THE FUTURE OF THESE DEVOTIONALS

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

THE FUTURE OF THESE DEVOTIONALS

1 Tim 6:12-14

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Tim 4:7

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

           I am retiring this Sunday. Many have asked me what will become of “Morning Devotions?” Well, I just don’t know. A few years ago, this began as an experiment which blended some random thoughts sent to our church family. Today’s blog post is number 3,374. It has not always been easy to come up with something that is timely and inspirational 365 days per year. I’ve cheated a few times and published some “classic” devotionals. I might call it quits if I were not addicted to the process. I still might anyway.

           One of our church members pays the price to have these devotionals published in our local “ad” paper called The Shopper.  The result is that I’m careful not to spit on the sidewalk, and I’m easily recognized at Walmart even while wearing a Covid-19 mask. But that is intellectual property which I feel belongs to our church and not to me alone. After retirement, it may be a stumbling block to the new pastor. I don’t want that.

           I may organize the more than three thousand posts into a book. I’ve often thought of writing about some of the surprising things that has happened during my 49 years of ministry. I suppose I will need a lawyer and I’m sure some pseudonyms will need to be used. Some are sad and other things are hysterically funny. These are “outtakes” or scenes that are cut from the film of life.

During WWII there was a popular song by Vera Lynn that highlighted the many departures and deployments of war. I’ve been singing it to myself for a few weeks now. A part of it goes like this …

We'll meet again

Don't know where

Don't know when

But I know we'll meet again some sunny day

Keep smiling through

Just like you always do

'Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away

So will you please say hello

To the folks that I know

Tell them I won't be long

They'll be happy to know

That as you saw me go

I was singing this song

We'll meet again

Don't know where

Don't know when

But I know we'll meet again some sunny day…

IN ME OR WITHOUT ME?

Monday, July 27, 2020

IN ME OR WITHOUT ME?

John 15:5-8

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

           In classic, divine simplicity, Jesus offers us a choice between two paths. We can either abide IN CHRIST and bear much fruit or we can depart from the vine and walk as a singular, stubborn, and lifeless branch which produces nothing.

           Perhaps the choice is too simplistic for our minds to grasp and we stand bawling like a calf at a new gate. Is this path part of an old fence or is this fence part of the new gate? We become confused with the easiest of choices.

           The choice is life or death! It doesn’t appear so serious at first glance, but that is the truth of it. A couple of months ago an EF1 tornado tore through our little town. Just outside our office a lovely Bradford Pear tree was ravaged and twisted. Today it still stands as a twisted testimony to abiding. It lost branches and is horribly broken, but one lone branch still grows skyward. It will survive because it abides in the life-giving trunk of the tree.

           The choice is my way or His way! It is my dim and limited view or His perfect sight. The fall has made us not only stubborn but stupid. Wrong choices become a lifestyle and we become enslaved by chains of our own making. We not only become unfruitful, but we hurt others.

Deut 30:19

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Dear Lord, let the klaxon loudly sound in my soul whenever I become stubborn. Let me choose life and bear fruit. AMEN

ONE TO ANOTHER!

Sunday, July 26, 2020

ONE TO ANOTHER!

Eph 5:21-28

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

           Today is my 52^nd wedding anniversary! I can hardly remember not being married, but I can remember the first time I saw my bride. She was playing the organ at a church I was visiting for the first time. I was standing at the rear entrance and probably staring at the sight I saw. Instantly smitten, I asked her name. Oh, I thought, she will never pay any attention to me! How will I ever win this choice beauty? Now, after so long a time, I am still amazed that she agreed to be my wife.

           Marriage is a fireworks show that settles into a soft crackling fireplace and a good book. Both of us understand the treasure that is ours. Both of us understand the responsibilities that come with a relationship. It may be as simple as taking out the trash on a timely basis or it may be as serious as being “the savior of the body!” I would give my life for hers and I think she would do the same for me.

           Marriage is an exercise in unselfishness! It is a challenge to narcissism and provides a daily laboratory for selfless service. Practiced regularly, it becomes second nature. Neglected often enough and it can become a real problem.

Gen 2:24

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Dear Lord, strengthen the marriages within my flock and remind us all of this great treasure. AMEN