Choose a Devotional Below
A School Kids Prayer Bullets Car Seat Compromises Foul Going Up the Mountain Good Dude Help Me Remember King Jesus Like Love Your Wife One Way Pencil Please Stay On the Line Rafting Trip The Quality of Your Work The Real Deal Your Proclamation
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A School Kid’s Prayer
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:13-14, ESV)
Now I sit down in school, where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God, finds the mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites, somehow it violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow, it becomes a Federal matter now.
Boys are girls, girls are boys, that’s just being a teen, but Christians are obscene.
The law is specific and precise; prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall, might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate, God’s name is prohibited by the state.
We’re allowed to cuss and dress like freaks, and pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They’ve outlawed guns, but first the Bible. To quote Holy Scripture makes me liable.
Get the vaccine, you have no choice! Yet you can murder those who have no voice.
It’s ‘inappropriate’ to teach right from wrong, we’re taught such ‘judgments’ do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls, study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
The Ten Commandments must not be allowed, no word of God for this crowd.
It’s scary here in schools, where kids are allowed to be Satan’s tools.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make: Should I be shot in class, my soul please take! 10
Amen
Bullets
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak (Matthew 12:36, ESV)
One of the most important lessons we learn in the military and in law enforcement is to respect the destructive power of every bullet. A bullets incredible power can destroy lives, but they can save lives too. They are not good or evil. They are simply tools to be used for good or evil, but they do have serious and lasting consequences.
Occasionally, you may encounter situations in which you have to draw down and point your weapon at someone else. The threat on the other end of your weapon may literally be inches away from life or death and you must make a choice. If you pull the trigger, one end of that bullet will explode and fly out of your weapon faster than you can blink. It will tear through the person in front of you, never to return. The damage caused from one bullet can destroy a life. Not only that, but that one bullet could destroy your life as well. For the rest of your life you will carry the vision of that bullet killing another human. That one bullet may have removed the immediate threat, but it will also remove someone’s father, husband, brother, or son. Even if you are justified in pulling the trigger, your decision to use that one bullet, just one time, will tragically and permanently affect the lives of countless others.
Words are like bullets. They also have incredible power that can be used for good or evil. And, once you let them go, you can never take them back. Words that are let loose from a careless mouth may have disastrous consequences and leave an unforeseen impact. I hate when I let my emotions get the best of me and I run my mouth. Sometimes, if I am not careful, I will let a careless word fly out of my mouth and one of those words just may tear through someone. One word of mine may rip into someone’s heart and tear it to pieces. My relationship with them will never be the same. I’ve destroyed them.
Remember, words are powerful. They can be used for good and bad, but you will own the outcome. The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. (Proverbs 18:21, NLT) You can’t take back a bullet or a word once you fire it off. You’ll have to answer for each one of them someday.
Car Seat
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. (Psalms 37:23-24, ESV)
I love being a dad. I love packing my kids in the car, buckling them up, and then taking a drive. Some days we have so many stops to make they are in and out of their car seats a dozen times, but they are always safe and sound in my care. My kids do not always know where they are going, but they let me gently place them in their seats, secure them safely, and hit the road. My kids never try to take the wheel either. They never second guess my route or try to give me directions. They never remind me to avoid five o’clock traffic or downtown congestion. There are no short-cuts offered from their extensive knowledge of traffic patterns. They trust that wherever I am taking them is exactly where they need to go, and we will get there safely and on time.
We have a Heavenly Father that takes us on a drive through life. He carefully buckles us up in our own car seat and gets behind the wheel as we drive to our destination. Sometimes God takes us on a wild and crazy ride that is full of dangerous twists and turns. Sometimes God takes us on a nice and slow Sunday cruise through the scenic route. There are even times that it seems we are in and out of our car seat over and over again without ever really knowing where our last stop may be, but God always has us safely buckled in every single time and He always knows where He is taking us.
God knows the traffic patterns and the shortcuts. We don’t need to give Him directions or warn Him about what may be around the corner when life takes an unexpected turn. We just need to trust Him like a child. No matter what may happen on our drive, we are firmly secure, safe and sound. Just look out the window and enjoy being in the car with Dad.
Compromises
Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. (Psalm 119:1-3, NLT)
Following instructions according to a recipe for brownies makes for a good brownie. Just the right amount of this and that, mixed together and cooked according to the recipe, equals soft and delicious warm and gooey brownies. But what would happen if you compromise the recipe?
Two teen brothers asked their father to go to a very popular “R” rated movie with their friends. The movie was well-known for its fantastic special effects and Hollywood actors, the plot was thick and rich with action, mystery and suspense, and there was even a “redemptive story” where the bad guy changes his ways. But there was a catch: it was full of nudity and vulgarity. The boys told their father that they were solid in their faith and that, although the movie was not perfect, there were enough good parts that outweigh the bad and the negative influences really were not a big deal anyhow. The father smiled and told his sons that they would have his answer by tomorrow afternoon when they came home from school. The following afternoon when the boys came home from school, their father sat them down in the living room and brought them a plate of freshly baked brownies. They were warm and looked like perfectly cooked brownies you would see on a magazine. The boys immediately reached for the brownies, but just before they bit into them the father said, “Before you eat those, I want to tell you what’s in them. I made them just like the recipe calls for, but I made a small compromise. The brownies have everything needed to make a great brownie, but I added a special ingredient to give it a distinct flavor. The boys stopped dead in their tracks. The oldest asked, “What- what did you put in the brownies, dad?” The father smiled widely and nonchalantly said, “Just a little dog poop. But there are enough good ingredients that outweigh the little bit of poop. It really isn’t a big deal.”
The Lord has designed parameters around our lives like one would craft a recipe. He knows what makes a happy and holy life and has given us a recipe to follow. Don’t compromise with evil. Don’t add sin to the recipe. Don’t eat poop.
Foul
Above all else, you must live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. Then, whether I visit you or not, I will hear that all of you think alike. I will know that you are working together and that you are struggling side by side to get others to believe the good news. (Philippians 1:27, CEV)
It seems that every time I watch a professional sporting event I see some of the finest athletes in the world violate the rules of play, draw a penalty by the official, and then offer a look of complete surprise to his teammates as he turns to argue with the official. It never fails, some of the most gifted athletes in the world act like school yard sissies when a referee calls their conduct “foul.” They know they did wrong. They know that they have just violated the rules that they have agreed to uphold, but they refuse to admit their own guilt. Consequently, respect for the athlete and for the sport he represents begins to diminish and they both begin to be known for poor conduct and lack of integrity. It is so difficult for the fallen man to take responsibility for his faults and failures. In our sinful state we do not like to be confronted with our sinfulness, inadequacies, or errors. Rather than correct our deficiencies, we struggle to justify ourselves of any wrongdoing. But struggle as we may, the fact remains: we are guilty.
We have committed multiple personal fouls, flagrant fouls even, and we are not done yet. As hard as we will try we will fail again. We will lose our temper and say something that we shouldn’t, or we will give into the temptation from some bent that we have and commit another sin that we detest. But when you sin don’t you dare turn your head and refuse blame. Don’t you look at your teammates in the eyes with surprise and say that you did nothing wrong. Don’t be the guy that argues with the official after everyone sees his flagrant foul in slow motion on the high-definition jumbotron. No one likes that guy and he gives his team a bad name.
We are human and we will continue to make mistakes, but when we do it is imperative that we immediately stop our offensive conduct, accept our guilt, and refuse to make excuses. Ask for forgiveness when you commit a foul and take steps towards bringing honor to our team. As Christians, we are working together for the cause of Christ. We are on the same team. Let’s work together to bring honor to the team and to the Gospel of Christ. Don’t be foul.
Going Up the Mountain
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in [Jesus] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. (Colossians 2:8-10, ESV)
Four men sat together discussing the differences between their religions: one Christian, one Jew, one Muslim, and one Buddhist. The Christian sat listening as the Muslim, Jew, and Buddhist concluded that all religions are fundamentally the same, with only superficial differences. While they differ on small issues, each of their religions are essentially the same: be a good person, do good things, and you can get to heaven. The Christian man waited for a brief pause in the conversation, then told the others that it sounded to him like they were saying that the journey of this life was comparable to climbing a mountain. Whether one takes this path or that path, once they reach the top of the mountain, they all end up at the same location. The three men smiled excitedly and nodded in agreement. “Exactly!” they said in unison. The Christian man smiled, and asked the men what they would think about a God that did not wait for men to journey to the top of the mountain, but would rather come down the mountain, meet men at the bottom, put His arm around them, and walk up together as friends, all the while teaching them as they journeyed to the top. The three men were bewildered and amazed that a God would do such a thing. They said they would love to meet and serve such a gracious and loving God and call Him friend. The Christian man slowly and intently leaned closer into the other men and asked them if he could introduce them to Jesus Christ.
This story is a very simplistic description of the Gospel, but it emphasizes the difference between man’s attempts to reach up to God and how God reached down to man. God came down the mountain to meet us at our worst while we were powerless to climb up. We do not have to be good enough to come to God. He calls to us and meets us while we are weak, so that He can make us strong. He wraps His arms around us as a best friend, picks us up while we are down, and carries us on our journey. That’s the God we serve: the God that brings us up the mountain.
Good Dude
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:13, NIV)
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11, ESV)
If your friend, Joe, pushed you off the train tracks, pulled you out of a burning car, or jumped on an I.E.D. (improvised explosive device) in Afghanistan, in order to save you when you were powerless to save yourself, you would probably call the news, television station, or post on social media, and tell your story to anyone and everyone that would listen. You would make sure than everyone knew Joe was a good dude and that he gave up his life to save you. You would honor him as a hero. You would think of him every time you crossed the train tracks, saw a fender bender, or heard explosions on the fourth of July. You would never be the same, because he gave up his life to save you. Everyone would think of Joe when they saw you. You would say, “Joe was a good dude!” and you would never miss out on an opportunity to brag about Joe. But, hasn’t that already happened to you?
Jesus Christ willingly endured a torturous gruesome death sentence on the Cross in order to save us. He died in our place and, three days later, He was resurrected, conquered sin and death, and He offers to bring us out of death and into eternal life with Him. He willingly bought our eternal souls with his blood and saved us from the judgment that our sins demand. But how many times do we brag about being the friend of God? How many times do we post on social media how we owe Him our life, or just sit back and marvel at the enormity of His great sacrifice for us- the fact that He would have died just for you, you alone, because of His goodness? That is something to marvel; that is something to brag about.
Let’s take the time to remember just exactly what Jesus did for us and give Him the recognition He deserves. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8, NIV) Don’t miss out on an opportunity to brag about Jesus and how He has saved you. He’s a good dude.
Help Me Remember
I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. (Psalm 50:9-12, NIV)
LORD, help me remember everything that has been given me is not mine
All that has been entrusted to me are for the purposes of Thine
Help me remember my wife, children, home and heart -everything I refuse to let fall,
Remind me to keep my hand open and give them all back to You when You call
Help me remember that all of my provisions, even the air I breathe, belongs to You
My purpose in this life is simply to show Your glory in all that I do
Any wisdom or ability given to me is to be used to help others
To strengthen both my sisters and my brothers
Help me to be grateful for my eyes and my ears
And to thank You in both my joys and in my fears
In Your side my sins thrust a lance
That in Your suffering I may be offered a chance
I am justified by the wounds on Your hands, feet, side, and brow
To You alone I will bow
Help me remember that my life is a gift
Off the narrow path I dare not drift
You are my Creator, Comforter, Redeemer, and Lord
Help me remember it was Your life for me that was poured
If I lose it all, and stand with heart crushed,
Help me to place in You all my trust
I give it all to You- beginning ‘till end- all of my days
Please help me remember to give You all of my praise
King Jesus
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:8-11, ESV)
Try to imagine that the very same God that created Heaven, the universe, and everything in it- the same God that holds everything together in its very existence- left the glory of heaven to become a slave for humanity and to die for His servants. The King of Everything left paradise to die for you.
Jesus left the comforts of heaven and emptied Himself of, or more precisely “ripped away from” Himself, the power and glory of the presence of the Triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in perfect unity). He surrendered Himself to the will of the Father and took upon Himself the judgment of all mankind. He gave His life to be mocked, tortured and murdered, for us. He did this because we were powerless to save ourselves, and we remain powerless apart from Him.
Jesus went to hell and defeated sin and death so that those that trust and believe in Him may never have to be separated from Him. He gave His life so that, even though we will die, we will live (John 11:25-26). This is the extent to which God went to save us. This is why we celebrate Jesus Christ’s death on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter Sunday. This is why we worship The King of Everything that has been exalted over every name. This is why we trust, worship, and follow our King: King Jesus.
Like
You are beautiful, my darling, beautiful beyond words. Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair falls in waves, like a flock of goats winding down the slopes of Gilead. You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way. (Song of Solomon 4:1,7, NLT)
It’s amazing watching people obsess over social media. I may be in the minority of people that do not have a FacebookTM profile or TwitterTM account, but I find it fascinating to watch people stare at their phones and ignore everything else. It’s like they are entranced, glued to their screen, completely oblivious to the real world. Many of these social media users will post a photo or comment on something they read and then compulsively check who “likes” their post. They spend so much time looking for the approval of other people and want so desperately to hear someone say, “I like you.”
What would their life be like if they opened up the Bible instead of an app on their phone? How differently would they look at the world if they were as anxious to hear from God as they are to hear from their “friends,” and how would their self-worth be affected?
It doesn’t take long after you begin to read the Bible to understand that on every page of God’s Word, He says, “I like you.” Turn the page and there it is again, “I like you.” Page after page, book after book, prophet after prophet, throughout the Gospel and in every epistle: like; like; like; like; like. The Bible is God’s love story. It is His eternal Word that tells us how much He loves us. It is His divine social media, so to speak, where He posts His love story to us. God says, “You are beautiful my darling, beautiful beyond words” and FacebookTM aint got nothing on that.
Love Your Wife
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. (Ephesians 5:25-28, NIV)
It is amazing how often we hear disparaging comments about one’s spouse. Too many men say, or have said in the past, how miserable they are with their wife. I was no different. I had said some awful things about my wife before I surrendered my life to Christ. I complained about everything. I found fault everywhere I looked. And every single time I said something negative about my wife all I was really saying was, “My heart isn’t right with God and I’m looking for someone else to blame.”
How far man has come in our opinion of woman. Adam longed for a woman and was overjoyed when the LORD had made one for him. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2:23, ESV) Adam said, “at last…!” He had longed for such a companion as woman, and God gave him the special gift of a lifelong partner- a helpmate- his wife. Do we men still have the longing for our women as Adam did?
The first thing that God did after creating the world was to establish the home. Let’s ask the question: are we Biblical husbands and fathers? The Bible says that we are to love our wives as Christ loves the church. Our goal is to bring them closer to Christ, sanctifying them and making them holy, not complaining about them. We are to sacrifice for them, “give ourselves up for them,” and not use them or abuse them. We are to be faithful to our wife and to love her, even at times when we feel like they aren’t all that lovable. Maybe we can remember our wife in the little things that we do so that we can make a big impact in their lives? We can remember those little things like a phone call from the office to see how she is doing, or to helping with the kids in the evening, doing the dishes after dinner, or just a hug and a word of encouragement.
When the Bible says that husbands are to love their wife, it doesn’t just mean sexual love, though it does mean that too. It means to love her in a thousand little ways. Sacrifice for her. Build her up. Find her fault-less not fault-filled. Love her in the same ways that Christ loves you. Love your wife.
One Way
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6, ESV)
Most everyone believes that, if there is a God, He is good. Most people also believe that they themselves are basically good people and that a good God would never send a good person to hell. They mistakenly think that living what they view as a “good” life is required to go to heaven and be in the eternal presence of God. They are wrong.
When it comes to God’s standards, you are not a good person. Neither am I. If we look at ourselves through our human eyes and contrast what is “good” and what is “bad” by our own flawed valued system, we have already failed to see God’s standards. And if we fail to see something as simple as God’s unchanging and unreachable standards, how then could anyone believe they were able to live up to them? There has only been One that measures up to God’s standards- only One that can be called “good”: Jesus Christ. God alone is able to attain goodness, perfection, and righteousness; He did it at the cross.
So what does it take to reach God? Many people in the world believe that there are multiple ways in order to go to “a better place” when they die. There are over thirty-seven thousand different forms of religion in this world and they all claim to have a way to God, but religion in itself does not save a person from the penalty of sin. When surveyed, fifty percent of so-called “Christians” believe that Jesus Christ is not the only way to eternal life! What a shame. What a shame so many so-called Christians have been fooled. What a shame that so many Christians avoid speaking the truth about salvation out of fear that they will offend someone’s feelings or be labeled as “intolerant.” Speaking the truth about God’s Word is not politically correct, nor is it popular, but it is the truth and it is the job of every single Christian in the world.
Scripture is very clear about how one may achieve salvation: a completely dependent personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s it. There is no alternate path. There is no circle of reincarnate life. There is no karma. There is no plane of enlightenment. There are no virgins or special planets waiting for us to rule over. There is no such thing as “your truth” and “my truth.” Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one gets to heaven without Him (John 14:6). Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone. (Acts 4:12, CEV) To believe in anything other than Jesus Christ is just plain foolish. There is only one way. His name is Jesus.
Pencil
for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13, ESV)
When we decide to come to Christ, we confess (agree with God and admit) that we are sinners in need of a Savior, repent (change our actions and attitude, turning away from sin and towards God) and make Jesus Christ the centermost part of our life. We begin to realize that glorifying God is reason for our living, breathing, eating, and sleeping. His glorification through our relationship is the very reason for our existence. This point of realization is one of the marks of becoming a mature Christian. It is a natural progression that inevitably leads to a desire to actually want to do good things for others as a way to glorify God. These good deeds have been planned for us to do since God laid the foundation of the Earth and actively show His love (Ephesians 2:10). What’s more, it is actually God, Himself, who works these deeds in and through you in order to glorify Himself through your actions for others (Philippians 2:13).
A wonderful example of a mature Christian that spent her life doing the work of God is Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu, also known as Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She made Christ the center point of her life and spent her days showing the love of Jesus Christ in action. She made herself available to do the things that God had laid out for her to do and allowed Him to be the One that was actually doing the work. One of my favorites of her statements profoundly and simply illustrates God’s willingness to work in and through us, as imperfect vessels. She puts it like this, “I am a little pencil in God’s hands. He does the thinking. He does the writing. He does everything and sometimes it is really hard because it is a broken pencil and He has to sharpen it a little more.” [11]
It is God who works in and through us for His will and purposes and for His glory. We are His pencil and He does the thinking, writing, and sharpening. All we must do is give Him our lead.
Please, Stay On the Line
The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:18, ESV)
In the event of an emergency, the first thing everyone must do is to notify first responders like paramedics, firemen, and the police. This is the primary step in every single emergency preparation or disaster plan. But there is one thing that is absolutely crucial in every emergency- one vital thing that will make or break every life and death situation we encounter: staying on the line.
There may be considerable time between the initial call for help and the point in which help actually arrives. It is this in-between time that things are most dangerous and when proper guidance and direction are most needed. This is when we must stay on the line and obey exactly as instructed. The person that answers our call for help gives us instruction that may save a life. He helps you to remain calm and focused, give you guidance, keep you safe, and avoid unintended consequences. He is your lifeline when danger is everywhere. But if you hang up in your time of need and become disconnected, you may lose all hope of survival.
We have emergencies in our Christian walk, some of which may be life and death, in a spiritual sense, but we have all we need in every emergency. We have a First Responder who will come to our rescue in times of trouble- One that will guide us through every essential step. We have this Helper in the Holy Spirit. He guides us, encourages us, strengthens us, and leads us out of danger. And, as long as we stay connected to God through prayer, He will see us through any situation. The key is to stay connected throughout the day- to continually speak to Him regardless of our current situations or environment. That is why Scripture tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” Stay continually and constantly connected. Please, stay on the line.
Rafting Trip
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NIV)
Every year or two, the men’s ministry at my former church drove to Maupin, Oregon for a day of white-water rafting. A dozen grown men jam themselves into two inflatable rafts and barrel down the Deschutes River. It was an opportunity to grow in our relationships with each-other and with the Lord, and to have a whole lot of fun. While in our raft, we have no control over where the awesome power of the river will take us, but we try to steer clear of danger by means of two small plastic paddles. We lock arms together and work to bring the entire group of guys safely through our journey. Occasionally, we slam into rocks, or even other rafts, but we always end up finishing the trip with the same guys we started with.
However, occasionally, we get stuck. One year, we tried to use the river’s momentum to sling-shot us past a rocky area, but we miscalculated and ended up high centered on top of a huge rock. We worked together to get clear of the rock and we got back into the river safely. In the slower, safer areas in-between the rapids, two men would stand on opposite sides of the raft, hold a paddle like it was a sword, and fight for dominance! King of the raft! Most of the time both men would fall in, leaving the raft without a king. Or we would “Ride the Bull,” standing at the front of the raft while we crashed down the rapids.
Alone, none of us could have gone down that river safely, but together we were able to accomplish our task, have a lot of fun, and come home with some awesome stories. Had we not worked together we would still be stuck on the rock, or even worse, gotten hurt. But we applied our guide’s instruction and we finished our journey with stronger relationships than we had had before our trip.
We all go down the river of life have our struggles against the current. We need men in the raft with us and we need a good river guide. They are there to help guide us. So open up and listen up. Accept instruction and gain wisdom.
The Quality of Your Work
Do your work willingly, as though you were serving the Lord himself, and not just your earthly master. In fact, the Lord Christ is the one you are really serving, and you know that he will reward you. (Colossians 3:23-24, CEV)
A carpenter had given his employer decades of reliable service. He had been increasingly relied upon throughout the years for his knowledge and ability in virtually every aspect of home construction. One day, this, now elderly, carpenter informed his employer of his desire to retire and live a more leisurely life with his wife. The employer was understandably sad to see his longtime trusted employee, and now close friend, leave the business. He asked the carpenter if he could build just one more home as a personal favor to him. The elderly contractor reluctantly agreed, but his heart was not in it. He gave poor effort to his work and used inferior materials throughout the entire project. He cut corners and left several areas incomplete. It was a shameful way to end his career.
When the carpenter had finished his work the builder came to inspect the house. Then he handed the carpenter the keys to the front door. He said, “You have been loyal to me and have given me many years of hard work. Now, I am giving you this house.” The carpenter was shocked at first, then ashamed. Had he only known that his last project would be the most personal of them all he would have done everything much differently. Now, he must live the rest of his life in the home he had built half-heartedly, reminded of his poor craftsmanship everywhere he looks.
We build our lives in much the same way a carpenter would build a house. This life is the only chance we have to build properly. We must be diligent and give our very best effort each day. Our life today is the result of our actions and attitudes of yesterday, and our life tomorrow will be the result of our actions and attitudes of today. Build wisely my friend.
The Real Deal
Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” (John 18:37-38, ESV)
Coca-ColaTM has had multiple advertising slogans over the years. In the United States alone, they have launched six slogan campaigns to capitalize on the human need for authenticity. In the past fifty years, these “Real Deal” slogans were: “It’s the Real Thing” (1969), “Look for the Real Things” (1974), “America’s Real Choice” (1985), “Can’t Beat the Real Thing” (1991), “Real” (2003), and “Make It Real” (2005). There is something engrained in all of us that longs for the Truth, but it’s up to us to seek and accept that Truth as He has been revealed.
Pilate was staring at the Truth, face to face, but didn’t recognize Him because he was not seeking Him. God reveals Himself to those that truly seek Him. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. (Psalm 14:2, ESV) If you are seeking the truth, God will reveal Himself to you. But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29, ESV) The only truth is Christ, and He does not need a slogan or salesperson. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6, ESV) He is the real deal.
Your Proclamation
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, (Acts 4:29, ESV)
Some of the most powerful moments in which we proclaim the hope and saving grace of Jesus Christ come when we are at our absolute worst. Bad days are a certainty in this life, and they seem to have no purpose while we are trudging along through them, but it is in those really bad days that we have the best opportunity to become shining examples of Christ. It is in the really awful times that people who may not know the Lord will be paying particular attention to how we represent Him- how we proclaim Him.
There is a quote from Francis of Assisi that describes effectively proclaiming Christ, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and occasionally use words.” In other word, live your faith. We do not have what it takes to be this example on our own. It is only through the Holy Spirit that we have the strength to overcome our deepest temptations, passions, reactions and bents. When we are at our worst and want to completely lose control and break down, we actually could be ministering to people. That is when our misery becomes our ministry.
The brief moments in which we interact with people on the worst days of our lives may very well be the only moments these people have a chance to see Jesus. What a terrible disservice I have done to proclaim the love, joy, peace, patience, and grace of Jesus Christ on my worst days. Take a few moments today and reflect on how powerfully you can represent Jesus to someone watching how you handle a bad day. What’s your proclamation?