Week Nineteen - Plundering

Tom and I are in a new era. We are not retired, but our ministry has shifted to a different sphere. We are now the old veterans. It is our joy and pleasure to encourage, mentor, and support those now in leadership. Tom used to refer back to the passage in Numbers 9:25, which says the Levitical priests were to move into this type of ministry at 50. Well, he couldn't move there at that age, but he has finally arrived there! It is a joy and a privilege to see the church grow, to watch people move forward with the Lord, and to know that there will be fruit that remains long after we are gone. They are our "crown of rejoicing" (1 Thessalonians 2:19).

Dick Brogden brooched this idea in our devotional reading this past week. He wasn't talking about sitting back and watching things; he was challenging older believers to keep venturing and plundering. Using the story of the lepers in 2 Kings 7, who went into the city to find the enemy gone and everything free for the taking, he said, "Jesus delights over senior citizens who spend their golden years 'plundering' the nations through prayer, visitation, and outreach."

We aren't supposed to just sit and wait to die; we are to still be about our Father's business and out there venturing by faith. There is a great need for people who have walked with God to continue walking in prayer for the church, the leadership, and the growth of the younger ones. There is wisdom under the grey heads that can be brought to bear for those struggling, in need of encouragement, or just a kind word. There is still outreach that can be done best by those a little further down the road, and there is financial, verbal, and physical giving that can be done by the more mature who understand the grace of giving in tangible ways.

Then he wrote, "It is criminal for Jesus' followers, who are amply supplied, to sit in holy huddles while vast collections of people have no access to or news about the Living Bread...they should be calling out to the gatekeepers that there is life, deliverance, and hope." 

Those lepers could not contain their discovery. They recognized that to do so would be wrong. In 2 Kings 7:9, they said, "We do not well: this day is the day of good tidings, and we hold our peace; if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household."

If you are an older Christian, let me challenge you to not sit in "holy huddles." Don't separate yourself from the life of the church. Get out there and mingle with the young ones. Share your story, share hope, and plant hope in their lives. It will bring fresh life to your soul. Be flourishing in the courts of the Lord (Psalm 92:13-14). Keep your light shining and keep plundering and venturing by faith. 

Week Eighteen - Make Some Noise!

My devotion book this year is Live/Dead by Dick Brogden. Our dear friends, Ken and Carrie Liles, recommended it, and we have not been disappointed! Today, I want to share some quotes I have copied out. I hope they bless your heart and challenge you as they did me.

Dick Brogden writes, "We pass God's tests by obedience, not by performance. He is measuring us by how much of our heart He controls. The obedience of the missionary is linked to the obedience of faith of the nations."

Though we often fail to see the link, blessings are always on the other side of obedience. Our obedience is not just about our own blessings, either. As we obey the Lord, our obedience results in blessing for others. When we obey in witnessing, others hear the gospel. When we obey in giving, others take the gospel. When we obey in prayer, others are empowered to spread the gospel.

So my thoughts that day were on obedience and the eternal fruit it produces.

But here is a longer quote that really caught my imagination.

"Enemy forces feed on and are fed by fear. Fear inside errant ideologies is what drives them and energizes them. Gideon was allowed to sneak into the Midianite camp in order to hear their fear (Judges 7:10-13). The enemy realizes that a rolling barley loaf would "tumble" into town and knock down their tents. We are that barley loaf - we clumsily roll down a hill in all our weakness, and God amazingly uses us to defeat His enemies. False ideologies intrinsically know they cannot win. What are we afraid of, then? Let's roll!

We have to make some frontier noise. The enemy is not intimidated by whispers. It is the shouting, the breaking of pitchers, the blowing of trumpets, the sudden light in the darkness that surprises and routs the enemy (Judges 7:18-20). We have to open our mouths despite the risks and the superiority of the foe. It is the unexpectedly bold proclamation that strikes fear into the heart of our enemy."

Fear surrounds us, causing uncertainty and apprehension, and that is exactly what the enemy wants. However, in the Bible references mentioned in the quote, it is the enemy experiencing fear. They feared the power of the God of Israel. They knew they would not win, yet their fear motivated them to seek to destroy Israel.

It reminds me that the enemy knows God's judgment is coming, but he still defies Him. Fear makes them irrational.

We, however, are not to cower but stand by faith and proclaim the gospel boldly. Our lack of fear is exactly what unnerves the enemy. 

Tom and I began discussing this, and we thought of times when God led us to hold our peace in the middle of a commotion. Our quietness and resolve did not make sense to the enemy, but for us, it was a gentle calm, full of assurance that God was fighting for us. And there have been other times when we had to make some noise, speak the truth, and stand for the defense of the gospel. 

There is a time to be obediently silent and a time to make some noise! 

Week Seventeen - His Lingering Presence

A couple of weeks ago, we talked about the word continually. As I usually find, God was not finished developing His thoughts. He brought me back again to the word abiding and began combining the two. I'm going to share what spilled out into my journal.

"The word abide captured me yesterday. As a reminder, I cut the word out of paper and pasted it over the doorway in my office. Then, Dick Brogden's devotion powerfully related to abide. He was talking about glorying in the presence of Jesus and wrote, "stop everything and linger in the glory cloud - the tangible presence of Jesus."

I've known this presence - the nearness of the Lord, the hushed praise as tears fall and I feel His arms around me. Such precious times. I long for them more and more, and not just for the experience, but the relationship, the knowing that He is with me. How precious to awaken to it, to know it as I look into the Word, and to see and feel it in church, and at times throughout the day - this is abiding. This is His tangible lingering presence.

Dick Brogden writes, 'David lifted a cry of longing for us all: "Oh, when will You come to me?" ( Psalm 101:20) We know we belong to Jesus, yet we long for more of Him. We struggle with the "plague" of our own hearts ( 2 Kings 8:38). Our sin and flesh cloud our spirits and make it seem that God is remote, clouded, and veiled. Hunger for God is itself a grace for it is God who "inclines our hearts to Himself" (1 Kings 8:58). Our hearts are often blurred by self and sin, yet we long for Jesus to come to us in renewed vitality. What wonder that God puts the desire for Himself within us. We do not have to manufacture passion, for we only pervert it when we try. Rather, by faith we trust that God will give us a desire for more of Him and will fulfill that desire. . . God often has to withhold His sweet presence in order for us to hunger for Him. He does not do this capriciously; for our folly requires it. Nothing makes us hunger for the Master's table like wallowing in the mire with pigs for a while. God helps us hunger for Him by allowing us to experience how unsatisfying everything else is.'

Nothing compares to Jesus's presence. Nothing is of more value than the Living Word of God—Christ Jesus. This reminds me of Proverbs 3:15, which talks about wisdom and understanding, and Jesus is wisdom personified. The verse says, "She (speaking of wisdom or He, Christ) is more precious than rubies, and all things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her."

Lord, may I continually abide in your presence. Throughout this day, which is your gift to me, may I enjoy it and be thankful, for it is the day You have planned for me. Abide with me and cause me to abide with You, to linger in your presence."

Week Sixteen - Thoughts on Holy Week

I'm on social media daily, posting a thought or an encouragement, and others are doing the same thing. Often, we share each other's posts, but today I wanted to not simply share a picture but talk about two special ones that gave me fresh thoughts about Easter week.

The first read, "Jesus didn't say, 'I am finished.' He said, 'It is finished.' He was just getting started" (Tony Evans). 

Oh, what joy in that statement, that truth. The cross was not the end of Jesus; it didn't defeat Him. He came to give Himself for us on that cross. The cross was the goal, not the punishment. Jesus' mission was finished, but He was not!

Dick Brogden's statement stopped me in my tracks. He said, "The agony of the cross was felt (by God) before the creation of the world and will be felt long after re-creation. An eternal God bears eternal wounds." 

I'd never considered God being so acutely affected by the cross, but since Jesus is God, the idea of coming in human form and experiencing the pain of sin would be a wound shared equally for all eternity. 

So what was finished? The cross completed God's promise of restoration for mankind. Now, it is time to do our part: to accept Christ's sacrifice and be restored to God. That part, our part, is still ongoing. Have you done that?

The other post that caught my attention stated, "This week wasn't just history. It was His heart saying, 'I'll go first, I'll pay it all. My love for you is this deep.'" And that's what He did. 

Christ's sacrifice on Calvary paid in full the cost of our sins, the punishment we deserve, and the price of redemption. He went there so we didn't have to. 

And He didn't have to! He went because of love, a love we find hard to understand and sometimes hard to accept. We could never pay the penalty of our sin and find forgiveness without the immeasurable love of Christ. Sin demands punishment, and the book of Romans tells us that the "wages of sin is death." So when Christ took upon Himself the sins of the world and died, that payment was complete.

If you fail to accept His offering, you will pay the wages of your sin. Eternal death is the price. How odd that anyone would refuse such an offer. 

This Holy Week is a great time to meditate on what Christ did. It is a time of humble praise and wonder that God would send His only begotten Son to die on a cross for people who reject and scorn His sacrifice.

And if you have not yet yielded your stubborn and prideful heart to the loving compassion of Christ, this is a good week for you to lay down your will and give way to His deep and sacrificial love for you.

Week Fifteen - Continually

Several years ago, I journeyed through the Bible, exploring individual words. My meditation, research, and journaling resulted in my 50 Bible Words book (I've put a link below), and, Lord willing, I have another book of 50 More Bible Words coming out later, drawn from that same journey. 

Today, the Lord again brought to my attention the beauty and power of meditating on individual words. The word He pointed out was continually. Psalm 71, vs. 3, reads, "Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort." Vs. 6 says, "My praise shall be continually of thee." Vs. 14, But I will hope continually."

The habit of praise, hope, and security is uplifting and full of spiritual comfort. God's faithfulness and immutability mean we can continually come to Him. He is always there, never leaving or forsaking us, no matter our circumstances.

Dick Brogden wrote, "Conflict with the enemy and comfort from God are both continual. Our response is continual praise." 

While I agree that the enemy is always at work, I don't want to look at life like that. I try to avoid the enemy and keep him away from my home and mind. But I had to agree, he is always lurking in the shadows, but my God lives in the light! I can continually come to Him for comfort and assurance. He always has my back, and I can praise Him even in the darkness because He is light - in Him, there is no darkness!

He is my habitation, where I escape the world and the enemy. He is that strong tower where I can run in and be safe. I can continually go there. He never tires of me!

Praise is not just a comforting habit; it's a powerful weapon against the enemy. He can't linger when I sing praise to God, quote Scripture, or even confess my sins. These actions repel the enemy, so God's praise is continually on my lips, empowering me in my spiritual journey!

And hope? It's not just a fleeting feeling; it's a constant companion in every circumstance, for God is fully able. Even when things don't work out the way I think they should, there is still hope, as my God knows all things and works all things according to the purpose of His will (Ephesians 1:11). Because my hope is in Him, I yield to His sovereignty and wisdom continually.

Dick Brogden beautifully portrays Psalm 71, 'God is our continual refuge, our continual strength, and our continual comfort.' God's faithfulness and continuance are our secure foundation. Embrace the spirit of praise today, and let Him be your refuge, strength, and continual comfort, providing you with a sense of security and reassurance on your spiritual journey.

50 Bible Words:  https://a.co/d/b6JeSs2

Week Fourteen - The Electronic Leash

A few years ago, a pastor recommended 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You by Tony Reinke, which I found humbling and convicting. He said he reads the book twice yearly to help him maintain perspective and balance his social media activity.

Do you find your phone the first thing you reach for each morning? Many of us do. Tony Reinke gives us six reasons why we do that so easily.

1. We want to be informed about what is new in the world and new among our friends, and we don't want to be left out on something newsworthy or noteworthy.

2. We want to know what people say about us and how they respond to things we have said and posted.

3. We want to feed on what is fascinating, weird, strange, wonderful, shocking, or spellbinding.

4. We want to put off the day ahead, especially when it looks dull and routine and holds nothing of fascination to capture our interest.

5. We want to put off the burdens of the roles God has given us as fathers, mothers, bosses, employees, and students.

6. We want to put off dealing with relational conflicts, pain, disease, and disabilities in our bodies.

Do you see yourself anywhere in those six reasons? We'd all have to be honest and say we are guilty of at least one or two of these excuses for surrendering control to our phones.

Let me finish with the author's summary of the issue. He writes, "Perhaps we check our phones for more noble ends - to communicate with friends and family members or to confirm our schedules for the day - but a rush of temptations comes at us immediately in the morning, and we fumble our precious solitude. It's hard to summarize the resulting problem any better than this: The real danger with social media is not that it allows us to isolate ourselves but that by mixing our appetite for isolation with our vanity, it threatens to alter the very nature of solitude. The bottom line is that technology bends us in a centripetal direction, pulling us toward a central habitat of loneliness and filling our lives with habits that benefit the stakeholders who seek to monetize our attention."

I'd never thought of it that way. Because we see social media as free, we often fail to see the monetary gain for the companies that supply our entertainment.

Spurgeon said, "Pemit not your minds to be easily distracted, or you will even have your devotion destroyed." Vital to our spiritual health, we must listen and hear God's voice every morning. We must stop and be still to know that God is God, and we are His children. So, let's push back our phones in the morning to protect our solitude and reflect first on Him.

Then, put your phone away during the day, build authentic eye-to-eye trust with the people in your life, and sharpen your relationships. That little battery-powered object in your hand should not replace your relationship with your Saviour or the beauty of fellowship with others. Let's step away from the electronic leash and feed our souls on eternal things.

Week Thirteen - When Strivings Cease

Last week, I shared a few thoughts about lies we believe that mess up our wiring. Using Ruth Simon's thoughts from her book When Strivings Cease, we summarized that truth counteracts falsehood and sorts our wiring. Today, I want us to briefly examine her conclusion on where we will rest when our strivings cease. Again, I highly recommend this book.

Let's begin by defining what things she calls strivings. She bases her discussion on our innate need and pressure to perform and seek to sustain a standard that doesn't disappoint anyone else. This striving is why we are so tired, keep hustling, feel like we are never enough, and fail to flourish. We bend, straining to meet expectations and fill the gaps of our unknowns with trust in no one but ourselves. Sounds exhausting, doesn't it?

She says, "We strive when we long for something we believe will pull us out of despair and into a sense of fulfillment. We strive to make our dreams come true. Sometimes, those are tangible dreams like starting a business, becoming debt-free, or earning a doctorate. But sometimes those dreams are intangible, like finding love, feeling accepted, or being happy with who you are."

We have all struggled with these things, and some may still struggle. But when strivings cease, life is different. There is room for peace and grace, and a settled security catapults us into growth and maturity. 

Simons lists these seven things as signs of release from striving.

1. We no longer need to prove our worth. Our worth is found in Christ alone, and we rest there.

2. We stop chasing approval as our comfort. We find confidence and comfort in who we are in Christ.

3. We glory in our weaknesses. Weakness is no longer connected with shame but bound to God's intimate work in my life for His glory. I marvel at how He uses me despite my weaknesses.

4. We hold God as greater than our accomplishments. To Him goes all the glory for anything we have done. It is all by His grace and gifting.

5. We know peace apart from pleasing others. We now impart peace instead of trying to derive peace from others. Our peace is found in our settled resolve of God's unconditional love.

6. We understand that God is for us and no longer against us. He is working all things for our good. There is now no condemnation from Him as we walk in the Spirit. God is on our side, and we are on His.

7. Jesus so captures our gaze that we stop chasing everything else. He becomes preeminent in our thoughts and decisions. Pleasing Him becomes our goal in every area of our lives. Jesus is King, and we answer only to Him. As Paul writes, "That we may be found in him" (Philippians 3:9).

Today is a good day to measure your strivings. Are they producing undue stress? Can you exchange them for one of these truths of release? Do you understand the truth presented here, or are you holding on so tightly to self-performance that you are afraid to let go and let God?

Week Twelve - My Wiring is Messed Up

Today, I want to share thoughts from When Strivings Cease by Ruth Chou Simons. But before I do, I want to encourage you to read. Read good books that grow your faith, challenge your thinking, and give you tools for life. And when you do, copy the quotes that speak to your heart into a journal. I even underline these quotes in my books. Then, when I go back, I have collected thoughts that spoke to my soul, and they help me revisit those times when God brought more truth to me or helped me understand things. Read and record what you read!

___________________________

Jay Adams believes our messed up wiring is due to sin. That is an adequate explanation, for we are all sinners and live in a sinful world. Larry Crabb believes our problems come from lies we have believed or accepted as truth. And that can often be the case, for the father of lies is always busy sowing seeds of falsehood.

Ruth Simons grapples with finding the source of our striving, our relentless struggle to sort things out, reduce stress, and find a foundation of truth. She says, "Realigning your mind, heart, and identity to grace, not works, is a daily battle. If you find your assurance in who God says you are by the work of grace, your responses will reflect what you value most - what God has done for you."

This realignment of grace is salvation, and it helps us understand who we are and who He is: the God of all comfort, the God who makes us whole, and the God who sorts out our messy wiring. Grace is the foundational truth.

She also addresses the lies we come to believe. "Lies don't have to attack every area of our lives to be effective; they only need to chip away at what we haven't settled once and for all," she says. And I've found that so true. I can have loads of truth plugged in, but one nagging doubt can blow a fuse!

Here are four lies Simons mentions that mess up our wiring.

1. We seek self-improvement that depends on us, not God.

While busy trying to fix ourselves, we fail to yield to His work. He promised in Philippians 1:6 to do a work in us, an eternal work, and if we will but rest in His promise, we will find improvement comes from the work of the Spirit, not from our self-directed efforts.

2. We fret over our image instead of reflecting His.

Vanity captivates us. We want to look good, be perceived as good, and admired by others. But our focus is plugged into the wrong socket! Christ in me—that is the hope of glory. Christ working through me—that is the beauty of Christian living. My image must be of Christ—even when I have a bad hair day!

3. We believe God's holding out on us and needs us to look out for ourselves.

The Lord helps those who help themselves. Really? Where do you find that in Scripture? That is not Bible truth. Instead, God says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things (clothing, food, etc.) shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). God looks out for you. He isn't holding out on you. "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). If you believe the lie that you must take care of yourself, you are not trusting God. You are taking on a burden too large for you to carry.

4. We welcome the lie that we are beggars and not heirs.

Oh, how the enemy loves to make us feel like beggars. When we accept this lie, we fall for all kinds of self-incriminating thoughts. We fail to venture forth with God and sometimes believe our false humility is virtuous. When God speaks of humility, He isn't referring to His children as unworthy; He's talking about submission and trust. We serve a mighty Father, and as His children, we can claim all the promises of heaven. There is no need for God's children to beg for bread when the table of grace and love is fully laden.

If you see yourself in these lies, it is time to unplug and reconnect to grace and truth. The only reason your wiring is messed up is because you aren't drawing from the right source. Jesus' prayer for you is, "Sanctify (purify internally by the renewing of the soul) them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17).