Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Week Twenty-Two - Under His Wings

Psalm 139 is one of my favorite Psalms because I always find comfort and joy in its description of how much God is involved in the tiny, everyday details of my life. His intimate attention and care are truly too marvelous to comprehend. 

Dick Brogden, in his devotional Live/Dead, speaks of Psalm 139, saying, "It unveils the joys of being fully known."

God knows us, so we do not need others to know us; we rest in who we are in Christ without seeking extra attention from others. 

God knows us, so we keep no secrets from Him, for He knows everything, and we need not fear exposure. 

God knows us, so we are free, hedged in by His love, and under His everlasting wings.

As we continue Ruth's journey from last week, we left her traveling to Bethlehem with Naomi. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, she is steadfast in her determination, venturing with God. As the Lord would have it, Ruth goes out to glean for food and finds herself in the field of Boaz, a kinsman of Naomi. 

God will not disappoint Ruth, for her testimony of kindness and faithfulness to her mother-in-law has gone before her, and Boaz shows her generous favor. Ruth casts herself upon God, and God will not disappoint her.

When we cast our all upon God, trusting fully in Him, He will not fail us either. Whether we need sustenance, encouragement, forgiveness, or strength, He meets us right where we are and provides for our every need. His provision is a testament to His care for us, moving every circumstance for our benefit. 

In Ruth 2:12, Boaz says to Ruth, "The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust." Ruth's steadfast mind placed her in favor with everyone around her, and God wraps His wings of protection and divine providence around her. 

Psalm 84:11 reads, "No good thing will he withhold from them who walk uprightly." To walk uprightly means to live in a manner that is pleasing to God, following His commandments and living a life of integrity. God always rewards faithfulness, and the faithful are always under His wings for protection and provision. 

"Walking by faith is not a blind walk; it is a confident, assured stride based on the knowledge of God's Word, character, and promises." (Gail Gritts)

Where are you on your spiritual walk? Are you venturing by faith with God? Do you recognize His presence, and are you assured of His protection? Do you, like Ruth, understand that you are "under whose wings thou art come to trust?"

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Week Twenty-One - Steadfastly Minded

Stubbornness is most often seen in a negative context. It could be because it frequently comes with an ungracious attitude. But if we change the word from stubborn to steadfast, we have a similar quality but with a more positive context. Let me show you what I mean. 

If someone said,  "Sheer stubbornness caused him to refuse to admit his mistake." We would believe the person to be unyielding and proud. But if we changed the sentence to read, "His steadfastness caused him to hold his position," we'd have more admiration for his stance.

Being steadfast-minded means having a firm, unwavering resolve and focus, not easily swayed by doubt, fear, or external pressures, and remaining steadfast in one's beliefs, decisions, or actions. Steadfast people are mentally strong and resilient, holding firmly to their convictions. This does not mean they are unapproachable or unwilling to consider others' opinions, but they will judge decisions by a consistent set of rules or principles.

Let's consider Ruth's example of steadfastness. Ruth 1:18 reads, "When she (Naomi) saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her." As the story goes, Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem after the death of her husband and two sons. Ruth, her daughter-in-law, decides to go with her, and though Naomi gives several reasons for Ruth to remain, Ruth's heart is steadfastly minded about going with Naomi.

Why was Ruth so determined to push forward? Maybe she deeply loved Naomi and felt concerned about her traveling alone. Maybe she had no family to return to, or maybe she believed God had more for her in a new place. For whatever reason, Ruth was steadfastly minded to push forward.

Oswald Chambers said, "When God gives a vision, transact business on that line no matter the cost." That's what Ruth did, and that's what we must do. When God opens the door, we must go through with a steadfast mind, set on completing our assignment by faith. We should not waver, turn back, or be double-minded.

1 Corinthians 15:58 exhorts us, "Be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 

As much as Ruth is an example of steadfastness, Balaam is an example of stubbornness. He kept pushing forward to a mission of his own choice, and as he struck the donkey, God used the poor animal to point out the folly of his stubbornness.

So, are you stubborn or steadfast? One holds great reward, and the other sure folly. 


Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Week Twenty - Mouth to Life Resuscitation

Oh, how powerful are our words. With one unguarded comment, we wound, and with one considered comment, we heal. Dick Brogen calls words weapons of mass destruction.

God is not silent about the power of our words and often warns us to speak softly, thoughtfully, and with purpose, because our words reveal the true intent of our hearts. The book of James reminds us that our tongues set things on fire and are virtually impossible to tame. With our words, we bless God, and with our words, we curse others. 

But that should not be the way we speak. James 3:10 says, "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be."

We discover so much about our words in Scripture, but let's give one more thought before we continue.  Ephesians 4:29 reads, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." This is a great measure for words. Is it corrupt? Then don't say it. Will it build someone up? Then don't withhold it.

Dick Brogen wrote, "Praising God and encouraging others is the opposite of tongue death - these are mouth-to-life resuscitation."

And oh, how people need to hear words of life today. The internet and news are full of negative, damaging words. People seem to believe that freedom of speech means they can say whatever hurtful or hateful things come to their mind with no accountability. But let's not be deceived, Jesus said we will give account of every idle word (Matthew 12:36). 

If we are haphazard or unchecked in our speech, we are unwise and damaging to those around us. God will hold us accountable. How much better to be a life-giver? To seek ways to defuse anger, sow unity, and seek peace rather than to blaze words of fire into situations?

Psalm 34:14 contains the phrase, "Seek peace and pursue it." By our words, we can do this. We can give mouth-to-life resuscitation to those gasping for a kind word. We can bring peace to a situation when we pre-judge our words and follow Scriptural instructions.

Our words should bring hope, joy, and even challenge, pointing the receiver to Christ. How are you doing with that these days?


Tuesday, May 6, 2025

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.