Daily Devotional – May 13

SHOULD, NEED, WANT

Imagine you can read minds.  Imagine asking a friend over for a visit.  Imagine tuning in to your friends thoughts and hearing them say:

“I should go, I need to go, but I really don’t feel like it or want to go.”

I don’t know about you, but if I knew my friend felt that way I wouldn’t particularly WANT them to come visit–and would feel pretty hurt besides.

That’s essentially what God gets from many Christians when it comes to doing the things that grow our relationship with Him.

• “I SHOULD read his word, I NEED to read his word, but…”
• “I SHOULD go to church, I NEED to go to church, but…”
• “I SHOULD pray,  I NEED to pray, but…”
• “I SHOULD serve, I NEED to serve, but…”

At this point,  God probably feels the same way any of us would.  Why bother!

Getting serious about our relationship with God should change those things we feel like we SHOULD be doing out of obligation into things we WANT to do out of love.  

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Daily Devotional – May 11

Happy Mothers Day to all our mothers!

Daily Devotional – May 10

IDOLATRY

I have a relative who is obsessed with working out.  He tries to get to the gym before and after work.  His distraught wife mentioned to me that when he is at home he spends most of his time planning meals out to the calorie and doing sit-ups and push-ups. 

This is nothing new for “Tom”, before this latest fad, he had to make it to every Clemson game, whether it was baseball, basketball or football–everything was secondary to either being at the game or watching the game. 

Before that, it was something else.

Tom has a lovely son.   “Sam” is an energetic 6 year old who worships the ground his father walks on.  Sam was known to wait at the front window of their home for daddy to get home so that they could go outside and play ball.   Sam no longer waits by the window and is usually in his room when Tom gets home–and stays there with his toys and games for the bulk of the evening–ignored.

Tom knows the Lord, but doesn’t particularly hang out with him.  He has a spiritual void in his life that almost requires him to dash from one entertainment or involvement to another, seeking solace in things that really don’t matter.  

Tom’s problem is idolatry.

Idolatry is one of the most common failings of Christians.  It is when anything but God occupies the number one spot in our lives.    The apostle Paul knew what devastation idolatry brings and what superficial emptiness it leaves us with so he told us not just to avoid it, he told us to turn tail and run wildly away from it:

1 Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 

Placing God back in the number one spot in our life brings everything back to a natural balance–a place where we are still able to comfortably do the things we enjoy, but accompanied by the peace and contentment that only a God-filled existence can provide. 

(Got an obsession?  Want to share?)

Daily Devotional – May 8

HEADLINE READS:

Christians, Atheists to Debate the Existence of God

Contemporary Christians continue in their attempt to “prove” that God exists to the world.    Trying to convince the world of something through means of worldly debate or wisdom is an exercise in futility:

1Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. 

In our stubbornness, we think that we can give God a “leg up” beyond just the simple formula that he originally proposed.   God originally told us to…

…spread the gospel (good news): 1Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

…and leave the rest to Him: 2Thessalonians 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

God doesn’t need us to prove his existence.  He just wants us to share his good news.  He is perfectly capable of taking it from there.

Daily Devotional – May 7

HEADLINE READS:

CHILDREN – BAD FOR THE PLANET

As man continues to develop his own religious beliefs, it is natural that his conclusions will conflict with God’s.

The latest thought in religious environmentalism is that having babies is contributing toward global warming–a negative perspective about humanity teaching that mankind is  a virus that needs to be controlled.

The global warming scare is gaining momentum as a word-wide, often faith-based movement.  Historically, characteristic of many such movements are atrocities that are committed in its name.  It would not be unreasonable to anticipate a future of forced abortion, mandatory sterilization, or birth quotas on a global scale. (All of these have taken place and take place in some countries).

But what is God’s answer:

He created the earth to be inhabited.

Life comes from God.

The Bible tells us that the purpose of man is to multiply.

It teaches that the propogation of humanity is a blessing to the earth.

He created us for His pleasure.

Apparently our God loves his children, but…theirs would prefer a few more abortions.

Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

This just in on China!

Note

This week:

HEADLINES!

Another week of looking at headlines from a Biblical perspective.

(This is fun!)

Daily Devotional – May 4

1Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

(Sincerest apologies for the missed week!)

Note

Sick.  Will be back.