A SPIRITUAL POP QUIZ

 

Friday, September 30, 2022

 

A SPIRITUAL POP QUIZ

 

Who am I and what kind of Christianity do I really practice on a daily basis? I believe that is a question we should ask ourselves from time to time. If today is a convenient time for you to ask, let me suggest a few probing questions.

 

1. AM I CONTENT WITH THE PERSON I AM BECOMING?

 

Eph 4:22-24

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

 

Every day – sometimes multiple times within that day – there is a need to put off and put on! As I mature am I growing into a wise person who can provide answers to those who follow after me? If I should ever leave my office as a pastor, will I have anything left to fill the vacuum? What will be my legacy?

 

2. IS THE CORE OF MY LIFE QUIET?

 

Ps 46:10-11

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

 

I read somewhere that the motto of most people is: “When in trouble, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout!”

 

3. DO I HAVE A GROWING PRAYER LIFE?

 

Are my daily decisions made with prayer or are they driven by personal desires?

 

Phil 4:6-7

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

4. AM I BECOMING TRULY HUMBLE?

 

Phil 2:3

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

 

Nothing is more arrogant than false humility. I do not need to deny the talents I have but I must remember that those talents are a product of God’s working in me. If God has given me a talent or an ability, then He intends to direct the use of both for His purposes and His glory.

 

5. AM I OBEDIENT IN SMALL MATTERS?

 

1 John 2:3-4

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

 

The above verse is strong medicine and needs no comment from me!

 

6. IS THERE JOY IN MY LIFE?

 

John 15:11

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

 

Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness is a result of pleasant “happenings!” Joy is the result of knowing that God is in control of every situation – even the unpleasant ones.

 

Dear Lord, running headlong in my direction today are both good things and bad. Help me to face them both with calm and confidence. AMEN

YOUR FUTURE IS IN HIS HANDS!

 

Thursday, September 29, 2022

 

YOUR FUTURE IS IN HIS HANDS!

 

Job 23:8-10

8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

 

          We long to know the future, to peer through the window at tomorrow and prepare, but God oversees tomorrow. Job could not “perceive” him but knew he was there. God does his work imperceptibly and when we can’t see him working, we must trust.

 

          I’ve walked through cemeteries and noticed stones with only the date of birth inscribed. The owner has not yet died, and the chisel waits to carve the expiration date. Only God knows these things and I am glad He knows.

 

George Matheson was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1842. Before he reached the age of two, it was discovered that his eyesight was defective. He, his parents, and the specialists fought a heroic fight, but before George had finished his course at Glasgow University, he was completely blind. With courage and faith, he graduated with honors in philosophy, studied for the ministry, and in a few years' time became the minister of one of the largest churches in Edinburgh, where he carried on a memorable ministry. In addition to his laborious preparation of his services he did a great deal of parish visitation, wrote numerous articles and twelve books, and continued his own studies throughout his life.

 

It must have been heartbreaking for George Matheson's parents to have a strange infection in their baby's eyes lead to his blindness. Yet, in that tragic situation George Matheson found God's resources available for him. God poured into his heart the courage, resourcefulness, and grim perseverance that gave him victory over his handicap. Through it all his faith grew stronger, and after twenty years of blindness he wrote:

 

 O Love that will not let me go,

 I rest my weary soul in Thee!

 I give Thee back the life I owe,

 That in Thine ocean depths its flow

 May richer, fuller be.

 

   --James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) pp. 273-274.

 

Dear Lord, when I walk through dark valleys full of uncertainty and fear, let me remember that you know the way that I take. When my trials are over, I shall come forth as gold. AMEN

THE SERENITY PRAYER

 

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

 

THE SERENITY PRAYER

 

Rom 12:18

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

 

          The Serenity Prayer is a prayer written by the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971). It is commonly quoted as:

 

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

courage to change the things I can,

and wisdom to know the difference.

 

Niebuhr's prayer originally asked for courage first, and specifically for changing things that must be changed, not things that simply can be changed:

 

Father, give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other.

 

Niebuhr composed the prayer in 1932–1933. The prayer spread rapidly, often without attribution to Niebuhr, through church groups in the 1930s and 1940s and was adopted and popularized by Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step programs. Niebuhr used it in a 1943 sermon at Heath Evangelical Union Church in Heath, Massachusetts. It also appeared in a sermon of Niebuhr's in the 1944 Book of Prayers and Services for the Armed Forces, while Niebuhr first published it in 1951 in a magazine column. (Source: Wikipedia)

 

          I carried to bed last night thoughts of things that I only partially knew to be. I also tugged along a satchel full of “can’t change its” and a pocket full of “oh, well”. These uncomfortable bedfellows finally went to sleep and so did I but this morning I remembered the Serenity Prayer.

 

Lord, I would love to be in charge of things that trouble me. I think I could make some improvements or at least offer a few suggestions. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I would just make things worse or more confusing. I might even frustrate your plans. So, grant me the courage to patiently wait until I know more, the energy to do what must be done and the wisdom to not attempt the impossible. AMEN

FOREVER FRIENDS

 

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

 

FOREVER FRIENDS

 

Phil 1:2-6

2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

 

          Today a friend from long ago referred to me as his forever friend (Proverbs 17:17). We are both ministers who served the same charming Maryland peninsula. We differed in doctrine on some minor points, and I suppose we still do but we shared something in common. Each respected and admired the deep commitment the other had for his Lord and his calling. We were partners and not competitors.

 

          Are you old enough to have friends from a long-ago-time? Do snapshots stored in your heart suddenly pop up on the screen of your mind? Do you smile? Do you sometimes cry? Do you remember a few hissy fits that were transformed into hugs by time and circumstance? If all, or any, of these are true then you are blessed.

 

          It’s early, it’s Tuesday, and I am not young. The miles behind are longer than the miles before and my memories outnumber my ambitions. So, pour another cup of coffee, sit in the stillness of a beginning Autumn, and remember. Let it be your devotional. Thank God for all He has allowed to enter your life both good and bad. Remember friends who remained so. Remember enemies who did not remain so but were changed by the same Spirit that changed you.

 

Let this be your prayer today: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” AMEN

BEHAVE YOURSELF

 

Monday, September 26, 2022

 

BEHAVE YOURSELF

 

1 Sam 18:14-16

14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.

15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David …

 

1 Tim 3:14-15

14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:

15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

 

          Four times in the Old Testament we find the word sakal (saw-kal) and all four times here in the eighteenth chapter of First Samuel. Saul was the King, but David was the giant killer and there was a tension between them because the people knew that the crown rested upon the wrong head. David knew that he must act circumspectly and intelligently, which is what the word means.

 

          As Paul was instructing young Timothy, he taught him how to behave himself in the church, the house of God. Here the word is the Greek anastrepho which means only “to busy oneself” but we understand it to mean much more in application.

 

          The believer, because his relationship with Christ makes him a representative, should learn to behave himself circumspectly and intelligently because occasionally we will be drawn into intrigue.

 

Prov 1:10

10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

 

Lord, often I feel the eyes of others are upon me. Let me walk circumspectly with intelligence. Help me to go softly and carefully as I represent you with my life. AMEN

I HAVE BEEN YOUNG!

 

Sunday, September 25, 2022

 

I HAVE BEEN YOUNG!

 

Ps 37:23-25

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

 

          The shirtless and shoeless days of long ago sing their siren song and my mind returns to a much simpler time. Toys were discarded boxes, sticks and trash can lids. Trees were for climbing. Smaller trees were for chopping and lashing together into makeshift huts. The saplings, along with their leaves, kept out the future and inside were adventures. Water filled ditches were for swimming and fallen logs across a ravine were for bridges. How frightening it was to traverse the moss-covered oaks like a tightrope in a circus. We might not have crossed had it not been for the teasing of our fellows. But we made it! And now we are old.

 

          The steps of a man-made-good by the grace of God are ordered by the Lord. We are glad that He is leading. We have learned to trust his guidance and His timing. The first nervous and tentative steps of following gradually become confident strides. We are tempted to break into a run but are careful not to outrun our light. Many of our challenges are repeat attempts to trap us. The devil is not our friend and we have seen many of his tricks before. We learn to step over the trip wires.

 

          Through it all we have learned by observation that God is wise, good, and kind. We have been upheld by His hand so often that we no longer fear falling. We have been fed so many times that we fear no hunger. We may look back on lean times but can’t point to any failure of our God. We have never seen the righteous abandoned or the children of God orphaned.

 

          We have seen enough to encourage a careful crossing of the mossy oak. The vale below holds terror but there is peace and joy on the other side.

 

Dear Lord, we have walked together many days. All I have seen and all I have received removes the fear from that which I now face. Thank you for never leaving me or forsaking me. AMEN

WHATEVER IS NEXT!

 

Saturday, September 24, 2022

 

WHATEVER IS NEXT!

 

Acts 2:41-47

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

 

          Thousands of dollars and hours are spent each year trying to discover the newest secret of church health and growth. Perhaps the “secrets” have been hidden in the Bible right under our noses. I think the above section might just be a model for the healthy and growing church.

 

          Verse 41: The dazzling numbers have nearly blinded us to the simple fact that healthy church life always begins with a glad reception of the gospel. Salvation is the starting point, and it is glorious and glad. This is followed immediately with “whatever is next” which is baptism. Healthy and growing believers are always asking and submitting to “whatever is next!”

 

          Verse 42: Healthy and growing churches are populated with members who are consistent in their participation of church life. They do not consider the events on the church calendar as items on a buffet from which they pick and choose but items of a full course meal. It does not say “teaching or fellowship” but teaching AND fellowship AND communion AND prayer meeting AND whatever is next. Unhealthy churches are populated by inconsistent members.

 

          Verse 44: In the healthy and growing church there is a generous sharing of resources. Once, at a local restaurant, our waitress told us that someone from a few tables over secretly picked up our tab. I think I know who the generous person is but I’m sure they prefer to remain anonymous. The point is that, within the healthy church, resources are shared, and nobody feels that he has suffered any loss by giving. Verse 45 explains that the membership felt that resources belonged to “us” instead of “me.”

 

          As church life continued, in verse 46, God added to the church. Outreach and evangelism were simply outgrowth of healthy church life. As we live the Christian life in community and harmony with others, God gives numerical increase. In the numbers game, there was no guilt and no pride for it was God who produced numerical growth. Our job is healthy and harmonious community with other believers. Members who are part of a church like this just can’t keep from talking about it. The members publicly were praising God and the result was that they won the admiration of their city.

 

Dear Lord, let me improve the health of my church by being an active and excited member of it. Let me share generously while feeling no sense of loss in sharing. Add to your church as you see fit. AMEN

MY YOKE FITS WELL!

 

Friday, September 23, 2022

 

MY YOKE FITS WELL!

 

Matt 11:28-30

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

The Greek word for “easy” is chrestos and literally means “useful” but the Amplified New Testament puts it this way:

 

Matt 11:30

30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good — not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

AMPLIFIED

 

What Jesus was saying is that the service He requires is not difficult to perform. This was in stark contrast to the Jewish system which had grown and grown into something God had never intended it to be. The Pharisaical requirements were heavy and harsh.

 

A pastor of a large congregation resigned his position saying something like “I’m not OK. I am just tired.”  After 52 years in pastoral ministry, I am not unsympathetic to the pressures of the task, but we were never promised more than a cross!

 

I do not know what God is requiring you to endure at this moment but this one thing I know, the yoke was designed to be comfortable and to fit YOU personally.

 

The yoke refers to oxen's yoke. The yoke was a wooden collar-like instrument placed on the neck and shoulders of the oxen. It was extremely important that the yoke be fitted for the shoulders of the oxen to prevent rubbing the flesh raw and causing sores. Measurements were taken, the yoke was roughed out and then oxen were brought back to have the yoke tailor-made. According to some traditions, some carpenters' shops may very well have carried signs like "My yoke fits well" (William Barclay, The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible)

 

Whatever God has you facing right now is made to fit you perfectly. You have been given the Spiritual gifts, talents, and abilities to handle everything He allows you to go through. Therefore, lay your grief into His loving hands and surrender to His will for you.

 

Jer 31:18

18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.

 

Dear Lord, help me to settle into the burden that you have tailor made for me today. AMEN

HARVEST TIME

 

Thursday, September 22, 2022

 

HARVEST TIME

 

Gen 8:20-22

20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. 22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

 

          Today is the first day of Autumn and here in the south it still feels like summer with temperatures stubbornly rising to the nineties. Yet there is a crispness to the morning and a mist upon the fields. Autumn’s golden hues will reach south although she may be late.

 

          The word harvest is found in the Authorized Version sixty-one times. It is first used when God made a promise to Noah that the rotating seasons of seedtime and harvest, heat and cold, would continue as long as the earth remained. The LAST time it is used in the gospels is in John 4:35 when Jesus referred to the approaching Samaritans as ripe for plucking. The word is not used again until Revelation 14:15 when the earth is reaped by an angel. This will be a fearful reaping for mankind is the harvest. The period between John 4 and Revelation 14 is labor.

 

          I once found myself in a warm country restaurant where several farmers were having breakfast and drinking coffee. Clad in overalls, plaid-lined denim jackets and greasy seed company ball caps, these men were working. This was their work because their work now was waiting. Waiting for the harvest. Praying, in their own way, for a bumper crop. These were not competitors but partners in a rhythm of renewal. Their farms may have varied in size and value, but their purpose was the same. They would work for harvest time.

 

          Harvest time is both a time of refreshing and a time for preparation. Winter is coming. It is that time that Jesus referred to in John 9:4 “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

 

Dear Lord, bless your churches with a great harvest. AMEN