June 14, 2025

II Corinthians 5: 7 We live by faith, not by sight. (NIV)

It is the nature of faith to think better than it can see.*

Once a year, after my husband retired, we took a long road trip. We were pretty flexible in scheduling where we would stop for the night but we usually had a destination in mind at least a day in advance. The Christian’s life-journey requires flexible travel plans as well. 

When Paul was writing the words of this verse, he must have been thinking of the many times that Jesus called someone to follow him. Check out some of those occasions in Matthew’s gospel: 

· 4: 19 (Simon and Andrew) 

· 8: 22 (a teacher of the law) 

· 9: 9 (Matthew) 

· 16: 24 (his disciples) 

· 19: 21 (the rich young man) 

What do you notice about each of those verses? Jesus says, “Follow me,” but he never says to where.* Not everyone that he called was willing to pick up and follow Jesus into the great unknown – but those who followed him in faith got the time of their lives! 

When Jesus calls us to follow him, it is not usually to an unknown destination, but always to an unknown outcome. If we knew where we were going and what was going to happen after we got there, we wouldn’t need to walk by faith. We are not promised a comfortable life when we choose to follow Jesus but we can count on adventure, with his Spirit to show us the way – one step at a time!

Hardy men followed him, drawn by his fearless audacity.*

June 13, 2025

Psalm 19: 1-14 The heavens declare the glory of God . . . The law of the Lord is perfect. (NIV)

The more we learn about the universe, the more reasonable it seems to bow humbly before the Creator whose power and intelligence designed it.*

Even non-believers can be unwitting participants when the heavens are declaring God’s glory. Anyone with eyes to see must acknowledge the beauty of creation, if not the existence of the Creator. Perhaps that is why, in verses 1 – 6, David uses a generic word for God. It is just a word that anyone of any religion might use.*

But then we come to the rest of the psalm, in which David waxes poetic about the law of the Lord. Now he switches from referring to God by a general term to calling him by name. Yahweh. It’s like the difference between calling me “woman” and addressing me as “Connie.” Nature, David seems to be implying, may reveal God, but his law reveals “his personal voice to his chosen people.”*

When we stand in awe of God’s creative power as revealed in nature, we give him glory. But when we love his word, we acknowledge his personal revelation to us. It’s not just a list of rules or a code of conduct, it is a love letter. As David says, it is perfect – reviving the soul (verse 7); and it is right – giving joy to the heart (verse 8). His words are more precious than gold (verse 10). Do we give his words the honor they deserve? Can we say we love him if we don’t love his word?

If I can see that the law of God is for my good, it will change everything.*

June 12, 2025

Esther 9: 5 The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. (NIV)

God does not need me to do . . . things – he can use anybody.*

Some scholars question why the book of Esther is included in the Bible. God is not ever mentioned, and its main characters, Esther and Mordecai, were not outstanding examples of faith. For instance: they were comfortable with hiding the fact that Esther was Jewish; Esther gives no indication that she might be reluctant to marry a pagan king and join his harem; and here they were, living large in Persia instead of returning to Jerusalem from exile.*

Whether God is mentioned or not, we can still see his hand in arranging the affairs of his people. As this verse reveals, the Jews were victorious over their enemies - due to the efforts of Esther and Mordecai. If God can use people who are not his people to aid his people (it happened a lot in the Old Testament), then surely he can use those who are marginally his people in the same capacity. How much more useful, then, are you and I with willing hearts, submissive spirits, and . . . not so much else?

Don’t let fear of failure or lack of confidence in your abilities prevent you from saying “yes” when God calls you. As Mordecai said to Esther, (paraphrased!) “If you don’t do it, God will find another way. But what if this is exactly the purpose for which God has brought you to this place?” And what if you said, "No," to the call?

He is more interested in your availability than in your ability.*

June 11, 2025

Psalm 49: 16, 17 Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies.” (NIV)

Riches were never true to any that trusted to them.*

While we are doing our time on earth, it’s hard to think in eternal terms. If you’re hungry – or worse, if your children are hungry – it’s not much comfort to remind yourself that “you can’t take it with you.” Our suffering consumes us today. Eternity – we’ll think about that another day. 

In this passage, I don’t think the psalmist is addressing the afflicted or the prosperous so much as the envious. Those who get by with less in life like to remind the well-to-do of the temporary nature of their riches. Telling them, “You can’t take it with you,” puts them in their place. But it doesn’t stop the “have-nots” from wishing they were the “haves.” 

So don’t be looking at that lottery winner with envy. Don’t be jealous of inherited wealth. Don’t be overawed when you grow rich, when the splendor of your house increases. View riches from an eternal perspective. “Money can do many things, but it simply cannot buy an escape from the grave.”*

Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo.*

June 10, 2025

Genesis 40: 2-4 Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. (NIV)

When God steps in, the ordinary events of life take on extraordinary significance.*

We read and hear about the importance of vision, goals, ambition, plans . . . but sometimes we fulfill God’s purpose for our lives when we have none of those things. What good were Joseph’s aspirations when he was sold into slavery by his brothers? Do you think he planned to be falsely accused by his master’s wife and thrown into prison because of it? Did his vision statement include sharing a cell with two officials who were on the outs with Pharaoh – one who would soon be restored to a position of influence, the other to be hanged?

Maybe your life goes according to plan but mine never has. I have learned that things go more smoothly when I let God drive. I set short-term goals, but God is in charge of the big picture. Along the way, I, like Joseph, have found friends in low places and had brushes with greatness, but I couldn’t have predicted or planned for who or what was going to be the catalyst for big changes.

Was it a happy coincidence that Joseph found himself in prison with someone who would have so much impact on his future? Was it just luck that Joseph was in a position to help his family during the famine? Or was it because of his ambitious master plan that Joseph rose to the second most powerful position in Egypt? None of the above. Joseph knew that life was beyond his control and he chose to obey God.

When you allow God to drive, prepare yourself for the ride of your life!

You know you’re surrendered to God when you rely on God to work things out instead of trying to manipulate others, force your agenda, and control the situation. You let go and let God work.*

June 9, 2025

Psalm 91: 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. (NIV)

Messages immediately from heaven commonly struck even the best and boldest men into consternation.*

What do we know about angels? 

1. They are messengers from God, bearers of both good news and bad news. 

2. Some may be warriors, some may be houseguests. 

3. They often preface their message with the words, “Don’t be afraid.” 

4. Even a donkey knows to fear them. (Numbers 22) 

5. They are not to be worshipped. (Colossians 2: 18) 

6. God has commanded them to guard the way of those who dwell in him. 

7. They do not protect us in the commission of sinful behavior. 

How exactly do they perform their guard duty? Do they repel demons, counteract spiritual plots, ward off diseases?* I once fell asleep while driving on I-75 and woke up (in the next lane) because I heard someone say my name. Was that an angel? I don’t know. Does it matter? I came to no harm and I thank God for protecting me, however he accomplished it! 

I believe that most of God’s people will come to the end of their days with no idea of how involved angels had been in their lives. God has commanded them to guard all our ways and so they do their jobs. Our job is to make the Most High our dwelling (Psalm 91: 8). 

“‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him.’” (Psalm 91: 14). With or without the aid of angels, he has promised to protect us.

We have made too little of the ministering of the angels.*

June 8, 2025

James 2: 15, 16 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? (NIV)

Good wishes are but mockeries without good works.*

It’s not that I don’t care about people. It’s just that helping them can be so inconvenient.

Can you believe that anyone would feel that way? Believe it! It’s my struggle. One night, I learned that a friend – a single woman who lives alone – was recovering from a bout with kidney stones. I was on my way to the grocery store and I knew she might be in need of some items after having been indisposed for a few days, but I hesitated to call her. Not because I didn’t have money or time to help her but because delivering the groceries to her would have interfered with my plans for later - to do nothing. I did the right thing. I called her – and she didn’t need anything so I got to go home and feel good about myself.

Well . . . I didn’t feel that good about myself. I did the right thing, but I sure would like to be a better person. James doesn’t say how I’m supposed to feel about helping a brother or sister in need, but do you suppose Jesus ever felt inconvenienced when he helped others? 

 

I believe that Peter might have had me in mind when he wrote, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” (I Peter 1: 22) I am praying that I will learn to love deeply – from the heart. Until that time comes, I will continue to do the right thing - because it’s the right thing to do. 

He’s still working on me to make me what I ought to be. It took him just a week to make the moon and stars, the sun and the earth, and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient he must be ‘cause he’s still working on me.*