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Morning Devotion: Stopping the excuses

Jan 27th, 2012 by admin

Exodus 4 is a study of excuse-making.

Moses didn’t want to do God’s will in Egypt.

For a variety of reasons.

He was gripped by fear of failure.

He was gripped by fear of “payback” by Egyptian leaders who wanted to kill him because his murderous act 40 years earlier.

He was gripped by fear of rejection by the Hebrews to which God was sending him. Remember, Moses killed an Egyptian slavemaster to defend a Hebrew and yet was scorned by Hebrews as a result.

There were other fears, but this list makes the point.

Moses kept making excuses because he lacked confidence in God and in himself.

Fortunately, when Moses finally surrendered to God’s will, the plan of God worked out in an amazing way.

It’s likely that in some way, God has been calling us to being His tools for deliverance of people in bondage.

Perhaps the one in bondage is a co-worker who once attended church but has dropped out.

Perhaps the one in bondage is a relative who was an active volunteer but now only attends worship randomly.

Perhaps it is an adult child that dropped out of church during the late teen and college years and has not found his or her way back.

Are we making excuses?

Are we afraid of failing in our effort to bring them back to God’s pasture?

Listen, if our fear is related to the unfinished business of accepting responsibility for our bad choices that people know about, then we need to humbly confess our wrongs and ask forgiveness.

If our fears are related to not sounding eloquent in front of relatives and friends, then we need to understand that people won’t make life change based on our eloquence but instead on the clarity of God’s love and Truth shared through imperfect yet humble Christians.

And it’s entirely appropriate to ask for help in getting that Word across to others. Moses had Aaron for speaking help and we can ask God to send a verbal helper to us in the form of a pastor or elder or deacon or Sunday school teacher or other mature Christian friend.

We CAN resist making excuses for not making a difference in another’s life.

We just have to make up our minds to do so with God’s help.

As always, I love you
Martin

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Morning Devotion: Trust that won’t disappoint

Jan 26th, 2012 by admin

For most issues in life, we trust in the competency of those with whom we’re dealing, whether it be a medical professional or a banking associate or restaurant chef or an auto mechanic or any other service provider.

But when push comes to shove and it seems like we’re teetering on the precipice of physical or emotional or financial disaster, counting on a professional — or even ourselves — is not enough.

There are some deliverance levers that people aren’t big enough pull.

That’s when we need God’s help in a most defining way.

I was reminded this morning of how God has repeatedly helped me in ways that people could not.

In deeply personal and painful situations that I could not resolve on my own or with human help alone, God was my everpresent help in times of trouble.

He did for me what I could not do for myself.

His intervention was not always according to my timetable, but when intercession occurred according to His timetable, it was all good.

And it continues to be.

I trusted Him and He did not disappoint me.

This compelling truth has sustained me during several episodes of extended and uncomfortable “waiting on the Lord.”

True to His Word, He has not left me nor forsaken me.

This is the promise that comforted King David during a terribly difficult time of his reign. Though his earthly prospects were quite gloomy at the time, David knew that God wasn’t done working in his situation.

He knew that God had rescued the children of Israel during their tough times in the wilderness and that the same God loved him and, in His time, would deliver him into a better situation.

“…in you they trusted and were not disappointed.” (Psalm 22:5)

This is what David remembered.

This is what comforted him and strengthened him.

And this fact of history can comfort and strengthen us.

Listen, trust in God NEVER disappoints as long as we remember that it is God’s timetable that counts, not ours.

Keep trusting God in the storms and in the deserts and in the darkness and in the conflicts, my friend.

You won’t be disappointed.

As always, I love you
Martin

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Morning Devotion: Glad to be a prince

Jan 25th, 2012 by admin

I’m glad that God’s love and rich promises aren’t just for A-list people.

From the time we’re little kids, we see how society shows favoritism to the beautiful people, the wealthy people, the athletic people and, begrudgingly, to the manipulatively violent people.

Average people or those deemed as marginal by society? Sorry, Charlie, to quote an old tuna can commercial.

In God’s Kingdom, though, we’re not valued based on the above. Instead, we’re all valued the same and it’s proven by the price that God paid for each soul’s opportunity for redemption. That price, of course, was the blood of Jesus spilled on the cross of Calvary.

Because God loves us equally, even when we don’t equally love Him back, we have equal access to the promised blessings available to those choosing to be in His family.

Here’s a passage from today’s Bible reading that spoke specifically of King David’s blessings, but the promise described is available to each believer. And that gives me the double blessing of great, personal confidence and a great message to share with those not yet in God’s family.

“He asked you for life, and you gave it to him— length of days, for ever and ever. Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.” (Psalm 21:4-7)

Look at these rich promises that came to one who saw God as the Source for a better life:

  • life forever
  • victories over obstacles
  • peer admiration
  • persistent blessings
  • joy in the relationship with God
  • solid, unshakeable trust in a perfect Father

These aren’t just for earthly kings. Because Christians are in God’s family, we’re all princes and princesses when it comes to the blessings of being in the truly Royal family.

I’m glad that I’m on God’s A-list. I’m sure that you are, too.

Let’s do all that we can today to show Him and others how grateful we are for these blessings. And then let’s encourage others to seek the same.

As always, I love you
Martin

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Morning Devotion: Beware of rabid wolves

Jan 24th, 2012 by admin

Proverbs 4:23 says that “above all else,” we are to guard our hearts.

Why? “For everything you do flows from it.”

That’s quite a statement.

Everything?

Yes.

The words we speak are the overflow of the heart, Jesus said (Luke 6:45).

Our resistence to sin is based on the amount of scripture we hide in our hearts, Solomon said (Psalm 119:11)

Our greatest gift to God is a heart desiring to walk in His Word with patience in order to exalt God’s name and influence in the world (Isaiah 26:8).

Listen, no good father would knowingly allow a rabid, wild animal into his family’s home. Whatever it took to keep that threat away is what he would do because he knows that a potentially deadly bite can’t be undone.

Satan is a prowling wolf, my friend. His bite is rabid to the soul.

Guard your heart by equipping yourself with the armor of faith described in Ephesians 6:10-17. Do all that you can to equip your loved ones with that same armor.

Build up the walls of your faith fortress by learning and leaning upon the Word day after day after day.

And remember this, bad company corrupts good character (I Cor. 15:33).

Yes, acquaintances happen. But friendships occur by choice.

So, choose friends wisely.

I’ve seen too many times the horrible damage caused in many lives by poor choices of friends.

Please, choose friends that won’t pull you away from the choice of growing faith, but instead will encourage you toward it.

As always, I love you
Martin

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Morning Devotion: Out of the shadows

Jan 23rd, 2012 by admin

Successful athletes want to do more than just wear the uniform.

They want to win. And that requires a constant push toward the limits of personal potential.

In fact, the difference between a so-so athlete and the excelling athlete is most often the willingness to put in whatever amount of work — and personal discomfort — that might be required.

I saw this principle this morning embedded within a passage that was part of my daily Bible reading.

“The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” (Proverbs 4:18)

The more prominent the position of the sun in the sky, the brighter the light that floods everything around us.

It’s the same with faith and influence. The more prominent the position of the Son in our lives, the brighter the Light that floods everything around us.

And each day should be brighter than the day before.

The righteous person doesn’t have to drag himself or herself away from the shadows in order to not be in the dark about pursuing the purposes of God.

Each day, instead, the righteous person considers how to move closer to the example — and heart — of Jesus Christ.

That’s what adds brightness to the believer’s life.

Shine more brightly this week by encouraging more people. If you recall doing so for two co-workers last week, why not make it a daily activity this week?

Shine more brightly by bringing your pride under control so that you’ll be more willing to forgive the little offenses that come your way via the careless remarks or actions of others.

Yes, it takes work to become more like Jesus. Sometimes it takes a lot of personal discomfort, particularly when we’re really tempted to cause others some personal discomfort.

But the path of the righteous is not characterized by an obsession with payback time.

Jesus had every right to lauch a massive payback flood on the people of His day.

He chose the path of righteousness to which God had called Him — to serve and to be a living sacrifice for unworthy people.

Let’s shine more brightly, my friend.

Let’s be more righteous in all aspects of our lives.

When our full light of day comes in heaven, we’ll celebrate a day that never ends.

As always, I love you
Martin

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