Jan 19

 LET EVERY person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God's appointment. [Prov. 8:15.] Therefore he who resists and sets himself up against the authorities resists what God has appointed and arranged [in divine order]. And those who resist will bring down judgment upon themselves [receiving the penalty due them]. For civil authorities are not a terror to [people of] good conduct, but to [those of] bad behavior. Would you have no dread of him who is in authority? Then do what is right and you will receive his approval and commendation. (Romans 13:1-3 AMP)

I really like Tony's comments regarding cowardly attacks.  I see a lot of that on social media where people "like" another's opinion and it posts almost as their own. Perhaps that's less cowardice and more just plain laziness. All too often I see a lot of uninformed opinions that fail to quote authoritative sources most importantly scripture and demonstrates that the person really doesn't comprehend the core issue(s) or consequences.  Moreover, many have resorted to simple minded name-calling or labeling in an attempt to marginalize the opinions of those with whom they disagree rather than simply entering into a cogent debate.  This is especially common when the facts simply don't support opinion.  I'm especially disappointed in many Christians who adopt views clearly counter to scripture. I've personally found these people very difficult to debate as they quickly realize they can't support their views and label the debate an attack thus ending any chance of any real dialogue.  

Lord I pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit when it comes to issues of the day.  May I stand firm in support of you, your will, and your ways in a manner which truly meets your criteria to love others.  Help me to see and repent of my own sin before holding others accountable. 

January 20, 2014

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. – 1 Corinthians 11:1

Tony Dungy has great example in his devotion today.  “It would be nice to reach the point someday where someone would say, ‘Tony, I’ve just accepted Jesus.  What should I do now to grow?’  And for me to respond, ‘Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.’  I doubt I’ll ever be confident enough to actually say that, but that is the kind of lifestyle we all should be moving toward.”

That is a very humbling thought with regards to reminding me of where I am in regards to the ideal.  As Andy Stanley points out in his Future Family series, it is just as important for me to make sure that I keep Jesus as the ideal, my example for me to imitate, and not relax my standard to make me feel better about myself.  Regardless of what I am doing, if I can't do it for the glory of God then I shouldn't be doing it.

As a follow-up to the 1/19/2014 devotional, 2 Peter 2:11-21 says: 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate,but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called,because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

January 19, 2014

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.  … Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. – Romans 13:1-3

In today’s writing, Dungy discusses how he believes it is important to stand for what is right to enact a change, but in so doing not to hide form the civil authorities but to accept the consequences.  Here on the eve of Martin Luther King, Jr day, he uses the movement of courageous people standing in the face of wrongs and having to endure the consequence of their civil disobedience as an example.  Having watched the movie The Help last night has these same racial wrongs fresh on my mind.

I have always felt uneasy with these verses with the knowledge that a government could force you to do things that violate the Word of God directly.  In that situation, how would these verses apply?  Certainly God would not favor the word of a government over His Word.  Therefore, you would have to stand on His Word and be disobedient.

How do we weigh these Words with the actions of the founders of this country?  They obviously rebelled against authority.  But the end result, at least as far as I can weigh history, has been a profoundly benefit to Christians and the spread of God’s Word everywhere (at least up until now).  And certainly these men were convicted Christians.  This is very evident in the principles that they wrote our country’s founding documents and in how they wrote in their journals and wrote to one another.

So, how are we, as Christians, supposed to handle our current corrupt government?  J. Vernon McGee explains the conflict like this. “Christianity never became a movement to improve government, help society, or clean up the town.  The gospel was the power of God unto salvation of the individual.  …  It is very difficult to say we are to obey a corrupt government.  …  I feel resentful when I hear of certain government officials and certain wealthy men in positions of power who pay no taxes at all when I am under a heavy tax burden. …  What is a Christian to do?  My business is to get out the Word of God, and my business is to obey the law.  …  Christianity is to preach the gospel which will bring into existence individuals like the men who signed the Declaration of Independence.”

Jan 18

For the thing which I greatly fear comes upon me, and that of which I am afraid befalls me. (Job 3:25 AMP)

I strongly believe that what we believe about ourselves says a lot about our beliefs of and about God.  If we believe he is omniscient, omnipotent, and ever present, that He made us in His image, and that he doesn't call the equipped, but equips the called, then we must believe we are capable of anything he asks of us, not of our own, but the Holy Spirit working through us.  My senses say however that no human can do that!  Or, God wouldn't ask me to do that. 

Jan 17

For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14, 15 AMP)

I've always been intrigued that Jesus interrupted his lesson in how to pray with this important admonition to forgive.  This must really be important. So many lessons on this revolve around the importance of forgiving ourselves. I know it's critical to do so and inability to do so is in effect denial of God's sovereignty over sin and a dimishment of his grace and mercy. Yet so much of today's preaching is self-centered and I need to learn to be other-centered.  I need to forgive those who insulted my wife and family and are unrepentant. I need to forgive those who insist I need another mother. I need to forgive those who have insulted me for being weak brained because I have faith in an unseen God.  

I note, however, that forgiveness doesn't instantly re-earn my trust. Maybe it should and if so, I have a lot of growing to do.  Currently, once my trust has been violated, I withdraw and interact with these people only when forced to do so.  So how do I tell if I've truly forgiven these people?  Must our relationship return to its original status?  

My real fear, however, is that I'm lazy about my own sin.  I'm not sure that I really do a good job of taking an honest inventory each day and seek His forgiveness or even recognize my own sinfulness.  This seems like an area in which I need to be more sensitive. 

Jan 16

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside. For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God]. (1 Corinthians 13:11, 12 AMP)

In spite of the popularity of this chapter ( it is used in many weddings including my own) these verses don't seem to belong with the others.   Paul talks about the permanence of love and how all the other Spiritual Gifts he just discussed in chapter 12 will one day vanish, but faith, hope, and Love remain.  So why does God inspire this apparent tangent?  I don't fully understand, but I do know that where I fail to understand what God is doing or why I suffer or more likely why others do, God is knitting together to suit His strategic plan.  So for all those things I don't understand, I can rest in the knowledge that my responsibility is to have faith and hope in him and demonstrate my love for God through obedience to him (John 14:15)and by loving others.  

Jan 15

But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced. (Matthew 12:36, 37 AMP)

I don't think of myself as a gossip, but upon reflection, I can get caught up in discussion of others quite easily. I guess though, being a victim of gossipmgine awry, I'm more senitive to this now and guard my words better.  Usually my words seem fair to me, but often my thoughts are quite harsh and critical.  I'm mindful of Jesus admonition regarding adultery that even lust in our hearts is sin, and I think the same theology applies here. 

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be holy and acceptable to you Father!

Jan 14

And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you. (Luke 17:6 NASB)

I've always thought my faith would be measured by two things

1.  The degree to which every decision and conscious action is made and executed with a desire to please God and remain centered in His will. 

2.  The degree to which every reaction to external (or internal I guess) stimuli 

is a testimony to and about Him.  

In other words, My life should be lived in total context of my relationship with God; a life characterized by boldness, courage, and confidence in knowing that He is ultimately in control and will work everything in accordance with his perfect plan.  A person of great faith is contagious and encourages others to have faith.    I don't think this describes me. 

 I find so often that God is merely one of our many priorities and like all priorities, we only get to him on occasion.  I'm amazed for instance at the number of people who push their kids to excel in school, sports and life, but don't bother to ever wonder if their kids are centered in God's will.  Some seemingly are very successful in a worldly way, but so many flounder in marriage, work, parenting, etc needlessly.  I've always felt that if I could just anchor my kids in the bedrock of a deep and abiding faith, God would take care of the rest. It remains to be seen how I've done.  I worry that we've not instilled  practical skills (homemaking, banking, work ethic, in-demand college degree)  into my daughter and she isn't well positioned for the workforce or life on her own as a self-sufficient Adult.  My son has been encouraged to develop his faith not his athleticism or scholarship and this will handicap him his whole life here on earth.  They are unlikely to be successful in worldly measures.  I pray, however, that they would lead a life totally devoted to him and in so doing make a real difference in an eternal sense.  I'm sure to be gone before the measure of this parenting decision is fully revealed.  

As Casting Crowns put it "Let my Life song sing to Him." 

Jan 13

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3 NASB)

To me, today's and perhaps everydays most important question is "am I committed to a plan or to Him?"

Indeed!

Jan 12

James 1:23-24 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. (James 1:23, 24 NASB)

Dungy talks about the difference between perception and reality. I guess my immediate concern is not what others perceive of me, but my own self perception vs how God really sees me and most importantly how he needs me to be. Am I really a man of God or am I deluding myself?  Am I really yielding to His Lordship or am I a "sounding gong" content to be speaking the word, but not really a doer of it?  

Yesterday was about being pulled in so many directions that actins get diluted and sometimes meaningless or inadequate. I'm concerned that busyness is a tactic of the deceiver to keep us out of the real, meaningful activities - those of eternal significance.  It seems obvious at times, but prioritization is so difficult.  Work has so many urgent and seemingly important tasks.  Then there is church, Emmaus, etc.  Are my actions wholly and completely inspired by and yielded to God?  

Jan 11

Mark 1: 35-37 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. Simon and his companions searched for Him; they found Him, and said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." (Mark 1:35-37 NASB)

This describes my life completely right now. Everyone wants a piece of me and no one gets enough to be satisfied. At times I do feel like God has "multiplied" my time wherein I'm surprised by how much I can get done in such little time. Yet, the pace is relentless!  This is exactly why I needed this discipline to withdraw even if only for 20-30 minutes of quiet reflection and prayer. If nothing else, I know I'm being intentional about being available to hear His voice.  

Lord I pray that in the relentless pace of each day, your will would be such a clear and heavy burden upon me that I cannot miss a single nuance of your direction.  Once known, I pray for the courage and integrity to follow through in action. 

January 18, 2014

What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. – Job 3:25

Dungy says today, “Your perspective today has a lot to do with what happens tomorrow.  What you believe and what you expect have a tendency to come about.  This is why it’s so important to be careful how you speak to yourself, think of yourself, conduct yourself, and develop yourself.  The landscape of the future is in large part determined by what you think it will be and by how you see yourself in it. … For better or worse, what you envision often begins to take shape.  Be intentional and choose to envision a life of significance, possibility, and impact.” 

I would be a fool to not believe that our way of thinking doesn’t have an effect on our success.  I am reminded of what we constantly tell our children, “Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right!” It makes a big difference in whether we believe we can do what we dream about, set goals to accomplish, or change our situation.  There are simply too many real life stories and examples to believe that this isn’t true.  The book, The Power of Positive Thinking, is based on this effect of our thinking.

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  The Bible is telling us to be intentional and to choose what we think about.  Don’t focus on our fears or on negatives, concentrate on what God can do with us and on those characteristics of God we can have and grow and share to the benefit of all around us.

This doesn’t mean we’re gonna have a perfect life with ease and comfort.  But even in hard circumstances we can choose to have an attitude that enhances life.  There are many stories of prisoners of war who not only survived, but enhanced everyone’s life around them with their positive attitude.  Consider that you, Christian, are in prison here in a world where Satan roams freely seeking whom he can devour.  One day you’ll be free.  What kind of prisoner are you going to be?