Category Archives: Devos

Apr 17 2016
Leave a comment
Devos

“Don’t be a wimp! Com’on, man up!”

My post today may seem especially directed to men… That’s OK… We who are Christian men today need to be challenged! But what I read today in the Bible is really not gender specific… It applies to godly women as well!

If I were to give my post a title though, I’d probably title it… “Com’on Don’t Be a Wimp – Man up!”

Ancient Corinth was not an easy place to live for God! It was a city notorious for its immorality! It prided itself in its “temptation” and “tolerance.” Just about “anything went” there… and anything was available! “What happened in Corinth was supposed to stay in Corinth!” (Bring to mind any modern cities today?”

So what does Apostle Paul say at the close of His letter to believer’s in Corinth? What did he feel like he needed to say to them? …

“Be watchful!” (Keep spiritually alert!)

“Stand firm in the faith” (Know what you believe and don’t compromise it!)

“Act like men!” (“Don’t be a wimp! Man up! …or if you’re a woman, be a godly woman!)

“Be strong!” (“…in the Lord, and the power of his might!” Check out Ephesians 6:10)

But be sure you don’t lose sight of this last thing: “Let all that you do be done in love!”

(From 1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

It’s a call to courage, commitment, conviction and character! And it seems to me it’s an appropriate challenge for Christian men (and women) in the world in which we live today! Ya think?!

Apr 16 2016
Leave a comment
Devos

Important lesson learned on “Tax Day”

Tax day prayer
Today’s “Coffee with the Lord” post is a funny mix… In part in comes from my Bible reading today… It also is tied to Tax Day – April 15… and tells of an important lesson the Lord taught me. I urge you to read the whole thing. I’m convinced the Lord is going to use it to help someone today!
———————————–
 
Have you ever faced a crisis that had impossible written all over it? It was about to make you panic! You didn’t know what to do and it really seemed like you had nowhere to turn. Problem was, it was a crisis, if the truth were known, of your own making. You had made some bad decisions – you had been irresponsible and headstrong, and you were reaping the results! You needed a miracle and you needed one quick. You knew you didn’t deserve one… but you needed one.
 
Here’s what King David did in a crisis – I read it in my devotions today! He cried out to God and said, “O God, save me by your Name! Vindicate me by Your might! O God, hear my prayer! Give ear to the words of my mouth!” (From Psalm 54:1-2)
 
That’s a good prayer to passionately pray in a crisis – in an impending disaster. I prayed like that one day! In fact I prayed it on April 15 many years ago… Income tax day!!
 
My taxes were due! I am considered “self-employed” so I have to plan and budget in order to pay my taxes in a timely way. I have a moral obligation to do it… The Bible says, “Pay tax to whom tax, tribute to whom tribute.” (Romans 13:7) I was young, frivolous and irresponsible and had not done a good job of planning, had neglected stewardship, and done quite a bit of foolish spending. Now the taxes were due and I didn’t have a clue how I would pay them! I cried out to the Lord for miraculous provision! Someone would surely feel prompted to send me just the right amount of money! Or perhaps I would go fishing and like the miracle in the New Testament find the money in the mouth of a fish! (cp. Matthew 17:24-27)
 
No sooner were the words of my prayer of desperation out of my mouth than the Lord spoke very clearly to me. Here’s what he said to me: “Son, that tax bill is NOT my problem, it’s yours! You were irresponsible and did not practice stewardship. Now here’s what I want you to do… You go down and ask the bank for help and I’ll give you favor to obtain a loan to pay your tax bill. Then I want you to behave yourself, manage the money I’ve given you, and I’ll help you repay that loan!” I did what He told me to do and I obeyed and learned my lesson. He did help me to repay the loan (and early)! I learned an important lesson… God hears prayers like Psalm 54:1-2… and answers them! But He is our Heavenly Father developing mature, responsible, sons and daughters of integrity. And He still performs miracles of provision (and in more than one way)! I’m still learning… and still trusting Him!
Apr 13 2016
Leave a comment
Devos

I’m more a child of my culture than I’d like to admit!

I really hate to admit it, but I can’t avoid reality… when it comes to spiritual things, more often than I’d like to admit, I simply don’t get it! I’m so prone to operate on simply a material, physical, visible, sensory level! I could go into a rehearsal of all the times it’s happened, but I won’t … The list would be longer than I’d like to admit…
 
Am I the only one… or has it ever happened to you?
 
It happened to Jesus’ disciples… I read about it this morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord”…
 
It hadn’t been that long since Jesus performed two, similar, miracles – the feeding of the 5000+ multitude with five loaves and 2 fish, and a short time later the feeding of 4000+ with seven loaves and a few fish… and they had baskets full of leftovers in both instances! Awesome miracles!
 
So now, they’re in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, traveling to another ministry location and Jesus decides to do some teaching… He makes a rather cryptic statement and they completely miss his intended message. Here’s what the Bible says, “He cautioned them, saying, ‘Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread!” (from Mark 8:14-21, cp. Matthew 8:5-12)
 
They completely missed what he was trying to tell them! They were so preoccupied with material things – even the awesomeness of the recent miracles, that His intended meaning went right over their heads.
 
Leaven, in this instance was being used figuratively for the pervasive (and damaging) influence of the teaching (even the worldview) of the religious and secular leaders of the time. (Check out Matthew 16:11-12.) It was teaching – a worldview – that reduced everything to the here and now, the present and visible, pragmatic advantage, and power politics… much like today, I might say. Eternal values and issues of character and “spirit” got the “back seat,” were ignored, were compromised or outright ridiculed…
 
He was warning them about the pervasive, insidious influence of that kind of teaching and worldview… And they missed it! They missed His important warning because of their own preoccupation with the here and now – the tangible! How like me! … More a child of my culture than I’d like to admit! So I jotted this brief but sincere prayer in the margin of my Bible today… “Oh Lord, open my eyes! My ears! My mind and heart so that I can see things as they really are – and what you’re trying to teach me!”
← Older posts
Newer posts →