Today's
scripture: Psalm 40:4
Since the fall in the Garden of Eden, mankind has had idols. Some idols have
been of wood or gold or bronze. Others have been of flesh.
We still have our idols today. We hoard our stuff. We pay homage to our credit
cards. We revere celebrities or sports icons. We respect the successful in
business. We spend more time worshipping at the altar of television or the
Internet than we do at the foot of God's throne.
We don't trust God; we trust our things or other people.
Then we wonder why we're so discontent.
I used to give a talk called "Joy Stealers" It's about
those things that are lurking about every corner that want to steal our
God-given joy. One of those "thieves" is discontent. No matter how
much we have, we find ourselves wanting just a little bit more. We envy those
with a bigger house, a better car, or a more prestigious career.
I then talked about a couple of ways to "arrest" discontentment:
The first is to spend time with those less fortunate than we are. For example,
it's difficult to be discontent with our more-than-adequate houses when we
volunteer at a homeless shelter.
The second is to trust God. If we believe His word and trust that He has a plan
for our lives (see Jeremiah 29:11)—and we surrender our lives to that plan—then
we can rest in the knowledge that whatever we have, whatever we do, is part of
that plan.
We really are blessed when we "make the Lord [our] trust." He is
faithful and will never let us down. Never.
Today’s scripture: Psalm 33:10-17
I’m a planner. Big time.
For a while, I was a certified facilitator for 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and I still adhere to its
principles of planning.
I have a calendar and a to-do list, and I use them every day. Even though I’m
semi-retired, I find them invaluable.
I know, however, that I need to hold my plans loosely. I need to commit my
plans to God every day. My plans must be His
plans.
And because I know His plans are for my ultimate good and His glory (Jer. 29:11), I can trust that everything will work out as He wills and purposes.
So, every morning, I look at my calendar and my to-do list. I commit both to
God’s plan. And I follow both … unless God clearly changes something.
If He does, then I adjust my plan to conform to His.
And I trust that His plan will be fulfilled.
Today’s
scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
I love to talk about God’s faithfulness and grace. I love to remind believers
that they are sons and daughters of the Most High King of kings.
And because of His grace and mercy, even though we are not worthy, God sees
worth in us.
When we do what He’s called us to do, when we work to do His will, He looks
upon each of us with fatherly pride. And I believe He longs to say, “Well done,
My child,” even more than we long to hear it.
Doesn’t that just amaze you? That He sees you as His beloved child? That He,
who deserves all glory, is glorified in you?
I think we forget just how truly amazing it is. The God of the universe, the
One who put the stars in place, the One who created all things … This same God
knows you by name. He has a plan for you that is unique (Jer. 29:11). He has
given you gifts and talents that (usually) you enjoy using, but more
importantly, that He uses to grow His kingdom and serve others.
I often say, God doesn’t need us. Not at all. In fact, I think He’d probably do
a lot better without us. But that’s not how He works. He’s not a far-off,
impersonal god. He’s personal, and He wants to work with us to complete His
plan.
And, in His eyes, we are worthy enough to accomplish exactly what He’s
designed.
Amen!
Today's scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:15-19
Sometimes I read several verses, and I see all kinds of application. Words that
affirm. Phrases that convict. Other times, just one or two words jump out at
me, and I spend time meditating on just those few words.
Such is the case today. Paul makes a good point about not vacillating when
moving forward with God’s plan, but the words that speak the most to me today?
God is faithful.
It seems like there is so little in this world in which we can put our faith.
People let us down. Governments crumble. Things fall apart. Stock markets
crash.
Nothing or no one is worthy of our trust, and so we just don’t trust anyone or
anything. Then we won’t be hurt.
But that’s no way to live ... and that’s not how we were created to live. God
created us for relationship with Him and with others. And yet, if people and things let us down, if they prove to be unfaithful, in
whom or in what can we put our trust? Who will be faithful, no matter what?
Our God will be. Always.
He will love us everlastingly. He will never, ever leave us alone. He will be
by our sides through the good and will carry us through the bad.
He is faithful, when no one or nothing else is.
In God we really can trust!
Today's scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:12-14
Sometimes it seems that there is nothing in which we can put our confidence—nothing
and no one.
An up and down economy. Social unrest. Persecuted believers. Wars—and rumors of
wars.
Corrupt politicians. Immoral clergy. Depraved celebrities.
It’s enough to make you want to crawl into a whole and hibernate. A “Calgon
moment” for sure. Or perhaps a “Calgon lifetime”?
It seems hopeless. And in many ways, it is indeed hopeless. If we put our
confidence in another person or in the things of this world, we are destined
for disappointment.
The only thing we can—and should—put our hope in is the grace of God. In His
wisdom. In His teachings. In His plan. In His will.
If we put our confidence in Him, we will never truly be disappointed. If we
trust that He does work all things out for good as Paul wrote in his letter to
the Romans, we can have confidence that, even in the most difficult times, God
will prevail. His word will stand firm.
And there’s one more thing in which we can have confidence: the return of our
Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, as this world continues its downward spiral, we can
be confident that His return is ever closer.
I’m confident about that!
Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Paul encompasses these verses with two similar thoughts: “… the time has been
shortened …” and “… for the form of this world is passing away.” According to Matthew Henry Complete Commentary of the
Entire Bible:
It
will soon be gone. It is just ready to be wrapped up in eternity. Therefore do
not set your hearts on worldly enjoyments. Do not be overwhelmed with worldly
cares and troubles. Possess what you must shortly leave without suffering
yourselves to be possessed by it. Why should your hearts be much set on what
you must quickly resign?
This
world is winding down. As it grows more corrupt and its citizens become more
antagonistic toward matters of faith, I can’t help but think that Christ’s
return is imminent. So we who know truth should hold onto things very, very lightly.
I often use an illustration when I speak. I hold both hands in front of me
close-fisted. I then say that we should just give up everything to our
faithful, loving, merciful God, and I open my fist, palms facing upward.
Then I smile and say, “But how often do we say, You can have everything except
for …” and I close one fist and pull it away.
We truly need to give up everything—everything—to God, for three reasons:
Everything is His anyway (see Psalm 89:11); if we leave this earth through
death, we’ll leave everything behind anyway; and, if we’re still here when
Christ returns, this world and all that’s in it will pass away.
So indeed, hold onto this life, this world, these possessions lightly. For this
world is passing away.
