I'm Rich

Perhaps you've seen the TV ad in which a person answers the door and finds someone who hands over a check for an enormous amount of money. Then the amazed recipient begins shouting, dancing, jumping, and hugging everyone in sight. "I won! I can't believe it! My problems are solved!" Striking it rich evokes a great emotional response.
      In Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, we find this remarkable statement: " I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches". What a comparison! Obeying God's instructions for living can be just as exhilarating as receiving a fortune! Verse 16 repeats this refrain as the psalmist expresses grateful gladness for the Lord's commands. " I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word."
     But what if we don't feel that way? How can delighting in God's instructions for living be just as exhilarating as receiving a fortune? It all begins with gratitude, which is both an attitude and a choice. We pay attention to what we value, so we begin by expressing our gratitude for those gifts of God that nourish our souls. We ask Him to open our eyes to see the storehouse of wisdom, knowledge, and peace He has given us in His Word.
     As our love for Jesus grows each day, we indeed strike it rich!
     Dear Father, open our eyes that we may see wonderful things in Your law. Thank You that Your instructions give wise advise.
     Rich treasures of God's truth are waiting to be discovered in His Word.

What about You?

Emily listened as a group of friends talked about their Thanksgiving traditions with family. " We go around the room and each one tells what he or she is thankful to God for," Gary said.
      Another friend mentioned his family's Thanksgiving meal and prayer time. He recalled time with his dad before he had died: " Even though Dad had dementia, his prayer of thanks to the Lord was clear." Randy shared, " My family has a special time of singing together on the holiday. My grandma goes on and on and on!" Emily's sadness and jealous grew as she thought of her own family, and she complained: " Our traditions are to eat turkey, watch television, and never mention anything about God or giving thanks."
      Right away Emily felt uneasy with her attitude. You are part of that family. What would you like to do differently to change the day? She asked herself. She decided she wanted to privately tell each person she was thankful to the Lord that they were her sister, niece, brother, or great-niece. When the day arrived, she expressed her thankfulness for them one by one, and they all felt loved. It wasn't easy because it wasn't normal conversation in her family, but she experienced joy as she shared her love for each of them.
      "Let everything you say be good and helpful," wrote the apostle Paul, " so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." Our words of thanks can remind others of their value to us and to God.
      Dear Lord, show me how I can be an encouragement to others with my words.
     The human spirit fills with hope at the sound of an encouraging word.

Sacrificial Faith

It's Sunday afternoon, and I'm sitting in the garden of our home, which is near the church where my husband is the minister. I hear wafts of praise and worship music floating through the air in the Farsi language. Our church in London hosts a vibrant Iranian congregation, and we feel humbled by their passion for Christ as they share some of their stories of persecution and tell of those, such as the senior pastor's brother, who have been martyred for their faith. These faithful believers are following in the footsteps of the first Christian martyr, Steps.
     Stephen, one of the first appointed leaders in the early church, garnered attention in Jerusalem when he performed " great wonders and signs" and was brought before the Jewish authorities to defend his actions. He gave an impassioned defense of the faith before describing the hard-heartedness of his accusers. But instead of repenting, they were " furious and gnashed their teeth at him." They dragged him from the city and stoned him to death-even as he prayed for their forgiveness.
     The stories of Stephen and modern martyrs remind us that the message of Christ can be met with brutality. If we have never faced persecution for our faith, let's pray for the persecuted church around the world. And may we, if and when tested, find grace to be found faithful to the One who suffered so much more for us.
      May we find grace to walk in the Master's steps.

A Facade

Kerri tries hard to get people to admire her. She acts happy most of the time so that others will notice and compliment her on her joyful attitude. Some affirm her because they see her helping people in the community. But in a transparent moment Kerri will admit, " I love the Lord, but in some ways I feel like my life is a façade." Her own sense of insecurity is behind much of her effort of trying to look good to others, and she says she's running out of energy to keep it up.
     We can probably all relate in some way because it's not possible to have perfect motives for how we live the Christian life are sometimes mixed with our desire to be valued or praised.
     Jesus talked about those who give, pray, and fast in order to be seen. ( Matthew 6:1-18). He taught in the Sermon on the Mount to " give your gifts in private," to " pray to your Father in private," and " when you fast, don't make it obvious".
     Serving is most often done publicly, but maybe a little anonymous service could help us learn to rest in God's opinion of us. He who created us in His image values us so much that He gave us His Son and shows us His love each day.
     Dear Lord, please forgive me for desiring praise from others more than from You. Please help me as I struggle to keep my motives pure.
     Our desire to please God should be our highest motive for obeying God.

A New Purpose

Jacob Davis was a tailor with a problem. It was the height of the Gold Rush in the 1800s American West and the Gold miners' work pants kept wearing out. His solution? Davis went to a local dry goods company owned by Levi Strauss, purchased tent cloth, and made work pants from that heavy, sturdy material-and blue jeans were born. Today, denim jeans in a variety of forms ( including Levi's) are among the most popular clothing items in the world, and all because tent material was given a new purpose.
     Simon and his friends were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. Then Jesus arrived and called them to follow Him. He gave them a new purpose. No longer would they fish for fish. As Jesus told them, " Come, follow me,....and I will send you out to fish for people." ( Mark 1:17)
       With this new purpose set for their lives, these men were taught and trained by Jesus so that, after His ascension, they could be used by God to capture the hearts of people with the message of the cross and resurrection of Christ. Today, we follow in their steps as we share the good news of Christ's love and salvation.
      May our lives both declare and exhibit this love that can change the lives, purposes, and eternal destinies of others.
      Help me, Lord, to represent You well so that others might be drawn to Your love and salvation.
      With our new life in Christ we have been given a new purpose.
Please read Jeremiah 48-49 and Hebrews 7

Signs and Feelings

A young man known as a habit of asking God for signs. That's not necessarily bad, but his prayers tend to seek confirmation of his feelings. For instance, he'll pray, " God, if you want me to do X, then You please do Y, and I'll know it's okay."
     This has created a dilemma. Because of the way he prays and the way he thinks God is answering, he feels that he should get back with his ex-girlfriend. Perhaps unsurprisingly, she feels strongly that God doesn't want that.
      The religious leaders of Jesus's day demanded a sign from Him to prove the validity of His claims. They weren't seeking God's guidance; they were challenging His divine authority. Jesus replied, " A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign". The Lord's strong response wasn't a blanket statement to prevent anyone from seeking God's guidance. Rather, Jesus was accusing them of ignoring the clear prophesies in Scripture that indicated He was the Messiah.
      God wants us to seek His guidance in prayer. He also gives us the guidance of the Spirit and His word. He provides us with mentors and wise leaders. And He's given us the example of Jesus Himself.
      It's wise to ask God for clear direction, but He may not always give it in ways that we expect or want. Perhaps the larger point of prayer is that we learn more about God's nature and develop a relationship with our Father.
      The best way to know God's will is to say, " I will" to God.
Please read Jeremiah 46-47 and Hebrews 6

We Had No Idea

Volunteers from a local church spent a frigid evening distributing food to people in a low income apartment complex. One woman who received food was overjoyed. She showed them her bare cupboard and told them they were an answer to her prayers.
      As the volunteers returned to the church, one woman began to cry. " When I was a little girl," she said, " that lady was my Windshield school teacher. She's in church every Subway. We had no idea she was almost starving!"
      Clearly, these were caring people who were seeking ways to carry the burdens of others, as Paul suggests in Galatians 6:2. Yet somehow they hadn't noticed the needs of this woman-someone they saw every Sunday-and she hadn't shared her needs. This can be a gentle reminder for all of us to be more aware of those around us and, as Paul said, to " do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers".
      People who worship together have the privilege of assisting one another so no one in the body of Christ goes without help. As we get to know each other and care for each other, perhaps we won't ever say, " We had no idea."
      Dear Lord, help me to notice the needs of those around me and to do what I can to meet those needs in Your name.
     Nothing costs as much as caring- except not caring.
Please read Jeremiah 43-45 and Hebrews 5

A Difficult Hill

High in a fold of Jug handle Peak in the mountains north of our home in Idaho lies a glacial lake. The route to the lake goes up a steep, exposed ridge through boulders and loose stones. It's a strenuous ascent.
      At the beginning of the climb, however, there is a Brook a spring that seeps out of soft, mossy earth and flows through a lush meadow. It's a quiet place to drink deeply and prepare for the hard climb ahead.
      In John Bunyan's classic allegory of the Christian life, The Pilgrim's Progress, Christian arrives at the foot of a steep ascent called the Hill Difficulty, " at the bottom of which was a spring.... Christian now went to the spring and drank to refresh himself, and then began to go up the hill."
      Perhaps the difficult mountain you face is a rebellious child or a serious medical diagnosis. The challenge seems more than you can endure.
     Before you face your next major task, visit the spring of refreshment that is God Himself. Come to Him with all your weakness, weariness, helplessness, fear and doubt. Then drink deeply of His power, strength, and wisdom. God knows all your circumstances and will supply a store of comfort, of spiritual strengthening and consolation. He will lift up your head and give you strength to go on.
Please read Jeremiah 40-42 and Hebrews 4

A Safe Place

A young Japanese man had a problem-he was afraid of leaving his house. To avoid other people, he slept through the day and stayed up all night watching t.v. He was a hikikomori or a modern day hermit. The problem began when he stopped going to school because of poor grades. The longer he remained apart from society, the more he felt like a social misfit. Eventually he broke off all communication with his friends and family. He was helped on his journey to recovery, though, by visiting a youth club in Tokyo known as an ibasho- a Safe place where broken people could start reintroducing themselves to society.
     What if we thought of the church as an ibasho- and far more? Without a doubt, we are a community of broken people. When the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth he described their former way of life as anti-social, harmful, and dangerous to themselves and others. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) But in Jesus they were being transformed and made whole. And Paul encouraged these rescued people to love one another, to be patient and kind, not to be jealous or proud or rude.
      The church is to be an ibasho- where all of us, no matter what struggles or brokenness we face, can know and experience God's love. May the hurting world experience the compassion of Christ from all who follow Him.
      Only God can transform a sin-stained soul into a masterpiece of grace.
Please read Jeremiah 37-39 and Hebrews 3

Strong Conqueror

Most of us hope for good government. We vote, we serve, and we speak out for causes we believe are fair and just. But political solutions remain powerless to change the condition of our hearts.
     Many of Jesus's followers anticipated a Messiah who would bring a vigorous political response to Rome and it's heavy-handed oppression. Peter was no exception. When Roman soldiers came to arrest Christ, Peter drew his sword and took a swing at the head of the high priest's servant, lopping off his ear in the process.
     Jesus halted Peter's one-man war, saying, " Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" Hours later, Jesus would tell Pilate, " My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders"
      The Lord's restraint in that moment, as His life hung in the balance, astonishes us when we ponder the scope of His mission. On a future day, He will lead the armies of heaven into battle. John wrote, " With justice he judges and wages war"
     But as He endured the ordeal of His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, Jesus kept His Father's will in view. By embracing death on the cross, He set in motion a chain of events that truly transforms hearts. And in the process, our Strong Conqueror defeated death itself.
      Father, how prone I am to reacting quickly rather than wisely. Show me Your will for my life so that I will purposefully choose the path You have for me.
     Real restraint is not weakness, for it arises out of genuine strength.
Please read Jeremiah 32-33 and Hebrews 1

Leading with Love

In his book Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders explores the qualities and the importance of tact and diplomacy. " Combining these two words," Sanders says, " the idea emerges of skill in reconciling opposing viewpoints without giving offense and without compromising principle."
      During Paul's imprisonment in Rome, he became the spiritual mentor and close friend of a runaway slave named Onesimus, whose owner was Philemon. When Paul wrote to Philemon a leader of the church in Colossae, asking him to receive Onesimus as a brother in Christ, he exemplified tact and diplomacy. " Although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love... [Onesimus] is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord." ( Philemon 8-9,16)
      Paul, a respected leader of the early church, often gave clear commands to the followers of Jesus. In this case, though, he appealed to Philemon on the basis of equality, friendship, and love. " I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary."
     In all our relationships, may we seek to preserve harmony and principle in the spirit of love.
     Father in heaven, in all our relationships give us grace and wisdom to be wise leaders, parents, and friends.
     Leaders who serve will serve as good leaders.
Please read Jeremiah 30-31 and Philemon.

Watchful and Alert

My desk sits close to a window that opens into our neighborhood. From that vantage point I'm privileged to watch the birds perch on the trees nearby. Some come to the window to eat insects trapped in the screen.
      The birds check their immediate surroundings for any danger, listening attentively as they look about them. Only when they are satisfied that there is no danger do they settle down to feed. Even then, they pause every few seconds to scan the area.
     The vigilance these birds demonstrate reminds me that the Bible teaches us to practice vigilance as Christians. Our world is full of temptations, and we need to remain constantly alert and not forget about the dangers. Like Adam and Eve, we easily get entangled in attractions that make the things of this world seem " good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom." ( Genesis 3:6)
     " Be on your guard," Paul admonished, " stand firm in the faith." ( 1 Corinthians 16:13) And Peter cautioned, " Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." ( 1 Peter 5:8)
      As we work for our own daily bread, are we alert to what could start consuming us? Are we watching for any hint of self-confidence or willfulness that could leave us wishing we had trusted our God?
     Lord, keep us from the secret sins and selfish reactions we're so naturally, inclined toward. By Your grace, turn our temptations into moments of growth in Christlikeness.
     The best way to escape temptation is to run to God.
Please read Jeremiah 27-29 and Titus 3

Run to Me

During a walk at a local park, my children and I encountered a couple of unleashed dogs. Their owner didn't seem to notice that one of them had begun to intimidate my son. My son tried to shoo the dog away, but the animal only became more intent on bothering him.
      Eventually, my son panicked. He bolted several yards into the distance, but the dog pursued him. The chase continued until I yelled, " Run to me!" My son doubled back, calmed down, and the dog finally decided to make mischief somewhere else.
     There are moments in our lives when God calls to us and says, " Run to Me!" Something troubling is on our heels. The faster and farther we go, the more closely it pursues us. We can't shake it. We're too afraid to turn and confront the trouble on our own. But the reality is that we aren't on our own. God is there, ready to help and comfort us. All we have to do is turn away from whatever scares us, and move in His direction. His Word says, " The name of the Lord is fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe"
      Dear Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace. I need the kind of peace that only You can give. Help me to turn to You when I am troubled.
     God is our refuge in times of trouble.
Please read Jeremiah 24-26 and Titus 2