Monthly Archives: August 2019

THE BLESSINGS OF WORK . . . AND REST

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord             rather than for people.” (Colossians 3:23)

I recently heard a politician promising that if he was elected, he would have policies that would improve the infrastructure in our country resulting in the creation of many jobs. He stated that it was his belief that “most people want to work and be a productive member of society.” I am not so sure this is true. While I believe most people want a paycheck, I am not convinced that the majority of people are really dedicated and happy in their work. Work is something which is becoming less appreciated and is often viewed more as a burden than as an encouragement to oneself. In recent times, parents have come to believe that it is their duty to give their children everything they possibly can, possibly compensating for the time they spend at their own work rather than at home. This has, at times, caused their children to develop an attitude of entitlement because they have never had to earn their way. On the contrary, those who have learned to develop good work ethic find it is something which will carry them through their entire life, leading them to greater happiness and satisfaction.

When God created humanity – He provided a lush, abundant environment in which to live. “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). Everything one would need was there for the taking except for the fruit of one tree which was expressly forbidden. But because of greed and defiance of this one rule, man was forced to labor. God said, “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life” (Genesis 3:17). Because of our sinful nature, resources would only be attained by the hardest of work. However, the ability to secure what was needed continued to remain as a gift from God. Even to this very day, we might find the work we do to be difficult and tiring. Nevertheless, we should continue to thank God for it, because it His gift to us.

As Christians, we are not called to focus on ourselves or how important our work is or even how much success it will bring us. We are called to do everything we do for the glory of God in service to others – including small, ordinary tasks. There’s something good about doing something useful—and then giving the surplus away. As you share the burden of your work with fellow believers, you’ll find that you actually accomplish more for the glory of God. In a loving fellowship of those who practice being beneficial, one might anticipate that the traps which sometimes result from idleness could be deterred. Paul shows us a way of life that is characterized by growth in Christ, and he presents working and sharing as a way to climb out of a dishonest way of life. “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need” (Ephesians 4:28). The command to work hard and earning enough that something might be left over goes a long way to beginning to understand what it means to be compassionate.

As we have opportunity to serve in our families and in the greater community of which we are a part, we should be encouraged by the fact that Jesus values the time and labor we give in service to others. Ultimately we come to understand that while our work has purpose, we also need to find time for rest. Resting gives us the opportunity to revitalize and reflect. “For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world” (Hebrews 4:10). We begin to realize we are not the sum of our accomplishments for, in the end, our work is not what provides for our needs. God is our provider, and He is the source of our true and deepest rest. By taking the opportunity to rest from our work each week, we are publicly declaring to ourselves and others that we depend on God’s care for us. When we are restored, we will find that we are more equipped to make our work matter.  As we recognize another Labor Day weekend, we should celebrate by giving our best effort toward the blessings of our personal work, whatever they may be. As we do so, we will find that they just might turn into a labor of love, and we will learn to more deeply appreciate the periods of rest which follow.

REFLECTION: Do you find that your life has at times become defined by your work? As you become immersed in the tasks of work, are you neglecting other parts of your life which are equally important? Are you practicing the rest that God intends for you? How will you give purpose to these areas of conflict?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., SEPTEMBER 7 , 2019. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

COME AS YOU ARE

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone,               the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

As the preacher of the newly founded church stepped up to deliver his message, he appeared in front of his new congregation in a sweat shirt and torn jeans. While the days of the more formal clerics have gone by the wayside, the person who told me did not consider this to be proper attire for giving a sermon in God’s House.  I remember some of the comments in my own church awhile back when several teenage girls took up the offering in shorts and flip flops during a summer worship service.  I can likewise recall a time when I was conducting personnel interviews for a maintenance position. One of the individuals showed up wearing a dress shirt and necktie. I was actually quite impressed and could tell that he was making an attempt to put his best foot forward. It’s been said that clothes make the man, meaning that dressing well helps people to be successful. Depending on your age and point of reference, I’m not so sure this holds true anymore.

Decades ago, people used to host ‘come as you are’ parties. They would phone their friends and neighbors regarding an impromptu party which was to begin immediately upon their arrival. The idea was that whatever you were wearing when you were called was what you were expected to wear to the party. Older men will no doubt remember a time when certain clubs and restaurants had a rule of “tie and jacket required” before you would be seated. Consider too the first time you saw the sign, “No shirt, no shoes, no service” posted on the entrance of your favorite convenience store. Many of us are have found ourselves in the position of criticizing others for wearing what we considered to be inappropriate attire for certain situations. I have always held the philosophy that I should wear the best I have on those occasions where there should be respect shown for a person or presence at a noteworthy event.

Jesus uses attire as in interesting symbol in His Parable of the Banquet. In the story, He compares the kingdom of heaven to a wedding banquet a king is throwing for his son. When those who have been invited refuse to come, the king becomes angry and said they were not worthy. He then summons his servants to extend the invitation to as many as can be found. In that era, appropriate attire would have been furnished for those in attendance. So “when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (Matthew 22:11-13). In actuality, neglecting to wear the proper garment had nothing to do with clothing as such. It has a deeper meaning according to Matthew Henry who wrote – “Many are called to the wedding-feast, that is, to salvation, but few have the wedding-garment, the righteousness of Christ, the sanctification of the Spirit. Then let us examine ourselves whether we are in the faith, and seek to be approved by the King.”

In the case of the King of Kings, Jesus would never turn down the opportunity for a relationship with anyone. In fact, He said so: “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37). He wants us to come just as we are with all of our baggage. He understands our imperfections and our sinful nature. While the concept of ‘come as you are’ supports Christ’s overall message, the precise phrase is not found in scripture. In modern society, the philosophy has become a bit misrepresented. It has been diluted at times by well-intended Christians who extend the invitation to others to know Christ but somehow give the impression that it’s not necessary to change. To the adulterous woman who would have been stoned had it not been for Jesus’ intervention, He said that He would not condemn her for her wrongdoings; however, He also instructs her to “Go now, and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11). Jesus doesn’t want His grace to blind us into thinking that it makes no difference how we live. He said, “”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mathew 11:28). Afterwards . . . He would expect us to act and try to do better.

REFLECTION:  Have you ever given anyone the impression that any behavior is acceptable as long as they come to the Lord? Will you give serious thought as to how you interpret the gift of God’s grace to others?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., AUGUST 31, 2019. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

LET YOUR YES BE YES

“Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.” (Deuteronomy 6:13)

As I watched a favorite TV drama, the show began to concentrate on that historic period in our nation following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Many young men were being called to serve their country, and others who had not yet been called felt it was their patriotic duty to volunteer. The fictional story-line focused on the tension between a father and his youngest son. Because the son was under the age of 18, he would have needed parental consent in order to enlist. In this case, the father did not feel his son was mature enough to make this life-affirming decision. But the son was relentless in his pursuit to do so, and the father reluctantly gave his permission. On the day that the headstrong son prepares to leave for the recruiter’s office, the elder hopes his son might have a change of heart. So the father provides these parting words . . . “Remember it’s not final until you take that oath.” As it turned out, he did not.

The significance of making pledges, taking oaths, and reciting vows has significantly waned over time. Oath-taking has a long history among God’s people, with many references found in the Old Testament. There it is said: “When you make a vow to the LORD your God, be prompt in fulfilling whatever you promised him. For the LORD your God demands that you promptly fulfill all your vows, or you will be guilty of sin. However, it is not a sin to refrain from making a vow. But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 23:21-23). There were dire consequences for the Israelites who made and broke vows, especially vows to God. The story of Jephthah illustrates the foolishness of making vows without understanding the consequences. Before leading the Israelites into battle against the Ammonites, Jephthah—described as a mighty man of valor—made a rash vow that he would give to the Lord whoever first came out to meet him if he returned to his home in triumph. When the Lord granted him victory, the one who came out to meet him was his daughter, an only child. Jephthah remembered his vow and offered her to the Lord (Judges 11:29-40).

In Jesus time, many rabbis did not consider it a sin to break a vow if it was not made explicitly in the name of God. Jesus pointed out the hypocrisy of this teaching. You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it’” (Matthew 23:18-22). When it comes to taking oaths and making vows, Jesus said: “All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37). His teaching is not meant to discourage careful, thought-out promises, such as wedding vows or a legal contract. However, Jesus commands that in most cases our word be sufficient without making vows. When we say “yes” or “no,” that’s exactly what we should mean. Adding vows or oaths to our words opens us up to the influence of Satan whose desire is to trap us and compromise our Christian testimony.

God’s Word teaches that our honesty and integrity must be of the highest importance. When we say we  are going to do something, we must honor our word. Those who truly walk with Jesus should not find it necessary to make voluntary statements like “I would swear on a stack of Bibles” or “Honest to God” as a means of enhancing their trustworthiness. Instead, your trustworthiness should be inherent and displayed in everything you say and do, thereby negating the need for oath-taking. Jesus’ teaching leads us to conclude that it is better not to make a vow than to swear an oath that you have no intention of keeping. It also reinforces the point that oaths and vows should not be made on just any occasion, but they should be reserved only for instances of great import and lasting significance. Therefore as sojourners with Christ – we are challenged to be faithful in all circumstances, striving to understand His word and making it our own. Indeed, wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all did just that?

REFLECTION: How do you think others view your level of sincerity when you make a promise? Do you follow through on the commitments you make? When you make an unnecessary pledge, have you ever stopped to consider if it suggests that you are less than trustworthy under normal circumstances?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., AUGUST 24, 2019. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

SPIRITUAL GROANING

“O LORD, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning.” (Psalm 5:1)

Have you heard the one about the lady who glued her lips together resulting in her inability to literally get a word in edgewise? It’s actually a true story. In 2003, a 64-year-old woman from New Zealand called the emergency services number. When the operator answered, only moans could be heard. Personnel who responded feared they were being contacted by a gagged hostage, so they rushed to her house. There they found a female who could not open her mouth. Having fumbled in the dark for some cold-sore cream in the middle of the night, the woman mistakenly picked up a tube of superglue. Rubbing on the powerful adhesive, she awaited the familiar soothing relief normally provided by the remedy. But it never came. Within minutes, she was, in fact, speechless. When she decided to use the phone to summon for help, moaning and tapping were her only ways to communicate.

Unfortunately, moaning and groaning are not uncommon expressions of the human condition. Some of us spend much of our waking hours groaning about something, while there are those who do so when they sleep. Still others moan when they move from place to place, because they experience some level of discomfort. In reality, how can one see all that is happening today and not sigh and groan at times? We hear about the condition of millions of hungry or sick people, and we feel overwhelmed. Then there’s the threat of terrorism or gun violence from just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Add to that the failure of our elected officials to bring helpful and realistic solutions to our society, and it’s rather easy to find a reason to moan. The expression is often made that rather than doing something, it’s just easier to sit back and groan about it.  It’s become so commonplace that one can even sign up as an Honorary member of the Old Boys Moaning and Groaning Society.

Surely, there are times in your life when, even though there were words to express your emotions – those words were not sufficient. In these situations, you may have simply groaned rather than voice words that could not satisfy. Scripture reminds us that groaning has forever been a way of communicating to God. The Israelites cried out in their sufferings. “God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob” (Exodus 2:24). The Psalmist groans and the LORD responds: “’Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,’ says the LORD. ‘I will protect them from those who malign them’” (Psalm 12:5). Paul writes “For we know that all creation has been groaning . . . we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering” (Romans 8:22-23).

Has suffering and groaning found its way into your life? Are there deep inner agonies you cannot begin to verbalize? If so – your experience is not unique. When one starts to recognize their own shortcomings and that of the world in which they live, it is then that they come to see life as it really is. God’s Word confirms that “the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26). Romans 8:27 goes on to tell is that “He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit.” We may not always pray in accordance with the will of God, but the Spirit does. And God answers. You should not feel guilt-ridden or unspiritual over your groanings, if they are guided in the right direction. If your groanings offer you a discontent with this life and give you a hunger for heaven . . . good for you! That is the work of the Holy Spirit, producing a heart for God in you. Groaning characterizes the life of the Spirit-filled Christian. For those who walk with the Lord, groaning is not a matter of being tongue-tied but more of an affirmation that our hope has been directed heavenward to that which is not yet seen.

REFLECTION: Have you ever prayed for something so deeply that no words remained to escape from you, only groans that could not be explained nor stopped? Can you think of a time in your life as a follower of Jesus when prayer has felt pointless, yet you kept trying to pray? Or maybe a time when you wanted to pray, but circumstances in your life left you wordless? How does an increased understanding of spiritual groaning put your mind at ease that this is not weakness but increased growth and closeness toward God?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., AUGUST 17, 2019. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

MOVING MOUNTAINS

              “I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.”                  (1 Corinthians 2:5)

As I drove from my hometown to a neighboring community, I could not help but marvel at the new section of highway being developed.  About midway through the 30-mile trek, the four-lane highway narrows as it navigates through a mountain passage. The tapering of the road from four lanes to two has long been a sticking point for those who experience an inconvenient backup during peak travel times.  Extending the four-lane cut through the mountain has been almost impossible for locals to envision, given the existing earthly impediments. But before my very eyes, it was happening. The deep corridor two-lane road barricaded on one side by steep rock formations and on the other by a canyon creek bed had, over the last few years, been widened into the former mountainside. This could only have been projected by a team of talented civil engineers who had captured a vision before them . . . to move a mountain.

Mountain-moving was the topic of a tough conversation Jesus had with His disciples. When they failed to cast out a demon from a boy whose father had brought him to the disciples, Jesus reprimanded them for their weak faith. Instead “Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out?’ He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain: Move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you’” (Matthew 17:18-20). It is clear in this situation that Jesus didn’t intend to declare that mustard seed-sized faith would literally move a mountain. The point of Jesus’ comparison was that if the faith of his disciples was stronger – they could have commanded the demon to leave the boy, and it would be so.

Our faith makes a difference in our lives only because God is the sovereign one who rules over all things. In January, 2015 – a rebellious, adopted teenager named John (Ruiz) Smith drowned in Lake Saint Louis after being underwater for 15 minutes.  His lifeless body was retrieved and taken to St. Joseph Hospital West and for 43 minutes, CPR was performed on him. But he remained unresponsive. Then the youth’s mother, Joyce Smith, pleaded with the Holy Spirit to not let John die, at which point a faint pulse was noted. After John is transferred and put into a medically-induced coma, his parents were warned that there is little hope. Then Joyce began to turn John’s possible recovery into an obsession, harassing the health care professionals and clashing with their church’s new liberal pastor with whom she eventually bonds. Through their devout faith and the prayerful support received from the community – John is revived, slowly regains consciousness, and recaptures full cognitive ability.  In a short period of time, he was discharged from the hospital and returned to school. His story, labeled as nothing less than a miracle, was made into the 2019 Christian movie entitled “Breakthrough.”

On yet another occasion, Jesus stated: “I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours” (Mark 11:22-23). It is important to understand that if we need a mountain to be moved, then God is certainly capable of doing so. He will do whatever is necessary and right for the fulfillment of His will and plan for our lives.  We all have obstacles that are so large and daunting that conquering them seems to be virtually impossible.  Jesus clearly reminds us that even a little bit of faith—faith the size of a tiny mustard seed—can overcome these mountains we are facing. Like those trained civil engineers who aptly build roadways through impossible landscapes, we must capture the vision and simply invite Him to be by our side.

REFLECTION: Consider the mountains before you at this time.  How have you approached them? When you are facing obstacles that seem to be intimidating, do you focus on how you will bring yourself to persevere? Or do you give faithful attention to an all-powerful God who can get you to the other side of the storm? In what ways might you be able to change your resolve from dependence on yourself to Him?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., AUGUST 10, 2019. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.