s commit to read through the bible together a chapter a week. Let’s create a thread and every morning read a passage of scripture and text our thoughts to each other to encourage and hold each other accountable”. 

…IF you do that.  It will change next year…and it will change your life. 

Few New Year’s resolutions really change anything …but this one will.  Jesus said we live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God so let’s study what God says.   The world will provide junk food for your soul daily. If you really want to change, you must  intentionally consume the pure milk of the gospel which will provide what your soul needs to flourish. 

“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”

― Charles Spurgeon