Author Archives: lrbartel

Feb 15 2018
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Devos

Some Biblical Perspective on “Shooting Off Your Mouth”

Shooting off your mouth
Ever “shoot off your mouth” about something and then become aware – painfully aware – that you didn’t have all the facts? Your “shooting off the mouth” might have been because of frustration, discouragement, pain, pride or just plain old anger… but somehow, someone made you aware you were mistaken – you didn’t have all the facts – you didn’t really know what was going on! And you were embarrassed!
Happened to a good man… Job in the Bible! (And his friends had the same problem!)
 
Job’s friends thought they knew why he had experienced the loss of everything – why he was experiencing pain and suffering! They thought it had to be some sin in his life, lack of concern for others, or arrogance and pride! Job strongly defended himself, declaring his integrity! He thought God was doing all those bad things to Him. He couldn’t understand why all these things were happening! He felt God wasn’t listening to him and perhaps He didn’t care! You can read it for yourself… And he “shot off his mouth” about it… and he “shot off his mouth” to his “friends” (who probably deserved it!).
 
God confronted Job! He called him to account! It was almost as if God said, “OK smarty-pants, tell my what’s going on! You explain to Me what I’m doing if you know so much!” And when God did it, Job was utterly ashamed… and repented! Here it is right out of the Bible…
 
“Then Job answered the LORD and said: ‘I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know! … I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You! Therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes!’” (From Job 42:1–6 ESV)
 
Good response Job! Acknowledge your error, ask for forgiveness, and humbly seek God’s perspective on things. Hey, we’ve all done it … under pressure, pain, or persecution (or what we perceive as persecution), we’ve “shot off our mouth!” Good news is, God forgives, restores and ultimately will provide perspective! Oh, and what about Job’s “friends” who were guilty of “shooting of their mouth” as well? You really need to read the next passage – Job 42:7-9!
Feb 13 2018
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Devos

On the subject of “fruit” and “trees” (from the Divine “tree guy”)

Fruit trees

There’s a guy in the church I attend… He’s a professional, trained “tree guy.” He can tell a lot about a tree my simply looking at it. He’s so good he can look at the quality of a tree’s leaves or fruit and give you reliable information about a tree’s health and what kind of tree it is (even before it produces fruit).
Now, I’m not a “tree guy” – but I know one thing, apple trees do not produce oranges – pear trees don’t give us apricots!

So here’s the deal… I read these important, insightful words in the Bible this morning on the subject of “fruit” – better, words about those who claim to be “Christians!”

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for a tree is known by its fruit!” (Something the “tree guy” would agree with – and even I know!)

Then Jesus went on to apply the principle… “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks! The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak! For by your words you will be justified [declared righteous – right with God] and by your words you will be condemned.” (From Matthew 12:33-37 ESV)

After reading those words this morning during “coffee with the Lord” I jotted this in the margin of my Bible… “Watch out! It matters a lot what you say! That’s a ‘fruit issue!” But at a deeper level a ‘fruit issue’ is really a ‘heart issue!” Listen… I want what I say to exhibit “good fruit” – but more than that, I want my “heart” to produce fruit in keeping with what I claim to be, a “Christian!” Hey, there’s a Divine “fruit guy” – and he knows both “fruit” and “trees!”

Feb 12 2018
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Devos

Biblical “HOPE” – the antidote to fear, dread, despondency and even despair!

HopeCircumstances, a physical diagnosis, news reports, a bank statement or investment report, or a letter or phone call, can produce fear, dread, even despair in our hearts!

My Bible reading today emphasized the antidote … HOPE! Not the popular definition of the word, however – wishful thinking – as in “I hope something good will happen, but I’m not sure that it will!” But “HOPE” by the Biblical use of the term… “Confident expectation in the promises and faithfulness of Almighty God!” (And their there is vast difference between the two usages of the term!)

Here’s what I read in the Bible this morning…

“Whatever was written in former days (i.e. in the Bible!) was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures WE MIGHT HAVE HOPE! … May THE GOD OF HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit YOU MAY ABOUND IN HOPE!” (From Romans 15: 4 & 13 ESV)

Here’s the little outline I jotted in the margin of my Bible this morning…

Biblical hope…

  • Its clear statement… The promises of God in the Bible
  • Its ultimate source – God Himself!
  • Its results or outcome – Joy and peace as we believe what God has said
  • Its dynamic – The power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives
  • Its abundance – We can “abound in hope!”

Hey, we can overcome fear, dread, despondency and despair through God-given – Holy Spirit produced HOPE! I think I’d like to preach that outline somewhere – and share it with some struggling person today!

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