www.bible.com/1713/luk.16.10.csb
It doesn’t matter the size of your spread so much as the character of your heart. And God can do a lot with a little. God would rather you be faithful with pennies than have all the money in the world without Him.
God bless your walk today. And let the Lord lead your steps.
www.bible.com/1713/pro.13.6.csb
Having a good reputation, whether in person or online is an extremely precious commodity. You can’t help what others think of you, but what others think of you can damage you for life. And being blameless may be the worst kind of reputation to have. Just ask Jesus. That got Him killed.
But like all proverbs, we need to take this as a general rule, instead of absolute. In most situations for most people this is true. If you work to give no one reason to blame you, you are in a good way. A good reputation is priceless among good people. A good reputation is a result of being godly and righteous. If you are fair and just, compassionate and holly, you will have a good reputation. Hold on to that.
But also remember the corollary. You cannot entertain sin. Many a good reputation has been marred and stained because of a single sin allowed to be fostered and sheltered in the life of a Christian. If you let Satan have but one piece of your life, He will take over. You cannot give him a inch or territory in your life. Not one!
May we pray this morning that God will direct our paths, show us the way, and guards our hearts as we work to serve Him today. May His blessings be on your life today as we serve and obey. In Jesus’ Name.
www.bible.com/1713/psa.19.14.csb
While it is always in vogue to mock Christians, non- Christians were unusually brutal in mocking the Christian habit of sending “thoughts and prayers” when disaster happens. Yesterday saw the death of a celebrity basketball player. Though I have not seen then, I have no doubt that many sent “thoughts and prayers” to the family. Is there anything wrong with that?
That is the subject of today’s text, for the Psalmist asked the Lord about it. He was concerned both for the words of his mouth (prayers) and the meditations of his heart (thoughts) would be acceptable to God. As a Christian, we better be sure that the thoughts and prayers we send are likewise.
What the non-Christians mock is hypocrisy. It is very easy to type “thoughts and prayers” and go on about your day. It would be a sad thing to offer both and do neither. To which the non-Christian rightly responds that you have done nothing. In fact, it is worse than nothing. Because you have offered to intervene before the King of the Universe on their behalf, praying for their comfort and peace, and done neither. It is akin to apathy to say such a thing of love and compassion and then forget it. Words mean things. If your words are empty, then your faith is hollow.
If you offer thoughts and prayers for the hurt and grieving, then follow through. Pray for that family. Put their needs before you and meditate on them. What if it was you. What would you need right now? Pray for that if you cannot offer it yourself.
Dear Father, if we have been hypocrites when it comes to interceding for others, please extend Your grace to us, but also with our repentance the reminder of this lesson. We have an important role in this world. From our lips the world hears the gospel message. Let that message be pure and undefiled. Let it be free from denominational dogmatism. Let it flow purely from Your grace into the hearts of men. Help us to be more like You dear Father. Help us today we pray, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
www.bible.com/1713/jhn.15.2.csb
Pruning feels a lot like discipline. Pruning feels like punishment. Pruning is not pleasant. And yet, the Lord sees fit to prune our lives from time to time. Things, people, professional possessions, from time to time God sees fit to prune away from us because they are not beneficial to us. Of course, we can’t understand this at the time it occurs. To us it feels like God is punishing us. It feels like He doesn’t love us. Yet God does it anyway, and demands that we simply trust Him. He is the Master Gardener. He sees our whole life at once. He knows what will help us grow. Like a good Gardener, He prunes back the branches from time to time to help us bear more fruit. He isn’t interested is us bearing more branches, because they can cause us to fall over in the storm when we are overbalanced. He knows exactly how big we need to be, what shape we need to be, because we don’t.
“Why did God allow this to happen?” People ask. How could a loving God let such things happen? Pruning is a painful act. But it is. Loving act. Discipline is a painful act. But it is a loving one. And sometimes they are the same. Bad things happen. Do not be surprised that the world hates you. You belong to the Lord. The world hated the Lord. They will hate you too. Sometimes God uses that hatred for your pruning.
When you are overcome, overwhelmed, and in need of hope, remember that this world is not our home. We are not judged on our possessions. We are not judged by our bank account. We are not judged by which church we attend. We are judged according to our faith in Christ and the works we have done in His name. We are judged by our fruits. And God wants to give us every chance to grow them.
God, help me understand why you are so hard on me. I have heard that I will not be given more than I can handle, but it seems You have an awful lot of confidence in me right now. Father I am not strong enough. On my own I cannot do this. I need you to empower me, to draw me to you. I need you. Please Lord. Amen.
www.bible.com/1713/pro.19.21.csb
You ever watch one of those movies where there is a vast conspiracy to take over the world or something? It’s kind of fun to watch the heroes figure out the conspiracy and either unravel it or be overwhelmed by it. Because sometimes that’s how the world feels. It feels like big brother is always watching you or there is some vast conspiracy to ruin your life.
In truth, there is. His name is Satan and He wants to ruin your life. Everyone who serves His ends are His unwitting accomplices. But we all have parts to play in this drama. Whether you serve the side of Heaven or Hell, we are all pieces to be played or sacrificed. Sound dark?
Consider this, as stated in the verse above, we can make plans. But we can only see the road just a little bit ahead of us. God alone has the map. We try to best the best decisions we can based on the information we have, but God has given us enough guidance to steer us in the right direction. But the enemy also has an agenda. He can see little of God’s plan, but he does know how to derail as much as can.
Satan was responsible for the crucifixion and death of Jesus just as much as man. No doubt Satan rejoiced at God’s predicament. How could God start a new religion with a dead messiah? But God had a bigger plan. God had already prepared all things just as He had predicted through His prophets. That Jesus died was according to His plan. Jesus did not remain in death, but God raised Him in three days. And no greater joy was felt.
Jesus was sacrificed for God’s greater plan of raising Him from the dead. If God would do that for His own Son, imagine what wonders He will do through you? If you are going through a trial now, God already has a plan for experience in your life. If you are suffering, there is a reason for it. He has not abandoned you. You too will rise. But there is no greater darkness than the midst of that trial. He has not abandoned you or forsaken you. Be patient and He will lift you up. Wait on the Lord and you will not be disappointed.
Father God, you know I’ve been through some dark days. You’ve been there with me. Right now feels like one of those times. I can’t see far enough ahead Lord to know what direction is best. All I can do is the best I can in obeying the word You’ve given me. Please help me know what You need me to do. Please help me know you are with me. Your rod and your staff comfort me. Give me strength for the trial. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
www.bible.com/1713/eph.6.11.csb
A couple weeks ago, my phone was acting up. Battery wouldn’t charge and I just couldn’t get it to work. I need my phone for work especially as the hospital uses it to call me when I am on call like this morning. I didn’t take my cell phone to work with me that morning, thinking I would would come back and take it to the store to get it replaced. As I was walking to work that morning, I realized it was the farthest I had been from my cell phone in a long time. It’s been such a habit of taking my phone with me wherever I go that it’s second nature. I wish I had the same feeling about the armor of God.
I need this armor more than I need my cell phone. The helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith, the belt of truth. I am having flashbacks of Bibleman right now. If you don’t know who that is, don’t worry about it too much. He was a fictional superhero who armor sequence, like a Christian Batman, was all about putting on the armor of God.
Every day, we need this protective armor to secure us against the wiles of the devil. It is invaluable, and you can’t just leave it behind. It must be around you, on you and in your hand. It will protect you unlike your cell phone. Your cell phone will respond to your need, while the armor will help guide your feet, your thoughts, and your faith.
Even now as I compose this, I am holding my cell phone. Perhaps that phone can be a reminder that I need the armor of God everywhere I go. I hope today brings you exactly what you need. May God bless you.
Dear God, I am humbled before your majesty this morning. It is no small thing to be granted Your Own Armor to defend me from the wiles of the devil. And unlike Saul’s armor, yours is a perfect fit. Thank you for thinking so much of me as to deserve your personal protection. Please help me to remember it today to bring it with me wherever I go. In Jesus’ holy Name, Amen.
www.bible.com/1713/mat.7.7.csb
When Jesus gives this statement in Luke 11, He precedes it with a short story about neighbors and hospitality. As Jesus tells it, a man has a late-night visitor from a far country and wants to offer him traditional hospitality by feeding him after such a journey. But it is now on him to find food at such a late hour. He goes to his neighbor’s house and knocks on the door. He continues knocking despite his neighbor’s protests of being in bed and his family being in bed. Nevertheless, the first man’s persistence gets the door open and the bread transferred.
Then Jesus tells us this short statement about persistence in prayer. Since Matthew doesn’t include the short story about the door, it is a bit of a mystery. What door is He talking about? With Luke’s addition, it seems obvious that the door is a reference to the door in the parable. This is a door that is shut to you and will only be opened with persistent knocking. However, I don’t think there are any similarities intended between God and the sleeping neighbor. Psalm 121:4 says He does not sleep. The point here is persistence in prayer.
There will be times where it will seem God is not hearing your prayers because He is not answering them right away. Jesus is not condemning the nature of the requests here. In fact, Jesus is encouraging the continued asking, knocking and seeking. Your request may not be something God wants to fulfill right now. It may not even be something He intends to fulfill, but you are encouraged to present it with persistence anyway. We are to be an everpresent Sheldon knocking on God’s door because when we pray, we don’t have time for sin, temptation, or anything that will trip up our walk with God. God intends for us to pray without ceasing, even if our prayers are petty, tiny, or lame.
As parents, we can get annoyed with our children because of their constant requests for things and activities. As parents, we need to work, have projects that we are working on and so forth. But with God, we are His agenda. We are His work, His project, His world. If every waking moment was spent asking God, He wouldn’t mind. He loves spending that time with us, even if we are angry with Him, for even then, every moment we spend with Him makes us more like Him.
Father God, coming to you today and every day is a special appointment. You make our world, our whole life meaningful. And when we come to you with a request once or a thousand times, You still listen. You care what we have to say, no matter how silly we think it is. We learn to talk by talking to our parents. Surely it is the same with you, that the more we pray, the better we are able to speak to You and listen to Your words. Would you listen again to Your people this day? Would You listen to our every petty word and silly request? Would You help us to be more like You Lord because You are awesome and full of majesty? Would you please hear Your people pray today? In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
www.bible.com/1713/psa.37.4.csb
As a father, I try to follow my children’s interests as best I can. My oldest is into Warhammer 40K. My oldest daughter is a Dungeons and Dragons DM for a small group at her high school. My younger daughter loves fantasy and dragons. My youngest is harder to pin down, as he is still finding his thing, but he loves watching videos and playing video games with his friends.
So when birthdays and Christmas come around, I have a notion of what they might be interested in. Of course I give them a gift card because I just can’t do the “wow” gifts anymore, the complete surprises that make them wonder if I can read their minds. I know my kids have dreams of what they want to be and what kind of person they will become. But sometimes I wish I could read their minds, just a little bit.
“Fathers, if you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven?” God knows far more than I do. He knows my heart better than I do, and His gifts are never too late. He always knows what I need when I need it. He knows my frustration. He knows my joys. He knows me.
I should add that the delights of your heart ought to be what delights Him. I would ask yourself, is what I want really something that honors God too? Of what you truly want is something God has expressly forbidden, or worse could cause someone else harm, is that really something you think God is going to give to you?
People are always saying to me when I ask of there is anything I can give them, “Yeah, get me a bucket of money,” or “a million dollars!” They intend is a joke, but it reveals a piece of their heart. All my problems could be resolved if I just had enough money. Yet, if you cannot he content with what you have, what would more money do for you? There is never enough money. Just ask someone who has a lot of it. Solomon was the wealthiest man in the Bible. It wasn’t enough. Just read Ecclesiastes.
God wants to give you what your heart desires, but only when you are ready, and only if He desires it for you. You can’t just take this verse out of the context of the Bible and make it what you want. It has to agree with everything He has written, such as, “I have learned to be content in all circumstances.”
Heavenly Father, I know that my desires are stained with sin and selfishness. I want things that I ought not to have. As a good Father, you have seen my good impulses and rewarded them. You encourage me in doing good and loving others. You have shown me in being a father that it is hard to give your children what they want, to withhold from them when the time isn’t right, and to see them grow and mature, sometimes the hard way. I can’t imagine the grief you feel when we want and grasp for things that will harm us. Help me Lord to be a better father. Help me be a better husband. And help me Lord know what are the good things. In Jesus Name, Amen.
www.bible.com/1713/jas.1.5.csb
I’ll admit. Some days I feel like an idiot. Ok, that’s about every day. I wonder what God even wants with me some days, because I feel so useless. Is there something that God wants me to do, or some greater purpose I can fulfill?
Yeah. It’s one of those days.
What’s a guy to do, but turn to his blog and meditate on this scripture? I think today qualifies as a day that I lack wisdom. So I meet that first criterion. So what must follow? Well that’s the hard part. This verse says I need to go before the King of the Universe and admit to Him that I am an idiot. Never mind that He already knows this. Never mind that He knows me so well that He know what I will ask, how I will ask, and in what tone I will ask. He already knows me, my abilities and frustrations. And yet He still allows me, even calls me into His presence as a son.
Who of us can claim any genius before a God like that?
Father in Heaven, Lord of Heaven and Earth, today I come before you seeking wisdom. I don’t have it. Compared to you I am a worm, though probably less than that. Help me to see today your vision and plan for my life. Help me to grow into the man of godliness that you call me to be. Help me to be more like You. I need you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
www.bible.com/1713/amo.5.24.csb
So I’ve been working on laundry and housework today. Been singing a couple praise tunes, but nothing profoundly spiritual. Kids are out of school today for the holiday. I’ve got a half-day since our census is down at the workplace. So I’m sitting here trying to think of something profound to say.
Justice seems to be the theme of the day, right? With Trump’s impeachment trial in the news, and Virginia’s gun issues all over the headlines. People are looking for justice. But then there is also this holiday, which seems to me to be more about civil rights than about Martin Luther King, Jr. today. I mean, what other civil rights advocates got to have a federal holiday? MLK had the advantage of being a martyr, but there are plenty of civil rights advocates that have done as much. Emmett Till didn’t get to grow up to be a great speaker. Malcolm X was just mean. Louis Farrakhan is trying to be the next MLK but he’s in the wrong religion.
And what are they preaching about justice today? In short, it is to hold the sons accountable for the sins of the fathers. Specifically, modern advocates of “justice” want to take away from those that have and give to those that have not because of the belief that the “have not’s” are poor because they didn’t grow up with the same advantages today that the “have’s” did. Therefore “justice” is wealth redistribution on the premise of historical bias.
Do you know why there is such a thing as “white privilege”? It is because white families tend to keep their fathers around longer than black families. Why do Asians do so well, even better than whites? Because Asian families have an even higher expectation of their children than whites do. When you look beyond the race issue, you find families that are suffering because the traditional nuclear family no longer exists for many children. If you have a successful black man, you will find a successful family behind him. You will find a family that had high expectations for their child.
“Social justice” isn’t an attempt to make a level playing field. It’s an attempt to rehabilitate the War on Poverty of Lyndon Johnson. He believed that if blacks learned to depend on government, and replace the father with a welfare check, blacks would vote for democrats in perpetuity. So far, he’s been proven right. It’s human nature. If you are handed something without working for it, you will fight to defend your right to receive it, because you “deserve” it. No one has a greater sense of privilege than someone who didn’t have to work for it. Ask rich kids.
Is this a rant? Yeah, probably. I frankly despise anyone who cloaks family breakdown and economic disadvantage with skin color. America is the freest country in the world when it comes to economic opportunity and faith. That’s why she is most harshly attacked in these areas. If justice flowed like water and righteousness like a river these other problems would disappear in a generation. If we were right and just and fair with each other, if we acted with integrity with our fellow man, “racial inequality” would vanish. If we practiced that simple Christian principle of “think of each other more highly than yourselves” what good could we accomplish?
Father God, we are wise enough to realize that we have not done well as a nation. Our fathers committed sins that we are still paying for. I know there is anger on all sides of these issues, and to stir up the embers of old fires isn’t helping anyone. Father as your people, whether our skin is white, black, yellow, red, or green, we know you did not make a “master” race, because all of us are made in Your image. Help us to remember that it is not about the color of skin that makes us special, but the cost for our souls. May we remember that we were bought with a price, not with gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. It is the value of His sacrifice that makes us valuable. It is the cost of His blood that makes every life costly. Help to remember all of these things and grant us wisdom to deal with our fellow man with gentleness and respect, regardless of their skin color. We pray these things in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Meritt Musings 