September 2024 - Creation Beckons

Unequally Yoked

Matthew11:28-30 Unequally Yoked

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (NLT).

The double looped contraption hanging on the wall is a yoke for oxen. We saw it at a farm in Iowa where they demonstrate farming methods from the past several hundred years. In fact, we saw a yoke of oxen walking around the grounds. They did everything together. If one walked, they both walked, and if one wanted to eat, they both ate. It is interesting to know that in every yoke of oxen, one is dominant and the other generally follows his lead. Farmers who use oxen usually yoke together an experienced ox with a younger ox that is subservient. In a short period of time, they work together as a strong team. They have learned to work together for the better of both of them.

In the Scripture above Jesus invites us to become yoked with Him. Being omnipotent and omniscient, He is obviously the leading member of the team. We know that because He asks us to “take my yoke upon you.” He says He will teach us and give us rest. He states that He is “humble and gentle at heart.” Finally, He says, “For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” As the omnipotent member of the team, he will take the larger of the burden, and as the omniscient member of the team, he will direct us in the best way to go. Because He is humble and gentle at heart, He will not demand that we follow Him exactly, but He will show us the way that is best, and then allow us to actually choose whether to stay yoked with Him or not. As time goes on, and we learn from Him, we will follow His lead. One important difference between this yoke and the yoke used by oxen is that there is no outsider who decides when our yoke with Him is broken. Jesus gives us the opportunity to leave His yoke at any point. He is saddened if we do leave the yoke, and He always gives us the opportunity to rejoin His yoke at any time in the future. Why would I not want to partner with the creator of the universe, who is both omnipotent and omniscient? Being yoked with Him means that I will always have the best direction from the strongest. Sign me up!

Blessed Feet

John 13:4,5 Blessed Feet

“So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (NIV).

This was a job for a servant. It was not a job for their teacher, their master, their Lord. No, it was too menial a job for Jesus, and Peter told Him so in verse 6: “’No’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’” Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash your feet, you have no part with me.’” I believe that Jesus was showing His closest friends that He had come as a servant, not a conquering king, at least not in a worldly manner. They knew that He had come from God. They knew that Jesus was the Messiah. I’m sure some of them were thinking in amazement, “But He washed my feet!” Jesus didn’t leave them wondering for too long. He stated in verses 14 and 15, “Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” No one should value himself higher than any of the others. Jesus demonstrated to His disciples that He may have come as the Messiah, but He had also come as a servant through whom all people would be blessed. He should have been exalted by all men, yet He was ridiculed and ultimately thrown away. He was crucified between thieves, people that the Romans threw away as not being worthy of living. Jesus, the Messiah, had become the magnificent servant who gave His all.

Another Scripture, Ephesians 6:14,15, speaks strongly of feet: “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (NIV). Was Jesus readying His disciples for spreading the gospel of peace when He washed their feet? Was His foot washing a precursor of the message given in Ephesians to shod our feet so we are ready to spread the good news He brought?

Jesus, the Messiah, washed the dirt off His disciples’ feet. He cleaned their feet to make them ready to spread the Gospel. His blood shed on Calvary cleansed not only our feet, but also our souls, our spirits, and our minds so that we can join the first missionaries, His disciples, in bringing souls into His Holy Kingdom,

I Can Brag

Jeremiah 9:23,24 I Can Brag

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Let no wise man boast of his wisdom, nor let the mighty man boast of his might, nor a rich man boast of his riches; but let the one who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises mercy, justice, and righteousness on the earth; for I delight in these things” (NASB).

“Don’t brag about your wisdom or strength or wealth. If you feel you must brag, then have enough sense to brag about worshipping me, the Lord. What I like best is showing kindness, justice, and mercy to everyone on earth” (CEV).

God calls for us to have humility—humility about what we have or can do. He wants us to be able to boast about knowing Him. That I know the creator of the universe, that I know the one who sacrificed His life to gain heaven for me, that I know the one who “…so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (KJV)—those are reasons to boast. I can boast that He knows my name, that He listens to me whenever I need a listener, that He protects me every day, all day. Those are reasons to boast! Hey, you can boast about the same things, right? You’ve accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, right? If you have, then you can boast that Jesus loves you enough to have left His heavenly home and came to earth as a human being, and that He died to gain forgiveness for all your sins. That’s a BIG DEAL. The creator of the universe cares enough about each of us to know us personally and loves us enough to die for us. I gladly boast about that.

As for my own accomplishments, they all pale compared to what Jesus has done. Jesus is stronger than I, smarter than I, and richer than I, but He still takes the time to listen to my prayers. Thank you, Jesus, for reaching out to me through all of eternity.

Friendship Is Important

I Thessalonians 5:11 Friendship Is Important

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (NIV).

According to Webster’s Dictionary, one of the definitions of “friend” is “supporter or sympathizer.” It sounds like Paul is encouraging the Thessalonians to become friends, to extend friendship to each other—to encourage each other. Paul also states that they are already doing that.

Our church is of a size that I don’t know everybody, so I am certainly not friends with everyone, but I am friendly with most of them, and it is easy to observe the comradery we have as many people come quite early for service in order to spend time talking with their friends. Our pastor sometimes experiences some difficulty in getting people to stop their conversations in order to get the church service started on time. Several times each month various groups get together for fellowship. So perhaps we are extending friendships as the Thessalonians were. I believe that Paul is speaking of a general friendship within a congregation, a comradery if you will. That’s an important characteristic for a church to have, one in which there is general agreement and a willingness to discuss areas of difference without anger, and bitterness which usually lead to the splitting of a church.

The Bible also speaks of a friend who is closer that a brother, and that is also a necessity. We each need a small group where we can be free to discuss personal problems, where we can go for help when we need it, and where we can discuss our Lord and His Word. The passage is in Proverbs 18:24: “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (KJV). Many other translations give a negative tilt to the verse: “He who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (NIV). I leave it to you as to which translation makes sense to you. My focus is on the last part of the verse, “…but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Each of us needs a friend like that, perhaps several. I am blessed to have several men close to me who act as that friend closer than a brother. I am also blessed because I can call my wife my best friend. Within this small group I have support at any time in any way. Thanks you, Jesus, for giving me friends like these. I pray that you are similarly blessed. If you are not, I encourage you to pray that God will supply you with someone or some very small group with similar beliefs with whom you can share intimate details of life. We have been created to need people close to us and to need a God who is closer than any human we know. God is always there, and we need humans who are “almost” always there.

Leave Some for Others

Leviticus 23:22 Leave Some for Others

“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God” (NIV).

The Hebrew meaning of “gleaning” is the practice of collecting leftover crops from fields after they have been harvested. It is an agricultural term that can also refer to any activity that involves collecting individual items from different sources. In other words, “Get it all. Be sure nothing is missed or anything of even the smallest value is left where someone could get it.” Makes sense doesn’t it—except that it doesn’t make sense to God. God instructed His people to leave the bits of the harvest that were difficult to harvest. He instructed them not to go back over the fields once they have done the main harvesting work. They’ve got the whole field while others not as fortunate as they may have had little or nothing. In fact those less fortunate may have been living on the leavings from the owner’s fields. What is just the “leftovers” to the owner may have been the very food that a mother gathered to feed her young children. The poor and foreigners referred to in Leviticus 23:22 are the dispossessed, the ones who are just hanging on. Even though this is an agricultural example, it can just as well refer to a business owner who squeezes every possible penny out of his business rather than being certain that his workers are paid a good wage. So what does it mean to you and me, John Q. Public? How about taking the change from everyday purchases and keeping it until a substantial amount has accumulated, and then making it available to those in need in the community. There are numerous community services that make sure that your “small change” goes to feed those who are hungry.

One interesting example of leaving the gleanings is told in the book of Ruth. Ruth was a woman whose husband died in a foreign land. Ruth joined her mother-in-law in returning to Israel, where Ruth gathered the gleanings in the fields of a man named Boaz. As the story progresses, Boaz took notice of Ruth, and eventually married her. This woman who gathered the leftover grain in the field gave birth to a son called Obed. Oh, yes, Obed had a son named Jesse, and a grandson named David, yes, the David who became the king of Israel. The entire nation of Israel was blessed because Boaz instructed his men to leave plenty of gleanings for the poor and foreigners in the land.

Melt Me, Mold Me, Fill Me, Use Me

Acts 1:8 Melt Me, Mold Me, Fill Me, Use Me

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (NIV).

Daniel Iverson wrote a prayer song asking: “Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on met. Melt me, mold me fill me and use me.” Jesus told us in Acts 1:8 what happens when that prayer is answered. We will be given power, enough power to speak to everyone and anyone about the life, sacrifice, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus said it, the Holy Spirit will “give you power.”

That’s quite a request that Daniel Iverson made. Let’s look at it one part at a time.

“Melt me” infers that I have things that need changed, maybe radically changed. My attitudes may need to be changed to properly represent our Lord. It also infers that I need to be softened. I need to make myself available to God’s will to the point that who I am may need to be altered until I no longer look or act like I have in the past.

“Mold me” gives God my permission to make me into the person He wants me to be, to blunt the sharp edges of my personality, to form me to be what He wants and needs me to be. “Mold me” is to ask God to make me into someone who will draw others to Him.

“Fill me” invites the Holy Spirit to come inside me and fill every corner with God’s desires, His love, and His compassion. It implies that I am giving God permission to move out anything that would get in the way, take up space that is needed for the filling He has for me.

“Use me” implies that I know that God has a use for me, and I haven’t been fulfilling it. I am asking God to make the best use of me that He can now that He has melted, molded, and filled me.

If I truly mean this prayer of melting, molding, filling, and using, my life may be radically changed. And why wouldn’t I want that? I recognize God as my Heavenly Father who wants the very best for me, and the very best is to be in His will doing what He wants me to do. If I truly ask and accept this melting, molding, filling, and using, people will probably ask me why I have changed so drastically. And then, I will be ready to be an effective witness for Jesus Christ everywhere I go.

Obedient Rest

Hebrews 4:9-11 Obedient Rest

“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience” (NIV).

Several months earlier these fields were green, and then became ripe for harvest. Today they are brown, showing that they have accomplished their purpose—they have produced the harvest. Their job for this year is done, and now these fields are to rest, holding within themselves the nutrients for the next growing season. They look restful, not actively doing anything, but in their rest, they are preparing for next year. Fields that are not given rest eventually become less and less useful, until they become unfruitful.

God gives each of us work to do, work that will result in a harvest that He has determined. He grants us the abilities and the anointing to provide a harvest when the seed is planted. Usually when we have completed a task, some work, or a mission, God gives us time to rest, and while we rest, He builds us up again through His Word, His teaching servants, and in conversation with us. But we have to recognize that our rest is a time of preparation for a new task, work, or mission, and we must cooperate with His teaching through His Word, His teaching servants, and prayer. God will not force us to perform tasks for Him, but He provides us with opportunities to serve Him. When we accept a new assignment, He begins preparing us and anointing us for the assigned work so that the harvest He has planned will be bountiful.

It is important for us to accept the times of rest God provides for us and to be open to what he has to teach us during times of rest. Lord, make me like a sponge, soaking up all you have for me as I rest. I look forward to the next planting of seed.

Highs and Lows–Peaks and Valleys

Mark 1:9-13 Highs and Lows–Peaks and Valleys

“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, ‘Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.’ The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him” (RSV).

If we want to discuss the journey between the highs and the lows, the peaks and the valleys, there is no better example than that of Jesus described in Mark 1:9-13. He goes from “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased” to “And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan.” From God the Father to Satan, from the highest to the lowest. There was very little transition for the passage also states, “The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.” His time in the wilderness was an extended time, forty days.

In this life we experience journeys between the peaks and valleys in both directions. Sometimes the journey is quick and sharply delineated, but other times the journey is longer with the distinction between the two—peak and valley—not so sharp. Sometimes the journey goes almost unnoticed, as we drift between one to the other. We can easily distinguish between a peak and a valley, but we need to learn when we are on the journey between the two and in which direction we are headed. Satan does his best to cloud the journey, thus deceiving us as to where we are headed. We need to be constant in the reading of His Word and in conversation with our Lord to understand where we stand at any time, and that is important. When we are traveling from lows to highs, we can shorten the journey by our actions and our attitude, and when we are travelling from highs to lows, we can stop the journey before we reach rock bottom.

We do travel between highs and lows, peaks and valleys in this life, but when we are aware of the direction of travel, we can always depend upon our Lord to give us both help and comfort along the journey. It can be said that the peaks are not as high when the valleys are not very low, but with the Lord’s help, we can spend more time on the peaks or on the journey toward the peaks to His glory than we do in the valleys or on the descent toward the valleys. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Help me to be aware of the direction of my journey, and help me to move toward you.

Take It Easy

Philippians 4:19 Take It Easy

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (NKJV).

“Take it Easy” doesn’t sound much like a Christian devotional, does it? A recent sermon I heard prompted this title. The pastor asked how many have been or are worried, upset, concerned about the state of the world today. When many of us raised our hands, he chastised us. He reminded us that God has not been, nor is He surprised by Covid 19, the current racial tension, or the many words of hate being spewed throughout this land. While difficult times may occur, and crises may happen, Psalm 91 (NKJV) tells us, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him will I trust.’” Psalm 91 goes on to say in verse 7, “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.” The Word further reassures us in Ph 4:19 (NKJV), “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

My needs are supplied, and I am protected by the God of the universe who calls me His son. Yes, His Word speaks of Jesus as my brother. Romans 8:29 (NKJV) tells us, “For whom he foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” We are joint heirs along with His Son, Jesus. Ephesians 3:6 (NKJV) says, “that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and the partakers of His promise in Christ through the Gospel.”

A return to Psalms tells us in Psalm 37:1-2, “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity, for they shall be soon cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.” We are instructed in verse 8 of the same chapter of Psalms, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm.” We are told not only to not fret, but also to cease from anger and wrath because harm is the result. Sounds a little bit like “Take It Easy” to me.

In the sense of rejoicing over the birth, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and the glory of our God, “Take It Easy” doesn’t seem to be an option, but rather a command. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice!”(Ph 4:4 NKJV) David says in Psalm 101 (NKJV), “I will sing of mercy and justice; to You, O Lord, I will sing praises.” In the days of Moses, Miriam said in Exodus 15:1 (NKJV), “Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!”

The message seems to be: Rejoice in the Lord, and fret not the troublesome times.

Behind the Scenes; Knowing God

John 17:3 Behind the Scenes; Knowing God

“And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth” (NLT).

It was intriguing to walk behind the waterfall, to see from behind the scenes. We don’t often get to see what the backs of waterfalls look like. When we do, we feel like we understand them better, or at least have a different perspective. So how do we get to understand God better, to get behind the scenes and find out what is really going on? It’s no secret; there are two best ways to understand God, to draw closer to Him: 1. Read His Word, 2. Pray. That’s it. Those are the two best ways to get to know and understand God well, as well as we as humans can understand the creator of the universe. He wants us to draw close to Him, to learn about Him, and grasp His greatness and love. It’s never too late to begin this fascinating journey, and I am convinced that it will never end, even throughout eternity.