For the "Elders" (1 Peter 5:1-4)

Today’s scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-4

We live in a society that worships youth. And we spend a lot of money trying to look as young as possible. We’re bombarded with ads about miracle lotions that tighten skin, makeup that erases wrinkles, dyes that cover gray … And don’t get me started about plastic surgery. It’s nuts!

I have to admit, I use some products that supposedly camouflage some signs of aging, and I do try to hide the gray. And there are definitely some aspects of growing older that kind of … well, suck! Aches and pains. Short-term memory problems. Keeping reading glasses throughout my house so I can see …

But the Bible reminds us that being older is a blessing. We who are older should be eager examples to those younger than we are. God has given us stories to tell, wisdom to share, shoulders to offer. I love being part of a faith-based community theater, but what I love most is being able to spend time with young women, being an honorary “mama” and friend to them. I pray I’m being an example of a godly woman.

We who are older are given the privilege of mentoring and teaching younger people. But that privilege requires our being true examples of our Lord. As I’ve written many times, we need to be grounded in faith. We need to know God’s word. We need to pursue His will and live according to His commandments.

Only then can we be “shepherds” to those younger than we—either in age or in faith. Are you prepared to shepherd well? 

Leaving a Legacy (2 Timothy 1:5-6)

Today’s scripture: 2 Timothy 1:5-6

Timothy was blessed with a wonderful legacy of faith. His mother and his grandmother were women of sincere faith, and they clearly instilled that faith in Timothy.

I have been very blessed with the same legacy. Both of my grandmothers were strong women of faith. These women loved Jesus—heart, soul, mind, and strength. They studied God’s word and prayed regularly for their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. And their prayers were felt, especially by me. I have no doubt their prayers helped to bring this prodigal back to the arms of the Father.

My mom is also such a woman. Her life has been far from perfect, but she remains one of the strongest women of faith I know. She’s shown an unconditional love to her children, and I know she prays for us regularly. She prays for our health, for our protection, for our spiritual journeys.

And I pray I’m providing the same legacy for my “children.” My nieces and nephews. Other “children of my heart.” The women to whom I speak. I pray God will use me to help future generations to know Him and to become men and women of faith.

I couldn’t ask to leave a better legacy.

Pillars of Faith (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7)

Today’s scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7

We have been blessed with so many pillars of faith who have walked before us. So many godly men and women whose lives are worthy of our imitation.

People like Paul, who went from persecuting followers of Christ to being one of the great leaders of the Christian faith.  His letters to the first churches, including the one we’re journeying through now, have inspired and encouraged—and convicted—millions.

People like John, the disciple whom Christ dearly loved. His final book of Revelation gives us insights into God’s ultimate plan for our eternity with Him.

People like Corrie ten Boom, who survived incarceration in a Nazi death camp, and was able to forgive her persecutors.

People like Joni Earekson Tada, a quadriplegic who serves God from her wheelchair, and whose inspiring story has touched countless lives.

People like my maternal grandfather, whose heart for Christ and love for others instilled compassion and faith in his daughter, my mom. She in turn continues to illustrate faith to me.

I’ve learned so much from these examples of faith … and so many others. They have helped to form my faith. And I’m so grateful for their godly influence.

Whom in your life can you imitate? And who might find inspiration in you? 

Learning ... and Teaching ... (Philippians 3:17-19)

Today’s scripture: Philippians 3:17-19

Paul’s heart broke when he thought of the lost. He didn’t look down on them or take on a “holier than thou” attitude. He didn’t ridicule them. He didn’t ignore them.

He wept over them. He foresaw their destruction—eternal separation from God. And he desired that his spiritual children would not follow in their steps. Paul exhorted the Christians in Philippi to follow the example of godly men and women, to walk as they walked. I know he’d pray the same for us today.

Do you have an example of strong faith that you can emulate? Do you have a mentor who exemplifies a godly walk? Maybe it’s your parents. Or a church leader. Or someone whom you’ve never met, but who inspires you.

If you don’t, please find one. Read the works of C.H. Spurgeon or Oswald Chambers or C.S. Lewis. Ask your Bible study teacher if she would recommend a mentor. Look around you. There’s someone who would be honored and privileged to walk with you on your path to stronger faith.

And if you’ve been walking with the Lord for a while now, be an example to those younger in their faith. Help them to avoid any pitfalls of following the world.

Supporting the Family (2 Corinthians 12:14-18)

Today’s scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:14-18

It is a rare day when I don’t feel completely inspired by the Spirit to write the day’s devotion. However, I’m experiencing significant “fibro fog,” so I’m going to trust the words of a saint of the past—who was far wiser than I—to share his words of wisdom.

When prayerfully considering Paul’s words in today’s scripture, Adam Clarke discerned Paul was saying:

Ye are my children, and I am your father. You have not contributed to my support, but I have been labouring for your life. I will act towards you as the loving father who works hard, and lays up what is necessary to enable his children to get their bread. I will continue to act as a loving father, who spends all he has upon his children, and expends his own strength and life in providing for them the things necessary for their preservation and comfort. I will even act towards you with the most affectionate tenderness, though it happen to me, as it often does to loving fathers, that their disobedient children love them less, in proportion as their love to them is increased. Does it not frequently happen that the most disobedient child in the family is that one on which the parents' tenderness is more especially placed? See the parable of the prodigal son. It is in the order of God that it should be so, else the case of every prodigal would be utterly deplorable. The shepherd feels more for the lost sheep than for the ninety-nine that have not gone astray.

I love any scripture that reminds me of my loving Father, my Abba … my Daddy. And as much as Paul loved his earthly “children” and as much as our parents love us, our heavenly Father loves us so much more.

Father God, Abba, thank You for Your overwhelming, unconditional love. May I live to glorify You. Every day. Amen.

Mentors of Faith (1 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:16-18

Paul exhorted the Christians in Corinth to imitate him. He didn’t do this because he thought he was somehow better than they were. He did it because he knew he was more mature in his faith, and he knew they could learn from him.

Each of us has someone (or perhaps more than one someone) who is farther along his faith journey than we are. We can learn from their example. We can see how they handle adversity with grace. We can watch how they strive to be more like Christ. My maternal grandfather was such a person. I would consider myself blessed indeed if I knew I was imitating his faith.

If you don’t have someone like this, find someone. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be a flesh-and-blood person. You can study Paul’s life. Read each of his epistles very carefully and learn from him. Two mentors of mine are Joni Eareckson Tada and Corrie Ten Boom. I never met either of these women, but their stories have inspired me, encouraged me, and convicted me through the years.

Imitating godly people helps us to become more the people God created us to be. And it does something more: We often become mentors for others. As we grow in faith, God will bring younger (and I don’t just mean chronologically) believers into our lives. They then look to us as examples of more mature faith.

It’s a wonderful circle of learning and being influenced, and then teaching and influencing. And God’s in the middle of it all!

Firmly Planted (Psalm 1:3)

Today's scripture: Psalm 1:3

We learned on Monday that people blessed by God don’t spend time with those who ridicule God. Then we learned yesterday that they do spend time delighting in God’s word. Today, we learn that when they focus on God, he “firmly plants” them. He nurtures and helps them grow into people He can use.

When we focus on God and His will for us, He uses us in ways we cannot even imagine.

I never expected to speak for Him. I never expected to be able to mentor young women. I never expected to write a week-day devotional.

Yet, because I’ve learned to keep my focus on Him, because I’ve learned to delight in His word, He’s chosen to allow me to do things I absolutely love in service to Him.

Even more, He’s allowed me to see some fruit from my efforts. I won’t know everything He’s done through me this side of heaven, but I’ve seen enough. Comments made. Tears of joy shared. Lives changed.

By Him. Through me.

As I’ve watched Him work, I’ve seen the areas of ministry He’s given me prosper. No, not prosper financially, as some would define that word. But prosper spiritually. Emotionally.

And I am blessed.

A Legacy of Faith (Psalm 145:4)

Today's scripture: Psalm 145:4

One of the greatest things a Christian can do is leave a legacy of faith for the next generation.

I'm very blessed to have had godly grandparents who modeled Christ to me. I think especially of my maternal grandfather. Grandpa Hess loved Jesus and praised Him throughout his life. He had a gentleness of spirit and a genuine compassion for others.

For many years, he was a chaplain at the Los Angeles Rescue Mission, and he worked with countless "least of these." I remember the times my siblings and I would join him for services. We would sing. He would speak. And every time, I would see him offer love and compassion to men whom much of society would shun.

I also have a mom who loves God and who has also been a huge influence to my own faith. I know when I went through my lengthy rebellion against that faith, she prayed for me. Never did she point a finger or lecture me. She just loved me with a Christ-like, unconditional love.

I know beyond doubt that it was the quiet love I felt from my mom and grandparents and their examples of faith—and regular prayer—that brought me back to my own relationship with God.

And now, I pray I'm influencing the next generation to know and love God. To praise Him. To tell of His love and "mighty acts."

Whom in the next generation are you influencing for Christ? Your children? Your grandchildren? Other young people God is bringing into your life?

Leave a legacy of faith.

Testifing Faith (3 John 1:1-4)

Today's scripture: 3 John 1:1-4

We’ve journeyed through John’s first two epistles. Now we’ll study God’s wisdom that flowed out of John’s pen in his third and final letter.

A couple of things stand out to me in these verses.

First, John prayed that his recipient “may prosper in all things and be in health …” We hear a lot these days about a prosperity gospel that says God wants all His children to prosper (i.e., be rich). Since we’re not all rich, does that mean we aren’t children of God? I don’t think so. John adds a caveat: He prays that they prosper, “just as your soul prospers.”

And how does our soul prosper? By meditating on God’s word. By communing with Him in prayer and solitude. By glorifying Him. By surrendering everything to Him.

God may indeed bless us with financial wealth, but He would rather see our souls “prosperous” than our having huge bank accounts.

Second, John gave a most beautiful commendation of the faith of his recipient: “For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.” His heart burst with godly pride as he saw his spiritual children share truth, so much so that others “testified” of their faith.

And so I’m convicted. Would others “testify” of my faith? Would my spiritual “parents” be filled with joy as they heard of how I served God and others?

I pray so. And I want to make certain those who led and mentored me in my faith would be delighted in how I live for God.  How I walk in truth.

Imitators of Christ (1 Cor. 4:16-18)

Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church. Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.
(1 Corinthians 4:16-18, NASB)

Paul exhorted the Christians in Corinth to imitate him. He didn’t do this because he thought he was somehow better than they were. He did it because he knew he was more mature in his faith, and he knew they could learn from him.

Each of us has someone (or perhaps more than one someone) who is farther along his faith journey than we are. We can learn from his example. We can see how he handles adversity with grace. We can watch how he strives to be more like Christ. My maternal grandfather was such a person. I would consider myself blessed indeed if I knew I was imitating his faith.

If you don’t have someone like this, find someone. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be someone you can see and touch. You can study Paul’s life. Read each of his epistles very carefully and learn from him. Two mentors of mine are Joni Eareckson Tada and Corrie Ten Boom. I never met either of these women, but their stories have inspired me, encouraged me, and convicted me through the years.

Imitating godly people helps us to become more the people God created us to be. And it does something more: We often become mentors for others. As we grow in faith, God will bring younger (and I don’t just mean chronologically) believers into our lives. They then look to us as examples of more mature faith.

It’s a wonderful circle of learning and being influenced, and then teaching and influencing. And God’s in the middle of it all!