Monthly Archives: October 2016

THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS

“He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.” (Proverbs 17:15)

Suppose that you live in a very rural area. You and your spouse have one young child, and there are few neighbors with children. The potential friends your child’s age are limited to two: a boy who has bully-like tendencies and a girl who is known for seldom telling the truth. Which one do you choose to be your child’s playmate? Let’s make the scenario even more personal.  You have been without work for months after having been laid off. You are the sole income earner for several other dependent persons. After many weeks of sending out resumes and being turned down following numerous interviews, you have just been offered two jobs. The one is with a company where the boss is egotistical and has a history of firing people.  The head of the other company has a reputation for being deceptive, and if it comes down to defending you – she would most likely let you hang out to dry.  Welcome to being caught between a proverbial rock and a hard place where your choice may be limited to the lesser of two evils. Or is it?

The lesser of two evils principle subscribes the belief that when faced with selecting from two unpleasant options, the one which is least harmful should be chosen. This implies that when confronted with two sources of harm, we are left with choosing harm. The real quandary is how to do good when we seem to have only immoral choices. Or as some would say – “how to make the best of a bad situation.”  When challenged with this set of circumstances, one must carefully examine all the options and determine if, in any way, our personal values would be compromised.  If we are looking for perfection, then we set ourselves up for failure. Short of Christ Himself, we will seldom find an option without inherent negatives.  Pray about the possibilities available to you, and seek guidance as to whether every option is truly corrupt. “A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel” (Proverbs 1:5). You may conclude that not all the available choices are, in fact, evil.

However, when a Christian is confronted with two clearly evil or immoral options – one cannot rationalize to side with immorality just because the alternative appears to be worse. Scripture tells us we will be held accountable not only for the evil deeds we do but also when we “give approval to those who practice them” (Rom. 1:32). The Apostle Paul warned in his second letter to Timothy, that there will be times (he specifically refers to the ‘end times’) when life will be difficult. “For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Nineteenth century author and Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon once said that “Choosing evil is not an option.” We must therefore believe that God always gives us more than a choice of evil. To think less means that we are presented only with options which are dishonorable to God. Honoring God must always be our choice, rather than giving into sin. “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13). It is clear in Scripture that God’s people would follow what they determined to be true to their beliefs, allowing the consequences to be judged by the Lord of history. So “do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). For when we find ourselves in a position that we need to defend what we once would have considered disgraceful, we need to be careful we don’t lose our self in the process. That’s evil in its worse form, and it’s not the lesser of anything.

REFLECTION: What are some decisions in your personal journey that you were uncomfortable making because you sensed your values would be compromised?  If it is true that God always gives us a choice of doing good, what are you willing to sacrifice in doing so? Will you need to you justify your actions?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., NOVEMBER 5, 2016.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

A GIFT WE DON’T DESERVE

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8)

While watching one of my favorite TV dramas, I pondered over a line I had just heard by one of the main characters. In the story, the head of an emergency room in a challenged, sometimes understaffed, inner-city hospital was questioned by one of the nurses about an order she had just given.  Apparently it contradicted her usual protocol about how to care for a certain type of patient.  The director of the E. R. simply looked at the nurse and made the following response referring to her directive: “He’s already paid the ultimate price. I decided to choose grace.” This got me to thinking when, if at all, we are capable of showing grace to another person. Or is that an impossible task for anyone, except for Almighty God? If it is true that when we experience God’s grace, we receive favor that we do not deserve . . . then I think as beings who are created in His image (Genesis 1:27), we too must be capable of showing grace at times to others.

I remember a friend of mine once telling me that in his work, he would sometimes have to discharge persons after they had broken company policies.  He shared that he would always try to allow the person he was releasing to leave with a sense of dignity. If possible, he would supply a reference for them to get another job, even though in order for him to do so – they might be forced to seek employment in another field. While he was obligated to follow the company’s employment procedures, he always tried to put himself in the position of the person he was releasing by showing concern for the person’s future. To me, what he attempted to do was an example of showing grace to others. He went on to say that there were times years later when he would run into some of these individuals who would come up to him and thank him for giving them a new start. He operated by the principle that we need to get along with people without hurting them, even when they challenge us to do otherwise.

I am reminded of a story of a wealthy man who hired an impoverished builder to construct a house. Per the man’s instruction, the house was to be magnificent. The builder was given unlimited resources and was told to use the finest material. Instead, the builder decided that he could cut corners by using inferior products. While doing so, he covered up gaps and masked his mistakes. While beautiful in appearance, the home would soon reveal its poor workmanship. It would undoubtedly leak and be unable to keep out the heat and cold. Upon completion, he handed the keys to the man who had commissioned him. However, the wealthy man never meant for the house to be his own. Because he had sensed the need of the poor builder, he had intended that the dream home be a gift, one that would protect he and his family for years to come. So instead of taking the keys to the house, he gave them back saying, “I wanted it to be a source of grace and blessing to you and your family.”

I wonder how many times we were intended to be the recipient of God’s free gift of grace but failed to recognize it as our own.  If we look closely at the world around us, we will see many a person who is thirsty for grace. In our journey, we will also soon discover that life’s greatest hurts come from other people. They use us, take advantage of us, or turn their backs on us. Yet, if we are going to be like Jesus, we need to love others – even those who are difficult to love. Jesus set the example for us, coming to earth to be one of us and then dying for all of mankind, even for those who hated Him most. “From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17). What He provides for us is a gift we don’t deserve. To claim this gift, you must sense your own need and receive it with open hands.  Now, that is amazing grace. How sweet the sound!

REFLECTION: Consider the difference between grace and mercy, the latter being defined as the withholding of what we do deserve. Can you think of examples of both in your own life?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., OCTOBER 29, 2016.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered–how fleeting my life is.” (Psalm 39:4)

He was honored by President Franklin Roosevelt with a gold medal for valor. Donn Fendler was described by his twin brother as a natural born athlete. In 1939 at the age of twelve – he raced other hikers in his company to get to the top of Maine’s tallest mountain, Mount Katahdin, the northeast end of the Appalachian Trail. Starting back down on his own, he became lost for nine days and survived to tell this tale many times to school children . . . just in case someday they might encounter a similar fate. When he was found 30 miles from where he had started, he weighed 15 pounds less than before he began his trek. He survived by eating berries and was bruised and shoeless. But God blessed him with 78 more years. When he died at the age of 90, his family stated that his survival story “will stand forever as a testament to the mercy and miracles of God, prayer and determination to never give up.”

Less than a month before Fendler’s passing in 2016, a boating accident claimed the life of Miami Marlin’s pitcher Jose Fernandez. Fernandez was not a stranger to the perils of the sea.  The native-born Cuban tried to defect three times before successfully reaching American shores in 2007 with his mother. It was on that final voyage that someone fell off the boat, and Fernandez jumped in the water to save the individual. Years later, he told The Miami Herald: “I dove to help a person not thinking who that person was. Imagine when I realized it was my own mother. If that does not leave a mark on you for the rest of your life, I don’t know what will.” As it turned out the rest of his life was short, because he died at the young age of 24 at the height of his career with a child on the way. The day after his death, a Marlins’ colleague hit a homerun, his first of the year, while the team went on to win the game. In a post-game interview, the player said “I told the boys, ‘If you all don’t believe in God, you all might as well start.”

Belief in God. That might indeed be a very good beginning. Both Donn Fendler and Jose Fernandez experienced events in their journey that could have been the end of life as they knew it.  Both were allowed to survive a while longer – one for a few years and the other for many decades. Why did the one man inherit a life that many feel was cut short while the other was able to live a long, full one?  Job, a prophet in the Old Testament, said this to God – “You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer” (Job 14:5). One thing is certain. God is all-knowing. He is the only One who sees the final chapter and the ending to our story.   Biblical wisdom has always held that we are like the flowers of the field. As with them, we must realize that our days are also numbered. Believers in Christ come to understand that while we do not know what tomorrow holds, we do know who holds our tomorrow. Paul said, “Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life” (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Like many of you, I know several individuals who are faced with illnesses which the medical community would define by terminal diagnoses.  When one of them was told that essentially there was nothing more that could be done, I reflected on my own feelings of mortality.  I came to the conclusion that this individual is exactly where he has been all along; that is, in the hands of the Great Physician. Maybe that’s what the Psalmist meant when he wrote: “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Wise enough to make today count for ourselves and others. Wise enough to forgive and let go of those petty grievances we have been holding onto – which in the realm of all eternity will be nothing more than a fleeting moment, a brief blip on the screen of life. Every breath we take as well as the individual and collective moments we share each day will eventually come to pass in the blink of an eye. When the trumpet sounds (1 Corinthians 15:52), we need to be ready for the call.

REFLECTION:  If you were on notice that you had a limited time to live, what things would you want to put in order? Regardless of your remaining days, is your life in the hands of the Great Physician?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., OCTOBER 22, 2016.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

BRUSH WITH DESTINY

“And Jesus said, ‘Who was it that touched me?’” (Luke 8:45)

Many persons can share their version of a sighting of someone from the rich and famous. Our society longs to be near renowned persons, which is why will we pay excessive prices for a ticket to attend concerts of individuals or groups of whom we already own their recordings.  People of means will spend huge sums of money to possess an item that was owned or worn by a star.  If they happen to have died, the price is that much higher. A baseball jersey worn by New York Yankees Babe Ruth, circa 1920, sold for more than $4.4 million in 2012.  According to the California based seller, it established a record for any item of sports memorabilia. The cream-colored, silk-satin wedding dress which Elizabeth Taylor wore for the first of her eight marriages sold for around $188,175 in 2013. And, the well-remembered blue-and-white gingham dress worn by Hollywood star Judy Garland who played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz sold at auction for more than $1.5million in November, 2015.

Recently, as I was listening to a sports radio talk show – the hosts were discussing the passing of Arnold Palmer, the American professional golfer regarded as one of the greatest in that sport’s history. Conversations centered around his popularity and how he was an important trailblazer, one of the first superstars of the early age of televised sports as far back as the 1950’s. In the midst of the memories and stories they shared, the question was asked if any of them had ever met this king of golf.  One of the hosts spoke up and stated that one time while he was attending a national event, he passed by and brushed the shirt of one whom only minutes later he came to realize was Palmer. He said to this day he occasionally tells the story of how he once had a brush with fame by touching the sleeve of one so well-known. Our society will covet almost anything which came in contact with stardom.

One of the most moving stories in scripture involved a woman who suffered from bleeding for twelve years. In her day, she would have been considered an outcast from society. On one occasion, when Jesus was on His way to minister to a dying girl, He had to make His way through the crowds of people. This woman came up behind Him, touched the edge of His garment, and was immediately healed (Luke 8:42-45). “‘Who touched me?’ Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, ‘Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.’ But Jesus said, ‘Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.’ When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. ‘Daughter,’ he said to her, ‘your faith has made you well. Go in peace’” (Luke 8:46-48). The woman was obviously a person of great conviction.

Contrast this expression of faith with the lack of it shown by a doubting disciple who knew Jesus well. After His death and resurrection, Jesus had appeared to some of the Chosen. “One of the twelve disciples, Thomas, was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he replied, ‘I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.’ Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. ‘Peace be with you,’ he said. Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!’” (John 20:24-27).  So the question for us becomes – who are we? Do we humbly reach out to touch Jesus with the faith of the sick woman? Have we come to know Him in a personal way but, like Thomas, allow doubt to enter into our relationship? Are we like the people in the crowd who bump up against Him but never reach out with enough belief to receive His transforming power? Or do we simply want to follow His stardom because of what we might gain in return? Consider how He has touched your life?  Rather than a simple, fleeting brush with fame . . . the application of your unwavering faith will lead you to a meeting with destiny.

REFLECTION: With whom do you most identify in this scriptural passages? Have you ever reached out figuratively to touch the hem of Jesus’ robe? How does the example of this woman encourage you as you move along in your faith journey?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., OCTOBER 15, 2016.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

WORDS SHOULD MATTER

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,            O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

The times are sadly gone when we can take someone at their word.  Many a deal was struck by what was known as a gentleman’s agreement. Promises that were made over a business handshake, and vows of friendship and marriage pledged with carefully chosen words were once taken seriously. Not so much anymore. These days, our TV journalists interview celebrities, athletes, and other public figures frequently having to ‘bleep’ out phrases because of the expletives spoken by these individuals who really should know better. Too often they rationalize that the viewer will understand and accept their language as “an attempt to make a point.”  In print media, one political candidate creates the headline that she “lies about lying, then tells the rest of us ‘words matter’.”  Not long after, a front page article highlighting the opposition reads: “Words matter, unless he’s the one speaking them.”

It used to be if two people were having a verbal disagreement, one might have been told to stay out of it. We would have been informed that they were just “having words.”  Words have taken on a whole new life today. A person uses one of the many venues of social media to fire off a few choice words about someone they might not know all that well, and the comments start flying for all the world to see. Perspective employers have been known to check out how applicants interact with others on their social media page. We forget that what might seem like a personal arena for self-expression can influence how others might evaluate us both personally and professionally. When we never hear back about that job opening, we wonder what may have happened. We fail to remember that we may never get a second chance to make a first impression. The late author and syndicated columnist Earl Wilson once advised, “If you wouldn’t write it and sign it, don’t say it.” The problem is that we do.

Jesus put it this way: “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you” (Matthew 12:33-37). Words have the potential of building someone up, or they can cause irreparable harm. Condemning words can affect an individual in unimaginable ways, while those which console and comfort might transition a life from despair to hope. The choosing of our words can make a powerful difference, one way or the other. Nathaniel Hawthorne once stated, “Words – so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.”

As followers of Christ, we must listen with our heart and realize that there are times when our mere presence speaks more than words themselves. A friend once told me that before going into a stressful situation that may have concluded with a serious consequence, someone passed on this scripture: “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (Exodus 14:14). She followed this advice. Instead of the event being life-defeating for her, it ended up being life-affirming. The Word of God offers direction in all that we do and provides a light for our way forward. “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). Allowing His Word to guide us as to how and when we should speak will enable us to voice words that matter. The Apostle Paul advised that we should, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:6).  It would serve us well to give thoughtful as well as prayerful consideration before we speak, so that the words which flow out of our mouths are acceptable to the Lord. Remember, He is always listening . . . and so is the world to which we bear fruit.

REFLECTION: Have you ever created an issue because you were slow to hear and quick to speak? In what ways do you need to weigh the words you express? How can you help others do the same in their journey?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., OCTOBER 8, 2016.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.