Category Archives: Devotionals

Tools are intended for specific uses. If we don’t use a tool as its designer intended, the results will probably not be entirely satisfactory. For example, if we use a wrench as a hammer we will probably mar the surface of the thing we are hitting and will likely damage the wrench. Similarly, if we use a hammer instead of a screwdriver to tighten a screw, the screw may not hold as it should and it may be impossible to remove the screw later.

Just as we have designed tools to accomplish specific jobs, God has designed us for a particular purpose. Have you ever thought about why God made us the way He did? Have you wondered about for what tasks God intended the various parts of our body?

For example, why did God give us a voice? For what task did he intend it? Obviously, He meant for us to communicate with our voices. But communicate what? In what ways does God want us to use our voice? The Bible tells us that God made us in His image. It follows that He intended us to use our voices in ways that demonstrate His character. James writes, “…Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.” (James 5:13-14 NIV) In another place the Scriptures say, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name.” (Hebrews 13:15 NIV)

There are many other ways in which we can use our voices to display God’s character. We do so when we tell the truth. We do so when we console others and encourage them. We do so when we guide and instruct people in holy living.

Unfortunately, we we also use our voices in ways that God did not intend. Just as the results are not good when we use a tool for an unintended purpose, we cause much harm when we use our voice for the wrong purpose. James explains it this way, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” (James 3:9-12 NIV)

The implication is clear. If we claim to belong to God, we will not use our voice to harm or destroy others. We will not use our mouth for evil. It is totally inconsistent for us to curse others and still say that we follow Christ. What do our words tell us about our spiritual condition? To whom does our voice indicate we belong?

We enjoy watching people who are skilled at what they do. We marvel at how an expert craftsman or artist can bring an intricate design to life. We thrill at the performance of an acrobat who can make complex flips and maneuvers look effortless. We applaud the smooth and precise playing of a musician. We lose ourselves in the tale of a favorite author or story teller. The feats of a businessman who can see opportunities where no one else does amaze us.

When we look at such people it is sometimes hard not to feel envy or a sense of wistfulness. “If only I had his talent; if only I had her brains, just think of the things I could do!”

Of course, much of our envy is misplaced. No one who is highly proficient at what they do, got where they are without a great deal of persistence and hard work. While we would like the recognition and acclaim those whom we admire receive, we are unwilling to put in the long, hard hours of practice and effort they did in order to develop the skills and talents they have.

But sometimes we also experience another feeling when we observe those who are more skilled or more advanced than we are. We feel inadequate. We feel that since we can never reach the same level of performance as someone else, our efforts are of no use at all. We have nothing to contribute. We are a failure.

Fortunately, God does not view things as we do. Once when Jesus was at the Temple in Jerusalem, He observed the people as they gave their offerings. Many rich people came and gave fabulous sums of money. There was also a destitute widow who came and gave two, tiny coins. In an objective sense, the widow gave very little. The coins were worth almost nothing. Of what value was her offering in comparison to the vast amount of gold and silver donated by others? Yet Jesus said that the widow gave more than all the others.

Why would Jesus say such a thing? Because the rich people gave a small fraction of their extra money. In contrast, the widow gave everything she had. (You can read the story for yourself in Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4.)

You see, how much we have is not what is important. What is important is what we do with what we have. In comparison to the world’s standards, or in comparison to someone else, we might not be very intelligent, we might not have much talent, we might not be very strong, we might not be very creative, we might not have much money. But God does not ask us to be as talented and accomplished as someone else. What He does ask of us is that we be willing to serve Him with whatever we do have. The Apostle Paul writes, “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.” (2 Corinthians 8:12 NIV)

If we are willing to serve God with whatever we have, that is all He requires. We have no need to feel inadequate or inferior to anyone else regardless of how little we have to offer.

We often have to face opposition of one sort or another. Perhaps it comes from a bully at school. Perhaps it is a rival at work. Perhaps it is a competitor who is trying to take business away from us. Perhaps it comes in the form of family members or neighbors who have a different philosophy of life than we do, or have different political convictions.

Probably the most difficult type of opposition we face is from those who believe differently than we do. This is especially difficult to take when others belittle and mock our morals and lifestyle. However, we should not be surprised that this happens. The Apostle Paul writes, “…everyone who wants to a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” (2 Timothy 3:12 NIV) The Apostle Peter agrees. He writes, “They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.” (1 Peter 3:4 NIV)

Whenever we face opposition, particularly when we suffer because of our faith, it is tempting to lash out at the people who are troubling us. We want to persecute those who persecute us. To do so, however, is against the teaching of Christ. He said, “…Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:44-45 NIV)

Why did Jesus instruct His followers to act this way toward their enemies and persecutors? No doubt there are many reasons, but one of the main ones is that those who persecute us are not the real enemy. Those who oppose our faith are only representatives of something far more powerful and significant. The Apostle Paul writes, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:11-12 NIV)

According to this passage our enemy is not people, but rather the spiritual beings from whom people have learned their ungodly philosophies and false values. Our battle is spiritual, not a physical one. We can never defeat the devil and the forces of evil by physical means. We cannot destroy darkness with more darkness. This is why we must counter hate with love, cursing with blessing. The only way to defeat darkness is to shine a light on it.

How bright is your light?

We have a saying, “Your actions speak so loud I can’t hear what you say.” What we mean by this is that we will not believe someone unless their words match what they do. If there is a difference in what someone says and what they do, we label them as inconsistent or hypocritical. It is also true that when there is a difference between actions and words, we believe the actions provide a better measure of a person than his words.

This has some unfortunate consequences. All too often, we judge a person by our first impression of him. And, we form that impression by what we see him doing. However, the truth is that none of us is at our best all of the time. We all do things which would give a wrong impression to someone who didn’t know us. We all do things which are easy for those who do not know us to misunderstand. There are probably many people who have formed a wrong opinion about us because of what they saw us do. They are now unwilling to listen to what we might have to say because they have already made up their minds about us. If we are honest with ourselves, we know that sometimes we have also done the same thing to others.

Those of us who follow Christ have an obligation to set a good example to others. Our character and our lives should draw others to Christ. Our telling them about Jesus will have little effect – or even turn people away from Him – unless our actions are in harmony with what we proclaim.

With that in mind, what do people see when they visit our homes? Do they see anger and bickering, or do they witness a family in which the members love and care about each other? Do they witness chaos, confusion and sloppiness, or do they see tidy, clean and well-ordered, yet comfortable living spaces?

We can ask the same question about our churches. The Apostle Paul took the church at Corinth to task because their assemblies were confused and disorderly. The church members were arguing and taking each other to court, rather than displaying love and forbearance toward each other. During their assemblies everyone tried to speak at once instead of listening to each other. They emphasized speaking in languages nobody understood instead of giving instruction which would help people live for Christ. Paul asked them what an unbeliever or someone who did not understand would think if he witnessed their assembly. Would he not conclude that Christ’s followers were crazy (1 Corinthians 14:23)?

Paul wrote that instead of promoting chaos, everything done in the assembly should be for the strengthening of the church (1 Corinthians 14:26). The goal was that everyone would be instructed and encouraged (1 Corinthians 14:31). He pointed out that, “…God is not a God of disorder but of peace…” (1 Corinthians 14:33 NIV) He concluded by saying that, “…everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” (1 Corinthians 14:40 NIV)

What about our church assemblies? Does the way we act and conduct ourselves as a church encourage people to listen to what we have to say, or do our actions turn people away from hearing our message about Christ? Are our assemblies orderly? Are people encouraged and instructed when they attend?

Nobody likes to wait. We get frustrated when we go to an office to conclude some business and we have to sit in the waiting room until the person we have come to see is available. If we have a doctor’s appointment we become upset if the doctor is late. When we go to a restaurant, we want our food served immediately. We don’t like to wait even if it postpones disciplinary action. We would rather take our punishment and get it over with. We even get upset with God when He makes us wait. We pray and ask Him to grant us something or to resolve some problem and His response is, “Wait!”

Whether we like it or not, much of life consists of waiting. We do not always get what we want when we want it. Why is this so? Because there is often a right time for things to occur. What we want to happen might be a good thing, but the circumstances are not right. If we always received what we want, when we want it, it would not be for our good.

Jesus’ brothers once urged Him to go to a feast in Jerusalem in a blaze of publicity (John 7:1-5). However, Jesus refused to do so. He told them, “…The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.” (John 7:6 NIV)

The difference between Jesus and His brothers was that they were thinking in human, earthly terms, while Jesus was following a divine plan. The brothers’ thinking was, “If you want to become famous, this is what you need to do.” However, Jesus’ intention was not to become famous – His intention was to do God’s will. The time would come when He would declare Himself at a feast and confront the religious authorities. But this was not the right time. He would follow God’s timetable rather than that of a marketing consultant.

Because Jesus was willing to wait for the right time, He was able to become our Savior. Scripture says, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6 NIV)

Sometimes we become discouraged because it seems that there is very little result from the work we do for God. Sometimes even the changes we would like to see in our own character and circumstances take far longer than we would like. Often it seems like God is not answering our prayers even though we are trying to do His will. Whenever we start to become discouraged we need to remember that perhaps the right time has not yet come. When the proper time does come, we will understand why it was necessary to wait. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9 NIV)

One way to evaluate how important something is to us is to ask how much we are willing to pay for it. For example, we might really like a particular piece of furniture. It would look very nice in our home. But however nice it may look and however much we want it, we will not purchase it because it is too expensive. In other words, it is not important enough to us for us to pay the cost. We would consider purchasing it only if the seller reduced the price to the point where it became more important to us to have the furniture than the money it costs to obtain it.

Money is not the only way to measure how important something is to us. Another way to determine how important something is, is how much we are willing to suffer for it. For example children are important to their parents. We know this because most parents are willing to suffer a great deal for their children. They sacrifice much to protect their children or to give them a better life.

This is also a good way to evaluate how strong our convictions and beliefs are. How much are we willing to suffer for them? Paul wrote, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5 NIV) We know that these truths really were important to Paul because he repeatedly put his life on the line to testify about them. Are they important enough to us that we are willing to die for them rather than deny them?

There is another aspect to this. The book of Hebrews says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (Hebrews 12:2-4 NIV)

How important is holiness and righteousness to us? How important to us is our relationship to God? Are we willing to go as far as to shed our own blood if that is what it takes to resist temptation and sin, or is the pleasure we get from sin more important to us? We have God’s promise that no temptation will ever become too strong for us (1 Corinthians 10:13) but how important is avoiding sin to us?

We are important enough to Jesus that He bled to redeem us from sin and restore our relationship to God. Is our relationship with Him important enough that we are willing to bleed for it? Are we willing to bleed if that is what it takes to avoid sin?

Words are wonderful. They can enlighten, encourage, instruct, inform, comfort and heal. However, words are also dangerous. They can obscure, deceive, discourage, misinform and hurt. Even when it is not our intention to damage or to wrong, our words can lead to misunderstandings. Our own words can ensnare us or make us look foolish. No wonder King Solomon wrote, “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19 NIV) It is true that the more we say, the more words we utter or write, the greater the chance is that we will say something which is wrong or inappropriate; the greater opportunity we have to cause harm, to give grief or hurt someone.

How can we avoid the sin into which our words so often lead us? Solomon pointed to the solution when he said that the wise hold their tongues. It really isn’t necessary to always say everything which comes to mind? James writes, “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.” (James 3:2 NIV) So, one way we can reduce the number of our faults is simply to speak and say less: To exercise control over our tongues instead of allowing our tongues to control us.

In the rest of his letter, James gives several practical examples of how we should control our words. One of them is this: “Above all, my brothers, do not swear – not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.” (James 5:12 NIV) One lesson is that if we never take an oath or make a vow, then we cannot be held liable for breaking our oath or vow if, in spite of our intentions and best efforts, we are unable to fulfill what we said we would do.

What do our words say about us? Do we allow our tongues to lead us into sin? Do we use our words to hurt and wound others or, do our words comfort, encourage and help others to live for God? Would the world be a better place if we said less? Would we be better people if we said less?

We humans tend to be an inconsistent lot. When things are going well we like to ascribe it to our own goodness, cleverness and ability. However, when we find ourselves in trouble or when things go against us, we tend to blame it on God.

The truth is that we often have it backwards. The good things we enjoy come from God, while often times we bring the trouble we experience on ourselves.

We make another mistake in regard to good and bad. We tend to think that if someone is pleasing to God, nothing bad will ever happen to him. Conversely, we tend to think that if someone suffers misfortune that he must have done something to anger God. He is reaping the consequences of his own wrongdoing.

While it is true that God blesses those He loves and it is also true that He punishes those who do wrong, it is a mistake to conclude that those who are enjoying the good things in life are pleasing to God while those who are suffering are under His wrath. Jesus said about God, “…He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45 NIV) Likewise, the Apostle Peter tells us that it might be necessary to suffer for doing what is right (1 Peter 3:13-17).

In view of these Scriptures, it is fair to say that our circumstances are not a reflection on God, nor do they indicate that God has stopped loving us when things go bad. God is bigger than our circumstances. One of the reasons we sometimes experience bad things is that we live in a world which has been broken by sin. Some day God will turn brokenness into wholeness, heal the hurt and restore justice. In the meantime, we may have to endure hardship and difficulties.

This is something which the Prophet Job’s wife forgot. When trouble came upon them because Job was a righteous man, she urged him to curse God and die. “He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”” (Job 2:10 NIV)

Like Job, we need to learn to trust God during the bad times as well as the good. God loves us. Those of us who follow Christ have God’s promise that He will bring good out of every circumstance (Romans 8:28-29). Do we trust Him to fulfill His promise even when we suffer or experience trouble? Or, is our faith so shallow that we doubt God’s promise when things do not go as we would like?

Have you ever known someone who remained calm in the face of trouble? Perhaps they have lost their job and money is tight, yet they face the future with confidence. Perhaps they or a loved one has a life-threatening illness, yet they remain full of hope. Perhaps they are the victim of gossip, slander and unjust accusations, their character has been called into question, yet they remain cheerful and unruffled.

We admire people who remain calm, hopeful and cheerful in spite of trouble and calamity. Even more impressive are those who are able to impart their own calm and confidence to others during times of crisis. They are able to quell panic and irrational behavior by their presence. Their rock-like steadiness enables others to remain calm.

What is it that allows someone to remain calm in the face of trouble and adversity? For many it is trust and confidence in something outside of themselves. They do not rely on their own self-sufficiency, rather on someone who is greater than their circumstances. To put it another way, they believe in God and trust Him to fulfill the promises He has made. For example, the prophet Isaiah wrote this about God: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3 NIV) God rewards our trust in Him by granting us peace.

Jesus made the same promise. He said to His disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

The writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us, “…God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”” (Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV)

Do we have the peace that God and Jesus have promised those who trust in them? Do we know that God is our helper? Do we overcome the world, or does the world overcome us? If we allow the difficulties, problems and stresses of this life to overcome us then we are not following Christ as we should. If we do not have peace, then we need to trust God more.

Many people seem to be troubled by the thought that some day the earth will be destroyed. Every few years someone predicts that the world will end on such and such a date, and people start to panic. They do not know what will happen to them after death and they have no hope. They have no assurance.

The Bible teaches us that one day not only the earth, but all of creation will be destroyed (Hebrews 12:27, 2 Peter 3:10). However, the followers of Christ need not fear that day because God has promised them a new home (2 Peter 3:13).

Not only are people anxious about the end of the world, they fear that the earth may not be able to sustain life even before it ends. They worry that we will run out of natural resources. They are concerned that climate changes will make large portions of the earth uninhabitable. They are afraid that volcanoes, tsunamis or a thousand other things will make life impossible.

While it is true that natural or man-made disasters do make life difficult or impossible at some times, in some areas, we really don’t need to worry about the future. After God destroyed all animate life in a world-wide flood during the time of Noah, He made a promise. “…Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, will never cease.” (Genesis 8:21-22 NIV)

God gave us rainbows as a reminder of the promise He made (Genesis 9:12-17). The next time you see a rainbow, remember God’s promise that, as long as this earth exists, the seasons and the time for planting and harvesting crops will never fail. Never again, will God destroy all animate life in a world-wide disaster while the earth remains.

Though rainbows reassure us that we do not need to worry about the cycles of nature, they should also remind us that God’s promise is limited. It is in force only as long as the earth endures. One day the earth will be destroyed. The question is: “Can we face that day with confidence? Does God’s promise of a permanent home in a new earth apply to us?” God’s promise of a new home only applies to those who follow Christ. Do you follow Him?