Category Archives: Devotional

On Getting a Life

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Complete dependence is a humbling concept – but humility, let’s face it, is a good thing.  I’d like to say there are some things I can handle, but readily admit that I need the Lord for the biggies.  Christ, however, sees it differently:

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 (NKJV)

If I want my life to be worth something in light of eternity, I need to get this straight.  Without Him I can do nothing. 

On the other hand, by abiding in Him I tap into the source of the richest blessings.  Whatever Christ means by “much fruit” it has to be good.  At the end of the day, that’s what I want: fruit that came from my life that He has produced.  I can also think of it like this: 

What would my life look like if I got out of the way
and let Christ live my life for me? 

How would He handle my responsiblities and relationships?  No question He would handle them properly.  He would do a way better job with them than I have.  So be it.  Let’s embrace reality and give the Lord full authority to do whatever He wants. 

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

As We Sow, Shall We Also Reap?

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It’s a basic principle of life: What goes around comes around.  The Bible refers to it in terms of “sowing and reaping”.  Sometimes it’s stated in the form of a warning:  

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” – Galatians 6:7 (NKJV)

Fair enough.  Let any who would scoff at the Almighty take heed; they won’t get away with it forever.  But what about non-scoffers, without desire nor intention to ever mock God?  Thankfully, the concept is still valid in the other direction.  As the next verse explains:

“For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.“- Galatians 6:8 (NKJV)

There is, however, something to beware of even in good, spiritual sowing: 

Our ability to reap is not guaranteed.

Tragic, but true, and many reap not, because the time for harvest, the time to reap, doesn’t come immediately.  Meanwhile, many get discouraged.  Many lose patience.  Many do not persevere.  The enemy of our souls and the trials of life all work together in a vast conspiracy to get us to give up. 

As long as we’re wise to this strategy, let’s not play right into it.  In every area of life that we await that spiritual harvest, be it with family, friends, work or faithful service to our Master, let’s commit to stay committed.  Don’t quit.  Our capacity to not lose heart is the thing that guarantees a fruitful harvest. 

May the Lord Jesus Christ grant you the grace and perseverance to become an abundantly joyful reaper.

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.“- Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)

Wisdom to Spare

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Intelligence has a dark side.  The mad scientist, the evil tyrant, the devious-but-brainy bad guys that our favorite super heroes destroy – these illustrate the fact that intellectual abilty can be used for wicked purposes. 

The ability to put whatever knowledge we have to good use is known in the Bible as wisdom.  It’s an acquired skill – the capacity to live life well.  Wisdom helps people stay happily married and to do OK financially.  It helps us raise our children in such a way that they appreciate us more and more as they get older.  Wisdom finds the solution to unexpected problems and makes us a blessing to our friends – and even our enemies when needed. 

Wisdom begins with the fear of God:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
                                               – Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV)

That’s where it starts, but it can’t end there.  Life is just complicated enough that we often need more wisdom than we ever figured.  So how do we get all we need?  We pray for it, ask God for it, and feel free to keep asking.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”   – James 1:5 (NKJV)

And we can know God’s wisdom as we get it, because it tends to look like this:

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”  – James 3:17 (NKJV)

To Die For

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There is no doubt that Absalom deserved to die.  He gained the allegiance of the people through his good looks and smooth talk.  Once he had an adequate following, he orchestrated a violent takeover of the throne, sending the king and his closest followers running for their lives.  In a creative combination of insult and injury, he then systematically raped each concubine in the harem, doing so in a tent pitched atop the house so that all Israel could see what he was up to.  No government would willingly tolerate such shenanigans.

Still, King David was Absalom’s father.  A clear view of character or justice was lacking in this case.  Love had something to do with it.  So, when David heard that his son had been killed in battle, caring nothing for the fact that his own army and he himself were the ones under attack, the king responded with the sorrow of a parent rather than the sobriety of a king:

Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: ‘O my son Absalom-my son, my son Absalom-if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!'”  – 2 Samuel 18:33 (NKJV)

“If only I had died in your place.”  Absalom, despite his glaring guilt, was precious enough in David’s eyes to die for.  And such is the love of God for you and me.  Forget getting what you deserve.  The Father and the Son both look upon you with a love that says you’re to die for.

David’s love couldn’t help Absalom –

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  – Romans 5:8-9 (NKJV)