Tag Archives: Devotional

Come Clean. Quick.

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When you are guilty, immediately confess the sin that you’ve committed.
Leviticus 5:5, MSG*

We’re human. For all the good things that means, it also means we’re not perfect. Despite our best intentions, sometimes we mess up. We don’t live up to the righteous living God intends for us.

The early chapters of Leviticus are all about sacrifices to atone for the people’s sin, and God spends a lot of time—and detail—explaining to the people what not to do. Some of it should be pretty obvious, but there you have it.

What interests me about chapters 4 and 5 is that they deal with what happens when someone unintentionally sins. They’ve done something wrong with no malice aforethought.

We do that too. And sometimes we do the premeditated wrongs.

In either case, the remedy is clear: immediately confess it to God. He knows anyway. It’s already put a rift between us. If it’s an ongoing situation, ask for His wisdom in how to get back on target. And remember that He’s faithful to His promises. He will forgive us, clean us up, and restore us.

Immediately. Things won’t get better—won’t go away—if we stall. We’ll just make ourselves increasingly miserable as we widen the gulf between our spirits and the God who wants to hold us close.

God who saves us, Your forgiveness and grace are more than we can comprehend, and they’re beyond our capacity to earn. Thank You for extending mercy again and again. Please grow us to maturity in our faith, into righteousness and holiness, so we can please You. Please forgive us when we fail, and help us cry out to You quickly for restoration.

∞

I love this confession song from Todd Agnew, how it reminds us that despite it all, God loves us: “The One You Want.”

*The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Will We Wait?

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When the people realized that Moses was taking forever in coming down off the mountain, they rallied around Aaron and said, “Do something. Make gods for us who will lead us. That Moses, the man who got us out of Egypt—who knows what’s happened to him?”
Exodus 32:1, MSG*

Moses has gone up on Mount Sinai in personal conversation with God. The same God who so dramatically brought the people out of their slavery in Egypt. The same God whose thunder and lightning from the mountain made them plead for Him to talk only to Moses—not to address them directly.

On the mountain (chapters 25-31), God has been revealing to Moses how the people are to live, how they can remain in His holy presence.

Below the mountain, the people make this ridiculous request to Aaron—and he goes along with them.

It makes me sad. They’re so close to intimacy with God and they throw it away, unknowing.

Are we any different?

As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. He can be quiet, though, and it’s easy to forget He’s there.

We may not go looking for other gods, but don’t we chase other answers to our problems, other advice, when maybe if we waited for God’s timing and His communication we’d be far better off?

He is our Good Shepherd, after all.

Holy and mighty God, You keep reaching out to draw us to Yourself, and we get distracted and pursue everything but You. Thank You for Your grace that forgives, and that keeps calling us. Make us people after Your own heart, quiet and able to wait for Your voice. Let us truly live with You and not just go through the motions.

∞

This is new-to-me music from Hillsong: Eagle’s Wings.

*The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Getting It. Remembering It.

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And Israel looked at the Egyptian dead, washed up on the shore of the sea, and realized the tremendous power that God brought against the Egyptians. The people were in reverent awe before God and trusted in God and his servant Moses.
Exodus 14:31, MSG*

The people finally get it. They’ve seen God in action: the ten plagues that broke Egypt, and now the dramatic parting of the Red Sea and destruction of the Egyptian army.

How else could they respond but in worship and reverent awe? And by trusting this God and the man He chose as their leader?

They get it. They truly get it.

I’m sad that it doesn’t last long. Before the end of the next chapter, they’re complaining there’s no safe drinking water. (Exodus 15:24) As if the God who’s leading them might have run out of resources.

And how about us? God connects with us in a personal way. We know He’s real, our spirits respond in worship and reverent awe. We trust Him.

Those are the best moments of our lives. But they don’t last.

The feelings fade. That’s disappointing, but we don’t live by feelings. We live by faith, or at least we’re called to. In trust. In reverent awe. In worship.

We don’t want to drift apart from God any more than the Israelites did. Living on this side of the Cross, Christians have the Holy Spirit in us, a closer and more intimate connection with God. You’d think we’d stay close.

He shouldn’t have to keep calling us back like He did the people of Israel.

Isn’t it good that He does it, though? He doesn’t just dust off His hands and walk away. He loves us, and He woos us back.

God our Saviour, patient and abundant in mercy, forgive us for the many ways we let ourselves get distracted from You. Draw us close to You, and teach us to keep looking at You in love and awe. We’re incomplete apart from You, and unable to be Your light in the world. Grow us in faithfulness and in truth, into the children You’ve designed us to be.

∞

May our prayer be “Draw Me Close to You,” sung here by Michael W. Smith

*The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

What Are You Looking At?

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And Moses answered, “Look at me. I stutter. Why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

God told Moses, “Look at me. I’ll make you as a god to Pharaoh and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.”
Exodus 6:30-7:1, MSG*

God called Moses to a mind-breaking task: to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. Oh, yes, and to be messenger to Pharaoh, who had no intention of letting them go.

Poor Moses, no wonder he felt overwhelmed from the moment God first called him. Exiled from Egypt as a murderer, living as a shepherd, and he had trouble speaking. Hardly an ideal mouthpiece for the Almighty.

Good thing he had no idea how the people would behave once he got them out!

By the time he reaches today’s verses, he’s already tried to talk God out of this several times. He’s back in Egypt with Aaron. They’ve spoken to Pharaoh, who responded by increasing the Israelite slaves’ workload. Now Moses’ own people are angry with him.

Moses complains to God, who repeats the command to confront Pharaoh and to lead the people out of Egypt.

Moses: Look at me! Everyone’s mad at me. I can’t even speak clearly! I can’t do this—it’s hopeless!

God: Look at Me.

We likely haven’t been assigned such an enormous task, although sometimes it feels that way. But don’t we respond the same way? Look at me, my weakness… the obstacles…?

Can you hear God’s whisper? Look at Me. (click to tweet this)

I don’t think He shouts it, in anger or blame. I think He whispers it. With encouragement, reaching out His hand to lift us up.

Our God, You are mighty to save and powerful to change hearts and circumstances. We praise You for dramatic miracles like the Israelites saw in the Egyptian Exodus. We praise You for invisible miracles that strengthen our spirits and enable us to serve You faithfully in the day-to-day of our lives. Forgive us for looking at our weakness. Teach us to look at You, Your strength and Your promises. Let everyone see the difference You make.

∞

A good song to keep us focused is Matt Maher‘s “Your Grace is Enough.”

*The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Into the Inner Sanctuary

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This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:19-20, NLT*

The hope this verse mentions is the hope of our salvation, of eternal life in restored relationship with God.

Think about the Temple imagery for a minute: only the High Priest was permitted to enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. First he offered sacrifices for his own sins, and then, once clean, for the sins of the people.

There were special clothes to wear, special rituals of preparation. I’m told his robes had bells, and he wore a rope around one ankle in case he committed an offense and was struck dead, so the other priests could pull him out.

This was a big deal.

And now, Jesus has gone into this place of most intimate communion with God, once for all to atone for our sins… and once we’ve received this we’re invited through the curtain ourselves.

Into God’s inner sanctuary. Into His presence. With no guilt, no fear of destruction. What a gift is ours!

Holy and righteous God, we could never be worthy to even crawl into Your presence by our own merit, but You have made a way to wash us clean so we can come to You boldly and with confidence—and with reverent fear. Thank You for restoring us, for loving and rescuing us. Let us not neglect the privilege of spending time with You.

∞

Our song is “Because of Your Love,” sung by Paul Baloche, written by Brenton Brown

*New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Unbelief, or Rest?

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So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.
Hebrews 3:19, NLT*

“They” were the Israelites, led by Moses. The people who heard God’s voice on the mountain and begged in terror not to hear it again. The people who experienced the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the manna in the desert. The people who swore to follow and obey God.

Hebrews 3:16-18 says they rebelled, made God angry, sinned. Disobeyed Him. Not just with the golden calf, but by refusing to enter the Promised Land because they trusted their fears more than they trusted God.

A lot of their disobedience came from unbelief. Aren’t we the same?

Sometimes we don’t believe because we don’t want to—we don’t want to obey, or to let go of our own ways or understandings.

But sometimes we don’t believe because we’re afraid. That’s when we need to pray, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” (See Mark 9:22-24)

God knows our weakness, and He wants us to get it right. He wants us to enter His rest, that’s why He invited us. We only need to ask.

Thank You, God, that You don’t disqualify us for our weakness, but You invite us to ask for help. Thank You for such grace and love to help us, again and again, when we’re in need. Help us remember to ask You—help us believe and obey.

∞

We had this song back in November, but it fits again here: Brian Doerksen’s “Enter the Rest of God.”

*New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Highlights of 2013

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The best way to live is in the present, not dwelling on the past or straining to reach the future, and so we step prayerfully into a new year and into each new day and embrace what we find.

But there’s something about the frenzy of “out with the old year, in with the new” that seems… hurried. Ungrateful.

It sounds like “good riddance!” Some years, that’s how we feel. But even in the bad there may be some good.

Butterfly on lilac, with text "Thank You, God"Looking back over 2013, I find much to be thankful for:

  • God’s presence in the good, the bad and the miserable.
  • Good health
  • Family and friends
  • Stable finances
  • Good books
  • Joining GoodLife and discovering I can enjoy group exercise.
  • Fencing lessons with one of my sons. I’m older and slower, but I can still learn.
  • Another son’s graduation from university.
  • A few oil painting lessons – who knew? I hope we can schedule more.
  • Fun road trips
  • Publication of my first novel – acceptance, editing, promotion, and finally holding a copy in my hand.
  • Although some of my extended family have had health concerns, we’ve seen God working in the details and we’re seeing improvements.
  • God’s ongoing renovation in my life to replace anxiety and its ilk with trust and good things.
  • Full-time, pre-Christmas work I didn’t want to take, that gave me far more good things than a paycheque.

Entering 2014, I pray we’ll be blessed to see God at work in and through us, and that we will grow in gratitude, in grace, in faith and in a sense of wonder.

What are some of the things you’re thankful for from the past year? What are you looking forward to in the days ahead?

Listening? Or Drifting?

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So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
Hebrews 2:1, NLT*

The writer of Hebrews has been refuting a false teaching that has crept into the church. It sounds like some form of angel-worship, but the warning applies just as well today and to a variety of falsehoods.

We can be led astray by error, or by lies. We need careful attention to the truth to keep us anchored.

One of the best ways to stay focused on the truth is to make Bible reading and prayer a daily part of our lives. Five minutes… fifty… God is more concerned with the quality of the time than its duration. And it doesn’t need to be one lump sum, either. Some people stop regularly throughout the day to say a quick prayer or to listen to His voice.

The point is to be intentional, and sincere. We don’t want to—don’t dare—drift away from the truth.

God who reveals Himself through His word and His Spirit, so many people don’t think there’s time to spend with You each day. They don’t see the need, or the danger, but You’ve warned us. Please stir each heart that believes in You, draw each one to desire You. Don’t let us drift from the truth we’ve received.

∞

To keep us focused, here’s Amy Grant with “Thy Word“.

*New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

God and People, Reconciled

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The Saviour—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
Luke 2:11, NLT*

Nobody was ready. They didn’t even know He was coming, especially not that way—as a helpless baby—and in that place and moment.

But He came. God incarnate.

Because we’d never be ready without His help.

God with us. Our salvation. Our redeemer. Our friend. Our hope.

The word “sinners” is out of favour these days, perhaps because it conjures images of pointing fingers and judging tones. But “sin” means anything that separates us from God. Sinners, thus, are those people who are separated from Him.

That means all of us, as long as we’re living in our own strength. The only One entitled to point the finger chose instead to take on human form, identify with us, and bring us back into relationship with Himself.

God and sinners reconciled.

Not a bad gift at all.

Merry Christmas and a blessed new year to each of my readers. Thank you for taking time with me.

Creator and Redeemer God, we could never earn Your favour, but You love us too much to abandon us when we fall short. As we accept Your great gift of salvation, all we can offer is our hearts in obedient trust and love. We are Yours, and we rejoice in Your presence.

∞

Singing about our reconciliation, here’s Austin Stone Worship with Hark the Herald Angels Sing (from their Christmas album, which is one of my favourites)

*New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

What Holds You Together?

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The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
Hebrews 1:3, NLT*

Jesus sustains everything. He holds it all together: atoms and solar systems, swirling in their created dance. He draws it out, lets it continue and resonate like a lasting chord played on a piano.

When life feels like it’s spinning out of control—or when I feel like I am—this promise is my anchor. We might not like what’s going on, maybe can’t see any sense or any good in it, but it doesn’t have to break us.

We are held. Together.

When we want to quit, the choice is ours. But if we choose to pray for help, to stand and trust God to sustain us, we will see Him at work.

Majestic and glorious God, You made heaven and earth and still you choose to care for us. You sustain and nurture us and draw us into relationships with Yourself so we can thrive. When chaos makes us doubt, help our unbelief. Strengthen our faith and help us choose to rely on You. Thank You for Your promise to never fail or abandon us.

∞

I love this song from the band Fee about God’s sustaining power: “Arms that Hold the Universe.”

*New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.