Tag Archives: Devotional

True or False

Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.
John 12:10-11, NLT*

You’d think raising someone from the dead would be proof enough of Jesus’ power, even for the priests and Pharisees. The common people could see it clearly enough.

It’s easy for us to say these priests were protecting their own power and didn’t want to acknowledge the truth. That they felt threatened.

That’s likely the case, but these verses make me stop and think.

How often do we deny what’s true because we’re invested in something false? (click to tweet) A belief, a perspective, a plan? Something we’d have to set aside to do life God’s way?

I can’t make it to church because Sunday’s my only day to sleep in, to see my friends, it’s the best time to golf…
Forget tithing, I can’t give anything at all, because money is tight. Hey, do you want to go out to lunch after the service?
It’s okay to sleep with my boyfriend/girlfriend because morals have changed.
I’m not bound by the Bible’s words about homosexual behaviour because Jesus would want me to be happy.
I don’t need to read the Bible because it’s out of date and confusing.
No matter what my friends say, I can trust this particular person. If I have doubts, personally, then I’m not being very loyal.
Maybe I shouldn’t complain, but listen to what she/he did!
I don’t have to report that money I earned on the side. There’s no paper trail, and the government would only waste the extra tax.
And the list could go on for pages…

It doesn’t have to be a big thing. God often teaches us in the small. The point is, we need to be open to see – and to follow – God’s perspective instead of our own. (click to tweet) The best place to start is with reading the Bible and taking time in prayer. Regularly and consistently.

Father God, You see the past, the present and future. You know all things, and You alone are wise. Open our eyes, hearts and wills to what You reveal, and help us to let go of our own cherished perceptions, plans and desires, and to trust You. Because we know You are good and that You love us, we know that Your way is best.

∞

Our song this week is “Thy Word,” sung by Amy Grant.

*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: Love and Power

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Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
Mark 4:40-41, NLT*

I always thought Jesus was asking why the disciples were afraid of the storm, as in, why hadn’t they trusted Him to save them? Why hadn’t they simply asked for His help instead of panicking?

But this “Why are you afraid?” came after He had stilled the storm, when they were terrified of what they’d just seen Him do.

In North America these days, we don’t often see God reveal a glimpse of His power in this way. It’s easy to forget the magnitude of who God is and to get comfortable with the idea of a “safe” Saviour. [Click to tweet]

Yes, we are safe with Him, held in His loving care, secure that nothing can separate us from His love. Relying on our Good Shepherd.

He is good. But as C.S. Lewis said, He’s not safe. Not tame.

A safe, tame, containable God couldn’t protect us in life’s storms. Couldn’t walk through the turbulence to reach us. Couldn’t defeat the power of hell to rescue and redeem us.

By all means, let’s take comfort in His care and rest in Him. But let’s remember and hold onto His limitless power.

Our God, holy and mighty, Your love assures us that You want to care for us. Your power proves that You can. We need fear neither Your abandonment nor Your failure, because both are impossible. Impress this on our spirits, and draw us to worship You in trust and adoration.

∞

A good worship song to remind us of this is “God Undefeatable,” sung here by Austin Stone Worship. Watch the love on their faces. Seeing this group worship is good for my spirit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzvTbbuHb1Q

A Slave of God

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This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
James 1:1a, NLT*

I think the word “slave” meant something different to James than it does in a North American context. In identifying himself this way, he’s not saying he’s dehumanized, abused, a victim, or in any way to be pitied or rescued.

He’s a willing slave. There existed in Bible times men or women who could have been freed but who chose to commit to a lifetime’s service to their master. Imagine how good a person this type of master would be, and how futile the slave might otherwise see his or her options to be.

If we look at this in the context of service to a good master, and with the slave being like a servant, worker or employee, what does it imply for our faith walk?

serve out of love, wholeheartedly
remember we’re under authority
we’re also under protection
we’re provided for, both our physical needs and the material we need to do our assigned tasks
obedience is expected, without whining or attitude
thinking is expected, with questions as needed; arguing and back-talk are not
work is also expected, so our service isn’t doing God a favour
it’s not about us

Plenty to think about, isn’t it? What are some other benefits I’ve missed?

Our God, we are Your servants and ambassadors, but You also call us your children and heirs. Help us grow in relationship with You so we can conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of Your great Name, serving in such a way that others will discover how good You are.

∞

We give ourselves to God in response to who He is. Here’s the Newsboys‘ song “Give Me to You.” (Apologies for the extraneous commas in this video. It was the only one I could find with lyrics.)

Opportunity or Threat?

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Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
James 1:2, NLT*

Do you see troubles as an opportunity?

Maybe I’m still too much of a child inside, but I have the child’s response (mentally) of cowering and shrinking. Of thinking the trouble is too big, and fearing it will overwhelm me. Of seeing a threat.

Another part of me raises my defenses. It’s a win-or-lose struggle, and I can’t afford to lose.

James gives us a much broader perspective. Of course the pain and risk of trouble is great. (In verse 12 he talks about how “God blesses those who patiently endure.”) But he reveals a higher level of stakes.

Trouble isn’t one more bout with a larger danger that will eventually overcome us, as if life is really out to get us.

Trouble is one more opportunity to grow spiritually and to deepen our relationship with the God who loves us. (click to tweet)

It’s not a case of “fight until you can’t get up.” James says trouble tests our faith. To that he adds:

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (James 1:3-4, NLT*)

How can we reach a perfect state of needing nothing? By becoming fully reliant on our God, who we’ve discovered is all-sufficient for any trouble that threatens us. Will that happen this side of Heaven? Maybe not, but we can grow toward it.

God who loves us and redeems us, please open us to see opportunity where our natural selves see only threats. Help us to allow the troubles in our lives to help develop our endurance. Give us the faith to trust You, so we can experience Your all-sufficient care for us.

∞

We have another Matt Maher song this week, because it fits perfectly: “Everything is Grace.”

Pain and Endurance

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We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.
Romans 5:3, NLT*

Most people’s natural reaction to problems and trials is a plea to get us out of there. We don’t like pain, and it’s often a signal of danger (think about touching a hot stove, or feeling symptoms of a health problem).

In a fallen world, pain is inevitable. Nobody wants it, but God can use even this. Let’s not waste it.

Today’s verse can remind us to invite God to work in our problems and to “help us develop endurance.” It shifts our focus from the trouble itself to God. Not that it diminishes the pain, but it restores perspective. We’re not alone. The God of the universe is with us. He cares for us, and He is our best and only hope.

Instead of slipping into self-defense mode, can we learn to ask what will God do here? Can we look for His help in anticipation and trust instead of watching fearfully for disaster?

The Message actually uses the words “alert expectancy” as we look “for whatever God will do next.” (Romans 5:3-5, MSG) That’s a challenge I can’t live up to, most days. But I want to.

God our Strength and our Shield, when You let us go through trials, help us remember that You are there with us. Help us keep our eyes on You. Teach us to look in alert expectancy for “whatever You will do” and to remember that however huge the crisis, You can give us what we need to endure it.

∞

When I looked for an “endurance” song, I couldn’t get this one out of my head, so perhaps God wants to speak to someone through it… it’s definitely a good prayer for each of us: Matt Maher‘s “A Future Not My Own.” (See the background to the lyrics.)

Church: For Worship

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I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
Psalm 122:1, NLT*

Last Saturday night, thinking about church in the morning, I quoted this verse with a kind of self-mocking regret. It’s not how I’ve felt about attending in a long time. I go, but there’s no gladness to it.

A few minutes later, I climbed into bed and turned to where I’d left off in A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. You can guess which verse was top of the page. Zing!

I stopped to think about what it meant. The house of the LORD. Not a place where a group of mismatched people gather.

It’s about God – not about them, us or me. About honouring and worshipping the One who created and redeemed us. The One who still has a purpose for us, if we’ll get out of our own way and follow Him.

I know “church” isn’t a building. It’s the body of believers who are the “house” of the Lord. And I know His Spirit dwells in each of us and we don’t need to be with others to worship (although Hebrews 10:25 says not to give up meeting together).

But I’m challenged to make attending church more than habit or duty. More than a grim choice, acting in trust that God will do something. I’m reminded to see it as going to meet with God and worship Him.

That’s a radical attitude refresher. It means not only getting enough rest on Saturday night, but preparing my heart for Sunday. Praying for the leaders, for the service, for God to prompt folks to attend. Fixing my eyes and heart on God, not on congregational issues. It even affects the care I take with my appearance.

How did Sunday morning go this week? My heart was different. I served more willingly, remembering who I was really serving. I heard God in the message. While I can’t say I felt worship, I did worship. And I didn’t come home depressed, because I’d been looking upward instead of horizontally.

Holy God, You call us to worship alone and corporately, not because You need affirmation but because it builds our faith. It reminds us of who You are and of Your love for us. Thank You for not letting us settle into negative ruts. Continue to prune, shape and guide us into followers worthy of Your Name. Make us useful and joyful for Your Kingdom.

∞

Let Matt Redman’s song, “Here for You,” remind us why we gather to worship.

Waiting as Worship

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Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14, NIV*

Waiting. It’s a challenge. We who hope in God wait for Him to act, to speak, to comfort.

There’s an element of strain in that. “When, Lord? How long?”

When we give in to that strain, we miss part of the waiting. We miss simply waiting for (or with) God. Being with Him, even when we can’t sense His presence. He’s with us – He promised, and we can depend on that, whatever we feel.

His timing won’t speed up if we’re peering at the horizon and begging, “Are we there yet?” I’m learning that when I do that, I miss what He has for me in the now. Maybe it’s rest. Maybe it’s a quiet word He wants to drop into my spirit. It could be an opportunity I’ll miss if I’m looking too far ahead.

Most of all, I miss His presence. Especially in the stressful times, His presence is subtle, easy to miss. And it’s what I most need.

Quieting ourselves before God, entrusting our needs to Him and abiding in Him, is trust. It’s an act of worship. It honours Him for who He is, not for what He can do for us.

Our God, You see our hurts, needs and fears. Yes, we need Your intervention, and we pray for Your help. Forgive us when we come clamouring to You with requests without taking time to appreciate You for who You are. Whisper into our spirits and teach us to worship You in trust and adoration. Help us set our hearts on You, no matter what goes on in and around us. You are our greatest treasure and our deepest need.

∞

Here’s a simple prayer of longing for God’s company: “If I Could Just Sit With You Awhile,” sung here by Todd Agnew.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UnJHWDcRtU

When We Get into Trouble

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“Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?”
Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.
John 18:26b-27, NLT*

Peter loved Jesus. I’m sure he wholeheartedly meant his earlier vow that he’d never deny his Lord. (Matthew 26:31-35)

Yet here he was, doing that very thing. Matthew’s account says Peter’s denial was so intense it involved cursing. And that when the rooster crowed and he realized what he’d done, he fled, “weeping bitterly.” (Matthew 26:69-75)

Why did he do it? Was he afraid? Or was he trying to stay “under cover” in case there was a chance to rescue Jesus?

Whatever his motivation, Peter’s denial came because he was acting on his own initiative and in his own strength.

Isn’t that when we get into trouble, too?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT*

Our best intentions can blow up in our faces. Peter’s experience reminds us how important it is to learn to listen to and rely on the Lord. He also reminds us of Jesus’ loving forgiveness when we mess up (see John 21).

Our God and Saviour, Your grace to forgive is beyond our understanding, but we receive it gladly and we rely on it often. Teach us to walk closer to You, to trust You instead of ourselves. Slow us down to listen before we leap. Make us people after Your own heart.

∞

What better prayer than Matt Maher‘s “Lord, I Need You“?

Take Heart

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I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
John 16:33, NLT*

If we look around, there is plenty to discourage us. Although MacLean’s shares the encouragement that “humans have never been better off” (Scott Gilmore: Believe it or not, this is the best time to be alive), people still suffer. And many of us live in cultures that are increasingly open about their godlessness. It reminds me of Paul’s words to the Romans about how, when people turned away from God, He let them have what they wanted.

Closer to home, there may be financial pressures. Health, employment, relationship concerns. For me, it’s my church, which has been bleeding out for the past year.

Each one of us likely has at least one thing pressing heavily. Through it all, we need to keep ourselves rooted in Jesus, depending on Him.

That’s hard, though. Over time, the weight seems to increase and we may not see the Lord doing anything. We can believe the suffering more than the Saviour. (click to tweet that)

Life is truly “a long obedience in the same direction,” and the closer we are to Jesus, the better off we’ll be. For me, that means I need to spend more time in worship, remembering who God is and how much He loves me. Reminding myself what He’s done in the past, to reassure my faith that He’s still at work. Waiting for His timing.

Our God, so often we strain to see the end of the story when You’re still working in the middle of it. Help us trust You in the waiting. Help us worship. Remind us who You are, and give us the faith we need. Grow the fruit of the Holy Spirit within us, including patience and faithfulness. Enable us to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel.

∞

When circumstances start weighing me down, Brian Doerksen‘s song, “You Shine,” is a good antidote.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEuuoqMsD9Y

Abraham’s Example

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Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.
Romans 4:20, NLT*

Abraham believed God. He obeyed, went where he was told, and tried to live a righteous life, but it was his faith that made him “the father of all who believe.”

Perhaps the hardest thing for him to believe was God’s promise to give him and his wife a son. Especially when the years kept passing with no sign of pregnancy. Humanly speaking, it was impossible for this elderly, childless couple to reproduce.

But “Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise… his faith grew stronger.” He didn’t know how, or when, or even why (except that God said so). But he knew Who.

God gives some people “impossible” promises, but He gives all of us the promises in His word. Promises like “I am with you always,” and “whoever believes in Me will have eternal life.”

Abraham’s example shows us how – and why – to live in the big challenges and the small ones. Our purpose is to bring glory to God. That doesn’t have to involve doing great things. Sometimes the greatest thing is just to hold onto our faith and to act in obedience.

Father God, help us to trust You with our honest questions. Grant us the faith to keep holding onto Your promises, no matter what. Help us trust You and wait for what You will do. Help us hold onto You, and to know that You are holding onto us. Your grip is sure.

∞

Let the Newsboys‘ song, “Stay Strong,” encourage us today.

Janet Sketchley

Writing Christian Mysteries & Suspense

Tag Archives: Devotional

True or False

God: Love and Power

A Slave of God

Opportunity or Threat?

Pain and Endurance

Church: For Worship

Waiting as Worship

When We Get into Trouble

Take Heart

Abraham’s Example