Tag: Christianity

The Zeal of the Lord Almighty

Isaiah 8-9

Psalm 110

Revelation 5

-Devotion by Daniel Smead (MN)

Isaiah eight and nine are sometimes seen as part of a bigger chunk in Isaiah, between his commissioning (six), and a set of oracles against nations (from thirteen on). During this time King Ahaz ruled in Judah (2 Kings 16). In 734 B.C. Judah was attacked by King Pekah of Israel (capital, Samaria) and King Rezin of Aram (capital, Damascus), who were allied against Assyria. Judah had not joined their alliance, and they may have been trying to force Judah to do so, or to remove a potential local threat. They failed to take Jerusalem (Isaiah 7:1), and afterward Isaiah met with Ahaz. Isaiah tried to convince Ahaz that if he was calm, and stood firm in faith, all would go well. In that talk Isaiah predicted the birth of Immanuel (meaning “God is with us”), as a sign related to the fall of Samaria and Damascus. We tend to think more about the second fulfillment of that prophecy which has been revealed to us, in the birth of Jesus. Ahaz simply ignored the sign, and became Assyria’s vassal.

Chapter eight predicted the birth of a son for Isaiah whose name meant “Quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil,” referring to Assyria’s soon-coming attack. In this case Isaiah said the king of Assyria would plunder Damascus and Samaria before the child could say “my father” or “my mother.” The name of the boy’s brother, which meant “A remnant will return,” offered hope that a remnant would return to the land, but it was only hope for those who first accepted the prediction of being exiled. Isaiah knew that in all this God was using his family as illustrations, he even commented: “Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel” (8:18). Isaiah kept on giving a mix of messages about current issues, and ones for centuries down the line – even prophecies that are not yet fulfilled. The fulfillment of his short-term predictions gave added weight to his words about later issues.

Several verses in the chapters are more familiar due to being quoted in the New Testament, but I want to key in on some of the best known, in Isaiah 9:6-7: “For a Child will be born to us, . . . And His name will be called . . . ” It is hard for us to imagine how the original recipients of this prophecy would have felt about it. They were being offered a ruler who would establish justice and righteousness. Someone who would be known for bringing peace. Perhaps they knew about the promise of David’s throne, and the rule of his family, lasting forever (2 Samuel 7:16) but now they are hearing that a single descendant will be able to fill that role. Through the history of Judah, the Bible’s descriptions of its kings only show about a fourth of them coming out as basically positive. The rest get negative judgments, sometimes abysmally bad. (The northern kingdom had it worse, not one of their kings ended up with a positive description. Though while kings are influential, their influence is not complete. In Elijah’s time, with very poor leadership of Israel, God reported having seven thousand in the nation who hadn’t worshipped Baal; 1 Kings 19:18.) But here we are told of a king who would be as positive as these verses declared and then never need to surrender his role.

These are beautiful, and astonishing, promises to receive in any time. They make a huge contrast with men like Ahaz, who even looted the Temple to help him pay tribute to Assyria, and busted apart its furnishings. How would all of this come about? “The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” (9:7b) Actually that statement appears twice in Isaiah, here and in 37:32, where it refers to the restoring of a remnant in the land of Judah. What is this zeal? My Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon tells me this word means “ardour, zeal, jealousy,” apparently it can be somewhat negative when used about human behavior, but has a different feel when applied to God’s actions. The definition also says “from colour produced in face by deep emotion”; we are talking about someone getting worked up about things. I like that.

How is it that the world was changed, for Isaiah 9:6-7 to come true? Because God is passionate about the Messiah.

How is it that a remnant always is restored, maintaining continuity and carrying forward the work of God’s servants? God is passionate about the people of the Messiah.

How is it that you can trust in forgiveness, renewal, being given purpose, and placed in the family of God? God is passionate about you.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the passion you have shown in reaching out to us. You took the first step – and you probably took the second as well, and maybe on through the thirtieth. There were so many things that had to be set in place for us to get to where we are, and you zealously saw to it. You put in the effort, took the time, and made the plans. You even gift us with strength to help us do our parts. You are such a blessing. Help us to approach you with freedom, and confidence. Please help us to feel a proper zeal in those areas of our lives where that is appropriate, to be strengthened with your power, guided by your wisdom, and always encouraged in your love. In the glorious name of Jesus, Amen.  

REflection Questions

  1. Do you find that it adds meaning for you to consider Old Testament prophecy alongside the history it relates to? Can you imagine receiving a similar message about current situations, and how it might be treated?
  2. For hundreds of years many people, who knew Hebrew quite well, read texts like Deuteronomy 6:4 alongside Isaiah 9:6-7 and apparently were unfazed. For them not to see a conflict does not prove what meaning any text has, but we should be able to pause before rushing into (or trying to rush someone else into) a position. What possibilities do you normally consider when confused about a scripture? (I would include even looking at multiple versions of the Bible.) Are there methods you think you should consider incorporating? Others you consider less justifiable, or off limits? In what situations would you feel that you must seek someone else to think about the text alongside?
  3. Are there areas in your life where you think you need the gift of God’s zeal? Are there any changes you need to make so that you are more ready to receive it? Who are you prepared to cooperate with, zealously?
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Insecurity and Love

Song of Songs 1-2

Psalm 106

2 John

-Devotion by Jerry Wierwille (NY)

The book Song of Songs (also known as the Song of Solomon) is one of the most beautiful and captivating books in the Bible. It is a collection of love poetry that celebrates affection, desire, beauty, commitment, and the joy of belonging to another person. Rather than treating romantic love as something embarrassing or unspiritual, Song of Songs presents it as something to be sought after, treasured, and protected.

Throughout Christian history, many believers have read Song of Songs as a figurative representation of the love between God and His people, or the love of Christ for His church. But that allegorization should not be the primary way to understand the book. Nevertheless, while we should read Song of Songs primarily as romantic poetry celebrating human love, the vivid imagery and language of longing, delight, pursuit, and belonging, though not romantic in nature, can also help us to understand the depth of affection found in our relationship with God—our love for Him and His love for us.

Song of Songs begins with a description about a deep longing. The unidentified woman figure desires the presence of the one she loves, and throughout the first chapter there is a strong sense of mutual delight between them. They speak about their admiration, affection, and tenderness toward each another. They take note of what they see as beautiful, and they are not afraid to express it.

Yet right in the midst of this jubilee of love is a hint of the woman’s insecurity. She says, “Do not stare at me because I am dark, because the sun has looked upon me” (1:6). Apparently, she is quite self-conscious about how she appears to others. She says that she works in the sun and seems aware of the fact that she has become dark because of it, and that may not fit the standards of beauty in her culture.

I think this expresses something deeply human as we all know what it is like to feel exposed, inadequate, or less than what we think others expect of us. We compare ourselves to others; we think about our weaknesses or our failures; and we often wonder whether people would still accept us if they knew everything about us.

What comes next pierces through that chatter. The response of her beloved counteracts her insecurity: “O most beautiful among women,” (1:8), and “Behold, you are beautiful, my darling!” he says (1:15). He does not respond to her insecurity by pointing out her flaws but speaks words of love, affirmation, and delight. He seeks to overwrite her negative self-image with truth. In his affirmation of her, the lover does not trivialize her mistaken view, but simply paints an entirely different picture on the canvas of her mind so that she can begin to believe a different narrative than the one she has been telling herself.

This can remind us of the way God sees us. God sees us more clearly than anyone else ever could. He knows every weakness, every hidden thought, every regret, and every place where we have failed. Yet through Christ, we are not defined by shame, guilt, and unmet expectations. Instead, we are forgiven, accepted, and brought near.

In our insecurity, we might imagine that God merely puts up with us. But we know that He loves us dearly since Scripture tells us He does. But perhaps we struggle to believe that He actually delights in us. And so, if we think about that passion and eagerness of desire that the woman and her lover express in the first chapter of Song of Songs, even though it is a picture of human love, then it can challenge us to dismiss any fictional view of God’s love that is less than the truth.

Let’s have the truth God has told us in Scripture be the narrative we believe, and not the distorted story our fears, insecurities, failures, or past experiences try to write for us. So when insecurity, shame, comparison with others, or regret begin to creep into how we see ourselves, don’t let it! Instead, allow the truth of God’s love and grace overwrite that false portrait of who we are. We are God’s beloved. And He desires us!

Reflection Questions

  1. What lies about yourself do you tell yourself? What insecurities, shame, comparison with others, and/or regret have you allowed to distort your image?
  2. Have you accepted Jesus’s sacrifice to save you? What do you think God sees when He looks at and in you? Pray for God to show you.
  3. How can you help someone else see the truth and the beauty (inside and out) God has made them to be?

Prayer

Dear God, You are worthy of all my desire and love and it boggles my mind that You indeed desire a deep relationship with me. The lengths of Your great love for me, which Your Son then learned from You, are extraordinary. Help me to see clearly who You have made and saved me to be, removing all lies, attitudes and actions that interfere with me receiving Your love, returning love back to You, and spreading Your love.

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Timing is Everything

Ecclesiastes 3-4 

Psalm 104

1 John 1

-Devotion by Paula Kirkpatrick (MN)

“Timing is everything.”  How often have you heard someone say that?  It may be a familiar phrase, but those three words hold true in many areas of life.

Baking cookies?  Take them out of the oven too soon, they fall apart.  Take them out of the oven too late, they turn black and inedible. 

In the sports world, there are plenty of examples of timing.  The baseball player stealing a base, the wide receiver catching the quarterback’s pass, the long jumper planting his takeoff foot at the exact right moment. 

Every comedian definitely realizes his joke’s punchline depends on the perfect pause to deliver its greatest impact, and hopefully a room full of laughter as well. 

God has always known that “timing is everything.”  The six days that God created the earth highlight this fact.  During the first three days of Creation, God CHANGED a dark, wet environment into a world ready for living creatures.  Each day of creation built upon the previous one, so that living vegetation, then animals, and ultimately Adam and Eve, would be able to thrive. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is an appointed time for everything.“ Verses 2-8 then give us detailed examples.

“A time to give birth and a time to die;
 A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

A time to kill and a time to heal;
 A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
 A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
 A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
 A time to keep and a time to throw away.
 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
 A time to be silent and a time to speak.
 A time to love and a time to hate;
 A time for war and a time for peace.”

There is good, there is bad; there is productive, there is destructive; there is action, there is reaction.  There is life, in all its ups and downs, each day, each event unfolding as God appointed it.  In His time. 

“He has made everything appropriate in its time.”  (Ecclesiastes 3:11a)

These are the events God has given us to occupy our lives.  We live out these events with God’s love upon us.  His love is unwavering and constant, throughout each joy and trial.

What is OUR response to our Creator, our loving Father? 

“I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 3:12,13)

Begin each new day rejoicing and striving to DO good, to SEE good in all that you do.  Our labor, our life, is a gift of God.

“I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities.” (Ecclesiastes 3:22a)

Timing is everything.  There is no better time to praise the Lord than today.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul.  Praise the Lord!  (Psalm 104:35b)

Reflection Questions

  1. Think of an event in your life when “timing was everything.”  How did it turn out? 
  2. Have you ever questioned God’s timing?  Who or what do you turn to when that happens? 

Prayer

Dear God – I praise You for being Creator, Sustainer and Sovereign. Thank You for Your perfect ways. Help me to trust You and Your timing and fully rely on You through all seasons. Whatever a day may hold, may I spend it rejoicing in You and Your faithfulness, doing good, and finding good in my labor and the gifts You have generously given.

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A Humble Shepherd Leader

Job 38-39

Psalm 102

1 Peter 5

-Devotion by J.J. Fletcher (MN) – J.J. Fletcher is a 2009 graduate of Atlanta Bible College and has been pastoring Pine Grove Bible Church  (Brooklyn Park, MN) since 2017. He has been married to Hope (Kirkpatrick) for 18 years and has 4 children.

Humility is a key trait that Peter homes in on in chapter 5. Leaders who lack humility will be ineffective and often destructive to those who are under them and to the work of the church. 

Leaders in the church need to exercise oversight of the church, but do so because they are willing to (elsewhere in Scripture we see the idea of desiring the work) and not under compulsion or for their own gain. Some people like control and attention, but that is not a godly way to view or pursue leadership. Good leaders garner the respect of those they are charged with overseeing, or shepherding, because they are looking out for the flock and are stewarding the direction of the church. Respect is not something that should be demanded or expected. Certainly, general respect for certain offices is warranted, but poor character, behavior, and leadership style can erode respect. 

Leading by example, as Peter writes, is key. It’s hard to ask people to make sacrifices if you yourself are not willing to sacrifice. People will work with you and follow you into the trenches of ministry if you are leading them into it and not simply trying to tell them what they should do.

Those who are younger, submit to the elders. Why? Because they’ve been doing life and ministry much longer and should have valuable insight that will help you mature in Christ. We may disagree on methods and approaches to ministry, but we can have conversations about why we should do some things and refrain from others. 

Submitting doesn’t just mean doing what someone else says, but can be as simple as working under someone else’s wisdom and authority, throwing ideas off them, and asking for insight and advice. A good leader is not simply going to say no to an idea, but help individuals discern the appropriateness or feasibility of an idea or ministry. Sometimes we have to say no to good ideas because of resources (money, staffing, business, etc.). 

One thing that leaders should be doing is helping people discern their spiritual gifts and guide them to appropriate roles in ministry and leadership. 

God opposes the proud. Humility is a trait that we all should strive for. After all, Jesus didn’t want to suffer, but he humbled himself to the point of death, even death on a cross, to submit to the will of God, his Father.

Reflection Questions

  1. In whom have you seen the beauty of a humble leader?
  2. Whether you are an official church leader or not, how can you approach life and others with more humility? Why do you think that is pleasing to God?
  3. How well do you submit to elders?
  4. No matter what position you do or do not hold, someone is always watching you – how can you lead by example?

Prayer

Dear God, Thank You for being a loving, guiding, providing Shepherd. Thank You for the gift of Your Son who learned from You and who took on the shepherd role even to the point of giving his life for his sheep – including me. Thank You for the humble shepherds You have supplied in my life – church and family leaders who have guided me to You. Help me to be a good and humble example in the way I live my life for You, that when the Chief Shepherd appears again I and the sheep who have followed my example will be ready for those crowns of glory.

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Above All

Job 36-37

Psalm 101

*1 Peter 4

-Devotion by J.J. Fletcher (MN)

At the beginning of chapter four Peter says to “arm yourself with the same way of thinking” aligning this directive with Jesus suffering in the flesh. While Jesus’ suffering was likely to exceed what these Christians endured, they were still facing a culture that might ostracize, if not outright persecute or kill them.


Peter points out distinctions in how the gentiles live according to the flesh (perverting many things that God intended for good), and how we as believers are to pursue the will of God – this means among other things giving up things that might feel good or make us feel like we belong.


We’ll home in on what Peter writes in verses 7-11:


“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:7–11 ESV)


Considering the coming kingdom (which is immanent, but we don’t know when it will come): Exert Self-Control! Many times, we see this attribute called for in the life of believers (at least 18 times in the ESV). Looking in the letter of James (which I preached from yesterday), lack of self-control can lead to self-deception. When we allow our thoughts to be clouded by worldly things or self-centered behaviors, we are going to miss what God would have us do. By being sober (or clear) minded we can think critically, and we need to think clearly so that we can be effective in our prayers. Jesus gave us a model by which to structure our prayers, but our prayers are not meant to be mindless or rote… We need to be looking at things through the lens of God’s spirit, which allows us to see things that our physical eyes cannot see. Think back to 1 Peter 3 where it says a man should live with his wife in an understanding way as not to have his prayers hindered – the way that we think, live, and act has a direct impact on how we pray and the effectiveness of our prayers.


We’re instructed to love one another earnestly, because love covers a multitude of sins. (Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13). “…in the face of extreme social hostility, love will be necessary for spiritual survival. For Peter the primacy of love is accompanied by a qualification, and this qualification is a partial citation of Proverbs 10:12 similar to James 5:20—’love covers over a multitude of sins,’ rather than magnifying the faults of others. After all, love is patient and doesn’t keep a record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:4, 5)” (J. Daryl Charles, “1 Peter,” in Hebrews–Revelation, vol. 13 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary Revised Edition).

How does the Church expect to thrive if we let piddly little things (or even larger disagreements) get in the way of caring for each other? How are we to expect to overcome the world through Jesus if we don’t exercise with others the grace that we have been shown (we all kind of stink at times, to put it mildly)?

We need to show hospitality in a world that is oft inhospitable to Jesus’ way of living. If we’re inhospitable to other believers, they might find hospitality in places that will draw them away from the grace of God. We shouldn’t grumble when we have an opportunity to be hospitable, but rather see it as an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus (Genesis 12 says Abraham was blessed to be a blessing, and through grace and mercy we’ve also been blessed to be a blessing as well).


In everything we do we need to do so viewing ourselves as representatives of God, as ambassadors of the kingdom, and imitators of Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:3-8).


Reflection Questions

  1. How does my life look like the life of Jesus and how does it look different?
  2. How does hospitality with fellow believers prime me to be hospitable to those who I disagree with?
  3. Am I doing well at being self-controlled? What are my biggest obstacles to living in this way? Who can I ask for help or be accountable to help me in this endeavor?

(originally posted for SeekGrowLove on Oct 10, 2022)

Prayer

Dear God, You are worthy of all my praise. Thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ. I want to become more and more like him. Show me where I fail, strengthen my self-control, guide me in thinking and doing what is right and loving better.

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Giving Grace & a Blessing

Giving Grace & a Blessing

Job 34-35

Psalm 101

1 Peter 3

-Devotion by J.J. Fletcher (MN)

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:8-12 ESV)

Much of 1st Peter has to do with our conduct: to our faith community, our family, those in authority over us, and to the world at large. Peter gives us a list of traits in 3:8 that are emblematic of who we should be as those who are in Christ.

We should be living our lives in a way that those we interact with see those encounters as a blessing. The idea of grace is key. Elsewhere in Scripture (Rom. 14, 15 and 1 Cor. 8) we are instructed to give grace to those who are weaker or immature in their faith, not allowing ourselves to be a stumbling block to them. 

Not everyone is at the same place in their faith. Someone who is new to faith is not going to have everything figured out with their doctrine, their lifestyle, or their personal conduct. Someone who is seasoned in their faith may also not have everything figured out with their doctrine, their lifestyle, or their personal conduct. While all may strive to be faithful, we have our unique (or not so unique) challenges to living a life that is faithful to the calling which we have been called. 

Everyone has a bad day once in a while, and everyone goes through seasons of difficulty, so we should be prepared with hearts full of grace and mercy when someone experiences failure or lashes out due to the stresses of life. If we bless someone with an attitude of grace and forgiveness, perhaps we can help them grow and feel supported, rather than repaying with dismissiveness or combativeness that might ostracize them or create a stumbling block that might hinder healing and restoration.

Even hard truths and confrontation can be done with a spirit of grace. Peace and grace should be the goal for all of us in any hard conversation that we may need to have. Even with graceful conduct, we may encounter challenges and conflict, but if we are conducting ourselves in righteous obedience to God, then our God looks upon us and hears us. If we are lacking grace and are allowing our frustration and selfish anger to guide us, then God is against us. 

Our proper behavior is not just to be aimed toward our family in Christ, but to all people. Peter further writes:

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:13-17 ESV)

If people hate or disregard you, let it be because you were faithful to your calling in Christ, not because you are a jerk or are manipulative. And if you do find yourself being a jerk or acting underhandedly, seek forgiveness and restoration. Share your faith but be well-reasoned and gentle when you do. When you have to correct someone, be gentle and gracious, doing so out of concern for the individual and not simply for the optics of their situation.    

Reflection Questions

  1. Reread 1 Peter 3:8. When have you seen those qualities exhibited by another? How can you strive to show each one of these traits today in every interaction?
  2. “We should be living our lives in a way that those we interact with see those encounters as a blessing.” – Think about your last 5-10 encounters – for how many of them do you think the other person(s) would view the encounter as a blessing? What could you do to boost that number?
  3. How often do you seek peace and pursue it? What happens when you don’t? What are the benefits to giving grace?

Prayer

Dear God Almighty – Thank you for the grace You have given to me. Help me to pass it along to others every day. Help my words, attitude and actions be a blessing to all I encounter. Led by Your direction in 1 Peter and by Your Spirit, may I be pleasing to You.

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Preparation

Job 31

Psalm 100

*1 Peter 1

Devotion by J.J. Fletcher – J.J. is a 2009 graduate of Atlanta Bible College and has been pastoring Pine Grove Bible Church  (Brooklyn Park, MN) since 2017. He has been married to Hope (Kirkpatrick) for 18 years and has 4 children.

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

This quote is often attributed to Abraham Lincoln, but there is no evidence that he said or wrote it. It’s a good quote, nonetheless. Preparation is critical to proper execution.

John Kruck, a former Philadelphia Phillies baseball player, once joked that he drove hitting coaches crazy because he once used 6 different batting stances in an at-bat and ended up striking out. Baseball players work on their batting stance to get their timing and swing path to a consistent, repeatable motion so that they are not inaccurately flailing at incoming pitches. Preparation is critical to proper execution.

In 1st Peter 1:13, Peter calls on his readers to “prepare their minds for action” and to be “sober-minded.” This is a call to preparation for the goal of living holy lives. As Jesus lived a life filled with holy conduct, Peter says that “you also be holy in your conduct.” 

Peter recalls the former ignorance of his readers, living outside the redemption of the Gospel, living lives motivated and marked by their passions or desires, and encourages them to instead strive for holiness.

We all have issues with things that are not holy. Temptation abounds, whether it’s lust, pride, laziness, excess, or the myriads of other things that we might struggle with. Deciding to follow Jesus does not magically eliminate all of these temptations. Whether we’ve been a believer for 5 minutes or 50 years, the struggle remains, but the way that we prepare ourselves for daily spiritual warfare will help determine how successful we are at avoiding the traps of sin.

The language that Peter uses for prepare is literally to “gird up.” In antiquity, men would wear long, baggy outerwear that would be cumbersome to perform many tasks in, so to gird up your loins meant that you would tie up the loose fabric around your belt so that it would not clench up or be a tripping hazard. That is the imagery we are to see here: prepare your mind for the life and battles ahead, just as you would adjust your clothing for a particular task. Being sober-minded means being self-controlled. Self-control is an intentional practice that takes preparation and is marked by discipline. We must be mindful of where/what our temptations and weaknesses are and have an action plan for how we are going to respond when sin is crouching at our door. We should pray for strength, and God will help us, but we must also actively work to orient our lives in a way where we don’t find sin backing us into a corner. Preparation is critical for proper execution.

Reflection Questions

  1. What has become reoccurring tripping hazards for you? Consider specific temptations, bad habits, attitudes.
  2. How would you rate your self-control? How can you strengthen your self-discipline muscles? How can stronger self-control help you make better use of the time, gifts, body, and blessings God has given to you?
  3. What specific exercises, attitudes, thoughts, activities, accountability, verses, songs, etc…would be helpful to prepare your mind for holy action?

Prayer

Dear Father – You are perfect in all Your ways and thoughts, attitudes and actions. And I am not. Forgive me for the times I have not heeded Your word and Your will and instead became tripped up by a lack of self-control and fell to selfish sinfulness. Thank you for all the blessings You have provided for me, including life. Help me to use my mind, body, time and blessings in ways that are pleasing to You. In Your Son’s name, I pray, Amen

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The Peaceful Tongue

Job 22-24

Psalm 98

James 3

-Devotion by Makenna Landry, née Cisler, a 2021 ABC graduate. Makenna is a licensed pastor of the Church of God General Conference working to service God by teaching His word and supporting His people through all aspects of life. She has two children, a passion for helping people, and loves Disney. She spends her time writing and enjoys playing board games with friends and family. 

Key passage: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:17-18 (ESV) 

James 3 starts off by making the claim that not everyone can be a teacher. This is similar to the lesson I wrote on 1 Timothy that not everyone has the right to understand or focus not on scripture but on other things that tickle the ears of the listeners. This warning from James ties into the passage of Job. Job’s friends are trying their best to help Job and Job refutes them at every turn. At the end of Job, we see neither party was in the right. Job and his friends hold an example to us to be careful what we say to others. 

This is why the entire chapter of James 3 is so important. It teaches and guides us on how we can speak to others and what wisdom we should pass along to others. 

Let’s break down the chapter. 

James 3:5 (ESV) says, “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!”

James is not telling his readers that people should have low self esteem and a bad view of themselves. He warns against pridefully honoring yourself over others. This can be seen more as bragging about your accomplishments instead of humbly celebrating victories. 

James 3:8 (ESV) but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

This verse is pretty doom and gloom! It feels helpless and like we are in an endless maze. So the question arises what does that mean? What does it mean that the tongue is a restless evil that cannot be tamed?

You know how sometimes when you stub your toe really hard you cry out in pain. Some people swear others have swear alternatives like “gosh darn it”, “holy cow”, or “great googly moogly” (can you imagine someone actually saying that besides Major Monogram from Phineas and Ferb ha!). All these phrases and words, a lot of us have used in place of curse words. But does that make it good to say it? When I was young and really into the phase of finding alternative expressions from curse words, my mom shared a piece of advice that still shapes how I speak and talk to this day: any word used poorly becomes a curse word. When our intention is to express anger and pain towards an individual or object our words are no longer from God but from the evil that plagues this world. 

No matter how hard one might try not to use the socially deemed words with bad meetings, our heart behind anything we say reflects whether or not the words are bringing glory to God. This might not even be the words we say but the tone we say it in! Our language abounds in ways that we can be rude to others. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t try. We will mess up and we won’t ever be perfect, yet we can be reminded by James to try our best to tame our tongue. 

What are some ways you might be cursing in your life? Do you use curse words, do you use alternative curses, or does your tone reflect one of judgment and anger? What are ways you can work towards taming your tongue?

When we consider shaping the things we say to God, we have to consider what would bring Him glory. That’s why I started the lesson with James 3:17-18. It brings into the view the focus of our hearts and words. Wisdom is not just something we impart to others but something that should be imbued in our very being. Our thoughts, words, and deeds should be done in wisdom. 

From James 3:17-18, what does it look like to have wisdom in the way that we speak?

Psalm 98 is a great reminder of the heart behind our words to God. James is specifically focusing on our words to others, but Psalm 98 can be an example of the heart behind the words we say. 

Have you ever heard someone say, “I can’t sing so I make a joyful noise”? I know many individuals who have said it to me and they are some of the most joyful worshipers I have ever seen. To give them credit they also can sing a lot better than they think.  But worship isn’t about perfection. It’s not about a big band, special lighting, perfect pitch and harmony. 

When we worship God with Him as the focus, we are taming our tongue. The more we align ourselves with God’s goodness, faithfulness, and lovingkindness the more our words are shaped to reflect Him. Singing praise to God fills us with holy thoughts and focuses our attention on the one we should be following. 

Further QUESTIONS TO PONDER:

How can worship help you tame the tongue?

What are ways you can bring glory to God through your words?

How did you relate to the individuals in the book of Job in today’s reading?

PRAY:

Father in heaven may glory be brought to You in my words and deeds. Help me tame my tongue and speak gently to those around me. You have made all things and Your love endures forever. Be gracious to me and show me how to be gracious to those around me. In the name of Jesus Christ, my savior and mediator, amen. 

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The Righteous Judge

Job 20-21

Psalm 98

James 2

-Devotion by Makenna Landry (MN)

Key passage: “Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together, before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.” Psalm 98:8-9 (ESV)

Psalm 98 is a psalm of praise. It sings great thanksgiving to God recognizing God’s good works and His never ending love. It ends with the reminder that God will judge the world with righteousness and fairness. 

Christians today, and across time, have been considered judgmental. Christians hold to the moral standards Scripture teaches and tries to hold others to the same moral standards. This in my own life has come across to people as overly innocent, stuffy, fake-y, and judgemental. I distinctly remember when I told a fellow classmate in my early years of elementary school that he should follow the rules because it shows respect to the adults. He did not agree with me, calling me all of the things I listed above. Needless to say, the years of elementary school he and I were never on good terms because he continued to do the wrong thing and I continued to try to correct him. He viewed me as judgmental and too proper and I was always annoyed that he refused to do the right thing. 

Thank the LORD that it is not on me to judge his actions. I think that’s the sentiment behind this psalm. God is the ultimate judge and He does so with great fairness. He has set forward a path to righteousness and He draws the lines on who will receive the reward of the kingdom and who will not. If I could tell my younger self to just let it go, it would have been a much more enjoyable time in my life. 

There are times that we might thank God for being the perfect judge, while other times we might question it like Job questions in Job 21. 

Zophar reminds Job of the downfall of pride and reminds Job of the importance of carrying for the needy. Job’s response is one filled with questions and a complete lack of reflection on himself. He instead looks outward towards the wicked people. He wonders why they would be receiving so much and living a healthy, long, prosperous life. Zophar stated evil faced death but Job turns it around on Zophar pointing to the sinful individuals living happily around them. This brings into question God’s judgment. Is he truly a righteous and fair judge when Job, a godly man, suffered while evil men had riches?

At that moment, Job couldn’t see the full picture of God’s judgment. He saw the moment he was living in and how unfair that single moment felt. 

Do you have moments like that? I know I do, as do my kids. 

When I was in high school, my younger sibling was being homeschooled while I had to attend public school. At the time I would have said it felt like the boils Job experienced with how much I disliked public school. It felt unfair to have to get up at 5:30 every morning and get home at 3 just to do homework all night when my brother could sleep in and finish with school before the rest of us were home. 

As an adult, I can recognize how that was better for both of us. Our learning styles and career paths were different so we needed different schooling. But in the moment, I felt like Job was pointing to other people and thinking that it wasn’t fair they had what he wanted. That phrase the grass is always greener in someone else’s yard was how I felt. Even four year olds feel this!

My four year old has started saying the phrase “that’s not fair”. It has blown me away how early children build that phrase into their vocabulary thinking they are owed some sort of evenness with their parents, siblings, and friends. Sometimes we look down on Job for having that perspective or on others when they ask why good things happen to everyone but me. 

What are some times in your life that you’ve questioned the fairness of life? 

In those times, we can remember that God’s fairness isn’t for this life but the life to come. His judgement is on our actions, attitudes, and beliefs during the trials of life. It’s for a glorious, perfect, eternal kingdom and not for the 80 years we are here on earth. 

This brings the question, what is God looking for? How do we find ourselves in a place that we can praise God for being the perfect judge instead of viewing life as unfair?

That’s where James comes in! 

James chapter two is really what the book of James is known for. It speaks on the fact that our faith should spur on our actions in order to live a righteous life. Simple belief doesn’t make us righteous. Belief is the first step to a life committed to God. James expands on what to do once you take the step of belief. 

He does this by pointing to Abraham and Rahab. For some background, Abraham is considered the founder of faith and a righteous man that we all want to strive to be like. His faith spurred him towards countless times of obedient action. The first was moving away from his home, family, and all that he knew to travel to a foreign land. During those travels he obeyed God at almost every turn. No one can claim perfect, not even Abraham, but his failures don’t define him. Instead his times of obedience do. James specifically points to Genesis 22. God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Isaac was Abraham’s only son with his wife Sarah. Isaac was a long awaited promise who took Abraham and Sarah many years to conceive. He was God’s promises fulfilled for Abraham and the other promises God had made rested on the shoulders of Isaac. Yet, Abraham was still obedient. His actions marked his righteousness. The same goes for Rahab. She risks everything to hide the Israelite spies in Jericho. 

But how do we show our faith? 

Living in the United States in the 2020s doesn’t give a lot of opportunities to help hide God’s spies, discover new lands, or sacrifice everything. Some of the things Abraham did would even be extremely frowned upon in today’s society!

We can be thankful for the book of James once again. It shows that faith looks like helping others, showing fairness to everyone around us and other key ways to have our faith displayed in every aspect of our lives that we will read in the days to come. 

God is our good, righteous, and fair judge. We can bring Him glory, honor, and praise through our actions towards those around us. Instead of judging others like in the story I shared from my past, we should show them love and kindness, helping when they are in need, and treating all people with respect and dignity. 

QUESTIONS TO PONDER:

How can you remind yourself to trust in God’s judgment?

How can you praise God each day for what He has blessed you with even if the grass seems greener somewhere else?

What is one way you can show your faith to someone today?

PRAY:

Dear God, thank You for Your righteous judgment. Thank You for the Biblical examples You have gifted the world to show me how to be righteous. Heal my heart from judgement of those around me and replace it with a heart of love and kindness. Place in my life a way to show someone Your love today and open my eyes to the needs of those around me. Amen

Makenna Landry, née Cisler, an ABC graduate of 2021, is a licensed pastor of the Church of God General Conference working to service God by teaching His word and supporting His people through all aspects of life. She has two children, a passion for helping people, and loves Disney. She spends her time writing and enjoys playing board games with friends and family. 

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Final Reminders

Job 16-17

Psalm 97

Hebrews 13

-Devotion by Paula Kirkpatrick (originally posted for SeekGrowLove on Oct 27, 2021)

When children finish high school, and they go off to college or to live on their own for the first time, those frenzied final weeks before leaving are usually a flurry of activities.  To-do lists are checked off and then added to, last minute shopping trips become a daily occurrence, and packing everything needed seems an impossible task.  Finally, the day arrives, and the slightly panicked parents are often confronted with this stark realization:  did I prepare them sufficiently for the challenges they will face in life?  And so ensues final reminders, gentle warnings, and many sentences starting with “Don’t forget,” or “Remember.”  The parents want the best experience for their children at college and in life.

The writer of Hebrews also desires the best outcome for his dear readers, his spiritual children, as he finishes his letter.  Of course, that best outcome is eternal life in the Kingdom of God.  Thus, Hebrews 13 concludes with straightforward instruction to reach this prize.

Consider the direct instructions found in verses 1-7, and the reasons WHY these instructions are important.  

  • “Keep on loving each other as brothers”
  • “Do not neglect hospitality to strangers—(WHY?)—”for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
  • “Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are badly treated—(WHY?) – since you yourselves also are in the body.”
  •  “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; – (WHY?) – for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.”
  • “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; – (WHY?) – for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you.”
  • “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; – (WHY?) – considering the result of their way of life, imitate their faith.”

Verse 17 goes hand in hand with verse 7.  “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, – (WHY?) – because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”

Hebrews 13:8 can be a stand-alone statement and beloved promise, easy to memorize (and it should be) and underlined in your Bible.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

What an assurance to us that Jesus has not changed and will not change—he is our Savior and coming King.  Perhaps the writer felt a plain statement of our basic hope was warranted after his beginning list of directives. 

Building on that simple reassurance, verse 9 warns the early Christians and us today, not to “be carried away by varied and strange teachings,” just as parents might advise their departing children—stay true to your foundation, the principles of your upbringing.  It is firm, it is solid, it will keep you grounded. 

Now, remember our reading from Hebrews 10 a few days ago. 

“But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,waiting from that time onward until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” (Heb. 10:12-14)

Continuing in Hebrews 13, verses 15-16 should be OUR response for this sacrifice. 

 “Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name.  And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Our Salvation Gift from God:

Jesus—ONE SACRIFICE for all time

Our Response:

CONTINUAL SACRIFICE of

  • Praise
  • Doing good
  • Sharing

As the end of verse 16 says, “for with such SACRIFICES God is pleased.”

The writer concludes with a benediction or ending prayer in verses 20 and 21 that sums up his thoughts in this chapter. 

“Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

This prayer serves as the perfect final reminder for young adults off to college, and for each one of us. 

Reflection Questions

  1. What reminders would you pass on to your children (biological, adopted and spiritual children)? What spiritual instruction do you want them to hear one more time?
  2. What did you need to hear again (or for the first time) from Hebrews 13?
  3. What do you love about Jesus’ once for all sacrifice? What will your continual sacrifice look like today?

Prayer

“Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

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