Godās the cook, Iām just a waiter
Proverbs 3: Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person.
The highest honor in life is to work with God in what heās doing in the world. Itās amazing to realize that the Almighty, the Creator of the Universe, will call on me to assist him in some manner. Jesus uses his disciples to assist him in performing miracles. For instance, when he feeds the 5000 he uses them as waiters who distribute the food. Obviously, transforming a sack lunch into a truck load of food is the biggest part, but the disciples are pressed into service, assisting in the miracle. The wise man of the Proverbs reminds me that I ought to be aware of the needs I encounter in life and realize that God will use me as his assistant to meet those needs. I know that he doesn’t have to have my help. After all, he could rain down manna from heaven. However, I also know that he invites me into partnership with himself. Again, the highest honor in life is to be invited to labor with God.
Take Away: How might the Lord use me, in even some small minor way, to assist him in his purposes today?
Tag: God’s work
Devotional on Isaiah
Such Good News!
Isaiah 42: I am God. I have called you to live right and well.
As Isaiah celebrates the ministry of the Messiah it seems that God, Himself, steps onto center stage. He, too, comes to rejoice in the promise of a “new salvation work.” This Salvation-Bringer is coming, not because people have earned it but because the Lord has “taken responsibility” for them and is going to act in their behalf. The result of that ministry will be that God’s people will “live right and well.” Today, I’m reminded that Jesus didn’t come to the world to condemn us for living poorly; instead, he came to enable us to live well in the sight of God. Jesus put it this way: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
Take Away: Jesus came to enable us to live well in the sight of the Lord.
Devotional on Jeremiah
Loving, doing, and fixing
Jeremiah 9: I’m God…these are my trademarks.
Jeremiah says that certain things define God. First, he says that God acts “in loyal love.” Centuries later John will declare that “God is love” but Jeremiah has already beaten John to the punch. God thinks of himself in terms of his faithful love for his Creation; for you and me. Second, I see that he does “what’s right” and sets “things right and fair.” The Lord fixes things. He doesn’t leave them as he finds them. Right now, Godās at work “fixing” this broken world and he won’t rest until heās done it. Finally, God delights in “those who do the same things.” The Lord isn’t working solo in his “loving, doing, and fixing” efforts in this world. Heās very pleased when we join him in these things. Once I respond to his love and his “setting things right” in my life, he invites me to join him in what heās doing in the world. When I do that, it’s a delight to him.
Take Away: The Lord isn’t working solo in his “loving, doing, and fixing” efforts in this world ā rather, he invites us to join him in this great work.
Devotional on Acts
The story continues
Acts 28: Paul lived for two years in his rented house.
The adventure at sea over, the prisoner Paul arrives in Rome. There, in a rented house with a Roman guard, Paul sets up shop, welcoming those who come to talk about Jesus. Lukeās account ends here. Frankly, itās not a very satisfying ending. When I conclude reading the gospels I finish each of them feeling quite satisfied. After all, the resurrection pretty much sums up the story. Beyond that, the book of Revelation probably wins the prize for having the most satisfying conclusion. The book of Acts, though, leaves me wondering what happens next. Hereās Paul, still a prisoner, waiting his turn to state his case in Caesarās court. I have to look beyond the Bible to find what happens next. The most common speculation is that Paul is released after two years, probably because his case is thrown out of court. He returns to his missionary efforts, and, later on, is arrested again and this time is executed in Rome. Why our writer, Luke, doesnāt continue his account is unknown. Perhaps he leaves Rome, never to return, while Paul is held under house arrest. Perhaps he did continue with part two of his account but it was somehow lost. Maybe the cliff hanger conclusion to Acts is intended to remind me that the Book of Acts is still being written. After all, the purpose of the book is to tell how the Holy Spirit works through the Church to carry out the mission given it by the Lord. The story wonāt be complete until the return of Jesus to this world. To some extent, all Christians are characters in this continuing story. We donāt think about it very often, but it might be said that weāre living in the book of Acts.
Take Away: The Holy Spirit continues to work in this world. How can I best cooperate and partner with him?
Devotional on Romans
God at work here
Romans 2: There is something deep within them that echoes Godās yes and no, right and wrong.
Paul hasnāt spent his time locked up in some ivory tower thinking about hypothetical situations. Rather, more than anyone else, heās gone out into the real world dealing with people from all walks of life and a variety of religious beliefs. We think that if we have a spirited exchange with a friend whoās a Catholic or a Pentecostal or a Baptist that weāve been debating religion. Paul has encountered a variety of religious views that reveal our denominational differences to be as trivial as they really are. Heās worked with idol worshipers and with a wide variety of pagans. In all that, Paul has never backed away from his faith in Jesus Christ and heās proclaimed that faith at considerable personal cost. Still, even in the most non-Christian settings heās discovered in people the image of God. Heās seen in those whoāve never heard of the Ten Commandments or the Sermon on the Mount an innate understanding of the concepts taught to Godās people by them. This, Paul says, is a proof of Godās hand in their lives and a reminder that their coming to Christ isnāt as distant a journey as one might think. On one hand, I donāt want to drift into the dangerous waters of universalism. Among other things, that diminishes the sacrifice our Lord made on the cross. On the other hand, I want to appreciate the good things I see in people who havenāt yet come to the Lord. On every human heart, follower of Jesus or not, a sign can be hung declaring āGod at work here.ā
Take Away: Before I ever think of God he thinks of me and before I ever respond to him, heās already at work in my life.
Devotional on Romans
Wake up and smell the coffee!
Romans 13: Be up and awake to what God is doing!
Iām chest deep in my life in the church. Iām a pastor so I have a love and responsibility for the flock I shepherd. Beyond that, Iām a denominational pastor so I have connections to maintain, meetings to attend, reports to do. Iām okay with it all. I pastor a fine congregation and Iām proud of my denominational ties. I wouldnāt have it any other way. Still, I have to be careful that programs and meetings and traditions donāt own me. Sometimes, I need to be reminded that God doesnāt exist to help me plan the fall program of the church and he isnāt waiting on the denomination to tell him whatās next. In fact, sometimes God sees trends and opportunities that arenāt even on my radar screen. I need to be careful that my religious life isnāt all about me performing as God sits in the audience wondering what Iāll do next. I belong, not to my local congregation or the denomination or even the Church universal, but to the Lord. Iām reminded of all that today in the words of the Apostle. Whatās God doing right now and how does he want me to be part of it? Thatās how the Church at large needs to operate. This is how the local church is to think. Itās how Iām to live my life.
Take Away: Donāt get so immersed in church culture that you fail to maintain contact with the Lord.
Devotional on 1 Corinthians
Canāt we all just get along?
1Corinthians 1: You must get along with each other.
As I understand it, Corinth is a lot like the Old West of American movies. Itās a rough and tough place with lots of immorality. Paul comes preaching the Gospel of Jesus and many of these rowdy people become believers. For a year and a half (a long time for him) Paul stays, establishing them in the faith, teaching them what it means to be Christians. Now, heās moved on, but has received word that things arenāt going very well in Corinth. One of the big problems is lack of unity. The Church of Corinth is splitting, not into two parts, but into several. In fact, if thereās an opportunity for discord, theyāve found it. Paul writes to them, saying, āYou must get along with each otherā and then both reasons with them and shames them into unity. As I consider this passage the call of Jesus to his followers to be one even as he and his Father are one feels quite distant. I share the Apostleās concern as I look at the state of Christianity today. Sometimes āonenessā seems out of reach and I wonder if Paul was writing to the Church today what he would say. There is, though, a silver lining in these opening words of 1 Corinthians. Itās Paulās sunny, optimistic approach to all this. He describes the church as ācleaned up by Jesus and set apart for a God filled lifeā and reminds them that Jesus āwill never give up on you.ā The Lord has already done a lot in their lives and Paul assures them that heās going to keep right on working. So, as I read these words today I confess that the state of Christianity today concerns me. At the same time Iām infected by Paulās optimistic view of the Church. Itās good to remember that God’s still at work today.
Take Away: The Lord is working inside the Church to make us one, and, as we cooperate with him, thatās just what heās going to do.
Devotional on Genesis
Caution, God at work here
Genesis 39: As it turned out, God was with Joseph and things went very well with him.
When Joseph is sold into slavery the last word to come to mind is āblessed.ā Things donāt look like theyāre going to turn out āvery well.ā Being sold into slavery indicates one’s being cursed rather than blessed. However, Godās at work here and the first part of the story gives us little indication of what the last part’s going to look like. While being sold into slavery isnāt one of our common concerns, itās true that life takes some unexpected and unwelcome turns. The thing is that such events are, in the least, Godās providential will. That is, he isnāt pulling strings, forcing people to do bad things, but he does allow it to happen. In fact, the Lord specializes in turning stuff like this upside down. Because of that, sometimes things start out looking pretty messy, more like a demolition project than any kind of construction. The key in the passage before us today is the phrase āGod was with Joseph.ā In fact, thatās the key to the whole Joseph story. Itās almost as though thereās a sign: āCaution, God at work here.ā For every setback thereās a more than equal advance. When Godās at work, the end of the story is always āthings went very well.ā It may not seem to be that way at any given point along the journey, but thatās how it is going to end.
Take away: We donāt always understand all thatās happening, but when Godās at work, things turn out just fine.
Devotional on Exodus
Itās Godās story
Exodus 2: God listenedā¦God rememberedā¦God sawā¦God understood.
The story of the Bible is Godās story. Heās the central player. In the book of Exodus we have the major, dominating figure of Moses, but he isnāt the star. The Exodus story is about God. Itās he who listens to their cries, remembers his promise to Abraham, sees their need, and understands their plight. And itās he who acts. Decades earlier, when Moses tried to take on the role of deliverer, things didnāt work out. Now, God takes on that role. When the story of the deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt begins, it starts with God in a burning bush and not Moses killing an Egyptian. Today, I want my story to be Godās story. Iād rather play a small part in his big story than have the leading role in a one man play.
Take Away: Itās about my cooperating with God, not about him cooperating with me.
Devotional on Exodus
May I ask who is calling?
Exodus 3: āI AM WHO I AM.ā
When Moses meets the Almighty at the burning bush the Lord commissions him to lead the Hebrew people out of slavery. These people know about the āGod of Abrahamā but after generations in Egypt they also know that there are other gods to take into account. In fact, the gods of Egypt seem to have the upper hand. After all, theyāre slaves and the Egyptians are their masters. Moses asks the God of Abraham āWhen I tell my fellow Hebrews about you, who do I say is acting on their behalf?ā The answer has become a source of discussion for students of theology for thousands of years now. God says, āJust tell them āI AM WHO I AMā sent you.ā So whatās the meaning of this name? My first response is that God is saying, āI am the One who always exists ā who simply āIS.āā However, some suggest that the answer is more along the lines of, āThey will know WHO I AM by WHAT I DO.ā They say that the answer isnāt about time. Rather, itās about action. I firmly believe āGOD ISā but I also know āGOD DOES.ā Itās God-in-action who is the star in this story.
Take Away: The Bible is all about God, WHO he is and WHAT he does.
Devotional on Exodus
Grace, grace
Exodus 40: ā¦the Glory of God filled The Dwelling. Moses couldnāt enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud was upon it, and the Glory of God filled The Dwelling.
As Moses finishes the work God gave him to do, God moves in. Moses, through the God-given skills of the faithful workmen did what he could do. Moses led the project, the people funded it, and gifted men acted in obedience in preparing this place of worship. At this point they’ve done all that they can do, and the result is an impressive, lavish, and portable Worship Tent. Of course, that isnāt enough. Unless something else happens all they have is a fancy museum. Then God moves in. He fills the place with his glory ā with himself. Now they really have a place of worship. A couple of things come to mind here. First, we do all we can do but itās never enough until God moves. The best singing and preaching, the finest facility, the ābest laid plans of mice and menā fall short without God. Second, we see an example of prevenient grace here. God not only graciously moves in, doing the ādivine sideā of this effort, but it was God who gave Moses the plans in the first place and enabled the people to do the āhuman sideā of this project. It’s God who gifted the workmen. It’s even God who worked things out so that the Egyptians gave this nation of slaves the very items needed for the building of the Tent of Meeting before they ever left Egypt. Hereās a picture of God working on both sides of the issue. As always, in him we find grace, grace.
Take Away: We are recipients of grace all the way through.
Devotional on Judges
Generation to generation
Judges 5: God chose new leaders, who then fought at the gates.
Following the defeat of the oppressor Sisera we hear a duet being sung by Deborah and Barak, the two people instrumental in the victory that has been won. Itās a war song, all about how God fought for them and how he empowered them to do what needed to be done. The book of Judges gives us history in 40 year or so chunks, so, while I earlier walked with Abraham year by year and traveled with the children of Israel in their wilderness journey at a much slower pace, each page of the book of Judges represents the rise and fall of an entire generation. In this song, I find a description of how āGod chose new leadersā to fight for him in their generation. While thereās a lot of ugly stuff in this book of the Bible, Iām reminded that God continues to be active in Israel. Even though itās sometimes hard to spot, I see the golden thread of Godās grace here. A set of leaders fail and Israel plunges into the darkness of sin. Then, the Lord graciously reaches down into that darkness and lifts a new leader to call his people back from the brink. This is far from ideal. It could and should be so much better. Still, the grace and faithfulness of God shines like a beacon against this bleak backdrop of sin and failure.
Take Away: Godās grace is seen in dark places. It fact, it shines there, bringing both light and hope.
Devotional on 1 Samuel
Caution, God at work here
1 Samuel 7: Throughout Israel there was a widespread, fearful movement toward God.
The enemies of Israel, the Philistines, have had enough of the Ark of the Covenant. Not only have they had to repair their idol Dagon, things are not going well at all throughout their territory. Thereās general sickness and death and they know that itās related to the captured Chest. They decide to send it back and be rid of it once and for all. It ends up at the town of Beth Shemesh, but not without incident. Some of the locals look inside this holy relic and are struck dead for their irreverence. This causes the fear of the Lord to fall on that place. It also reminds them that God is real and not just the product of old stories. The Ark is moved to Kiriath Jearim, where it remains for 20 years. It’s during that time that people become more and more “God aware.” Itās been a long journey from the dark ages of the book of Judges to this point, but, once again, these people are becoming a people of God. The words, “there was a widespread, fearful movement toward God” are the result of God’s faithfulness to a people who don’t deserve it. Even though theyāre far from God, heās at work and the boy Samuel is part of his plan. When they use the Ark as a good luck charm, and thus lose it, God is working. Even when the men at Beth Shemesh treat the Ark in an inappropriate way and lose their lives, God is working, setting things in motion to change the attitude of the nation. I pray that God is working in my nation too. I pray that heās doing things in places and in ways that I donāt even see, changing attitudes, preparing the way for a “widespread, fearful movement toward” himself. And, if he can use me in any of that I want to be available to him, a willing partner in his gracious work in my society.
Take Away: The Lord sometimes works in ways unseen by us and only recognized after the fact.
Devotional on 1 Samuel
Heavenly surprises
1 Samuel 10: Saul among the prophets! Who would have guessed?!
The young man Saul is not a leader and he isn’t especially known for his spirituality. On this day, after his meeting with Samuel, Saul is headed home when he encounters a group of prophets on their way to worship. Before he knows it, Saul falls in with them, and then to everyone’s surprise he joins them in their religious expression. This is an unlikely event and word of it spreads throughout his family and friends. People are surprised at “Saul among the prophets.” After he becomes king a saying based on this incident becomes common. Anytime a person is surprised at something they shake their heads in wonder and say, “Saul among the prophets! Who would have guessed!” I’ve seen God do some surprising things in people’s lives. When I was a kid I knew a man who had been the town drunk. He was wonderfully converted and became the Sunday School Superintendent in the church where I grew up. “Saul among the prophets! Who would have guessed!” Another man, who was raised in the church, got away from God. His mother never stopped praying for him, but for years he seemed distant. One night he came to revival and responded to the invitation. A few years later he was a terrific youth leader in the church. “Saul among the prophets!” I love it when God does stuff like that and look forward to more “Saul among the prophets!” events in the days to come.
Take Away: The Lord does wonderfully surprising things in the lives of those who cooperate with his purposes for them.
Devotional on 1 Samuel
Being spiritual about things
1 Samuel 14: Saul did something really foolish that day.
Itās war. Saul’s army is in battle with the hated Philistines. Saul’s son Jonathan leads the way. Single handedly he’s killed about 20 of the enemy. God’s working here, bringing confusion to the enemy army. In addition to the damage Saul’s army is doing them they seem to be at war with one another. Itās now that Saul does a “really foolish” thing. He commands his army to fast while they fight. His men are in hand-to-hand combat all day but eat nothing. When the battle ends at the end of the day theyāre so hungry that theyāre eating raw meat, meat with the blood still in it, which is contrary to God’s Law. The writer tells us that itās all Saul’s fault. Heās in charge and they depend on his leadership. Heās let them down by adding to their burden in an attempt to make their effort seem “more spiritual.” Itās important that leaders be spiritually sensitive. Weāre not to dress things up to make them seem more spiritual than they already are, but at the same time, weāre to take the lead in recognizing God’s work in even supposed “non-spiritual” efforts. Saul overplays his hand here and the result is near disaster. I pray that God will help me to be sensitive to spiritual things and to be a leader who “is” spiritually minded rather than a person who is foolishly, like Saul, merely “acting” spiritually minded.
Take Away: Spiritual leaders donāt play the role of someone who is spiritually minded; rather, they ARE spiritually minded.
Devotional on 1 Samuel
Hide and seek
1 Samuel 23: Saul was on one side of the mountain, David and his men on the other.
Saul and David are playing a deadly game of hide and seek. In spite of David’s continuing to be a defender of Israel Saul has made him public enemy number one. David’s band is growing, now numbering over 600, but Saul’s army vastly outnumbers them. Beyond that, David doesn’t want to fight Saul or any of his countrymen. The nation of Israel is divided. Some are loyal to Saul and others to David. In fact, one group, the Ziphites, betrays David to Saul. They report David’s whereabouts to Saul and help set up an ambush. Itās nearly successful. At one point Saul almost has David and his men cornered. If not for word of an attack from a real enemy that forces Saul’s attention elsewhere, David’s story would end right here. Because of this, this area is called āNarrow Escape.” So, was the attack by the Philistines at such a critical moment just good fortune for David? I think not. God’s fingerprints are all over this. Still, itās interesting that God used the enemies of Israel, the heathens of the land, to deliver David. The lesson for me is that this is a reminder that God is truly sovereign. Even when godless people act in ways intended to destroy, God can give a gentle push in some particular direction and use their sinful act to accomplish good rather than evil. Even when it seems evil has won the day, God is still God, and heās working in surprising ways in and through it all.
Take Away: When all is said and done itās the Lord who has said the last word.
Devotional on 1 Samuel
Hopefully, David wasnāt trustworthy
1 Samuel 29: He’s not going into battle with us.
How about that, wisdom from the Philistines! Fleeing from Saul (maybe said better: “getting away from Saul so he won’t have to kill him”) David’s living in Philistine territory, the town of Ziklag. Now the Philistines are uniting to take on Saul and the army of Israel in a major, decisive battle. Amazingly, Davidās with the Philistines! King Achish, who mistakenly thinks that David has already been attacking his fellow countrymen in Judah, is confident that David has completely betrayed Israel. However, the other warlords of the Philistines arenāt convinced. They don’t know David, but they know his reputation. They think that in the heat of the battle heāll turn on them. Achish reluctantly sends David and his men home. Are the other warlords right? I hope so. David has no business living in the land of the Philistines in the first place much less fighting on their side. I think this event is crucial to David’s future as king of Israel. In the story of Abraham and Lot, itās Lot who mistakenly decides to live in the wicked city of Sodom. That decision changes his life. Had he not made this crucial mistake he might have gone down in history as a great man who walked in faith with his uncle, Abraham. Instead, his story is a mere footnote in the history of God’s people. In this incident, Davidās at a similar crossroads. If he joins the Philistines in this battle heāll never lead Israel. Instead, heāll only be a minor player in the story of redemption. I hope these warlords are right and that David would have turned on them. If not that, I wish that it had been David, himself who decided to leave the battlefield. Instead, itās the enemies of God and his people who wisely send him away. Is it possible that we can see the hand of God in this decision of the Philistine warlords?
Take Away: The Lord is sovereign and can use whoever he wants to accomplish his will.
Devotional on 1 Samuel
Back from the brink
1 Samuel 30: A gift from the plunder of God’s enemies!
The story of David’s rescue of the women and children of Ziklag is a companion to the events of the previous chapter in which David isnāt allowed to join the battle against Saul and the army of Israel. It takes him and his men three days to return to their base camp of Ziklag. When they arrive there all that’s left is smoldering ruins. Amalekite raiders have taken advantage of the fact that all warriors throughout the territory are massed at Aphek in preparation for a major battle. Ziklag and other area towns have been attacked and ransacked. The women and children have been carried away to be used as slaves or worse. David pursues them, driving his men to exhaustion. By the time he catches up to the Amalekites his forces are severely depleted with only 200 of the original 600 warriors still at his side. With God’s help, his band of 200 routs the much larger Amalekite force. They recover all the captives and a large bounty of goods taken, not only from Ziklag, but from the other towns as well. David insists that the spoils be equally shared with all, including those who were unable to fight. He also sends portions of the plunder to the towns of Judah, “A gift from the plunder of God’s enemies.” The coupled events of David being turned back from the battle at Aphek and his success against the Amalekites rescue David from the brink of personal destruction. In one case, he is stopped from becoming an enemy of Israel. In the other, he turns his trust back to God, and then acts in an honorable way in handling the plunder. Here we see God putting David back on track to lead Israel. Oh, the mighty hand of God, working through our stubbornness and human weakness. God works through a million and one circumstances to bring about his good purpose. Itās that way with David and itās that way for us too.
Take Away: We donāt always recognize it, but quite often the Lord works through the circumstances of our lives to bring about good.
Devotional on 2 Samuel
God, patiently working
2 Samuel 4: And so they anointed David king over Israel.
Itās been a long time coming. David remembers being called in from the fields as he cared for his father’s sheep to meet the old man of God, Samuel. In a private ceremony Samuel anointed him king of Israel. However, Israel already had a king and Saul wasn’t about to give up his position of power, so David waited. He faithfully served Israel, doing anything asked of him. He honored Saul, even as Saul became his enemy. It isn’t that Davidās made no errors along the way; he has. The bottom line, though, is that heās faithfully adhered to this philosophy: if God had him anointed as king, then heāll be king in God’s own time. Now, the result of treachery in Ish-Bosheth’s camp, the door is finally open and all Israel comes to make David king. The deaths of both Saul and Ish-Bosheth were not by David’s hand. In fact, it isn’t the way he wanted it at all. Still, God works in all things, even things he doesnāt design, to accomplish his purpose. David isn’t the only one whoās been patient. God, Himself, has worked in and through and even around the events that have taken place to move history in the direction he desires. The end result is that, just as Samuel said years earlier: David is king of Israel. Hereās a picture of how God works: not orchestrating and micromanaging events to get his way, but directing the outcome of even bad things, like murder, to accomplish his purposes. He doesn’t motivate the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite to kill Ish-Bosheth, but when they do, the Lord uses it to accomplish his purpose of bringing David to the throne of Israel.
Take Away: As Sovereign God the Lord works in this world, even though poor choices made by people, to accomplish his purposes.
Devotional on 2 Kings
Ready or not, here it comes
2Kings 11: Athaliah, oblivious to his existence, ruled the country.
Jehu’s purge nets both Joram, wicked king of Israel, and Ahaziah, the king of Judah who has become a partner with Joram in his sinful leadership. Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, takes her son’s place, not only on the throne but also as one committed to evil. Her first act is to kill anyone in her family who might contest her claim to the throne of Judah. It appears her plan has worked, and it would have, except for the bravery and quick action of Jehosheba who hides the infant Joash from his own grandmother’s murderous intention. Now, six years later, itās time to act. Intrigue abounds as plans are made to dethrone the pretender Athaliah and elevate Joash to his rightful place as boy king. As this takes place weāre told that Athaliah is “oblivious” to it all. I think the Lord often works like this. Ordinary people and even the wicked pursue their goals, pressing on, thinking everything is working out as anticipated. Meanwhile, God is at work in the underground. Big things are coming and weāre “oblivious” to it all. For Athaliah it means that her hijacking of the throne of Judah is soon coming to a bloody end. For followers of the Lord, it means that weād better keep our eyes on Jesus and be ready for — well, be ready for “whatever” comes next.
Take Away: Even when we canāt see it, the Lord is at work, preparing for the next big thing.