My daily shower is a must. A habit of cleanliness. Actually, the only ones missed were when I was in the hospital a few years back. Otherwise, I need that everyday spotless feeling from head to toe.

Spiritually, we need God’s cleansing power even more so. He’s Mr. Clean par excellence. The old hymn asks, ‘Have you been washed in the blood, in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?’ A strange image, when you first hear this. Somewhat off-putting and bizarre. Washed by blood?

But when you realize what it cost God to disinfect us of sin and make us right with Him, then the fog clears. Jesus loves us so much that He’s willing to shed His very blood and die on the cross to make us His own. Clean as a whistle. Pure as the driven snow. Spotless, forgiven, and, best of all, a member of God’s family.

In the Old Testament book of Zechariah, chapter 3, we see the High Priest of the Temple. He’s not dressed in amazing, eye-catching, and immaculate garb. On the contrary–‘ Now Joshua (the High Priest) was…clothed in filthy garments’ (v. 3). Cruddy. Mucky. Grungy and yucky. What a sight. And this is the High Priest, no less?

Now I’m no High Priest, but on the inside, I resemble the one in Zechariah, much to my shame. Sin has wreaked havoc in my life, most willingly. Some due to others, but the vast majority lie in my column.

So, what’s our escape route? Is there a way to get free from the mess we’re in? Of course, it’s Jesus. What He did on the cross. The love and forgiveness He passes our way if we’d only seek Him out, ask, and believe in Him. He has so much to give. And the longer you’re a follower of Jesus, the more you come to appreciate His goodness and faithfulness. For Jesus is our hope. There is no other. We need no other.

Later in Zechariah 3, we read about when sin is wiped away once for all. Hear what’s said–‘…and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day’ (v. 9). A single day? Can you imagine? When was that? The day Jesus died on the cross. That very day. To take away our sins. Forever. What a day!

Let’s thank Him all this week. By the way, it’s now my shower time!

Thank you, Jesus, for all you’ve done for me on the cross. Amen.

A pastor friend maintains that God in the Old Testament is one of wrath. More judgment than love. Less easy to be around, I guess. We’ve had rip-roaring debates, but he remains unmovable. He’s not alone in categorizing God in the Old Testament as different from the way Jesus acts in the New. God’s Son comes across as more accepting, more flexible than His Father. Or so it seems to some. But not to me.

For God is the same in both testaments. He’s consistent from Genesis to Revelation. Forget that stuff about the wrathful One here and the forgiving One there. As if we worship two separate but not equal gods. God forbid.

Here’s what Jesus says–‘For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him’ (John 3: 17). Note that when the Nazarene, our Lord, says this that none, underscore none, of the New Testament has been written. Only the First Testament, the old one, which was Jesus’ Bible, may I add. The Father sends His own Son as our Savior. Can you imagine such love?

For Jesus yearns for us to know Him. To be forgiven and given a new life. A new name, so to speak. Second, third, and fourth chances to start over for Him. On top of that, He makes a home for us in heaven. A security found nowhere else.

But if someone thumbs their nose at God and wants nothing more to do with Him, He’ll honor that and remove Himself from their lives. What remains is a handful of ashes. Disappointment forever. Regrets unending. An unsavory nothing-burger.

Does God in the Old Testament relish such a final judgment? That wrathful God who tosses salt willy-nilly in their wounds? Here’s a verse from that part of the Bible as found in Ezekiel–‘But if the wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; he shall not die. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?’ (Ez. 18: 21-23). Chew on that for a while.

Our God yearns, most of all, to save, help, and love us. It’s a seamless story, fixed and unchanging all through your Bible.

P.S.–My concordance lists more words for ‘love’ in the Old Testament than in the New!

Thank you, God, for your consistent love and forgiveness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

How I love it when God’s blessings flow my way. Those goodies from above. When extra money lands in my wallet. Legally. The latest health report alleviates my fears. For the moment. My political party dominates, this time around, and I feel so smug that others, those roustabouts, get smattered. When our children and grandchildren are on top of the world in every way. As more and more people, from over 60 countries, read these devotionals. God’s blessings–how sweet they are!

But what about those other times? You know what I mean. Not blessings but troubles, downturns, and hellish moments that inevitably find me hiding and terrified, hoping beyond hope that the hot seat where I’m mistakenly parked will soon correctly accommodate somebody else. How cowardly can I be?

Shame on me when I also scowl at God, putting blame squarely on His shoulders. Why me? What gives? Answer up, God. Or else. Or else what? That you’ll have one less follower? Such a threat causes harm only to me.

You may be familiar with the conclusion of the Old Testament book of Habakkuk. The part about trusting God no matter what. When God’s blessings go on vacation in the desert where they dry up and blow away.

Habakkuk doesn’t require God’s freebies to trust Him. This Old Testament prophet’s faith shines even in the dark. Especially there. An ‘in spite of’ confidence and hope, which allows him to cling to his Lord, even as troubled winds blow his way.

How about you? And me? Only true blue when the good times roll? A ‘Real McCoy’ follower, if I get exactly what I want from Jesus? And while He’s at it, how about lots more and nothing less!

Here’s what Habakkuk says–‘Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herds in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation’ (Hab. 3: 17-18).

Oy veh, what a dyed-in-the-wool believer. I’m far from being in Habakkuk’s league. I need to trust Jesus, not only for the blessings, but when some vile calamity hits me square in the face. Not a fairweather Christian, but an all-weather one. That’s the prayer of my heart. Join me?

Thank you, Jesus, for loving me just as I am, helping me grow in my faith, and making me more like you. Always for your sake. Amen.

War has been declared. Battle lines drawn. Armaments ready and terribly able. Troops on highest alert. To fight who? Where? What’s its cause?

No, not traditional warfare, but something with spiritual roots. It’s a battle we Christians can sense heading to our shores. Other earthly regions have been in the thick of it as if forever. I’m referring to the fight to follow faithfully our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and God’s Word, as found in the Bible.

It’s never easy to take an unpopular stand for our Lord. And you know what those issues are at the moment. Where we could compromise to better fit in. To avoid criticism and ostracism from family, friends, and even the church. In many ways, we are up against a wall. Either take a stand or be pushed over it.

St. Paul in 2 Corinthians makes a bold statement that we need to hear–‘We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…’ (2 Cor. 10: 5). Is this too out of reach? Impossibly unrealistic? To put Christ at the forefront?

If so, hotfoot it to boot camp. Open your Bible and dig in. Deep, deeper, deepest. And when you note something that’s contrary to modern culture (and it won’t take you very long to land on some doozies!), then decision time knocks at your door. Who will you let in? The Lord Jesus? Or an ungodly society? Which will it be?

Take every thought captive. Make a prisoner of what has violated God’s ways. Lock it up and throw away the key. Now I know that this is no easy-peasy business, and that I fail as much as the next; but, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the fact remains that we’re in a battle. Christian author C. S. Lewis says that we believers have been parachuted behind enemy lines. Hostile territory requires us to be on high alert. Dangers lurk everywhere, even in the safest of places.

This is no Mickey Mouse business. It’s real. Get ready. Take sides. Battle on. Weary not. Read the last book in your Bible to see how tough life can become, but also note who wins the final battle and war. Any guesses?

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for victories in your name. And all for your sake. Amen.

The line snaked out the door at one of our local supermarkets. Some big grocery sale? Not quite. It was for the ‘Imagination Lottery Machine’ of our state’s gambling association. All lucky winners, I’m sure! Me? I’ve never, ever bought a lottery ticket.

The only lottery I’ve won was one I was forced into. Against my will. Pushed and shoved to take a chance. In the late ’60s (1960s that is, wise guy; and no, not the 1860s!), the federal government instituted a lottery system for the military draft. Ugh! Uh oh! I’ve got a 1 in 365 chance of winning based on my birthday. Pretty good odds, or so I figure.

How’d I do? As I looked down the list of birthdays, I didn’t find mine. I’ve won! Off the chart? An oversight? Hardly. Fat chance of that. So, I go back over the register and discover that the first few birthdays are fully printed out with lots of flowery words to soften the blow for those who’ve won. The first and second picks would be the first and second ones to go off to war. My birthdate? Number two. Oh no. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. I’ve won. Or lost. It all depends.

Jonah wins his lottery, too. For he’s the one who’s causing all kinds of trouble for the ship he’s on and for those sailors, all in grave danger of losing their lives in tumultuous seas. As they draw lots, good old Jonah wins. Picks the short straw. All eyes are glued on him. The culprit. This runaway prophet of the Lord wishes he could go back to sleep, hoping beyond hope that all this is but a bad dream. Sorry, Charlie! It isn’t.

In Jonah’s case, he’s turned his back on the call of the Lord. Told to go here, he heads off there. What does God want? Well, He can just take a heavenly hike. Get someone else, while you’re at it. I’m out of here on the first boat to anywhere else. And he succeeds. Sort of. Until.

Well, you probably know the rest of Jonah’s story. If not, it’s only four chapters. Can cover it in less than an hour. Go for it. Maybe, just maybe, the Lord will bring to mind something He’d like you to do for Him that you’ve been putting off. An idea pops into your craw? A nagging thought or two? Your conscience tugs more His way for a change?

Ask for God’s help while being determined to follow through and obey His instructions. Not like Jonah, hightailing it out of Joppa. But there’s more to his story…

Lord Jesus, I want to serve you. Help me to do just that. For your sake. Amen.

Have you read Hosea chapter 8 yet? If not, stop in your tracks, pick up your Bible, and take a good, substantial look. You’ll be flabbergasted at what you find. God’s people plainly have a screwloose or two. What they’re doing won’t hold any water with God.

Here’s a brief catalogue of their rebellion (v. 1) —they claim to know God, yet haven’t a clue what that involves (v. 2-3). They make decisions on their own with nary a nod His way (v. 4). After all, who needs the Almighty? We can handle whatever comes our way. Really?

All the while, they create false gods of things they can touch and trade (v. 6), sowing a gentle wind, and reaping a ferocious whirlwind (v. 7). They seek political alliances with pagan nations (v. 7-10). Even if God wrote His laws on their whiteboards ten thousand times, they’d still consider Him as alien, foreigner, and a weirdo (v. 12). The conclusion to this downer list you’ll find in verse 14–‘For Israel has forgotten his Maker…’

Did I read that right? They forgot the God who made them? The One who loves, cares for, and protects them? Who frees them from slavery in Egypt? And gives them a land flowing with a cornucopia of blessings? Blanked Him out of their minds despite all His generosity? How could that be?

I wonder as I look around at the world we live in. Have we learned anything at all about the biggest questions in life? Smartened up by seeking God and His ways? Giving Him but a passing nod? Not even that?

But am I much better? I realize that the tug of this world takes my gaze away from the Lord Jesus, focusing on money and what we can buy on some primed internet site, wringing my hands in nervous anxiety about things I have little control over. It’s about getting ahead, no matter what, being right at all costs, and having more toys than the next bloke. More…more…and then even more.

The irony is that when we get more, we often wind up with less. Less time to thank the Lord for all His goodness. Far less time in the Bible, hearing from God Himself. Less satisfaction with what we have. Less gratitude for all He gives us. Less time sharing some encouragement with someone who needs it. Giving less financial support for causes that we claim believe in. Less time to smell the roses that God created.

This week, let’s kick back and live life as it’s been given to us by the Lord. How? You know, don’t you? Put on the old thinking cap, asking your Lord for more of Him and less of you know what.

Relish more of less, so to speak!

Lord Jesus, I love you and want to be closer to you every day. Amen.

Oh, to be wise. Mature. Level-headed. Patient. Astute. Shrewd? Maybe in a better sense of the word. Not naive or cynical but perceptive and logical. Any of the above said of me or you? No comments, please!

How to garner some wisdom is today’s quest. I find clues in the Old Testament book of Daniel. Throughout this short prophetic work, Daniel and his three Jewish friends are men of prayer–‘Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the God of Heaven… ‘(Dan. 2: 17-18). Seek the Lord. Pray.

Daniel knows who to turn to. Whenever and about whatever. To his God, the Lord. The same one we cry out to. When we have a personal relationship with Jesus, we have direct and constant access to God. Can you imagine? So get on the horn and talk it out with Jesus. Every bit. Leaving nothing out. Pray your heart out. Again, whenever and about whatever.

Here’s another smart thought–it’s wise to limit your anger toward those you can barely tolerate. I’m sure it grated on Daniel, the lead wise man in Nebuchadnezzar’s court, to have to rub shoulders with the other religious scholars who worshipped pagan deities. Religious oil and water never mix.

Nevertheless, when King Nebuchadnezzar commanded that all the royal scholars and their families and possessions would go up in a puff of smoke if the king’s dream was not told to him in its entirety; and, in addition, correctly interpreted, it’s then that Daniel jumps in to save not only his own skin but that of all the wise men under his command, including the most pagan of all.

Wise Daniel cares about his opponents–‘…Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation’ (Dan. 2: 24). Can you sense a hint there? I struggle with this. Such compassion is rarely in me. I know I need God’s help. Just me?

Near the end of Daniel’s book, we find more savvy words–‘And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above, and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase’ (Dan. 12: 3-4).

Here’s a clever idea–tell others about Jesus. Open up about who you worship and follow. Share already! No particular way is prescribed. Most will do. Find yours and go for it. Speak up. Didn’t someone do that for you?

And don’t forget about that ‘book’ that’s mentioned in verse 4. It’s your Bible, life’s roadmap. It’s without equal. You’ll discover the Word of God guides and comforts you. Ignore it, let it gather dust, and you’ll run everywhere you shouldn’t go, all confused and messed up, scurrying down rabbit trails to who knows where. Basically, lost.

Find your path with the Lord and stay on it. It’s found in the pages of your Bible. Grab hold of it and dig in. Keep plugging away. And, by all means, never leave home without it!

Lord Jesus, be my guide always. Thank you for my Bible. In your name and for your sake. Amen.

‘Don’t you remember?’ Those words sear my heart. Sounds like an accusation about a lack of caring. Not listening. Not paying attention. You know what I mean. Remember?

The disciples in Mark 8 failed to bring enough food to meet their needs. Only one loaf of bread for a boatload of hungry men. But Jesus warns them about allowing sin to rise up in their lives like yeast does for loaves of bread. But, as usual, they misunderstand Him. They think Jesus mutters on about their growling tummies, which cry out for the staff of life.

That’s when Jesus utters these unwelcome words–‘And do you not remember?’ (Mark 8: 18). He harkens back to when He fed over 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and a couple of fish. His point is that little is much when Jesus is in it. They saw this miracle. All the bounty from His hands right in front of their eyes. No problem meeting seemingly insurmountable needs, even with leftovers galore. The sky’s the limit… and beyond. So, remember, don’t forget. Have a little faith, while you’re at it.

But they forgot. Slipped their minds. Failed to ring a bell. How terrible. So unbelieving, careless, and blind. I can’t understand those blokes. It was right in front of their eyes. You couldn’t miss it if you tried. Seeing should be believing, shouldn’t it? But it wasn’t.

That could be my story as well. And yours, too? To still berate ourselves for sins God has forgiven and forgotten decades ago. Ever fearful at the slightest upset. Thinking that God has given up on us, or even worse, rejected us. That’s never what you or I imagine, is it? Think again. That’s me to a tee. Hits the bullseye. I do remember.

So, isn’t it time to believe Him? To learn by heart His promises? To mull them over and over again? To get serious about our faith? To bask in His mercies and love? Isn’t it time? Seems more like overtime.

Lord Jesus, I believe you. Please help my unbelief. Amen.