Become Like Little Children

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?'

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" Matthew 18:1-4

Sometimes the best way for adults to get a fresh perspective on God, life and all the other little things going on is to see them through the eyes of a child. My son writes a journal regularly as part of his schoolwork and recently he wrote one about "What is the most important thing in your life?" and shared it with his teacher and classmates. I thought is was outstanding, so he gave me permission to share it as well. I hope you enjoy it.

Man’s Duty

"The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails---given by one Shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:11-14

Today, we will use the phrase by phrase commentary method of conveying some deeper meaning to the closing words of Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon really does an excellent job of wrapping up what is truly important. We would do well to take his counsel to heart and learn from the wisdom that God has given him.

Looking Within

"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." Isaiah 66:2b

In the midst of pronouncing God's judgement on the people of Israel for their rebellion and disobedience are nestled these words of hope. Though much of the Old Testament is extremely indicting and very convicting with its harsh references to our sin and wantonness, always there is hope. God is a gracious and forgiving God, Holy and Mighty, and merciful. We should never presume upon His grace or mercy. We should always try to come to Him with the heart He expects us to come with; with the spirit that is humble, and contrite, and that trembles at His word. His Word saves and His Word judges. His salvation is perfect and so is His judgement.

Wonderfully Sad and Terribly Meaningful

"I call to you , O Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you." Psalm 88:9b

This has got to be one of the saddest if not the saddest of all of the Psalms. Written by the Sons of Korah who were worship leaders for David. Very few Psalms are so despairing without offering at least a glimmer of hope. Many Psalms pour out their words of grief and misery, but none to the extent of this one. Not one word of answer to the desperate rhetorical questions. I have read this over and over and over and I can't get out of my head that it can be used as a reflection about Jesus on the cross. In verse 9 I see Him spread out on the cross.

When 'Plan A' Doesn't Work Out

This devotion comes to us from Ben Adams at Crosswalk:

A few months ago I was blessed to be able to take an all-expenses-paid trip to Arizona for insurance training. I love to travel and especially love flying across the country. I always ask for a window seat and never cease to be amazed at God's handiwork of creation. Upon arrival at the hotel I was happy to find that there were no scheduled activities until the next morning. I immediately missed my family back home and dealt with the feelings of guilt knowing my sweet wife was at home tending to the daily duties of raising our four girls. Nothing to do, though, but maximize every moment, knowing the trip would be over in the blink of an eye.

Fasting and Temptation

Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Kim:

"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And He went without food for forty (40) days and forty (40) nights, and later He was hungry." Matthew 4: 1-2

My daily bible study was on fasting……..which I thought wow…….how interesting as our church “Grace Harbor” is currently going through a 28 day fast…….Have you seen the board that says to sign up for the fast ?? Pastor Fred spoke of this about 2 Sundays ago and explained how it will work and if you could sign up for a day………just a day ……..as I went to the board…….I started getting anxious about what day will I fast for and started having all these thoughts in my head like you cant go without food for 24 hours or you cant give up your reading time or TV time……..and I had to stop and rebuke those thoughts from my mind. And then I read the scripture above………Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and here I am mumbling about 1 day…….

Forgiveness

"Bear with each other, and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive, as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13

WOW! Very clear, huh? It is on my heart today to talk about a tender subject. Tender because it affects and hurts all of us to one degree or another, and as easy as it could be to take care of, we are so reticent to do what is right about it. Are you ready? The subject is forgiveness and it’s prideful, selfish alter-ego, unforgiveness.

Great Shepherd

"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care." Psalm 95:6-7

There are many reasons to worship God. There are any reasons to bow down to Him and kneel before Him. One of the less obvious titles of God when considering worship is Shepherd. Shepherd seems like such a servant role. As a pastor I have a very serious connection to the Lord being my Shepherd. I am one of His flock and under His care. I am a person in His pasture. Sure He is my Maker and my God but also my Shepherd. He is the Great Shepherd of the sheep.

I'm Homesick

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and Godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the HOME of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward TO THIS, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him." II Peter 3:10-14

Money, Money, Money

"Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless." Ecclesiastes 4:10

I am sure you have heard the saying, "The love of money is the root of all evil." We always put the emphasis on the LOVE of money being the root of all evil. Of course, money in and of itself is not evil, right? Just the LOVE of it. That is true to a point. After all, money is just paper or value and without human beings misusing it, it cannot be sin in and of itself. No “thing” is sin. Just the abuse of it. Well, I'd like us to back up a little and be careful how quickly we can think we don't love money. We do more than we want to admit. More obviously we love the things that money can buy. Not just the shopping stuff, but the power, influence, feelings and appearances that money makes possible.

Words

"The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?" Ecclesiastes 6:11

Simple question, simple answer, it doesn't. Often, the less said the better. It doesn't do anybody any good to go on and on. So I won't. Instead I will do something more effective. I will repeat the simple truth three times.

Overlooking Annoyance

"A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult." Proverbs 12:16

Why is it, that Proverbs can so quickly cut to the chase and identify a flaw or attribute so quickly, and often both? I think because it is by definition a Book of Wisdom is the main reason. That, and the fact that the Holy Spirit uses truth to help us see the light.

Straight Answers

"A man finds joy in giving an apt reply--and how good is a timely word." Proverbs 15:23

A subject I have addressed at least once before is on my mind again. Straight answers. Is this a political year or what? Everybody seems to be getting more and more apt at giving convoluted and complicated, circular reasoning type answers. Or should I just say "crooked" answers since that is the opposite of straight?

About Power

"He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:7-8

Luke shares with us at the beginning of the book of Acts, about the early church and a glimpse into a conversation that the Disciples had with Jesus when they were all meeting together. He had previously instructed them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Holy Spirit. A little bewildered about the prospect of Him leaving, they asked Him the question that was uppermost in their minds. "Lord, are you going to, at this time, restore the kingdom to Israel?" This would fix everything. Jesus could be King of a new kingdom on Earth, the Roman oppressors would be overthrown, and peace, unity, and prosperity could be restored. They would all have a job helping Him do that and maintain that. Heaven on Earth.

Therefore I Have Hope

"I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait on Him." Lamentations 3:19-24

This passage of Scripture, that Jeremiah pens aptly describes what often feel. It is not so much the details of what I remember or the specific issues that recycle within me that are important, but the similar process I go through every time.

Source of Strength

"He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength"
Isaiah 40:29

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10

"Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses." Romans 8:26

… Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets”
(He is simply naming men He called weak – all heroes)" Hebrews 11:32

These scriptures (and there are more) are a source of strength all by themselves, but the point of it all is that Christ has chosen the weak. (look at how weak the Apostles were, and they were eye-witnesses) Hebrews even names some of them, and had previously named Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses – all of whom had documented weaknesses.

The Alternate Path

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105

As 2011 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting back over my life, not only throughout this last year, but also throughout the last 13 years. There's a significance to that number, but before I go into that I wonder how many of you are where you thought you would be at this juncture of your life? If you turn behind you and look back into your past, did everything go according to how you planned to get you to where you are? Did you do all the things you thought you would leading up to this day? Did you do things in such a way that finds you happy today with where you are? Who, from your past, has made it into your present? Now, if you turn and face forward, do you see a future that is built from where you stand today or from where you stood yesterday? Are you doing everything you can today to take you into a brighter tomorrow? Who, from your today, will be with you in your tomorrow? What does your future's path look like? Is it surrounded by green meadows and clear streams? Or, is it covered in immovable boulders and barren trees? Do you even see your future at all?

Sour Grapes

"In those days people will no longer say, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." Instead, everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes--his own teeth will be set on edge "A time is coming", declares the Lord, "When I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the House of Judah." Jeremiah 31:29-31

As I read in the prophet Jeremiah this morning, I cannot get these words out of my head. They mean something, something deeper than just the obvious promise of a covenant change between God and His people. We now know that change to be the Covenant of Grace, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We too, us non-Jews are part of that covenant promise of individual responsibility for sin. Each and every person now, answers for their sin.

Do Not Withhold Good

"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act." Proverbs 3:27

More than a few times in my life, I have been put in a situation where I knew what I should do, was not at all what I wanted to do. As a matter of fact, just recently, I did everything in my power to avoid acting on what was in my power to do, simply because I did not want to get involved. I lined up all my reasons and excuses. I got some support from someone who agreed that I can't get involved in every single situation that comes along. Besides, I was not in a very good compassion mode at the time. I was in management mode and really enjoying being there. I was in a creative high-functioning gear and did not want, or need to stop. I was firing on all cylinders and was totally fighting the prompting of the Holy Spirit. My life, after all, is full of this kind of rescuing stuff, and I did not need any more on my plate. No thanks God, I appreciate your consideration of me being the one to get involved, but as you well know, I don't have a moment to spare.

Dry Seasons

Our Monday Devotion comes to us from Member, Gabby Botts:

"I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!" Psalm 139:7

I feel compelled to write about the "dry seasons" that one will undoubtedly experience in life from time to time in the Christian walk. If anyone tries to seem "holier than thou" or whatnot and tell you that there aren’t such things as dry spells, and spout off some verse about how God is always with you (which is true by the way, but let me go on), they’re lying. I’m here to tell you there will be times when you don’t feel anything. There will be days, maybe weeks, months, etc, when you have doubts, when you just feel so dried up, and like God is busy with other things, other people, etc. Maybe you feel like you can’t be used. Maybe you’ll get so exasperated you feel like you’ve lost your beliefs. It’s okay.

God Will Never Give You More Than You Can Handle?"

Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Charlotte:

"Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word." Psalm 119:35-37

As you read the title of my devotional this week, I'm sure the thought may have entered your mind, "Oh yeah, then you don't know what's going on in my life". I can't tell you the countless number of times I have heard people use that expression, and I admit that I am guilty of having used it myself, trying to impart assurance to the person that they can get through whatever difficulty they're facing and that they are in fact much stronger than they think. However, the key lies not in that person thinking they're stronger than they feel, the real strength comes from releasing it to God, knowing that he's in control of it anyway.