10/1/20                                              A NUDGE   1                       

And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” Colossians 4:17

Recommended Reading: Colossians 4:10-18

¹⁰ Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), ¹¹ and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.

¹² Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. ¹³ For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. ¹⁵ Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.¹⁶ Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. ¹⁷ And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” ¹⁸ This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

COMMENTS:  Have you ever taken the time to reflect on how the Holy Spirit has nudged and opened doors for you?   How about times when He closed doors or set obstacles to discourage you from making poor choices.   In hindsight these instances seem all too clear but did they at the time?  I dare say no because of a number of reasons:

1. We don’t yet know the outcome of those choices nor the whole plan of God and effect on others as well as on ourselves.
2. We, at the time, were still bombarded with urgency of decision and waves of temptations as well as opportunities pulling us in many directions.
3. The fear of mistakes and uncertainty of our abilities and confidence cloud our judgment.
4. Conflicting advice from loved ones and friends along with satan’s temptations.

As you reflect on your examples, also contemplate the advice and temptations and fears and uncertainty experienced as well.  Doing so will help discern wise from foolish or even sinful choices that satan or even some good intentioned people may try to persuade us with.

Being able to discern and clearly recognize the Holy Spirit’s guiding hand and voice is vital but not always easy or straight forward.  The Holy Spirit wants and requires our focus and attention and surrender but does not intend nor want us to flounder in uncertainty without direction.

So learning to recognize the Holy Spirit’s nudges and the Holy Spirit’s warning signs is necessary for the seeking Christian.  Learning to study scripture to test advice and council is necessary.  But to learn to wait on the Lord and His timing in the meantime, using the waiting time to do a deep dive into His Word and in communion with Him does many good productive things like opening and preparing us to receive His council and helping hand.  Like recognizing course changes as the Holy Spirit reveals them.  Like giving us strength and courage and desire to choose God’s priorities and values over the world’s and our own.

Waiting on God is one challenge, but procrastination is another, especially when God wants us to take a path not that appealing to us.  In such times, nudges may need to be stronger or even pushes necessary to get us moving. 

Archippus is mentioned twice in scripture (Col. 4:17 and Philemon 1:2) as once who procrastinated and needed God’s nudging.

So, what does God want us to wait for Him for and what is He telling us to do but we are holding back or procrastinating doing and feeling His nudges to start moving?

“We can turn an ordinary job into an extraordinary mission if we realize that God has placed us in our work as an opportunity to influence others for His Kingdom.”  Os Guinness

10/2/20                                     HIS PERMANENT PURPOSE  2                                              

 “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.  Isaiah 54:17

Recommended Reading: Matthew 16:18

¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Isaiah 53 is one of the most theologically important chapters in the Old Testament. It contains the portrait of the Servant of the Lord—the coming Messiah who would suffer on behalf of His people. The Servant—revealed eventually as Jesus Christ—saw that many would be opposed to Him (Isaiah 50:8-9). Yet He also saw that He would be vindicated by God: “Surely the Lord God will help Me” (verse 9).

COMMENTS:  When we look at recorded history in scripture, we soon discovered how God blessed and prospered Israel and its people and kings when they worshipped and followed God and suffered enslavement and poverty when they didn’t.  Sometimes God’s judgment was swift and sometimes it was delayed, especially when they repented.  God used pagan rulers who, in our eyes were guilty of offenses far worse than Israel’s, in order to administer judgment on Israel.  But those pagan rulers also were exposed to God’s message and then judged as well for their rejection.  Nineveh is an example of a pagan people who invaded and brought suffering and death on Israel and faced God’s judgment until Jonah shared the Gospel with then.  They repented and were spared.  Later they diverted back to their old sinful ways and God’s judgment returned on them.

When we look at more recent secular recorded history, the details of God’s influence are not as well recorded but are still just as clearly exampled as in scripture.  Today those tapes are still being played with the same results being played out as well.  Yet, even modern history follows the examples and prophecies given in ancient scripture written and recorded and preserved by God through those He influenced and guided to do so. 

Our Bible was written over a 1600-year time frame by 40 individuals spanning that time period.  Yet their writings share a common relationship and understanding of the same God.   Even though the Bible’s last entry is nearly 2000 years old, God’s words are just as applicable and true today as in ancient times.  It has been reserved and available even through deliberate attempts to remove and destroy it.  Famous rulers and philosophers and atheists have tried to deny it and bring harm to those who believe it, but all have failed and today accessibility to scripture is far greater than any time in history.

Scripture shows us who God is and is like and requires of us.  Scripture shows us the way to God and what He has done for us and offers us in order to receive and be in relationship with Him. Scripture shows us our purpose and destination and path to that destination.  Scripture brings us hope and knowledge of truth and answers to life’s most important and perplexing questions.   How?  Because it was dictated to man by God Himself!   Many have tried to deny or dispute or ignore or belittle that but all have failed to do so!

Scripture gives us clues of what it will be like in times near and when Christ returns to reign and stop satan’s evil deeds.   The signs of that time are clearly being played out today.  Satan appears to be in control but we are clearly told in scripture that God will not allow satan to do his mischief much longer and will administer justice soon.   God delays because there are still millions lost in sin who need a savior and God is waiting for them to accept His life line of redemption and forgiveness.  

“The work which His goodness began, the arm of His strength will complete. “                            Augustus M. Toplady

10/3/20                             URGENT!  GO MAKE DISCIPLES!  3                            

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Matthew 28:19

Recommended Reading: Acts 1:8

⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

COMMENTS:   The world and every country is in crisis today.   2020 will be known for many things most of which will be filed under “crisis”.  Covid 19 was not in our knowledge or vocabulary a year ago.  A year ago we could not have imagined what was coming and consequences in lives and restrictions and destruction in businesses and employment that would follow.  Yet, many families have been drawn together and are stronger as a result.  But choosing how to respond and what and who are most important has been a positive outcome for many families, many of which lost a loved one to covid 19 in 2020.

I believe covid 19 is evidence that God’s protection has been removed from the world and specifically the USA and other countries that historically were governed and led by Christ followers and followed Christ’s commission and instruction.  But II Chronicles 7:14 not only confirms God’s protection and blessing on countries that do so but a warning of judgment on those who don’t.   Scripture is full of examples of God’s protection and blessing but also examples of God’s judgment and reasons for His judgment. 

But people – individuals and countries continue to fail to learn from history.  Failing to believe the overwhelming evidence of God’s existence and involvement in history and offers of mercy and redemption repeatedly before judgment implemented.  Israel was supposed to be God’s people evangelizing and discipling the world but repeatedly let the world evangelize and disciple them into rebelling against God.

Well, there is increasingly overwhelming evidence in the world news and local news to believe God’s judgment is imminent and Christ’s return to remove His church and judge the world is also imminent.   But even now we individually and the world’s leaders and people are being offered the choice and warning of II Chronicles 7:14 that is just as applicable today as it was when given by Solomon long ago when the first temple was completed and dedicated in Jerusalem.

That is the amazing thing about God’s Word – it is timeless and yet current and applicable as effectively today and in the future as it was long ago in ancient times.  Well, it should be because it is God’s Words inspirited and conveyed to obedient and faithful individuals to record and share with mankind.  No human could have invented or created or design such a Gospel and record of history or in such a way as to write and gather into one book from 40 different authors over a 1600-year period of time.  No human could and no human did.  These 40 writers had no idea what the impact and durability and collection or even the number of writers would result in.  They had no idea of the level of impact and extent of what they wrote would be.  BUT THEY EACH SIMPLY WERE OBEDIENT TO AND TRUSTED THE ONE AND ONLY GOD THEY LOVED AND WORSHIPPED AND OBEYED!   But their writings were completed and gathered into one book, our Bible. 

No other book has survived and been published and distributed and stayed as true to the original as the Bible.  No other book has changed lives so positively and continues to do so now as it did in ancient times.  And yet, stop and consider with the access of modern internet communication, the Bible above all other publications is more accessible and positively impacting lives now more than ever.  Souls hungry to hear and read the Bible are more able to do so today than ever and access to scripture online is possible in nearly every known language is possible and happening today more than ever in the past.

In spite of all this and more being converted today than ever, because more people are living and population is growing faster globally than ever, more are also rejecting Christ and following satan’s evil influence and deceptions than ever too.  The powers of darkness are working harder because they know their end is near.  But God is working hard too to make sure everyone knows the choice they must make so they can choose wisely.  For choose we all must do.  Our eternal future is at stake, but not just ours alone.  The eternal future of our families – our friends – our co-workers – our church family – our neighbors – even our enemies and those we have not met or known of yet.

As the writers of old and Christians of old and from past generations, we are not responsible to change the world, but to live out our faith and be obedient to share the reason for our hope and confidence when asked and ready to when God nudges.  Then leave it to God to make our humble – meager words and actions do a good work and make a lasting positive impact.  By doing that, past history and God’s promise is that our life impact will endure and be greater than you and I can hope for or imagine.

Writing this journal helps me be discipline to study God’s word and give Him more time each day in devotion and worship and prayer.  Writing helps remind me to be faithful in example and witness and in seeking opportunity to share my faith each day.  But writing this also is my act of faith and obedience believing God will use it beyond what I might imagine or hope for to reach those beyond my field of influence and beyond my voice or ability to travel to and even beyond my lifetime.

Well, it is hard to believe I’ve been writing and keeping this journal for approaching 8 years, 9 if include the first year of only keeping a paper journal.  Those journals are saved and available at: “https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com”

and direct link to archives is:

“ https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/link-to-dons-devotional-journal-entries-2013/”

“The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed.” J. Hudson Taylor

10/4/20                               CRYSTAL – CLEAR GOALS                                            4

Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me. Psalm 143:10

Recommended Reading: Psalm 143

143 Hear my prayer, O Lord,Give ear to my supplications!In Your faithfulness answer me,And in Your righteousness.² Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,For in Your sight no one living is righteous.

³ For the enemy has persecuted my soul;He has crushed my life to the ground;He has made me dwell in darkness,Like those who have long been dead.⁴ Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;My heart within me is distressed.

⁵ I remember the days of old;I meditate on all Your works;I muse on the work of Your hands.⁶ I spread out my hands to You;My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah

⁷ Answer me speedily, O Lord;My spirit fails!Do not hide Your face from me,Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.⁸ Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,For in You do I trust;Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,For I lift up my soul to You.

⁹ Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;In You I take shelter.¹⁰ Teach me to do Your will,For You are my God;Your Spirit is good.Lead me in the land of uprightness. ¹¹ Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.¹² In Your mercy cut off my enemies,And destroy all those who afflict my soul;For I am Your servant.

Comments:  David had a wonderful way of expressing what he was thinking and emotions he was feeling.  Psalms includes many of his words expressing the dangers and anxiety he experienced along his life journey.  His life included many obstacles and threats even as a boy as a shepherd, during his battle with Goliath, during his years as a fugitive from King Saul, as King.  However, his worst failures happened during times of prosperity and relative peace.  It was then he allowed himself to rely on his own wisdom instead of constant seeking and listened for and to God’s council and advise.

I often wonder what David’s life and record in scripture would have been like if he had only chosen and had one wife and would have waited for God’s choice.  I believe that would have removed the influence of Michal and Bathsheba and a multitude of wives as concubines as king he had the freedom to choose.  When look at the story of Abigail, consider how much better David’s life and record in scripture would have been if Abigail was David’s one and only wife and if she was the mother of Solomon and Absalom and David’s other children.  Even though God can and does use sinful actions and choices to bring about good and God’s Will, that is not God’s first choice or preference. Such was the case with David but other individuals did suffer from poor choices.  Jonathan was killed in battle because of King Saul’s sin.  Absalom died due to poor choices influences by King David’s sins.   David was forgiven for his sin, but the influence and damage done by those sins left permanent stains in history.

Our choices, good and bad, also impact future events and people even though God has and continues to use bad choices for good.

That doesn’t mean we can sin without regard of consequences believing God will clean up our mess if we say “we’re sorry”.  It does mean we shouldn’t give up if do sin and does mean we should strive more earnestly to learn and do God’s Will without distraction or detours or delays no matter how we feel or what we think – especially when we don’t feel like it or want to.

In Psalm 143, David felt overwhelmed (verse 4), but he spread out his hands to God (verse 6). He said, “Cause me to know the way in which I should walk” (verse 8), and he asked for God to teach him and to lead him (verse 10).

God will lead you, teach you, and use you, even when you feel overwhelmed—as you seek His guidance and help through prayer.

“Until the race is run, until the journey’s done, until the crown is won, teach me thy way!”                   Benjamin Ramsey

10/5/20                       HOW DO YOU DEFINE HAPPINESS?                               5  

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!   Psalm 103:1

Recommended Reading: Psalm 144:11-15                                                                                                   ¹¹ Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners,Whose mouth speaks lying words,And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood—¹² That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth;That our daughters may be as pillars,Sculptured in palace style;¹³ That our barns may be full,Supplying all kinds of produce;That our sheep may bring forth thousandsAnd ten thousands in our fields;¹⁴ That our oxen may be well laden;That there be no breaking in or going out;That there be no outcry in our streets.¹⁵ Happy are the people who are in such a state;Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

COMMENTS:  What makes you happy?  What gives you joy?   Well, one mistake or point of confusion is the difference between happiness and being joyful.  Happiness is related to emotions and feelings while Joy relates to a purpose or sense of worth.

True Joy that abides with those who put their faith in Christ:                               “Joy is the deep, soul-level happiness that is a result of beholding by faith the beauty and wonders of Christ. It is rooted in Jesus, not in external circumstances, and therefore cannot be easily displaced by external changes. Indeed, a Christian can have deep and lasting joy in the midst of life’s most difficult seasons.”

Joy is deeper and is not dependent on circumstances like happiness.  Happiness evaporates during trying times of suffering or loss while Joy is stable and unaffected by such times.  In fact, Joy based on a faith in Christ becomes stronger and more stable during trying times for the believer in Christ.

The Bible defines true happiness as Joy based on receiving Christ’s forgiveness and redemption then obeying and fellowshipping with Him going forward.   

• Deuteronomy 33:29 says, “Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help.” 
• Psalm 144:15 says, “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!”
• Psalm 146:5 says, “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help.”
• Proverbs 16:20 says, “Whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.”

So, how do you define happiness and what makes you happy?  The closer we get to Christ, the more our definition of happiness converges on the       definition of Joy and the two become Sen ominous.

Moses’ face glowed after he descended from Mt. Sinai.  Does our face glow after spending time with God in prayer and bible study?  It should!  If it doesn’t, maybe we should investigate reason.

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” I PETER 3:15

 “We are called to a settled happiness in the Lord whose joy is our strength.”  Amy Carmichael

10/6/20                           CLEARLY SEEING GOD’S PATH             6

I will guide you with My eye.  Psalm 32:8

Recommended Reading: Psalm 32

•  of David. A Contemplation.

32 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,Whose sin is covered.² Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

³ When I kept silent, my bones grew oldThrough my groaning all the day long.⁴ For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah⁵ I acknowledged my sin to You,And my iniquity I have not hidden.I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

⁶ For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to YouIn a time when You may be found;Surely in a flood of great watersThey shall not come near him.⁷ You are my hiding place;You shall preserve me from trouble;You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;I will guide you with My eye.⁹ Do not be like the horse or like the mule,Which have no understanding,Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,Else they will not come near you.

¹⁰ Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.  ¹¹ Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

COMMENTS:    Can you imagine running a race blindfolded?  Well, Ashley Winter set a new Guinness World Record after running a mile in 10 minutes 11 seconds while blindfolded.   Well, Ashley has a vision impairing eye disease and was raising funds for research working on treatment for that disease.   Ashley was able to run the race after memorizing the path.  But running that same race with clear vision is commonly done in less than ½ that time.  Lack of vision also keeps runner from adjusting for new obstacles introduced after practicing on track.

So why would anyone run a race blindfolded if had a choice?   Maybe a few for a brief time just to experience what it would be like or to empathize with   those suffering such a handicap.

Well, don’t we do that when we make choices and pursue goals and go about our daily lives functioning without knowing or having God’s abiding helping hand and fellowship?   

Take a moment to reflect on life lived blindfolded! What if did so with no divine plan? What if every step was a gamble, and every mile a riddle? What if our entire journey was without God’s guidance?

Thankfully, there is a divine plan for us! God knows and orders the arrangement for every day. He knows tomorrow as well as He knows yesterday. And He invites us to ask Him for guidance at every point. He guides us with His eye, so that our own eyes can see the way.

If you’re at a juncture or facing some hard decisions today, claim the promise of Psalm 32:8—He will guide you with His eye.

The first condition of securing real guidance in our daily life is to ask it, and that the next is to look for it, and… the third is to be quite willing to accept it.

Alexander Maclaren

10/7/20                              THE EQUATION FOR LOVE                                      7

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…. Love your neighbor as yourself.  Matthew 22:37, 39

Recommended Reading: Matthew 22:34-40

³⁴ But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. ³⁵ Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

COMMENTS:  How do you define love?  How do we recognize such love in us towards others and they toward us?

Love is described in great detail in I Corinthians 13 by giving us it’s characteristics.   Characteristics evidenced by love God has towards each of us and specifically Christ demonstrated towards us.  Love is generous and even sacrificial.  Love puts the needs and welfare of the beloved over the lover.   When we look at how Jesus lived and demonstrated love towards all, especially those in need, we discover a perfect example of how God demonstrates love and wants us to love each other.

In order to love each other that way, we must love God first.   Today’s scripture gives the proper order.  To be in relationship with God and both accept His love towards us and respond with love and obedience back to Him first.

Doing so gives birth to the capacity to love others too.  To attempt to demonstrate love to others before learning to love God first, is forced and artificial.  But even more important, such artificial love cannot be sustained for long. 

So, when we fail to love or become discouraged, we can be certain the problem does not lie with God or even with other people.   Yes, the blame for not loving others doesn’t lie with their conduct or “lovability” but within ourselves.  We choose to love and our capacity to love is not self-generated or even beyond our control.  Our capacity to love lies in the fact that our capacity to love is in direct proportion to our determination and desire and conscious will to obey and be in fellowship with God and responding to His love be loving Him in return.   When we neglect and fail to be in fellowship with God, we lose the desire and then the capacity to fellowship and love our God and Savior.  We then loose our capacity to love others, especially those not very “loveable”.  Granted, we may still have feelings of love and choose to love due to obligation and many other reasons, but demonstrating love as Christ did is only possible to reach and sustain when we are in and remain in fellowship with Christ.

Even in fellowship it is difficult to sustain feelings of love towards others and towards God too, but we should have learned from experience by now that we simply can’t trust our feelings.  They will betray us often when we do. 

Instead, we need to follow scripture and make our feelings subject to our will and our will to God’s Will and direction.

When we walk with the world, it’s influences and priorities dominate our thinking and desires, but “When we walk with the Lord”, his priorities and influences example penetrate and become dominant in our thoughts and conduct and behavior and in our words and actions.   We not only love like He did, but awe become more like Him each and every day.

So, do you want to become more like Jesus and love the way He did?  There is no shortcut or simple formula. We must dive deep into His Word.   We must spend more time with Him in prayer and with His people.  Then evaluate our lives and conduct and thoughts and see when they start demonstrating Christ-like qualities.  If they don’t or deteriorate, then get deeper into fellowship.  He always is willing and has the time, but at times it may not seem that way.  Why?  Well, stop and think.  When God delayed responding to Daniel’s prayers or when David cried to God and felt silence for a time or when Job prayed and suffered with God silent for a time, it was in order to bring greater good and a greater “love response” and not because of anger or revenge or indifference, which is the way we more likely would respond if we were treated the way we often treat God.

So don’t misinterpret God’s motives and response by our own sinful characteristics.  Instead learn from God’s historic responses and relationship with those before us.  If we do, we will begin a wonderful journey with Him not without bumps and even hardship but a journey to a wonderful destination and a journey experiencing His love and gaining the capacity to love even the “unlovable” like He already does.  AMEN?  AMEN! 

That’s the biblical equation for love. It begins with the limitless, boundless, bottomless, depthless love of an eternal God (1 John 4:8). He loves with infinite love. Then in seeking to show us how we should love, He gave us ten great commandments. The first four show us how to love Him, and the last six show us how to love each other (Exodus 20:1-17).

Jesus boiled it down to two great commands—to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength—and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37, 39).

And when we combine the two, we come up with one word—love.

But it’s not just any kind of love. It’s not the love found in the pop songs or romance novels. It’s not the love of the world. God’s love is agape—self-sacrificing, self-giving, others-centered, and God-honoring. When we discover this, we learn something. The overwhelming priority of our life is love. Show someone God’s love today.

“Where love is, God is.”  Henry Drummond

10/8/20       PEACE AT HOME – PEACE ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN                                8                          

The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.  Zechariah 14:9, NIV  

SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 20:1-10  “ Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. ² He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; ³ and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵ But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.⁷ Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison ⁸ and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. ⁹ They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. ¹⁰ The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

COMMENTS:  Have you ever read a book and got into the story and characters so much that you didn’t want to stop reading.  However, you had to stop so looked ahead to see a certain character was still in the story.

Have you ever gone to end to find out how story ended up because you couldn’t wait until finished the book?  Doing so may rob or diminished from the excitement or anticipation or energy building in story.

Well, God has given us the end of our story (life) but also the end of His story.  He does so by revealing it to John and instructing him to real what he saw and heard in scripture.

The purpose is to give us hope and assurance as experience life’s dangers and confusion and obstacles and distractions.   In addition, intent is to also help us and motive us to set priorities and cause us to press harder to prepare ourselves and others as we approach and enter the time John speaks of in Revelation.

Prophecy can be confusing and raise more questions than answer, but key point is to realize time is growing short and needs to be used and spent wisely. Prophecy also should be encouraging to prove to us serving God may not be popular or always fun or enjoyable but does bring hope and assurance especially when in midst of dangerous and trying times, like we are living in now.                 

10/9/20                 LIMITATIONS ARE LIMITLESS BUT WITHIN GOD’S CONTROL                    9                       

For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
John 3:34

Recommended Reading: Romans 11:33-36

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!  ³⁴ “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” ³⁵ “Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?” ³⁶ For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

COMMENTS:   Living in human bodies in this world means having limitations and weaknesses as well as being constantly bombarded with satan’s temptations and lures.  Our limitations mean each of us is vulnerable to these lures.  But God has equipped us with a mind to reason with and a soul to choose and be in fellowship with Him.  God has given us the ability to be in fellowship with Him and to overcome our weaknesses and limitations by depending on Him, following His council and accepting His helping Hand – the Hand of the Holy Spirit.  By reading of life experiences of those before us and learning from them.   God chooses to let us live within limits while on earth even though those limitations will be removed when we move to heaven and are freed from the influence of satan. 

Why does God allow us to endure life’s limitations and exposure to satan’s lures and influences?  Only God knows the full answer, but recorded history reveals included is learning to seek and grow deeper in relationship and faith and trust in Christ in order to overcome satan’s influences and grow stronger and wiser.

We follow Christ because we choose to and because we seek and desire the better life and future Christ offers instead of the suffering and death satan will hide from us but is all he can give.

Well, when we are young and have many years ahead, we dream and work to achieve life goals, professional goals and accomplishments, security and ambitions.

The limitations we must live with affects our dreams and desires but God wants us to seek and rely on Him instead of flawed abilities and limits we live with.  He also wants us to discover the dreams and desires He has for us and pursue those instead of our flawed dreams.  Usually the dreams we have will disappoint us if fulfilled or come short of what we imagined by goals and dreams God has for us bring fulfillment and eternal blessing and reward.  The reason is that our dreams are limited to what we know and see and understand in this world.  Such can only be achieved while on earth and cannot be taken to heaven, our eternal home.  However, if we dream with God and embrace His goals, they will go with us to heaven and may even continue and grow there too.

You can do whatever God calls you to do despite your limitations, for He gave His Spirit to Jesus without limit, and we are the extension of Jesus in this world. 

In practical terms, that means we should stop worrying about what we can’t do, and start doing what we can do. We should do it with enthusiasm, as working for the Lord and not for men (Colossians 3:23). We should wave off discouragement, and trust God to finish what He has begun in us.

Don’t focus on your limitations. Acknowledge them, but focus on the unlimited grace, power, mercy, and plan of your Savior.

“If we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory.”  Warren W. Wiersbe

10/10/20                                            SHARPENING THE FOCUS     10

Immediately there fell from [Saul’s] eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.  Acts 9:18

Recommended Reading: Philippians 3:12-14

¹² Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

COMMENTS:  As born again Christians, we are commanded to strive to be like Christ in word – thought – deed – conduct.   As humans, we can improve and with His help make great strides toward that goal.  But is it possible to be truly Christ-like?  Has anyone besides Christ ever achieved that goal this side of the grave?

I have known Christians who were converted as children and lived the remainder of their days faithful to Christ but still admittedly falling short of that goal.  I have known Christians who came to Christ and were saved late in life but grew in maturing and were more “Christ-like” than those who had been saved many decades earlier as children.   But they too still fell short of the goal to be fully Christ-like.

So why is this goal always beyond our reach and is it futile to pursue a goal that is unachievable?  Why doesn’t God simply make us Christ-like the day of our salvation or a define time period afterwards?  Why does He command us to be perfect, like Him, if such a goal is unattainable? 

Matthew 5:48 followed detailed instruction on what true Christ-like love looks like and demonstrates and then concluded with command to be perfect like Christ.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 13:5-13 to strive toward perfection, which means neither he or any living Christian has not yet achieved perfection.  There has not been a genuine born again Christian who ever lived who claimed to be perfect or Christ-like.

Yet, scripture explains the difference to be how the Father sees us when we have Christ’s sacrifice over us because the Father sees that sacrifice and accepts it as paying the price required for our redemption.  He sees the Holy Spirit dwelling in us as perfect and He sees Christ instead of our less than perfect flawed lives.

This means we are acceptable to Him as we are but that does not mean we can’t or shouldn’t continue to strive to be more like Him.  In fact, drawing closer to Christ.   To be in closer and more frequent relationship with Him through prayer and study of scripture and fellowship with other believers.    The more we are with Him, the more like Him we will be.   Yet, the truth is we will see our shortcomings and remaining sinful characteristics more clearly and realize how far from being Christ-like we still are even though more Christ-like than were in past.  

Fact is, as humans, we are farther from being perfect than we realize or can comprehend.  We will be perfect in heaven without the influence of satan to deal with but until then the work of growing and strengthening our relationship – fellowship with Him and all that goes with that will exercise our faith and will and soul to grow in strength and wisdom and knowledge and love for Christ – for each other – for those we know and especially for those we don’t know…

The journey and options and choices vary and are unique for each of us because we are all unique with a unique mix of talents and gifts and interests and abilities, so God has a tailored and unique plan and mission – future planned for each of us.  A plan that doesn’t conclude when we enter heaven nor start then either. 

The apostle Paul’s path was such an example. He was a tentmaker by trade (Acts 18:3), but that trade was only to support his true passion: understanding and teaching the laws of God. He was on a literal road—the road from Jerusalem to Damascus—in pursuit of that passion when God changed his focus, and thus his life. Instead of living as a teacher of the law, he became a preacher of grace. And it was not an easy transition (Acts 9:1), taking years to realize (Galatians 2:1).

Well, each of us has a tailored unique purpose and God given plan but all have one thing in common.  An individual and viable – loving relationship with God providing strength and wisdom and insights and discernment and love necessary and sufficient to follow and complete the plan faithfully that God has laid out for us.  AMEN?  AMEN!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Don’t despair about your life’s focus or purpose. Walk faithfully in the light God has given you today, trusting that more light will be revealed as it is needed.

“Man, made in the image of God, has a purpose—to be in relationship to God, who is there.”    Francis Schaeffer

10/11/20                             GO PREACH!                                             11

And as you go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  Matthew 10:7

Recommended Reading: Romans 10:14-15

¹⁴ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

COMMENTS:

The bible is full of examples Christ followers who preached God’s Word and Message without the “proper credentials.  John the Baptist preached (Matthew 3:1) Jesus preached (Matthew 4:17), followers in Jerusalem preached (Acts 4:2, 5:42), and His followers scattered from Jerusalem after Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 8:4-5, 12, 35, 40), and Paul (Acts 9:20).  Well, Jesus, of course, was qualified by being taught by God the Father directly, but other followers were inspired and authorized directly by the Holy Spirit.  Paul was the only one who had religious training.

Preaching was essential initially because the message was new and understanding of Christ’s mission – His sacrifice on the Roman cross – His authority to forgive sins and redeem any willing to accept His gift were all both good news and new news for faithful Jews and sinful gentile alike.

So, preaching became widespread (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and many thousands were converted at the peak of Rome’s persecution and devastation.

The disciples wrote letters and gospel writings.  Paul wrote letters too that all accurately shared the Gospel message and some, as letters, became council and instruction and correction to young Christians in the faith (Romans 10:14).  But as time went on, they became the New Testament of our Bible, which is serving as great or even greater purpose and value than they did that first century after Christ’s life and death and resurrection.

Preaching the Good News to a world of lost people seeking life’s meaning and purpose and redemption without knowing what or who they are seeking or needing until someone tells them.

Well, the message is just as important and real and life changing today as was then.  More are being converted today than then but far more are living and being born today than ever, so number of lost is growing each day too – a larger portion of population than ever.

Well, we are not expected to preach to large crowds, but we are expected and called to reflect Christ’s light of hope and mercy by our example and words of kindness and love and, yes, sometimes by sharing the reason for our hope and joy (2 Timothy 4:2).

So, we are not off the hook if we think we are not capable of preaching to crowds of people.  In fact, the explosive growth of Christianity in first century was not by preaching to large crowds of people but by individual Christians living a “Christ-like life” and deeds that impressed those who knew them enough to ask them the reason for their hope and joy.  Then they would live and do likewise.  Then others would see the change in them and seek and ask also.

The same is true today.  So wherever you go or do.  Whoever you cross paths with or interact with in person or by phone or computer – go live and conduct yourself as Christ would (WWJD) and be ready to share the reason for our hope and joy when asked or when others are open to hear the GOOD NEWS.  AMEN?  AMEN!

“Preaching is the chariot that carries Christ up and down the world.”   Richard Sibbes

10/12/20                       MAKING A DIFFERENCE                                            12

But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.  Deuteronomy 3:28

Recommended Reading: Deuteronomy 3:23-29

²³ “Then I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying: ²⁴ ‘O Lord God, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works and Your mighty deeds? ²⁵ I pray, let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains, and Lebanon.’

²⁶ “But the Lord was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me. So the Lord said to me: ‘Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter. ²⁷ Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift your eyes toward the west, the north, the south, and the east; behold it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over this Jordan. ²⁸ But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.’ ²⁹ “So we stayed in the valley opposite Beth Peor.

COMMENTS:  God showed compassion and understanding towards Moses in letting him see the promised land even though denying him opportunity to walk on that land.   Leading his people in battle in that land would fall on another, Joshua.   Moses’ time was coming to a close.  He had a good full life and physically was still very strong, so God had sustained him through 120 years.   He had to endure the punishment of wondering 40 years in wilderness with his people eating manna and quail, but saw God’s faithfulness in providing for them all those years being sustained.  He also had all those years to teach and grow in faith with them.    They were productive years even though not what they had hoped for when left Egypt, especially after seeing miracles like the plagues and the parting of the Red Sea and when receiving the 10 commandments.

Moses’ legacy was great for his people and, because his life and influence is recorded in scripture, it has continued on from ancient times to the present.  He also used those 40 years in the wilderness to teach and encourage Joshua and prepare him for leadership.  Joshua would need to learn how to access and use wisdom from God too.  Joshua wasn’t at Moses’ side to witness Moses’ communion with God on Mt. Sinai but saw the result in Moses’ face and conduct after that time and could see and touch the tablets of stone containing the 10 commandments written by God Himself.

Why was the time of wondering in the wilderness 40 years and not 70, as was time of judgment enslaved in Babylon later on or less?  Only God knows but the wisdom of timing and preparation and mentoring that time gave shows God’s plan and timing and use of that time was good and wise and effective.  From God’s perspective, comparing 40 years or 70 years to eternity takes one a much different perspective than you and I can comprehend.  However, knowing “He has the whole world in His Hands” and rules not only the world but the entire universe with wisdom and understanding but also with great love and compassion should give us hope and encouragement and confidence as we face a future that seems so uncertain and dangerous and so dark at times.

 “Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs.”  Pearl Strachan Hurd

10/13/20              COURAGE IN ALL DIRECTIONS                               13

And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.  Acts 28:15

 Recommended Reading: Acts 28:11-16

¹¹ After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. ¹² And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. ¹³ From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, ¹⁴ where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. ¹⁵ And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

¹⁶ Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

COMMENTS:   Courage is not the lack of fear but acting on the conscious choice to not let fear stop acting. When the 12 spies entered the promised land following Moses leading over 3 million Israelites out of captivity in Egypt, they all had fresh memories of God dividing the Red Sea for them to cross.  They witnessed God then closing those waters on oncoming Egyptian warriors but not before the last Israelite had crossed safely onto higher ground.   God’s power and care were fresh in the memories of all, but they had a choice to make.   They shouldn’t have doubted God by sending spies into promised land first, but their worst sin started when 10 of the 12 spies returned with reports of giants too big and strong to defeat.  Joshua and Caleb were 2 spies that disagreed and reported God promised the land to them and would fight the coming battles for them.  They reminded the people what God has already done for them.  

But the people listened to the 10 and refused to enter the promised land.  Result was 40 years wondering in the waste land around the fertile land God promised them.   Wonder until the last of the adult generation refusing to trust God had died. 

Pilgrim’s Progress identifies 3 “dimensions” of courage, which he identifies as “valor”.   Jesus is our ultimate example of courage because His example perfectly reflects His perfect life and relationship with the Father.  Pilgrim’s Progress is a very old but excellent book explaining the life journey of a growing Christian as he (or she) grows in faith and courage and obedience to God’s guiding commands and instruction.

Physical courage includes facing physical suffering or pain and ultimately death but not allowing such suffering to deter or hinder resolve to follow God’s lead.

Moral courage includes resisting lures and distractions and temptations offering short cuts to or alternatives goals or God’s promises.  Sacrifices or giving up comfort or money or plans to gain wealth or power or security or popularity in order to remain faith to God’s call / His Will / His plan for us.

God commonly offers promises that require sacrifice to build faith and courage and trust in Him before He provides all He has promised.

Spiritual Courage is the third dimension or aspects of courage.  Putting and keeping our eyes and attention on Christ and the goal of heaven He promises His followers, but also the goal of not going to heaven alone but bringing along converts and disciples we have brought to Christ influenced by our life example and our words and witness.    

So, instead of working with motivation of achieving goals and owning things that can’t possess or enjoy beyond the grave, start planning and working to gain what can be enjoyed in heaven too.  To begin using things and loving people instead of loving things and using people to gain things.

Well, how all this should play out for each of us remains in God’s Will, which can only be revealed to and embraced by us if we turn to Him, open our minds and hearts to build a faith – trust relationship with Him that also includes stepping out in faith as He guides and instructs us to, like exampled in so many passages by so many in scripture as well as in history from long ago until and including even today.    Reflect on family examples and maybe a few personal examples worthy of encouraging us and those we can or do influence.

“A Christianity that no longer requires courage has ceased to be the genuine article.”                           Kerry S. Walters

 

10/14/20            GOD’S COMPLETE PROTECTIVE COVERAGE                  14

 Recommended Reading: Ephesians 2:14-18

CHRIST OUR PEACE

1. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ¹⁵ having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. ¹⁷ And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
2.   Take a few minutes and reflect with me the many ways God provides faithfully each and every day.   Awakening to a new day greeted by the Sun to provide light and heat, to ample food and a body to live and experience life with.   Blessings like shelter, loved ones, family, church family.  For abilities like seeing color clearly.   For ability to breathe without thought, for gravity, and so much more. 
8.                                                                                                                     
9.   Thomas Brooks 

9/15/20                           WE ARE MADE FOR HIMSELF 15      

Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?
Psalm 144:3

Recommended Reading: Genesis 1:26-27

²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

COMMENTS:  What does it mean for us to be made in God’s image? Notice scripture said we are made in God’s image but not gods.   We are uniquely different from each other.  We all look different and act and sound different from each other.  Some big and strong and male while some are small and weak.   Some are female and some are male.   But all are created in God’s image.

By the end of this year, the world’s population will be 7.8 billion and each one is unique and different.   The total of all people who have lived or are living since Adam is 90-100 billion also and they each are unique and different.  Imagine a God who could create each uniquely different and not run out of ideas or ways to make each of us different.

Well, in spite of the vast numbers of life God has and continues to create, Jesus taught that God sees each live as precious and even a sparrow does not fall without His knowing and even the number of the hairs on our heads (Luke 12:6-7) is known. Such knowledge overwhelmed David as he wrote about this in the Psalms.  David looked at the stars at night and wondered how it could be possible that the mighty God who created all this and more could know and care for him (Psalm 8:3-4).  David wrote that God knows us because He fashioned us individually in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-14).

Some today claim God does not exist or that life and all creation was not created by God but evolved by chance without any creator or intelligent force in play.   To believe this requires far more faith than to believe in a creator. The order and precision and complexity of each life, even plant and animal life prove God’s involvement.  Scripture declares God’s passionate involvement in creation but each and every day because of His love for us.

Life is insignificant to those who don’t know Christ, but Jesus taught that God sees everything and nothing happens without His knowledge.   Well, satan’s involvement is also evident everywhere but only because God allows it but within limits.  Scripture also tells us God allows satan to do harm in order for you and me to have ability to choose between God’s Will and satan’s will.   He also gives us assurance in scripture that the day is coming soon when He will say ENOUGH! And bind satan and judge him and those who followed satan.  God will then reward those who chose and followed God, a reward that will be eternal and more wonderful than our wildest dreams can imagine.   An eternity in a better body than we enjoyed in our youth, eternity in a better home and environment and community that we can imagine.  Ability to spend time with the saints of old and learn more of their experiences from them and discover how God orchestrated His will from them to us and beyond. Then there is being with Him without the distractions and influence of evil.

You may be only one, but you are a unique and precious one to God. He created you for Himself!    We are created in His image so we can be in fellowship with Him and live with Him forever.  AMEN?  AMEN!

“You made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless till they rest in You.”  Augustine

10/16/20                               SUSTAINABLE POWER       16

To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Colossians 1:29

Recommended Reading: Colossians 1:24-29

²⁴ I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, ²⁵ of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, ²⁶ the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. ²⁷ To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

COMMENTS:  It takes an uncomprehendable amount of energy to keep the world powered.  Scientists have estimated that to be 63.3 million megawatt-hours of electricity just to provide what we humans consume.  But what about the energy God provides to power the sun or keep the world and planets rotating and orbiting the sun?  What about the energy hiddened deep in the earth that comes out now an again as an erupting volcano.

God has been providing all this energy since creation – long before man knew about it.  Well, God not only is constantly involved in maintaining the universe, but also in continuing to create new life.  I believe God does most what He loves best.   He loves to create new life. He loves to forgive and show mercy, so He does so as soon as we seek and ask for it.  He dreads judging, so He warns and delays over and over before finally He must to prevent greater destruction.

Well, God is too great, too Good, too perfect, too powerful, too wise, too forgiving while also administering perfect mercy with perfect justice for us to understand Him let alone what He does or doesn’t do.   He keeps His promises but implements them in His perfect way and time.  Faith requires trusting Him and accepting His timing and way.  As we fellowship with Him and draw closer to Him, we will comprehend His Will better and understand and love Him more, but fully knowing Him will only be achieved the other side of the grave, but that doesn’t mean we can’t know enough to faithfully obey Him and be and do all He has called us to do.

“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shal see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”  1Corinthian 13:12

WE ARE ON THE WINNING SIDE WHEN WE ARE ON GOD’S SIDE!!  AMEN?  AMEN!!

Jesus sends strength into our souls by the Holy Spirit, and that’s why we’re constantly told to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), to pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18), to love in the Spirit (Colossians 1:8), and to be in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10). 

The energy of God within us keeps us moving forward into God’s will for our life.

He works in us—and does so powerfully, Paul says—to give us his own energy for the work to which he calls us.

10/17/20                     FORWARD   17

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you.
Jeremiah 1:5

Recommended Reading: Jeremiah 1:1-8

1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, ² to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. ³ It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

⁴ Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you;I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

⁶ Then said I:

“Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”

⁷ But the Lord said to me:

“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.⁸ Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

COMMENTS:  Looking back is valuable in building faith and understanding, but also building wisdom.  It is true that “those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it.  History gives us evidence of God’s intervening – powerful influence but also His abiding presence and abiding protection and grace, but also His enforced justice.  He delays judgment of evil but doesn’t ignore or delay that judgment forever.  He gives ample opportunity and warning to repent. 

Conversely, those who live and act wisely following God’s plan / will and council may not see results immediately but will eventually and eternally.

Looking in past gives wisdom to equip us to look forward.  Forward is the only direction   we can change.  What we do and say in present will impact the future – both our future and future of countless people impacted directly and indirectly by our choices.

Have you ever wondered what God did before creating the universe?  Since He existed from eternity past, did all His time involve planning and designing all He was about to do. Did He reflect on His design plans and schedule?  Was He agonizing over His plan of redemption including the cross?  Was He spending millennia pondering over options before deciding the Plan He would follow? 

Well, Psalm 90:2 reminds us God has always existed from eternity past, but we have little clue from scripture to tell us what God did before creation.

John 17:5 and vs 24 tell us of the rich fellowship the Father and Son and Holy Spirit have enjoyed from eternity past, so all 3 were equally involved in creation but also in planning and design prior to creation. 

Ephesians 1:4 and Matthew 25:34 inform us that the cross was in God’s plan of redemption prior to creation.

Galatians 1:15 remind us that God knew each of us before we were conceived, including having our lives planned out long before we were conceived.

We can debate this forever, but the truth God wants us to realize is not             what God did when but how much He loves and cares for each of us and knew and had our life planned out long before we were conceived.  Whether we follow His plan or not, that is our choice.   In fact, He knew the decisions and choices we would make as well and yet still offered those choices to us and opportunities to repent.  Judas and Peter had same opportunities to repent except Peter had a few more since He chose not to take his life. 

Hell is awaiting us but so is Heaven.  God will do all He can to persuade us to make choices that lead us to Heaven but, none – the – less, Christ’s sacrifice provides both choices while preserving God’s justice and free will for all of us to choose.  He cannot allow the evil influence of sin into Heaven.

Well, most who reject Christ or ignore His plan may not be deliberately or consciously choosing Hell, but God is giving us ample warning in scripture that Christ is the only way to Heaven and any other way will lead to Hell, whether we believe it or not.    

“It should not surprise us that God was planning His kingdom before He created the universe.”

Lita Cosner 

10/18/20                             NO ONE IS LIKE YOU!                           18

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
1 Corinthians 12:27

Recommended Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:20-27

1 Corinthians 12:20-27

²⁰ But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³ And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, ²⁴ but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, ²⁵ that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Comment:  It amazes me that anyone could have an atheistic world view.  The complexity and vastness of the universe to the cell level of each living plant and animal and human to individual atoms that make up every living and non-living object.   A common origin of each living creator, including humans with such order and evident of a skillful designer’s involvement and maker.

Today many are becoming blinded and arrogant into thinking they possess intelligence and knowledge sufficient that they have “outgrown the need for God” and have no need for His help or wisdom or council.  Instead, they are taught and deceived into thinking science and engineering and medicine has the answers to the world’s needs and problems or soon will.  

But man is still not able to create life or to extend life but for a few brief years.   The question remains of “what becomes of us when life is over – when we die”? Do we “cease to exist” or do we go to another place unseen while alive? 

Well, the Bible teaches and deals with the answer to these questions and reveals much about God, the creator of the universe and all material and life in the universe.  The God of the Bible is revealed and explained in terms and with powers and abilities beyond what mere humans could ever hope to create or imagine like so many other religions and science fiction novels have invented.  Man could not invent or imagine a God like the One revealed in the Bible.   No, Christianity is not like any other religion and has far more evidence in history and in the world and universe today than any other religion to prove validity of what it reports and of the God of the Bible.

God has created billions of people with the ability to see and feel and think and reason / think, to remember.  The ability to communicate and love and be in relationship with each other but also with God.  Then there is the transforming nature of a relationship with God.  Also, God defines Good from evil and source of the evil present in history and in world today.

The unique nature of each human from the cell level to fingerprints to DNA to features and size and abilities and personality and … all of which are uniquely different from each other.  Even identical twins have unique differences.

Well, God is alive and real and intimately involved in all His has created and continues to create.  He passionately desires to be in relationship with each of us and is preparing a place and new body so we can enjoy an eternal home and future with Him and all who love and serve and accepted His mercy and forgiveness.  In contrast the future of those who follow the evil one, the one       who enjoyed power and privilege in heaven but decided he was wiser and better than God.    He deceived 1/3 of angels of heaven to follow him instead of obey God and were cast by God out of heaven.  One day soon he will be judged along with all who followed him for sinful choices and behavior and deeds and thoughts.  We are told all have sinned and are worthy of judgment but those who accept Christ’s sacrifice for their sins will not only be forgiven and spared coming judgment, but will enjoy the home and companionships God is preparing.

So who do you believe and follow? 

 “When you are clear about what makes you a unique individual, you can then better understand what it is that you can give to others. You can know your unique place in the world and the purpose that God has for you.”  Victor Kubik

10/19/20                              LET GOD FIGHT FOR YOU!     19

^“10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. ¹¹ They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? ¹² Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”¹³ Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”¹⁵ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. ¹⁶ Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. ¹⁷ I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. ¹⁸ The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”¹⁹ Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, ²⁰ coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.²¹ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, ²² and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.²³ The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. ²⁴ During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. ²⁵ He jammed^[b] the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”²⁶ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” ²⁷ Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward^[c] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. ²⁸ The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.²⁹ But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. ³⁰ That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. ³¹ And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.  EXODUS 14: 10-31

COMMENTS:  The Israelites had the same problem we have.  They trusted God just a little bit but found it impossible to trust Him when the stakes were great.  But they had nowhere else to go.  They were trapped between the Red Sea and an advancing army racing towards them.  They were terrified and saw no hope, but God told Moses to tells them to relax and watch God fight for them.  They had already seen God’s 10 plagues and how God spared them the effect of each one, including the death of their first born. 

Faith was not easy for them but should have experienced enough examples to gain some confidence God will do what He says, but how would He?

Well, they discovered as will we, that it is far better to listen to God’s instruction and follow that instruction even (or especially) when the options seem impossible.

You may ask, how does this apply today and to my situations?  Does God still part seas and rivers and do miracles?  Even if He does, how can I be sure He will do one for me?   What if He doesn’t?  What will I do then?

Granted, sometimes God’s voice and instruction is uncertain and sometimes the risks of failure are greater than others.  However, we will gain clarity and certainty as we:

1. Study scripture and learn more about God, how He acts, and what He has done for those before us.
2. Learn how those before us fellowshipped with God – the choices and conduct those before us did that hindered that fellowship and conduct and choices that built that relationship.
3. Learn what God expects and asks.
4. Discover God’s heart and passion by studying Jesus’ live and relationship with the Father and then with people, especially the poor and needy.
5. Discover what sin is and how God deals with sin in those who accept His offer – gift of redemption and with sin in those who refuse that gift.
6. Study God’s promises and result of those fulfilled thus far.
7. Then study God’s promises yet to be fulfilled and the results He shares that will come.

Well, all this and so much more, including examples of God’s influence in our lives and families and world all serve to convince us to trust and obey God above all others and spend as much time as we can – making it our primary priority – to discover God’s Will and plan and follow that plan faithfully by being in and staying in daily fellowship with Him and obeying His instruction daily.

Distractions and other priorities will bombard us somedays worse than other days but likely every day.  Some distractions will seem and even be harmless for a while, but we dare not loose tract of our primary Goal.  The Goal Paul said of in 2 Timothy 4:3-8 “For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.5But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.”

The confident hope of heaven for all who accept Christ’s gift of forgiveness is the eternal goal we all will either be enjoying or regret accepting 100 years from now.  Our mission is to encourage and give opportunity for others to choose Christ too.

We all get wrapped up in demands of each work day and priorities of each day, but God also has a wonderful of giving opportunities to make a positive difference as we go about doing those duties.   How we treat others and acts of kindness and conversation we encounter make a big difference over time.  

We are not responsible for the salvation of others but are accountable for how we use those opportunities God provides.

Our efforts and lives may not make the evening news or newspaper, but one day will be in the obituary of local newspaper.   But for sure our lives will be discussed and impact on others a point of conversation by those who attend our funeral.  How we live in our remaining years will define many of those conversations, so you and I still have opportunity to write those conversations in the minds and hearts of those who know and care about us.

So, instead of just doing what we think is right or trying to do what we think God wants instead of waiting for God’s timing or confirmation.   After all, He is working for good of others beside for our good.  So waiting on Him is including in obedience while being still (EXODUS 14:14).  Being still is not a waste of time if use that time in His Word and in Prayer and making yourself available to God’s nudgings. It is all in His Hands and ultimately fully in His control.  

10/20/20                                  TRUE LOVE        20                                                     

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

Recommended Reading: John 15:13

¹³ Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

COMMENTS:  Showing non-judgmental love to others, especially during persecution and hatred felt and expressed towards us, is what Christ and the early Christians demonstrated toward their Roman and Jewish persecutors. The evidence of how dramatically his encounter with the risen Christ impacted and changed Saul is reflected on his name change (Paul) and the love and passion Paul showed consistently the rest of his life.  Paul went from an ambitious young man trying to gain respect and fame by persecuting and killing Christians.  He did believe he was doing God’s work until he came face to face with the Crucified and Risen Christ who confronted him face to face and asked him why he was persecuting Him.  He was also telling Saul that by persecuting His followers, he was also persecuting Christ.   Saul’s encounter on that Damascus Road changed His world view and purpose for living as well as his life’s work.  He went from being an enemy of God to a friend of God, and from a friend of the world to an enemy of the world. 

Jesus, by example, demonstrated his love for all humanity through the ages by making the power of His death and resurrection sufficient to reach all people from all generations.  We cannot comprehend what it meant for Him to die taking the penalty for our sins, but all indication is that His suffering was worse because He was bearing the sins of all mankind from all generations past and future on His shoulders on that cross.

That sacrifice became evident in the courageous transformation in Christ followers from that first generation through today as Christians continue to be mocked and persecuted and killed in countries all over the world today even more intensely than in first century.

Well, a famous example is William Tyndale, 16^th century English Bible translator.  For his work translating scripture into English and making it accessible to common people, he was arrested in Belgium and strangled and his body burnt at the stake.  Before he died, his last words were “Lord! Open the King of England’s eyes.”  His was not a prayer of anger and vengeance but one of   forgiveness and compassionate love.  He refused to recant or stop his work.  He demonstrated the unconditional love Paul wrote of in 1 Corinthians 13:7 “Love hopes all things and endures all things.” 

Jesus, as hung dying on the cross asked God to forgive those who put Him on the cross (Luke 23:34). Such also reflects John 3:16 and Romans 5:10, to love our enemies unconditionally.

“True love is always costly.”   Billy Graham

10/21/20                           WELL INVESTED TIME                                           21

And the truth of the Lord endures forever.  Psalm 117:2

 Recommended Reading: Psalm 117:1-2

Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!  ² For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever.  Praise the Lord!

COMMENTS: Take some time and reflect on how wonderful that God endures forever.  Then to consider Psalm 117:1-2 that not only does God live and abide with us forever but His love and mercy endures forever also, so we can rely on Him and be confident of His faithfulness and assurance He will keep His promises.   Stop and think what our future would be like and the hopelessness and despair we would endure if He was not faithful or wasn’t eternal.

He gives us recorded history with real people and experience to assure us and help us know and understand Him.  He gives us the life He lived as a human and finally His abiding presence 24x7x365xeternal as the Holy Spirit.  There is no excuse or reason why we can’t be faithful and at peace with Him, but then again we must choose to trust Him when satan keeps creating circumstances and distractions to deter us like He has for thousands of years to our ancestors.

This is an old – old story but one that continues to play out today as it has millions of times in the past and millions of times today.   God will not force Himself upon us nor force us to choose Him, but will give us warning and deterrence to help us avoid consequences of poor or foolish or sinful choices.  

It is a wonderful thing God did to allow parent’s and grandparent’s lives to overlap their children by 20-40 years.  To have opportunity to share their values and faith and life experiences and skills.   How wise and blessed are children who take advantage of such opportunity.    I continue to appreciate the Amish culture that holds family in such high regard and passes faith and crafting skilling and values so high and provide such as an example to their neighbors.  

I know, circumstances force children to move away from their parents to find work opportunities and I know healthy family units and relationships are becoming rare too.  But you and I need to remember what Christ values and calls us to do and be is far more important and lasting and Good than what we value or want.   To say and allow words and actions done in anger to fester and cause division in family relationships is tragic, especially when it goes on unchecked for decades.    When we follow God’s plan, which includes loving and caring for each other (including those kind to us and those who are not), we may find doing so very difficult and unpleasant but ultimately will bring joy and blessing far beyond what evidence at the time seems.  

Again, the countless examples in scripture of those long ago, examples from more recent history, and examples from our own family – our own generation – our own lives all give us over whelming proof His ways and instruction and commands are best for us and for all.  How often have your plans failed and done harm to others and/or yourself?  Seeking – discovering – following God’s council will always prove best and enduring but not always evident short term but always eventually.   AMEN?  AMEN!     

Psalm 119:89 says, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.” The same chapter says, “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever” (verse 160). Peter said, “But the word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 1:25). And Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

When you study the Bible each day, your return on investment is one hundred percent!

The study of God’s Word for the purpose of discovering God’s will is the secret discipline which has formed the greatest characters.  James W. Alexander

10/22/20                                       HIS WORD, OUR HOPE                                  22                                         

My soul faints for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word.  Psalm 119:81

 Recommended Reading: Isaiah 40:8

⁸ The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”

COMMENTS:  How much do you appreciate and marvel at the Salvation Christ bought for us and at the price He paid for that gift?   Do you understand or appreciate the level of Love He has for you and me and way He has and continues to show that love for you and me?  How much do you appreciate that Love?  How much do you love Him in response?  How have you and do you show Him and express your love for Him?

Love is a much stronger and sustainable motivation for choices we make.  Love generates positive energy like no other emotion or choice can.   Love, like anger and hatred, is a choice but unlike anger and hatred, is not destructive – bring death, but instead brings healing and life giving.

Humans can live very well without anger and hatred and jealousy and lust, but not one human being can live without giving and receiving love. God has designed us to love each other and to love Him.  To receive true Love from Him and reflect that love in our relationships with others.   Christ has given us ample example from His life and in His teaching and in the lives of those who received His forgiveness and indwelling of His Holy Spirit both in the first century – recorded in scripture and in centuries since and even in families close to home too.   Take some time to reflect on those examples you know and are impacted by.

How well are you reflecting His Love?  Well, I confess some days I reflect better than other days and am sure you do too.  God’s mercy continues to forgive and brings a new day each morning. Winning the race and keeping the faith involves not giving up because He won’t give up on us!  He has promised not to leave us or forsake us.  The question is – will we leave or forsake Him? That is our choice.  A choice that requires will power and determination and love.   Only having and reflecting Christ’s Love is sufficient to give us the strength and resolve to stay true to Him both in good times and in trying and even tragic times.  When we face our last day and last breath, only He can and will carry us safely across the valley of death to our eternal future with Him on the other side. That made all the difference to early Christians facing terrible persecution and martyrdom and to Christians in every generation since and still do today.

God gives us sufficient examples and details of His promises and instruction sufficient in His Word.  Words that have life changing power and are a source of life and are life and are timeless in truth and value.

Our Bible, the book of the story of God’s revelation and redemption of mankind. While some human documents can be violated or nullified, God’s documents never will be. Like God Himself, His Word is eternal and unchanging (Isaiah 40:8). While our soul may “faint” (grow weary with longing) for God’s deliverance during this life, His Word guarantees His love and our salvation.                                    

But we must know what His Word says. The more of His promises we know, the greater our hope and certainty will be.

True faith is ever connected with hope.   John Calvin

10/23/20                                DON’T BE DISCOURAGED                             23   

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.  1 Corinthians 15:58

Recommended Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58                                                                                    OUR FINAL VICTORY                                                                                                ⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” ⁵⁵ “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

COMMENTS:  This year has been a dangerous and trying year for everyone in every country.  Impact of Covid 19 has affected everyone but some far more adversely than others.   We all know someone and a family who experienced a death due to this epidemic and nearly everyone has a family member and/or friend who has contracted this illness.   Most families have either direct experience of loss of business and income due to this epidemic too.

The frustration and anxiety from mandated isolation along with disregard for some common sense precautions of some has polarized many who then allowed anger to blind and prevent doing voluntarily those things that should and would have opened doors for God’s wisdom and even common sense to prevail.   Past generations have rallied together when fighting common enemies and been able to defeat that enemy.

So what should we do?

1. And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.¹³ If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;¹⁴ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.¹⁵ Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.¹⁶ For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there forever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

So, the most important and most effective thing we must do is recognize our sins, repent from them, and turn to God seeking forgiveness and let Him change us and heal us from the habit and passion for and involvement in sin.  The impact of one repenting is significant but the impact of a large group of Christians is greater but the impact of a nation repenting with its leader is course changing for that country.   If we personally repent, God’s wrath will escape us but you and I may still suffer from nation’s judgment.  If we are faithful in conduct and in prayer and worship, the ripple effect and God’s involvement will influence and move necessary changes in other’s lives.  Escape from God’s judgment demands our immediate repentance before it is too late.  His judgment is imminent but still waiting until every opportunity to repent has been exhauste

John Calvin and Charles Spurgeon battled depression and deep discouragement all their lives.  Christ didn’t free them of that depression but enabled them to use discouragement and depression to stop their ministry.  In fact, their depression drew them to deeper relationships   with Christ, empowering them to do greater things because of their struggles and battles.

Joh Calvin said “I am entangled in so many troublesome affairs that I am almost beside myself.” On another occasion he said “Today hardly one in a hundred considers how difficult and arduous it is to faithfully discharge the office of pastor.” Again on another occasion he said “In addition to immense troubles by which I am sorely consumed, there is almost no day on which some new pain or anxiety does not come.”

Charles Spurgeon suffered severe enough depression to be bed fast for many days at a time, but his sermons and life transformed and led thousands at a time to Christ and still due from his recorded writings.

However, the Bible repeatedly tells us to not give in to discouragement, to treat it like a sin, to resist and refuse it. “Do not fear or be discouraged,” Deuteronomy 1:21. The Lord face discouraged but never gave in to it, and in His service there is victory. Our life, love, and labor in the Lord is never in vain. Today take God’s promise in 1 Corinthians 15:58 and use it like a broom to sweep discouragement out of your heart.

“God would never discourage me. He would always point me to Himself to trust Him. “                  Charles Stanley

10/24/20                                  WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?     24

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.  Acts 20:24

Recommended Reading: 2 Timothy 4:7

⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

COMMENTS:   Paul finished his life content that he had been faithful to Christ’s call and the work He called Paul to do.  Paul knew he had been forgiven of the past sinful work of seeking out and persecuting Christians.  He had inflicted great harm and suffering, but that all changed with his encounter with the risen Christ on that Damascus road. 

The rest of his life was no longer defined by stopping spread of Christ’s Good News but in spreading that Good News.  Instead of commanding the respect and privilege and power and wealth given him by the Jewish and Roman authorities, his conversion made him a fugitive and outlaw.   His old career made him famous in his generation, but his new career given him by Christ made him famous in all future generations.  His life would have eternal purpose and impact and bring an eternal reward.

So what work and what fight / calling does Christ have for you?   For me?

Paul was motivated by fear or threat of persecution.  Why?   Well, his focus and priority was on preparing for heaven and put His life in God’s hands.  He trusted God and in God’s protection completely.  He considered ownership of his life to be in God’s hands, not his (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Paul was motivated primarily by one thing, to be faithful to Christ and the mission Christ gave him.   Paul was no longer motivated by the world but by Christ itself.

Whatever moves the heart wags the tongue.   C. T. Studd

10/25/20                           GO AND BE READY!                    25      

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.  2 Timothy 4:2

Recommended Reading: Titus 1:13-14

¹³ This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, ¹⁴ not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.

COMMENTS:  Preaching God’s Word from the pulpit or from a street corner is a gift and calling not many are so called to do, but a few are.

For most Christians, their calling is to study and know God’s Word well enough to live it and share it on occasion.   For most, their witness begins and is most effective by their example demonstrated by the way they live (their conduct) and how they connect with family and friends and neighbors and co-workers and, yes, church family.

Maybe you feel like you fall into that category, excusing any request or opportunity to share in a pulpit or other public speaking forum.  Their public witness and ministry lies in volunteering at church functions and activities and possibly volunteering in community.  

Community volunteering is good and should be encouraged, but does not meet nor excuse every Christian’s calling to know God’s Word and follow – obey instruction and guidance and conviction conveyed from God’s Word.

In other words, being a good example in public and in private but refusing to take opportunities to share the reason for their hope and who their faith lies with.

When we consider all Christ has done for us and continues to do, how can we deny Him our witness too?

When Paul told Timothy to “preach the word” in his role as pastor in Ephesus, he had the authority of the Word of God in mind. There were some in the church who were teaching incorrectly and causing trouble, and Timothy needed to “convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” Just as a Greek herald spoke with civic authority, so the herald of God’s Word must speak with divine authority.

Like Paul, we must not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).

“Preaching has authority only when the message comes as a word from God himself.”   J. I. Packer

10/26/20                                                 REWARDS     26  

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.  Colossians 3:23-24

Recommended Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:5-8

⁵ Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? ⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. ⁷ So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. ⁸ Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

COMMENTS: The word “Reward” is defined typically as a determined amount of money paid in return for information or assistance enabling the capture of a fugitive – criminal.  Another definition also includes payment for service judged to be of productive value.

The second definition is what is referred to in scripture for heavenly rewards.  You and I cannot comprehend the importance and value God placed on our faithful service nor ways God uses such service to fulfill His Will and Work in the lives of others and even us.  Likewise, we can’t comprehend the magnitude and extent of the reward God is preparing for such service too.

Some of these rewards are identified as “crowns”.  1 Corinthians 9:24-27 refers to the Victor’s Crown, 1 Thessalonians 2:19 refers to the Crown of Rejoicing, James 1:12 to the Crown of Life, and 1 Peter 5:4 to the Crown of Glory.  

But the greatest reward will be the words of Jesus given in Matthew 25:21 “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

Revelation 4:10-11 tells us the 24 Elders in heaven will lay their crowns at Jesus’ feet to represent their support and acknowledgment of Jesus as the King and Lord of all and as an act of submission to the authority and rule of Jesus. 

So what does that tell us about what our response will be when we get to heaven.  What will be our response when we come face to face with Jesus and He says these words to us Well done, good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21).

The modern Christian song “I can only imagine” expresses this question beautifully:

I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk, by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When you face is before me
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

Surrounded by You glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

I can only imagine when that day comes
When I find myself standing in the Son
I can only imagine when all I would do is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

Well, we can only imagine but have some pretty good clues from scripture.  I imagine bowing and laying all at His feet in worship and praise and gratitude and awe.  

Well, I can’t imagine in heaven desiring mansions or gold driveways or such, but I can imagine valuing family and friends joining me in heaven.  I can imagine others being there influenced by serviced I gave.   But such will be to honor and praise Jesus totally and exclusively.

Another song I believe expresses this is “Thank you for giving to the Lord”:

I dreamed I went to heaven
And you were there with me
We walked upon the streets of gold
Beside the crystal sea
We heard the angels singing
Then someone called your name
You turned and saw this young man
And he was smiling as he came
And he said friend you may not know me now
And then he said but wait
You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight
And every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start
And one day when you said that prayer
I asked Jesus in my heart

Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave

Then another man stood before you
And said remember the time
A missionary came to your church
And his pictures made you cry
You didn’t have much money
But you gave it anyway
Jesus took the gift you gave
And that’s why I’m here today

Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave

One by one they came
Far as the eyes could see
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity
Little things that you had done
Sacrifices made
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven now proclaimed

And I know that up in heaven
You’re not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord
He said, my child look around you
For great is your reward

Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave

I am so glad you gave

Scripture gives us strong indication that our focus and priority will be praising and worshiping our God in heaven, doing so without the distractions of temptation and bodies and minds that grow tired.  Also, we will have work to do in heaven, work we will be equipped and passionate about doing.  We will enjoy the company of family and friends and even past enemies who have accepted Christ, and we will also enjoy spending time and conversation with those of long ago like Daniel and Joseph and Abraham and Joseph and ….  We will also discover how their choices and lives rippled through generations and impacted us and how our choices and lives rippled through lives of those we know and many we don’t.  New eternal bodies and a beautiful eternal home will be wonderful but not having satan’s temptations and suffering he inflicts now to endure.  Not having his evil hindering our relationship with Christ and with each other.  Not having sickness and aging and death and evil we inflict on teach other.    Being able to visit family and fellowship with Christ.  All that and so much more makes heaven a great motivator to do His work and be faithful to Him here and share that message and Gospel while on earth.   Desiring others to discover and enjoy what we have and have the same assurance of heaven too.

So, let’s labor for His Name’s sake without becoming weary (Revelation 2:3), and trust God to richly welcome us to heaven when our earthly work is done.

“Our rewards in heaven are a result of God’s crowning His own gifts.”  Augustine

10/27/20                                       DO YOU SEE HIM?                 27  

But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  Luke 24:16

COMMENTS:  Have you ever wondering why angels or divine visitors were not recognized initially.  Why did the two travelers on the road to Emmaus did not recognize Jesus right away?  There are many examples in the Old Testament of angelic visitors in human form and dress but with a message or mission from God.   There are also instances of Christ Himself in Old Testament times revealing Himself.  Those instances identify Him as “Angel of the Lord”. Even in those instances, Jesus was not recognized or identified as God always.

We might have asked ourselves who not, especially for the 2 men walking to Emmaus.  Why didn’t they recognize Him?  Wasn’t Jesus well known enough and would they not have seen Him some time during His life?  Maybe but we’re not told.  But consider that being the case on occasion for even the disciples, which could have been because they didn’t believe what or who they were seeing because that wasn’t humanly possible.

It may be best to just accept that was true but not for long.  Jesus revealed Himself before leaving each time.   But what we can ask ourselves is why we don’t recognize Him in the life that come out of a dead winter each spring – in the fresh flowers and green grass and new leaves on trees.  In the new born animals and human babies.  Well, when we accept Christ’s forgiveness and new life, the world takes on a new beauty for us.   We begin noticing God’s involvement even in a sunrise or sunset or in very common other daily occurrences.   We notice His influence when we happen to cross paths with someone who we or they needed.  So many coincidences are noticed as being God’s influence or involvement. 

That means we notice what we want to and ignore or deny what we want too, whether real or imagined.  What a shame and tragedy so many ignore God when He does so much for us without any appreciation.   Truth is God does miracles for us each and every day.  You see, the proper definition of a miracle is God’s involvement and is not voided if that involvement happens commonly like the sun coming up each morning or one more day of life.

When was the last time you thank Him for awakening to another day?  Maybe another definition of a miracle could be His followers to notice and praising Him daily (instead of rarely) for all His does.  Sustaining that discipline is a challenge for us humans and will be one of many disciplines that will be easier to consistently do in heaven, but on earth at times requires more will power and discipline to sustain.  After all, we will have face to face access to Him all the time and no satan or demon to distract or tempt us.

To a great extent in spiritual things we get what we expect from the Lord. Only faith can bring us to see Jesus. Make it your prayer, “Lord, open my eyes, that I may see my Savior present with me.” It is a blessed thing to want to see Him; but it is far better to gaze upon Him. To those who seek Him He is kind; but to those who find Him, He is dear beyond expression!

10/28/20                              DESIGNER AND HIS DESIGN              28

For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.  Psalm 139:13

Recommended Reading: Acts 26:15-18

¹⁵ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. ¹⁷ I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, ¹⁸ to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

COMMENTS:   There is more evidence of God’s existence than any other fact.   His skill and power and wisdom and order and even His love is evident in the beauty and order and balance on earth and in the heavens – the entire universe.   Even with the death and corruption and evil contamination from satan’s influence, God’s perfect hand and Goodness are evident from the tiniest to the largest creature.  From the tiniest object to the largest.

Science identifies the laws in place in God’s creation but defies logic in trying to justify such a complex creator as evolving without an intelligent Designer and Builder.  Truth is, the earth and all life is so complex and perfect that only God is capable to create such a creation.  To try to explain our universe and life with the theory of evolution is like trying to explain the existence of an automobile without a designer and manufacturing plant and assemblers.

The creation is not greater than the creator.   Automobiles are not more valuable than humans.   And humans are not more valuable than Christ.

So what is science and public education and most societies doing?  They recognize the order and complexity of the earth and universe and deny existence of an intelligent creator and, instead, teach evolution as if proven truth.  The Bible, for them, is no longer a source of truth and insights but a book of fables and superstition.

Be don’t be deceived too.   The Bible was written by 40 different humans over a 1600-year period of time and last entry completed 2000 years ago.  But it was inspired by God to each author’s portion, so is each portion builds off previous portion and together give a complete God given letter of history, of prophecy, of insights and wisdom and instruction, a love letter, and description of God – His Plan and Will – His instruction and expectation of humans – His example of how to live and examples of those who both failed to follow that example and those who did and also gives to us their examples too.  All this to say the Bible is the best book of life to read and follow and others written by science and others serve to support or conflict with the Bible. 

The Bible gives each of us purpose and a path to discover God’s calling for each of us too.   Such examples are Abraham who God called to create a chosen people, Moses to shape that people into a nation, Jeremiah to be a prophet for that nation, David to be the king of that nation, and Jesus to be the Sacrifice and Savior and one-day King of not only that nation but the whole world.  

Besides being the most accurate and complete account of who God is and what He has done, continues to do, and promises to do in the future; the most accurate and complete account of God’s involvement in creation and in ancient history, the most accurate and complete account of the relationship of God with humans; the Bible also is the only book which identifies itself as being living and life changing because of being written by God by inspiring humans to dictate its words.

The Bible is the most published and distributed book in history and is more accessible at least expensive cost to the most areas on earth.

The Bible conveys God’s love for each individual human like no other book.  Psalms 139:13-16 is such an example: “For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be. “    

If you are seeking God’s specific purpose for your life, ask Him to show it to you. And ask in faith, believing He will shine light on your path (Luke 11:9-10).

Life can only be enjoyed as one acquires a true perspective of life and death and of the real purpose of life.  Spiros Zodhiates

10/29/20                                                    BE ASSURED           29                        

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.   Hebrews 11:13

 Recommended Reading: 2 Peter 1:3-4

³ as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, ⁴ by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

COMMENTS:  Death is the ultimate test of faith because we only have His promise as proof of what lies ahead of death’s door.  True, some have been given a glimpse and returned to tell of it.  Books like “90 minutes in heaven” and “Heaven is for Real” are credible books with such testimonies of believers who had such an experience.  These two books especially give accounts that match what scripture tells us heaven is like.

But I would hate to put my trust exclusively in those two books without having the confidence of God’s Word to support or give credibility to them.

My wife’s parents died with the hope of all their children accepting Christ, but that promise was not fulfilled in two of their 5 children before they died.  They still retained that hope and trusted God would find a way even without their witnessing it.

But I also believe their awareness continued in heaven and God enabled them to witness those two girls accepting Christ’s redeeming forgiveness.  We are told all of heaven rejoices when each human comes to Christ, and I also believe Bill and Martha Clark were rejoicing with that host of heaven when their two girls came to Christ.   There have been others since too among their grandchildren and great grandchildren too…

The first 12 verses of Hebrews 11 list ordinary people who received promises from God but never experienced their fulfillment before they died: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, and others. But they didn’t doubt God. They were “assured” by the promises and “embraced” the promises and died believing the promises as “strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” We are like them. We have been given “great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4), some of which may not be fulfilled in our lifetime. That is why we are called to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Be assured by God’s promises. Embrace God’s promises. Live and, if need be, die, believing God’s promises. God is true, so are His promises.

The whole covenant… is a bundle of promises.   Thomas Brooks

10/30/20                           NO  MORE TEARS:  JESUS   WEPT   30                           

Jesus wept.
John 11:35

Recommended Reading: Hebrews 5:5-10

A PRIEST FOREVER

⁵ So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:

“You are My Son,Today I have begotten You.”

⁶ As He also says in another place:                                                                                                                                  “You are a priest foreverAccording to the order of Melchizedek”;

⁷ who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, ⁸ though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. ⁹ And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, ¹⁰ called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”

COMMENTS:   Weeping is common and at times frequent for us humans.  Even Jesus wept on 3 occasions recorded in scripture.  Once in John 11 when at the graveside of Lazarus, motivated by the grief expresses by   Lazarus family and friends.  Again a few days later, recorded in Luke 19:41 Jesus wept on Palm Sunday outside Jerusalem as He saw His rejection and coming judgment of Jerusalem.  The third time is recorded in Hebrews 5:7 in the Garden of Gethsemane a few days later when He surrendered Himself to the Father’s Will.  

Hebrews 5:7, “In the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him, who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear.” 

In the same way, we should have deep emotions when we accept the reality of death, the judgment of the lost, and the depth of our own submission to God. Those are godly tears, and they will be richly rewarded.

“He drank a cup of wrath without mercy, that we might drink a cup of mercy without wrath.”               J. Oswald Sanders

10/31/20              GO AND REPRESENT THE KINGDOM 31                          

[Jesus] sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.  Luke 9:2

 Recommended Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20

^“20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

COMMENTS:  Most countries choose an Ambassador to go and be both accessible by host country and represent their home country to the  host country.   The Ambassador is the contact person responsible to learn and understand host leaders and people and act as a go between between both countries.   Most countries send their ambassador to the capital city of the hosting country instructed to accurately convey information and responses of leadership of both countries to each other.   Ambassadors speak for  their home country and it’s leadership, not for themselves.

Paul tells us that we are “Christ’s ambassadors” speaking for Him (2 Corinthians 5:20).  Paul was such an ambassador writing and preaching the Words God gave to and inspired to share by pen and by mouth.  Because Paul’s words did accurately represent God’s Words, they were preserved in writing   and were included in scripture and are still available and used in the generations since, including today – thereby transforming countless lives in every generation since and including Paul’s generation (Acts 9:15; 23:11; 26:15-18).  Paul wasn’t the first nor the only Ambassador for Christ.   The 12 disciples (Matthew 10; Mark 6; and Luke 9) were so called.  So were a group of 70) Luke 10.  Their instruction and calling – commissioning from Christ was to preach the Good News – Christ’s message and Gospel and heal the sick in His Name.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Like Paul, we are ambassadors, sent to represent King and kingdom in this world. And He is with us, until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.

Max Lucado

Well, so concluded October 2020’s devotional journal.  I pray it has been as much a blessing for you as it has been for me to write.  God willing, will continue next month.

Covid 19 has been causing sickness and death in every country.  In USA, over 200,000 have since entered USA.  Some countries have been spared while others have enduring great loss.  Families have been ordered to stay home and loss of income and employment have resulted.  Gathering in groups, including churches for worship, have been discouraged or even outlawed even in democratic countries. 

Now as freedom to work and gather and worship begins to be restored, what have we learned?  Has it drawn us closer to family and to God or further away?  I pray the first. God uses disaster and trials to draw us closer to Him if we let them.  I pray that will be the case in every community and country and in every family and in every church.

As previously, below is the Gideon Bible Reference I have been included in monthly devotions for some time.  I decided to continue including this for benefit of new readers and to continue to make it accessible to any and all who read and share this journal.  I encourage you to use and share as God directs.  If you wish to contact me or access more devotions, below is link to access.   

In His Service,

Don McDaniel

Email: dmcdaniel12@zoominternet.net

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Don1951

If you wish, you can access my blog at “https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com“. There you will find 600 blog posts I have made plus a link to my devotional journal material archives from 2013 to present (https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/link-to-dons-devotional-journal-entries-2013/ )

You may also access my Facebook page and request to be my friend and automatically receive my daily journal publications daily.  My Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/Dondevotionals/ Many thanks to a pastor and dear brother in Christ in Nepal who set up the above Facebook page to help and encourage and give opportunity for more to   explore and use my devotional blog materials.

My hope and prayer are, my blog and devotional materials will become a source of encouragement