God Made Us (by Henry)

(Today's devotional was written by Henry, age 6)
Scripture: Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay. You are the potter. Your hands made all of us. Isaiah 64:8

Observation: God made us.
Application: God wants me to be nice to Gus and not scream at him because God made him.
Prayer: God, help me to control my anger and not scream.

God's Father Heart Towards Me

Scripture: As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. (Psalm 103:13 ESV)

Observation: God is a father who shows compassion to his children (His children being those who fear him).

Application: I am wrestling some with my own concept of God the Father. I am realizing that I tend to think of God more as a Captain or CEO, who meets with me to give me marching orders and responsibilities to carry out, rather than a father who delights to show compassion to his children. As I think about this, I think about my own fathering of my kids. Am I a father who shows compassion to his children? I think I am often a little hard on my kids—expecting them to carry out responsibility just like I feel God does to me. But if God’s father heart towards me is compassion, then how can I have that heart to my kids?

This upcoming week will test me in that I will be spending a lot more time with my kids. I want to show them the compassion of a father and simply delight in them.

Prayer: God, I know that this sort of compassion comes only from you. Help me readjust my concept of you to truly see your compassion towards me. And then help me this next week to pass that same compassion on to my kids. Help my kids to see the compassion of their heavenly father through the love of their earthly father.

Sometimes We Forget

Scripture: For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. (2 Peter 1:9 ESV)

Observation: Peter tells us we have all we need for life because of the divine power that called us, promised us, made us partakers of his divine nature. People that recognize this make every effort to pursue the qualities of God in their lives. However, some people we see are true believers, but do not have these qualities. What gives? The answer is they have forgotten their salvation. They forgot they have been cleansed. They have become so nearsighted that they are blind, totally missing out on the big picture—that they are born again.

Application: I must remind us what happened to us. I must show us the big picture. We can get so nearsighted, focused on our day to day, that we miss the grand scheme of God. This series starting in the fall is my shot at reminding us.

Prayer: God, please help this series accomplish more than I ask or imagine. Help us to truly revel in the riches of your grace. Please guide me this morning as I prepare.

Love Covers a Ton of Problems

Scripture: Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8 ESV)

Observation: When there is a foundation of earnest love, then the winds of offence are unable to shake the building.

Application: I am in the middle of a season of dealing with complaints over very minor issues. I have been getting a little weary of them, and my natural response is to say, “Billions are dying and going to hell and you are concerned about X?” But I know how unproductive that would be. I have also been gearing up to say, “Let me show you volumes of theological commentary to show you why this is this way.” But again, I am not sure that this is the right response.

Peter is jacking with my attitude with this simple plea: Love covers over a ton of problems. Maybe what I really need to ratchet up is not a fight, but love. Maybe I need to shower love and care. Oh, I still don’t want to compromise on what God is calling. But I can definitely love people. And maybe true genuine, earnest love will give a little wiggle room and cover over some offences.

Prayer: God, help love and shepherding be foremost on my mind when I am disagreed with. Give me humility and patience. I pray that PRC becomes a place of grace, where we so love each other that we can overlook a multitude of minor offences.

Sparring with Expectations

Scripture: But if you say to me, “We trust in the LORD our God,” is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You shall worship before this altar”? (Isaiah 36:7 ESV)

Observation: The King of Assyria sends an officer to taunt King Hezekiah. He asks Hezekiah where he places his trust. Then he asks, “But if you trust God, then why did you tear down all the high places and altars?” The Assyrian officer thought that all forms of worship were the same. He could not understand how Hezekiah could claim to trust God, yet destroy religious symbols. He could not see that Hezekiah tore down those idolatrous high places and altars because of God, not in spite of him.

Application: It is easy to misjudge the actions people take for God. People often have unbiblical or cultural expectations of Christianity, and when you do not live up to them, they question your faith. I face this all the time. Someone expects that if we really loved God, we would sing a patriotic song in a worship service, or support this political cause. Yet it may be precisely because of our faith in Christ that we do not. The important thing I am hearing today is that my response to these people is crucial. With graceful patience, I need to be able to calmly and without battle, explain the reason for what we do. Then, if they still don’t get it, we can agree to disagree. My problem is that I tend to take their words personally, when I should let them go. Yes, there should be the foundation of humility, and willingness to grow, to change, to reverse a decision or policy. But sometimes we need to hold the course, even if that does not satisfy the expectations of others.

Prayer: God, give me patience today. Help me not get riled up when others question my decisions. Help me be humble and really listen, and have the wisdom to seek out compromise when needed. And give me courage to stand my ground even if it disappoints. But protect my heart from ratcheting up into anger.

My Job is to Disappoint

Scripture: What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? (James 4:1 ESV)

Observation: James is explaining the source of conflict within the church. Why believers who follow Christ can still get into it with their brothers and sisters. The reason is self-centeredness. The passionate focus on self. Even after we come to Christ, we have to battle the world, the flesh, and the devil. The flesh is full of our focus on ourselves. We don’t have what we want, and instead of going to God for it, we fight with each other.

Application: Sometimes as a pastor I feel like my job is to be the arbitrator of everyone’s happiness. The problem is, there is not one solution to make everyone happy. People’s desires, even good and godly ones, are in competition. I have recently realized that part of my role is to continually disappoint everyone! This means I am here to keep us on track with what the Lord has called us to do as a church, even if that means that various interest groups and agendas have to be disappointed. My job is to keep people focused on the main thing—Jesus. This verse reminds me that as long as we have passions, we will have quarrels and fights. Instead of trying to solve all of these, I need to continue to turn people back to God. James says the way to get what you want is not to fight about it, but to go to God and ask Him. I need to model this in my life and also encourage others to pray and talk with God about these as well.

Prayer: God, let me start with me. I have many things I need to take to you, that instead, I have been trying to figure out on my own. Help me trust you for these things. You are at work. You love me. You love this church. You have the right path marked out. Please help us see where you are moving and join you.

When God Pummels the Earth

Scripture: Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:28-29 ESV)

Observation: In Isaiah 24, God describes the future judgment in which he will pummel the earth. He says, “The earth is utterly broken, the earth is split apart, the earth is violently shaken. The earth staggers like a drunken man; it sways like a hut; its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls, and will not rise again.” (Isaiah 24:19-20) The earth will be like a punch-drunk boxer, or a battle weary bull, staggering and shaken. But in Hebrews 12, talking about this same shaking, God goes on to encourage us to be grateful that we believers have a kingdom that will not be shaken. This world will shake until it cannot rise again, but the kingdom of God will never be shaken, never be beaten. It will stand unbloodied, unbowed.

Application: I ought to be grateful for the kingdom I have received. Knowing I will escape the shake is reason for great joy and hope. And I should worship God, with reverence and awe, for the God that can shake the earth is a consuming fire.

Prayer: God, I am grateful today for your kingdom. Thank you for reminding me that the stakes are high, that the victory is sure. Sometimes I can get so lost in the world that the future becomes hazy. The promise of your coming judgment waves away the haze and reminds me to be sober and focused.

We Are Being Made Holy

Scripture: For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14 ESV)

Observation: At the cross, Jesus fully earned our perfection. This does not mean we are perfect people now. The second part of this verse helps us see that. We are people who are being sanctified. That is, people who are progressively being made more holy. We are day by day seeing us conform more to the image of Christ. It would be great if this were all at once, but for some reason, God decided to let our spiritual lives growth be a maturing process. As we grow, we face the world, the flesh, and the devil, all conspiring to thwart our growth. But good news! Jesus has already secured our perfection. As we look to him in faith, we can see forgiveness, growth, healing, victory in this life. We are holy people who are also being made holy.

Application: Had a good conversation this week with someone who felt frustrated over the slow growth of many peoples’ spiritual lives. She felt the issue was faith—if we had more, we would be able to see victory. In a sense, she is right on: faith is the key. Not more faith, necessarily, but faith in the one who made the single offering. In another sense, all the faith in the world still faces opposition and God’s intentional growth process. But though our being made holy seems slow, it is certain. True believers will continue to grow and mature as we partner with God in faith.

Prayer: God, help me believe your word and have faith. You are at work in me. Help me trust you and follow you and see your promise come true in my life.

Sanctuary or Snare?

Scripture: But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. (Isaiah 8:13 ESV)

Observation: God is teaching us that not only is he the sanctuary for those who fear him, but he is a stone of offense and a snare for those who do not. The same God of rescue can become a God of rebuke. The key is a healthy fear of the Lord. So the question is: Do I want God to be my sanctuary, or my snare?

Application: Earlier this morning, I was thinking through a decision. In this decision, I was considering all the pros and cons. Lumped in the list was a desire to please God. Yet this should not be lumped in with all the rest. Pleasing God, honoring him as holy, letting him be my fear and dread—these should propel to the top of the list. These should be the first consideration, not an afterthought. In my decision, I need to consider how I am honoring God as holy. That is a step towards fearing the Lord.

Prayer: God, forgive me for letting you be a part of my decision process, instead of the priority. You are the one I fear. Let my life in this area reflect that. Let me be able to say, “I do this because I want to honor God.” Thanks for your love for me and your grace. Help me find you to be my sanctuary.

We Need it Every Day

Scripture: But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
(Hebrews 3:13 ESV)

Observation: We are living in “Today,” a tough time to live for God. All around us is the deceitfulness of sin, the temptation to give up, give out, or give in. And we know that God has given us the power in Him to endure. But when our resolve flags, we need each other to keep going. We need the encouragement every day to make it to the end.

Application: I have not been very encouraging towards my wife. She does so much, and so sometimes I take her for granted. I think she has got it all handled. But Hebrews says that everyone needs encouragement every day. I need to make it a point to encourage her each day.

Prayer: God, thanks for your reminder. Thanks for my wife. Help me encourager her every day, as long as it is called “today.” And please speak to her and lift her heart today.

When Our High Places are Higher than Christ

Scripture: Nevertheless, the high places were not removed. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD.
(2 Kings 15:35 ESV)

Observation: 2 Kings is a tragic tale of failed leadership. Basically, one king after another failed in their leadership, because they allowed (and sometimes encouraged) worship on the high places. The high places were literally higher places where altars to various false Gods stood. Instead of tearing these down and centralizing people’s worship around the one true God, these kings often failed.

Application: One test of my leadership will be: What did I do with the high places at Pulpit Rock? Oh, we have them, just like every church does. High places are where our preferences start to take the place of our priority. Our high places reveal themselves in our judgment of those who worship with different worship than we prefer. Our high places can involve the expectation that the church celebrate our Hallmark holidays, or pursue our political or social agenda. Our high places can even look spiritual, such as our expectations of preaching or philosophy of ministry. Good hearted believers, who genuinely love the Lord, can sometimes allow preferences to replace their priority, allowing high places to tower over Christ.

The book of Hebrews makes the case that Jesus is better than everything else, every ‘high place’ that we could hold. He is to be the center around which we revolve as a church. While I cannot root out every high place, nor can I be responsible for convincing and converting people, I can put Jesus first in front of our people. I can help us focus on Jesus. Maybe with a focus like this, some of the high places around us will fade. Maybe we will see that the Jesus that holds us together is more important than the differences that hold us apart.

Prayer: God, start with me. I have high places. I have ways I think things ought to be done. Help me root out the high places in my life and make sure that Jesus is the highest place in my life. Help me to lovingly but firmly stay on track, and not be swayed by the tempting high places all around us. Give me strength to keep the wheel firmly pointed towards Christ.

I Must Insist

Scripture: He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. (Titus 3:5-8 ESV)

Observation: We are saved by God’s work, not ours. Paul commands Timothy to insist on this. The result of insisting on this is that people will be careful to devote themselves to good works. This seems counterintuitive. If we want to motivate people to do good, how does insisting that their good has nothing to do with God’s approval of them spur them on?

There must be something powerful about the gospel. More than human rhetoric, more than motivational speeches. Something about the simple truth that He saved us, not because of works done by us, serves as a starter pistol for a life of good works. When guilt and self-effort are off the table, the glory of the gospel can be seen.

Application: I believe He saved us, not because of works done by us. But do I insist on this? Do I insist on this in my own relationship with God? Do I insist on this with my wife and kids? Do I insist on this in my preaching? Do I insist on this with my friends and neighbors? Or do I subtly communicate that He saved us, but only due to works done by us?

I need to think more about what it means for me to insist that He saved us, not because of works done by us.

Prayer: God, it is clear that when it comes to salvation, either you get all the credit, or I try to steal some. Forgive me for foolishly thinking I contributed. It is all, beginning, middle, and end, your work in me. Help me insist on this in my dealings today.