Month: October 2023

The Implications of Living in God’s Love pt. 3 

Old Testament: Jeremiah 35 & 36

Poetry: Proverbs 21

New Testament: 1 John 4

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4:18 

Implication #3: we don’t have to live in fear 

What is fear? 

Fear is often ugly, manifesting itself in ways that harm our sense of peace. Anxiety, worry, and terror are all results of fear hampering our mental health. What is not mentioned often (or, maybe I just don’t hear it) is that our spiritual health plays an essential role in fear’s impact on our lives. I think fear is generally caused by not knowing (with certainty) what is going to happen, what has happened, or what is happening. We worry after an autopsy is performed because we don’t know if the doctor will come back with “cancer” or “not cancer”. We stress when we cannot get in contact with our spouse because of what may or may not have happened to them while they were running errands. And we are terrorized by the creaking we hear in the ceiling above because we’re unsure of what it could be. In all these things, there is fear in not knowing.  

Love and fear 

Perhaps thinking about fear in this way will help unlock John’s meaning behind the phrase “perfect (or, complete) love casts out fear”. The beloved disciple tells us that fear is related to punishment and, particularly, within the context of this section of the letter, punishment on the day of judgment. So, the fear is not knowing “will I be punished, or will I be rewarded?”. Contemplating the difference between everlasting life versus everlasting death seems like a perfectly reasonable motive for fear. John, I think, recognizes this, which is why he wanted to assure his readers that there is no need to fear for the ones who are children of God, which is to say, the ones who love one another. Those who love one another are the ones who have understood and embraced the love of God. Only because God first loved us can we love Him and each other in the way commanded by Jesus. It is because of this love that God showed us that we can know there is no punishment for those who know Him—that is, those who have embraced Him, His son, and have His spirit working through them).  

Doesn’t stop at fear of punishment 

But not being afraid of judgment day is only part of the story. We can live life without fear and its many manifestations. As Paul says in one of his letters, there can be a peace beyond comprehension. It seems easy to have peace when everything is going right for us, but it is quite rare for this state of serenity to last for more than a few moments. The real trick is to have peace at all times despite what is going on around you, despite not knowing everything that has happened, is happening, or will happen. The key is abiding in and trusting the One who made all things and will, through His son, make all things new.   

For the one who believes and lives in the love of God, there is no fear because they know that God is going to one day redeem this broken world and that even if they suffer here and now, the never-ending glory experienced in the redeemed world will make anything faced now blur from focus and memory. What many of us fear now will have no power when one has placed their hope and life in the hands of a loving Father. The mark of a fearless child of God is that they love one another. If you aren’t yet living without fear, worry, or anxiety, it seems like John would suggest it is because you haven’t yet truly known the love of God and begun to live in that love and live it out. If that’s the case, return to the gospel written by the beloved disciple (John) and read of the one who reveals God’s great love for us. 

-Joel Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. What impact has fear had on your life? How have you let it control what you do or don’t do?
  2. How has God given us an example of how to love? What does it mean to you that He loved you first?
  3. The end of 1 John 4 says we can’t love God and hate our brother. How can you show better love for all your brothers and sisters? Who in particular do you need to love better?
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The Implications of Living in God’s Love pt. 2 

Old Testament: Jeremiah 33 & 34

Poetry: Proverbs 20

New Testament: 1 John 3

“For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” 1 John 3:11 

Implication #2: we must love one another 

Children of God 

There is an expression you may have heard that goes something like “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”, which is usually used to mean that a son is quite like their father in one or many ways. Sometimes it is used to praise someone who has shown virtue, other times it is used to lament how vices are handed down like heirlooms no one wants. John, similarly, calls those who have virtue from living in the love of God, children of God.  

As we can see from 1 John 3:1 and will see again tomorrow in 4:19, God’s love initiates our ability to be His children. God loves us, calls us to become a part of His family, and leaves it to us to respond positively to this call or to reject it. When we accept this call, we are not immediately transformed into a full-fledged twin of Jesus (the perfect son of God). As John points out in 3:2 what we will look like once God’s love has completed its work in us is not known. We have only seen God through mediators. One day that will change, and we will be like Him–which is an exciting and terrifying notion.  

In the meantime 

While we don’t know what we will be like in the future, John tells us what the love of God means for how we live now. We are to love one another. At the very least this means we must love those who are within the body of Christ. Some would like us to stop there. At times it seems an insurmountable challenge. However, an argument could be made and perhaps should be made that the child of God should love everyone. This is the view I hold. To paraphrase Jesus: “even the wicked take care of their own” (Matthew 5:47). The follower of Christ, however, is to love everyone. After all, God causes the sun to shine on the good and the bad (Matthew 5:45) and Christ died to save those who needed saving—that is to say, EVERYONE.  

The question of how to love 

Once one becomes a Christian and understands the need to love, the necessary question of how to love will follow. John anticipates this question and gives the answer: love how Jesus taught to love (3:23). When we love the way Jesus taught (and how he himself loved), it will show that we are the children of God and will keep us abiding in God.  

The question of how we can possibly love like Jesus 

Knowing that we should love like Jesus will not mean that we will love like Jesus. In fact, simply trying to do so will only lead to the frustrating realization that we can’t. That is to say, the apprentice will never be able to outdo the master so long as they remain an apprentice. Maybe thinking about it this way isn’t helpful since it seems hard to believe we will ever reach the same level of righteousness as Jesus–at least not while the world is still unredeemed. Maybe this is why John mentions the bit about not knowing what we will be. However, John does hint at how we can love in the way Jesus did: by the spirit of God within us. Only when we have the spirit of God working through us can we love as Jesus loved. This is the only way we can love our neighbors, love our enemies, and love our brothers and sisters in Christ.  

There’s one more implication of living in God’s love I want to mention, but it will have to wait until tomorrow.  

-Joel Fletcher

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The Implications of Living in God’s Love pt. 1 

Old Testament: Jeremiah 31 & 32

Poetry: Proverbs 19

New Testament: 1 John 2

 “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5, ESV). 

First implication: we cannot love the world.  

Light and darkness

Light and dark have often been used metaphorically to distinguish between two diametrically opposed entities, such as good and evil. Sometimes, they are used to show a balance of two necessary things (i.e., yin and yang in Chinese philosophy). In the case of John’s first letter, however, it is a dividing line that cannot be crossed. If you love God, who is light, you cannot love the world, which is in darkness.  

Walking in the darkness 

What comes to mind when I think of walking in the darkness is trying to navigate the toy-laden path from the bedroom to the kitchen in the middle of the night. To use the metaphor of a minefield may be extreme but it captures the dangers inherent in the trek. Children love to lay stumbling blocks in their parents’ path (sometimes, they are literally blocks–the kind with sharp corners). The obstacles are only easily avoided with the help of a light. And so it is with the stumbling blocks we face in life. The Greek word skandalon found in John 2:10 may not have an etymological connection to our modern word scandal (though I would guess it does), it does speak to the dangers of loving the world. When we pursue the things the world says are inherently desirable (i.e., money, pleasure, comfort) without reservation, we can find ourselves tripped up and in a scandal.  

The importance of light 

This is why it is essential to have a handy flashlight when traversing the minefields of the unlit basement floor and to live with the enlightenment of God’s spirit while wandering as sojourners in the trap-laden lands in which we live. When we live in the love of God–that is, when we’re walking in the light, when we’re abiding (or, remaining) in God, and when we’re following the commands of His son (namely, loving one another), we can avoid the dangerous stumbling blocks that cause scandal.  

-Joel Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. Contrast God and the world. List 5-10 character traits of each. How do you know which you are loving and following?
  2. Have you ever found yourself walking in spiritual blindness? What helped you see the light? What are some of the best ways to ensure you are walking in the light, not the darkness?
  3. What can you do to add a bit of God’s light for someone you know walking in darkness?
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A Proverb a Day Keeps the Folly at Bay #3

Old Testament: Jeremiah 29 & 30

Poetry: Proverbs 18

New Testament: 1 John 1

Today is the final day we’re digging deep into a single Proverb. One of the wonderful things about Proverbs is that each verse can get us thinking about things that are nowhere to be found in the text–it pushes our attention beyond what is written. This one (Proverbs 18:11, ESV) says that “[a] rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.” On the surface, Solomon seems to suggest that a person who has gained wealth has put themselves in a good position–setting themselves up for a life free from worry. But is this what Solomon was getting at and is this how we should view wealth?  

What is often overlooked about money is why it is valuable. The currency we hold on paper, plastic, or even digitally gives us power–the ability to buy things we need to survive and things we want to have for a more pleasing life. If money didn’t give us this power, we wouldn’t want it. There are still societies today that do not use money as we know it, where people use other means to exchange things for survival. But if you are reading this, you are likely in the wealthy half of the world and money is an important part of how your life runs–so, you need to know how to use this thing that gives you the power to live in the 21st century.  

We seem to take it for granted that having money allows us to live without worrying about where our food and water will come from. This speaks to the vast difference between our day and Solomon’s. Back then, when there was a famine, almost everyone had to deal with it. Now, if you are lucky enough to live in a country like the US, you may not even notice or care how crops do from one year to the next–it doesn’t really affect you. Our money offers a sort of protection against the worry that has absorbed most of human history and still does in many parts of the world today. Perhaps this is what Solomon meant about wealth being a strong city: its protection. 

But as one can see throughout history, strong cities often fall (however surprising their downfalls seem in the heights of their power). This brings us to consider Solomon’s words from another angle. No matter how much comfort and security our money may give us, it could be gone in a moment–our grasp on our wealth is weak. But this doesn’t have to be a scary thing for us. It could be liberating. It could be the catalyst to pursue that which isn’t fragile–something strong, enduring, made to last. Where do we find such a thing?  

There are several of Jesus’ teachings on money recorded in the Gospels that reflect the disadvantages of trusting in wealth. The most important teachings, I think, are about what we should value instead of money. In the sixth chapter of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples not to store up treasures here on earth, that they can only serve one master (or become double-minded), and that they shouldn’t be worried about all the things they need money to buy. Instead, he tells them that they should have treasure in Heaven, and that they should seek after the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. If they do, they won’t have to worry about other things (the things people usually worry about).   

When we take the words of Jesus and Solomon together, a clearer picture of wealth begins to develop. Sure, money can do a lot of things for us–it can generally grant security and peace of mind for a moment–but it is still fragile. It can be compared to a magnificent city. In our imagination, we can envision it as a high wall. But walls crumble and cities fall–often rapidly and without much warning. We may think our money can keep us safe, but without warning that could change. We must find something else to put our trust in, we must find something else that isn’t prone to the same weaknesses as cash. Inflation may affect the purchasing power of a dollar, but it cannot affect the power of the kingdom of God. Nothing can and nothing will shake the kingdom of God—if we trust in it and not our money, fear won’t shake us either.   

-Joel Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. What gives you security? What do you put your trust in?
  2. What are the dangers of putting your trust in your money?
  3. What other Proverbs and Biblical teachings come to mind regarding what view we should take towards money and how we should use it?
  4. What do you know about God and His Kingdom that you can trust in?
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A Proverb a Day Keeps the Folly at Bay #2

Old Testament: Jeremiah 27 & 28

Poetry: Proverbs 17

New Testament: 1st, 2nd & 3rd John Intro – found below

 

Today is the second of a three-day exploration of single-proverb contemplation. This time we will be considering Proverbs 17:9, which reads in the ESV, “[w]hoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.”  

There are basically two responses to the wrongdoing of your friend. You can, as they say in Brooklyn, “forget about it” or you can act in the same way one’s credit report does—that is, holding every delinquent payment against them. Friendships are meant to last but cannot if they are a score-keeping struggle. There will always be disparities, but the goal is not to get even. The goal is to give your best. If you are worried that the other person isn’t putting in the same amount of effort as you, sure, you could bring it up, but it is not necessarily what’s best for your relationship. So, what is? 

Paul explains in his first letter to the Christians in Corinth that true love doesn’t keep a record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5). For the Christian, it cannot be that we hold the mistakes of our brothers and sisters over their heads. Does this mean that we shouldn’t hold people accountable for their actions? Certainly not. This verse speaks to a healthy Christian relationship. In a healthy relationship, the two parties will not be engaged in constant offenses against one another. When this happens, the relationship cannot be defined as healthy and will not likely be a relationship for much longer if the problems are not acknowledged and addressed. To keep a healthy relationship healthy, each person must make a habit of not bringing up the mistakes the other has made.  

If someone is constantly causing offense against you, perhaps the best thing to do is withdraw. Especially in cases where there is violence (physical or verbal), the victim should not pretend like nothing wrong is happening. I pray you never find yourself in a violent relationship. This advice is not for such cases. When the other person is causing you great fear, seek help.  

If you find yourself continually bringing up a friend’s (or, spouse’s) wrongdoing, ask yourself why you keep doing it. Do you think that relationships are supposed to be (or, that it’s even possible for them to be) even, 50/50? Are your own insecurities leading you to point out flaws in others to make you feel better about yourself? Could you be worried that the hurt from your past will repeat itself in the future? Whatever may be the reason you keep bringing up your friend’s past mistakes, it cannot continue if you want the relationship to. There may be some difficult conversations that need to take place, but a little difficulty now is worth the chance of saving a relationship, making it stronger, or even changing the type of relationship it is (if it’s for the best). Relationships cannot flourish if one or both parties are holding on to the hurts of the past. Forgiveness is essential for relationships with others. When we bring up hurt, we are showing that we’re still holding on to offense and maybe haven’t forgiven the other person.  

If you are the one in the relationship whose action keeps getting brought up – be sure that those actions that are mentioned aren’t something you keep doing. If you keep doing something harmful maybe you shouldn’t be surprised if a human being with feelings keeps bringing it up. If it is something for which the other person has supposedly forgiven you, but they won’t let you forget it, let them know that their continuing to mention it is hurting you and making you feel like they haven’t really forgiven you. This may be a tough conversation. Perhaps the other person doesn’t realize that it hurts you (hopefully, they don’t realize it). But make sure it doesn’t become a score-keeping battle. It is entirely possible that you don’t realize you’re doing the same thing to them. Make sure you are aware of how you are speaking to them and how it is affecting them. And always remember that love covers a multitude of sin (1 Peter 4:8).  

-Joel Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. Think of a time when someone could have brought up one of your past mistakes but didn’t, how did it make you feel?
  2. Do you sometimes think of some of your relationships as a score-keeping battle? Why is this harmful? What is a better view? And how can you remind yourself of this when you slip back into score-keeping mode?

1 – 3 John Introduction

First, Second, and Third John were written by “the elder”, who is believed to be John, the son of Zebedee, the disciple Jesus loved.  This is the same John who wrote the gospel of John and the book of Revelation.

John started out his message explaining that he saw, heard, and touched Jesus, and wanted to bring the next generation of believers into fellowship with “us” (apostles? believers?), and into fellowship with God and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

The two overriding themes of the three books are:  Love, and beware of false teachings.

John explained that God is light, and that people need to walk in the light by obeying Jesus’ commands.  He echoed Jesus’ command that believers should love God and should love one another.  And warned believers not to love the world, because the world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

John also warned the church to beware of false teachers who deny that Jesus is the Christ (messiah), trying to lead people away from the truth.  He warned that false prophets did not acknowledge that Jesus had come in the flesh – this is the spirit of antichrist.  John urged believers to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the  world.”

He pointed out the great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God.  He wrote, “this is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

Continuing on the theme of love, John wrote, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

In his conclusion to the book of First John, John wrote, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

-Steve Mattison

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A Proverb a Day Keeps the Folly at Bay #1

Old Testament: Jeremiah 25-26

Poetry: Proverbs 16

New Testament: 2 Peter 3

Over the next few days, I’d like the reader to notice how much wisdom is condensed in each of Solomon’s pithy proverbs and how they can help us live better. Sound good? When looking at the Proverbs (or any Old Testament passage), we must always remember that, though these passages were written before Jesus was born, it is both appropriate and beneficial to interpret and apply the passages to our lives in light of the revelation of God’s son. Each time you read a passage in Proverbs, consider taking a deeper dive into just one verse to see how the reflections of someone a few thousand years removed from our modern context can still have relevance to our plight in this broken world.  

The proverb I want to consider and meditate on today is Proverbs 16:22, which in the English Standard Version goes like this:  

“Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly.” 

I’m not sure if good sense has ever really been common or if “common sense” is what Solomon would consider good. From my perspective (maybe I’m just getting old and crotchety at 29), there isn’t much good sense flowing freely in our society–just turn on the TV or scroll down your social media feed. There is some, however, and where it is found, it is like a fountain flowing within an oasis in a barren, desert land.  

I’ve heard (though I can’t remember where) that most people who get behind the wheel of a car (the number I heard was above 90%) in both this country (USA) and in the land of our cousins across the pond (GB) believe themselves to be above-average drivers. If you consider this for a moment, you will realize how absurd this is. I think most people (I would guess north of 90%) have at least a small blind spot in their relationship to reality. I know I have at times overestimated my ability to maneuver a motor vehicle at high speeds (no accidents, yet…not a high speed, anyway).  

This inability to see ourselves in relation to the world clearly could be called folly, while the ability to do so can be deemed wisdom. The wise person, who has good sense, will receive instruction, discipline, and correction as a means of growth. The foolish person, who has a lack of sense, will see things such as teaching, reproof, and direction as an unnecessary waste of time, something only for those who “need” it. Because of this, the wise will continue to flourish like a tree soaking in the life it receives from water and nutrients, while the folly of the fool will ensure the continued degradation of their weakly rooted weed–that is, their inner life. 

This proverb takes on a new meaning in light of the Good news. Jesus gives living water and refreshes and restores those who have the good sense to recognize their need for him. Despite our lack of self-awareness, if we turn our attention to Jesus–that is, if we are aware of our need for his help, mercy, and kindness, we can drink from the fountain of life in a new sense (in the best sense). To see Jesus and not recognize our need for him as Savior is the highest form of folly. Exercise good sense and drink the water that satisfies like nothing else.  

-Joel Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your own “good sense”? How do you think those who know you well would rate you? Are there any specific areas where you might benefit from a more accurate view of yourself and reality?
  2. Do you recognize your need for Jesus to be your Savior? If so, how would you explain it to someone who didn’t?
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The Good, the Bad, and The Humble

Old Testament: Jeremiah 23 & 24

Poetry: Proverbs 15

New Testament: 2 Peter 2

“For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.” 

2 Peter 2:21 (ESV)  

An idea stitched through today’s readings is that the God of Heaven prefers human behavior that is good and has an aversion to human behavior that is bad (to put it mildly). The Maker of mankind pays attention to both the wicked and the righteous (Proverbs 15:3). God sees all that happens on earth and, although all bad is wrong from His perspective, there seems to be a certain kind of action that uniquely draws His ire: people, who “speak on behalf of God”, using their influence to persuade others to evil–such people are called false prophets and false teachers (Jeremiah 23:16-17, 2 Peter 2:1). How do we avoid becoming like these people and live in a way that pleases our Maker? 

Looking through the whole of scripture, one will discover that nearly all the people God employed for His purposes displayed humility (or were first humbled), while those whom God rejected or stopped using were dragged down by pride. When Jesus ministered in Judea and the surrounding regions, he embraced people who were stereotypically seen as bad (or, unrighteous) and opposed those who were known (and self-described) as good (or, righteous). While it is true that those whom Jesus befriended did bad things and those whom Jesus antagonized did good things, the defining distinction between the two was humility (in the former) and pride (in the latter).  

The religious leaders of first-century Jerusalem saw themselves as righteous men who had things figured out–they needed no one to save them. The outcasts, meanwhile, longed for salvation–both from the Roman overlords and their own sinfulness. In other words, the people who embraced Jesus saw him as a doctor and themselves as the sick, while those who rejected him, saw Jesus as an instigator and themselves as the people preserving the peace. If one denies they have a problem, one cannot get the help needed.  

There is a conundrum for the Christian: we are called to do good works (Ephesians 2:10) and to represent Christ on God’s behalf (2 Corinthians 5:10), but we are also warned that one who has claimed to be a Christian (maybe even one who has been an effective evangelist) can come to a place where, because of their pride, it would have been better if they had “never known the way of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:21). How do we avoid this state, while being faithful to our calling? 

From what I see from scripture, the best antidote to getting on God’s bad side is to live in, with, and by humility. First, by fearing, above all (with reverence, awe, and worship) Yahweh. Second, by recognizing Jesus as the only way to the Father, to life eternal, and to the good life. Third, by recognizing that, while this knowledge radically changes lives, it doesn’t make one superior to anyone else. 

You can, with great fervor, study your Bible for countless hours every day, and do all the spiritual practices prescribed or implied by the text, but it won’t make you any better off…unless you are aware and live as though you need a doctor and view Jesus as that doctor. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day didn’t recognize the great physician because they didn’t acknowledge their sickness. If we want to make sure we don’t go down that same dead-end road, if we don’t want to get scolded or labeled as a false teacher, we must take our humble medicine every day.  

-Joel Fletcher

Joel Fletcher lives in Minnesota with his wife and two small children. He is involved with youth group and worship music at Pine Grove Bible Church.  

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you realize your need for a doctor and Savior? How does Jesus provide what you need?
  2. What happens to those who once knew they needed Jesus, but then are puffed up with pride and go their own way?
  3. What steps can you take to stay humble (or first become humble)? In what areas of your life do you most frequently run into the problem of pride? How can knowing this help you in the future?
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No One Who Does Good

Old Testament: Jeremiah 21 & 22

Poetry: Proverbs 14 – and today’s devotion on Psalm 14

New Testament: 2 Peter 1

The most humbling truth of the Bible is described in Psalm 14: every single person has turned aside from God and falls short of doing good (verse 1-3). God is looking down from His heavenly throne, desperately seeking for one person that will listen to Him perfectly, and yet, we have all failed. Even though we have tried, there is something about humanity ever since the Fall in the Garden of Eden that is inclined to pursue the opposite of what God wants. Even though He has clearly told us what we are supposed to do, we are unable to do it. So how can we have any shot at being in God’s Kingdom?

The gospel is everything: the good news tells us that Jesus is the person God has been looking for all along. He obeyed his Father perfectly, all the way to the cross. Now, he is raised to immortal life and seated at God’s right hand. He now pours out God’s Spirit on his followers, granting them the ability to live like he did, in complete obedience to his God. The gospel teaches us that it is only through Jesus that we can be redeemed, since there is no one else who does good (see also Acts 4:12).

The fool of this age not only rejects the existence of God, but also the grace of this God found in Jesus Christ. It is just as foolish to think that we can be pleasing to God apart from Jesus, as it is foolish to think that God doesn’t exist at all. The gospel tells us that we are completely incapable as people to do the will of God: we absolutely need Jesus in every single way. Without him, we remain to be enemies of our God, acting against His will (Romans 5:10).

Brothers and sisters, humble yourselves today, accepting the reality that we are broken, sinful, and unable to do anything pleasing to our Father. But now rejoice, because that same Father we have let down over and over again allowed Jesus to die in our place, taking the penalty we deserve. By the power of God’s Spirit, we can now do what God wants, since we are new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17). Despite our sinfulness, our God loved us enough to give us another chance through Jesus. Don’t be foolish like the world: take that chance today.

-Talon Paul

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God want you and I to live this week?
  2. How is it only possible through Jesus Christ?
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How Long, Lord?

Old Testament: Jeremiah 19 & 20

Poetry: Proverbs 13 & today’s devotion on Psalm 13

New Testament: 1 Peter 5

I am not a very patient person, and I don’t believe we are very patient people sometimes, especially in America. We want instant gratification for our efforts and results for all of our hard work. If you don’t believe me, let me ask you a simple question: “How long are you willing to wait in the McDonald’s drive-thru?” If we are being honest, if we have to wait any longer than 5 minutes for fast food, we are getting a little frustrated. If we are approaching 10 minutes, we consider new options that will be faster. We want what we want now, and we don’t want to wait to receive it.

However, there are many times in life when patience is required. That is the case for the Psalmist in Psalm 13, who is crying out to God, “How long?” The Psalmist is struggling with something or someone and feels like God is blatantly ignoring him. He demands that God come and answer him for his sorrows, or he might as well die (similar to Job’s story in the previous book). The Psalmist doesn’t want to wait for God to answer; he wants an answer now. But he ultimately trusts that God will be good to him, despite what is happening (verse 5-6). Even though he doesn’t get an answer, the Psalmist rejoices that God is still good above all else.

I had a friend from Kenya named Grace that would always tell me not to worry, because God is still good. She was with me in central Atlanta when a head-gasket blew on my car and I said some not-so-good words in frustration. I was fuming mad, unsure of how I was going to get back to my apartment a half-hour away. Yet, she turned to me in my anger and said, “God is still good”, creating a sense of peace in this moment of discouragement. (A tow truck showed up shortly afterwards to help us move my car back to McDonough). Although I felt like God was either punishing me for something, or simply ignoring my predicament, I had peace thanks to a good friend who reminded me of what the Psalmist knew: God is still good. Brothers and sisters, although you may be struggling right now and facing some difficult circumstances, we can still rejoice in knowing that our God is still good. We need to make it a priority to “cast all of our anxiety on Him” (1 Peter 5:7), and simply trust that He will deal bountifully with us. Will you put your trust in God’s goodness today, despite your circumstances?

-Talon Paul

Reflection Questions

  1. What do you remember waiting for, for a long time? Was the waiting worth it in the end? How patient were you while you were waiting?
  2. Have you ever felt forgotten by God? Why might the Lord make us wait?
  3. In what ways can we share the message that God is still good – even when we are waiting?
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Voice of Truth

Old Testament: Jeremiah 17 & 18

Poetry: Proverbs 12 and today’s Devotion on Psalm 12

New Testament: 1 Peter 4

One of my favorite Christian songs of all time is “Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns. In this song, the band talks about choosing to listen to the voice of Jesus out of all the different voices calling out to them. Although those voices keep laughing at us, reminding us of all the times we’ve failed before, and saying that we will never be enough, Jesus says something different. Jesus tells us that we are strong with his God, that we are forgiven, and that we don’t need to be afraid. Everything that happens to us is only for his glory and the glory of his God, and we just need to listen to what he says.

Psalm 12 talks about two different voices that are shouting at King David: the wicked who flatter themselves and destroy God’s people, and the pure voice of the one true God that is like silver. King David stands in the middle and must make a choice: will he listen to voices of wicked, powerful forces that tear him down, or the voice of God that promises to preserve and keep him forever (verse 7)? King David makes the right call and follows after God’s voice, resulting in him being saved from those forces surrounding him (verse 5).

We also have a choice to make: what voice is shouting loudest at you? There are many voices around you that will claim that you are not good enough, are a failure, are ugly, or worthless. Every single person has these voices surrounding them, sometimes coming from mean people or from ourselves. However, our God through Jesus tells us that we are precious, worthy, and loved. There is nothing that will be able to separate us from God’s love in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:38-39), if we will just listen and trust in that great voice over the others. We can have rest, assurance, peace, and joy if we listen to the voice saying, “You’re my son/daughter: I love YOU”.

Brothers and sisters, you are more loved than you can imagine. Although you have people saying horrible things about you, and may be saying horrible things to yourself, you are a child of the one true God: you have value, purpose, and a family. Please find hope and encouragement today in knowing that this Voice is greater than all the rest and speaks the truth.

-Talon Paul

Reflection Questions

  1. What lies about yourself have you heard, and sometimes believed, from others or from yourself? Why are they wrong? Why are they harmful?
  2. What does God say about you and His love? What is Jesus’ role in sharing God’s love and truth?
  3. How can you listen LESS to the lies and MORE to the truth?
  4. How can you help carry God’s words of truth and worth to those who are listening to lies?
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