Category Archives: Devos

Feb 28 2017
Leave a comment
Devos

Live, work, or attend school in a “hell hole?” There’s a Psalm about that…

I don’t know where you work… It may be a “hell-hole of iniquity.” I don’t know who your neighbor is… your problems with them may not simply be their dog! The school where you teach or attend may be a “secularist stronghold” filled with practicing atheists. Your family members may be pagan persecutors. And the community where you live… Well I could go on.

The Psalmist, David, would have identified with you! He even wrote a Psalm about it… Read his words over and think about them…

Save us, O LORD, for the godly are gone; the faithful have vanished from among the children of man! Everyone utters lies to his neighbor! With flattering lips and a double heart they speak… ‘Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,’ says the LORD! I will place them in the safety for which they long!’ The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. You, O LORD, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever. On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.” (From Psalm 12 ESV)

Ever feel that way? Ever cry out to the Lord with words like that? You’re not alone! The Psalm declares, however, that God is aware of the situation! He hears everything they say! He proclaims that He will arise! He will protect and preserve! Treasuring up his word in your heart is like an antidote to the cultural poison around you! He will guard His own from the pollution of this generation! And I believe He will keep his word!

Feb 27 2017
Leave a comment
Devos

Before we “shoot off our mouth” about how we think things ought to be, it might be a good idea to get God’s perspective

shooting-off-your-mouth
I’m no different from you (or Apostle Peter, for that matter)! Sometimes we just don’t get it – God’s ways, God’s purposes, God’s plan, or God’s perspective! And before we “shoot off our mouth” and declare how we think things ought to be, it might be a good idea to pause, pray, ponder and gain the Lord’s perspective on things!
 
Have I ever been guilty… Yes, I have! I’m ashamed of the times!
 
Here’s the passage that provoked these thoughts this morning during “coffee with the Lord”…
 
“Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised…”
 
That message – that information – did not sit well with Peter. He couldn’t figure out in his mind how that fit the plan – his concept and confession of “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” (Matthew 16:16)
 
So “Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from you, Lord! This shall NEVER happen to you!”
 
“But Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man!”
 
Ouch! What a stinging rebuke! You see God’s redemptive purpose and perspective was different from Peter’s! Jesus understood that. Jesus had a “not my will but Thine be done perspective” (Luke 22:41-42)
 
Very next verse…
 
“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.’” (From Matthew 16:21-25)
 
Oh, Lord, help me to embrace Your perspective and plan! Help me to say what Jesus said when things that just don’t seem to make sense, but they’re part of your plan, “Not my will, but Thine be done!”
Feb 25 2017
Leave a comment
Devos

Some of the very important people that God cares about and loves!

a-cup-of-cold-water-compassionForgotten people… marginalized people… the oppressed, persecuted, poor and afflicted… Let me declare what the Bible declares – God cares about them!  I mean, here it is right out  of the mouth of Jesus:  “So the last will be first, and the first last.” (Matthew 20:16)  In fact, one of the distinguishing characteristics of Luke’s account of the life, teaching and ministry of Jesus was his emphasis on these very kind of people.  Theologians have called this theme in Scripture, “the priority of the oppressed and afflicted.”  Don’t get me wrong, God cares about everyone!  All humanity are the object of His loving care and concern!  But it seems He especially cares about the abused and those forgotten by others!

In fact, I read an  Old Testament passage  – a Psalm – this morning that seemed to pick up on, and emphasize, that very theme…

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds… The Lord sits enthroned forever; He has established His throne for justice, and He judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.  Sing praises to the Lord! … Tell among the peoples his deeds!  For He does not forget the cry of the afflicted! … For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever!” (From Psalm 9 ESV)

Is it any wonder then, that Jesus spoke these words twice in one passage, “As you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto Me!” (Matthew 25:31-46)  Here is my prayer:  “Oh Lord, may those who are the love and concern of your heart always be my love and concern as well!”

← Older posts
Newer posts →