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ONE VERSE TODAY!… Psalm 100

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A whole psalm to read today?  It’s short, only 5 verses! To be true to the title of today’s devotional, let’s look at one verse, the fifth one– ‘For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.’   The word ‘for’ summarizes the previous four verses.  ‘Make’…’serve’…’come’…’Know’…’Enter’…’Give thanks’…Then at verse 5 we have the source of it all.  For our Lord God is good.

Full of generosity and kindness.  No pettiness with our God.  He’s good.  The Hebrew word is ‘tov’, like someone wishes you ‘mozel tov!’– ‘good luck!’.  Good luck for us is that there is absolutely no luck involved in the goodness of God.  He’s good. ‘Tov’, through and through.  It’s His character to be good to us, His children in Jesus.  Soak in His goodness today.

There’s more.   To goodness, add His steady love.  His covenant-promise to love us for better or for worse, in sickness and in health.  Like marriage vows between a man and a woman.  Love that’s more than words.  It’s backed up by actions.  His love is steady, enduring even harsh winds from His sinful people.  Lasting…when all else has disappeared.  When we are teetering and ready to collapse, His steady hand supports and keeps us standing.

Not for this moment only, but for eternity.  That’s a mighty long time!  No going-out-of-business sale with the Lord.  He’s steady, dependable, keeps His promises.  I  remember getting an award in my High School English class.  Near the end of the school year, Mr. Gordon gave out awards to each of his students.  Most very affirming… until I got mine.  Didn’t get ‘Most Likely to Succeed’ or ‘Future Farmer of America’.  I got the ‘Constancy Award’!  Was that good?  Did I need a prune shake?!   No, I was ‘steady Eddie’ to him.  He said I could be counted on.

Reliable.   Not a glamorous award.   The older I get, the more I prize people who are dependable.  So many of the church members where I serve as pastor emeritus are that, dependable and reliable.  Eager to help.  Say the word and it’s done almost before you can finish your sentence.  They all get my ‘constancy award’.

Remember that our Lord is good.  ‘Tov’!  His love is steady.   Not for today or this week alone… but forever.  To cap it all off– He’s faithful.   Loyal and dependable, not only to me and you… but to generation after generation!

Stay constant for Him…the heavenly reward will be far greater than any award you could ever get here on planet earth!

Prayer: Father, you stood by Jesus who stands by us.  In His name.  Amen.

SOME THINGS I CAN’T FORGET… 1 John chapter 1

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Trauma has a way of sinking its claws into us.  Deep within our psyche, not letting go.  When it happens in infancy, you can’t verbalize what you’re going through or make any sense of it. Could be much later in life that the source becomes clear.  I love to travel.  Always have.  But at the beginning of any adventure, I suffer terrible anxieties and fears.  All at night.  In the dark.  Without reason.  I feel cut off, alone and adrift, abandoned.  Silly, isn’t it?

It is… but not to me.  Now I have some idea of where it comes from.  Started when I was two years old, having moved from the big city to the suburbs, into a different house.  And I wasn’t feeling well.  My sister said that she tried to feed me ice cream and I wouldn’t eat it.  She was alarmed!  Me…not eat?!

I had a fever.  The next day I couldn’t walk normally.  It turned out to be more than a fever.  I had contracted polio.  Off I went back to Jersey City, placed in isolation.  Then hot packs, whirlpool treatments, endless exercises.  This is where it all started.

The Apostle John says in his 1st epistle chapter 1 that Jesus is God’s light in this darkened world.  He gives light and life to us.   When we sin, as we all do, He’ll take care of all of that for us, as only He can and will.   Even my weirdness, my inability to watch an old movie that has a child rejected or abandoned, even with all my failings and frailties, yet He is my life and my light.

I look to Him, knowing that He knows all about the wounds I carry in my heart.  He will never throw salt on them.  But like the Good Samaritan, He will tend them.  He paid the price to take care of them.

Is any of this ringing true for you in your life?  That it’s time to open up, airing what bothers you.  You don’t have to tell me.  Bring it to the Lord.  It’s not like He doesn’t already know.  Stop trying to clean yourself up before coming to Him for cleansing and newness.  Put down your mask.  Knowing where those scars come from, helps.  Knowing that He carries scars too, those in His wrists and feet and side, helps me to know that Jesus understands.  I feel so much better already…

Prayer:  Lord, we look to you with our frailties and foibles.  For your love and understanding and compassion.  Thank you!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

TRIPPED UP BY GOD HIMSELF!… John 18: 1-6

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I’m not much for highly emotional expressions of religious zeal.  Know what I mean?  Where the pastor whips up the congregation into a frenzy of shouting, waving of hands, stomping of feet, making me uncomfortable.  But here’s an incident in the Bible that makes me wonder.

From John 18. Soldiers keep the peace, preventing a riot, along with assistance from the Temple guards(‘…officers of the chief priests and Pharisees…’v. 3).  They come to arrest Jesus.  Judas betrays his Lord,  bringing the authorities to take Him away.  John tells us that “…Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said…’whom do you seek?'”(v. 5).  They want someone named Jesus.  He tells them, without hesitation, that ‘I am he’.  Judas knows that by calling Himself  ‘I am’, Jesus is asserting His deity.  He says that He is the ‘I am’, Yahweh, of the Old Testament.  That says it all.  Not only that, but the soldiers couldn’t stand it.  Literally!  They draw back, staggering, falling to the ground.  What’s going on here?

Jesus asserts who He is.  They come for Jesus of Nazareth. ‘I’m your man’.  That’s all?   But is He?  I don’t think so.  They wouldn’t fall backwards, staggering to the ground.  They would seize Him, then and there.  More is going on here than meets the eye.

There were other instances like this in the Bible.  Ezekiel 1:28–‘…This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.  When I saw it, I fell face down…’  Daniel 10: 9–‘Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.’  Acts 22: 6-7–‘About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.  I fell to the ground…’

These soldiers fell like human dominoes in the presence of Jesus, God in the flesh.  They came to arrest a man, but found God in their midst.  Can no longer stand on their own two feet.  In their sin, they face only soil and dirt.  Knowing how sinful we are, we must never kid ourselves thinking otherwise, for we too would fall on all fours before Holy God.

God can’t stand our sin.  That’s why Jesus came and did what He did for us.  We who are grounded in Him.  Soiled and stained by sin…now forgiven and uplifted by His strong arms and hands.  I know what it means to be brought low by my own sin.  And to be raised up by Jesus.  That’s being born-again.  That is the experience of everyone who comes to know the Savior.

Yours also?  Not tripped up by God.  Raised up…with eternal life in Jesus!

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for gathering us close to you as children to a loving parent.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

LET’S CUT HIM SOME SLACK!…John 11: 1-16

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You ‘doubting Thomas’!  Ever been called that?   I’m not sure I have.  We find the story of ‘doubting Thomas’ not here in John 11, but in chapter 20:24.  Thomas was a twin.   Maybe he didn’t like everyone thinking that he and his twin always thought alike, saw eye-to-eye.  Maybe he had to see it for himself.  When the disciples said that they saw the risen Lord, Thomas demurred saying that he’d never believe unless he could see and even touch Jesus.  Hence, ‘doubting Thomas’.

Know what happened?  Jesus shows Himself…to Thomas.  Alive!  And we get blessed, those who have never seen Him and yet believe.  That’s us!  I wonder if we’ve been a bit tough on Thomas, ‘the doubter’?  What about this episode here in John 11?

Lazarus has died.  Jesus delays His visit for some unknown reason.  He comes when He’s ready.  And raises Lazarus from the dead.  Thomas witnesses this miracle. Here’s a bit of context.   During the most recent Feast of Tabernacles, the religious leaders try to arrest Jesus(John 8:44).  Rumors circulate that some want to kill Him(7:25).  A crowd attempts to stone Him(8:59), while at the Hanukkah Feast they try to arrest Him(10:39), again picking up stones to kill Him(10:31).  Tensions mount.  Threats grow.  The disciples sense that the fate of their Master could be theirs as well.  Jesus told them of His coming death.  They can’t fathom it.  Too horrible to contemplate.  They block it out.

But not Thomas.  Not this time.  He says clearly, with boldness and courage–‘…Let us also go, that we may die with Him'(John 11: 16).  These are words of one who refuses to let Jesus face death alone.  These are passionate words of a true friend, a dear brother, a faithful follower.  No doubt about it!  No ‘doubting Thomas’ here.

Though he faltered some after the resurrection of Jesus(and who didn’t?), yet Thomas has been a true follower of his Lord.  We falter at times.  I have…many times and, sad-to-say, I’m probably not done yet.  Like Peter, who denied Jesus three times; and John the Baptist, from prison, questioning whether his cousin truly was the Messiah; so Thomas had his moments… of doubt and stumbling.  Yet, Jesus comes to Thomas to show him exactly what he needs to see.  And not only Thomas.  Jesus comes to us, even with all our sin,  yet with His hands of forgiveness and second…third…fourth(and then even more)chances to get up and  follow Him. Why does He keep doing that?  You know!  He loves us so much.  Of that, there’s really no doubt!

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for giving us a new start after we’ve stumbled and fallen.  When our faith is weak, you draw near to us to lift us up. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

UNCOMFORTABLE HONESTY!… Psalm 89: 38-52

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It makes me uncomfortable reading the verses at the end of Psalm 89.  Don’t like it.  God’s people griping at the Lord, blaming Him for the mess they’re in.  See what I mean?–‘But now you have cast off and rejected; you are full of wrath against your anointed.  You have renounced the covenant with your servant; you have defiled his crown in the dust…You have exalted the right hand of his foes…you have covered him with shame'(from verses 38-45).

I cringe when I hear someone letting-it-all-out with the Lord.  Would be afraid that lightning might strike!  Really, would you feel comfortable saying these words to the Lord like Ethan the Ezrahite did in this psalm?  But it’s right there in the Bible.  And no criticism is leveled at Ethan.  That’s real hard for me.  Why?  Can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t fear that the rug wouldn’t be pulled out from under me.  Scared that anything I did wrong would cause the anger of God to be unleashed on me.

Be careful what you do and say.  Walk gently and gingerly on those eggshells.  Not sure that those who know me would guess that all this goes on inside.  I can’t possibly know all that goes on inside of you, either.  What struggles you hide from the world.  What embarrassments and shame you hope no one would ever see on your face.

Ethan obviously had no such hesitations.  He says whatever he feels.  There’s a part of me that envies him.  What’s really neat is that very last verse of Psalm 89.  After all his complaining, he says ‘Blessed be the Lord forever!  Amen and amen.’  Even though he complains,yet he praises the Lord he loves and worships.  He really believes that God is on his side.  That God is loving and faithful…’I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations'(verse 1).  He believes that God is who He says He is.

There’s the rub.  To really believe… who He says He is.  Take Him at His Word!

Prayer:  Thank you, Father, for calling us to be open and honest with you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

GIVE IT YOUR VERY BEST!… Colossians 3: 12-17

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Being a television star is not all it’s cracked up to be!  I should know!  I had a weekly television show on our Christian public access station for a period of 5 years.  It was 28 1/2 minutes in length, to be precise!  Tuesday evenings with a repeat Wednesday afternoon.

Did hundreds of shows with Christians of all denominations, ages, and jobs.  Pastors were my first group to have as guests, but they proved too boring and predictable.  Sorry, my friends and colleagues!  Soon realized that the local garbage man, store clerk, psychologist, teacher, bank executive, lawyer, and policeman were much more interesting.  They would tell their stories of how they came to know Christ.  Each one was different.  In the middle of the show, I had a local vocalist sing a Gospel song.  The second half of the  show focused on the differences the Lord had made in their lives.  Most had fascinating stories to tell.

I also met some amazing singers and sinners(especially the host)!  All knew Jesus… and had been changed by Him.  The show was called ‘Person-to-Person’.  Doing the show, I learned a few things myself.  The main lesson was to do my best for the Lord.  Every year I tried to make the show as professional as possible.  Yet station glitches seemed to pop up at the worst times.  Like their showing our Christmas special two days before Thanksgiving.  Or episodes not starting on time.  Funny, I know.  But it wasn’t to me.  Wanted this to be the best that I could do, appreciating those who gave of their time, and principally for the Lord Himself.  As the Apostle Paul wrote, ‘And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus…'(Colossians 3:17).  I was learning to work very hard for Him.

Lessons for life?  Do it for Him.  And do it with all your might.  I remember reading about a pastor who studied and prepared one hour for each minute of his sermon.  A 20-minute message required 20 hours of preparation.  Commitment. Giving our best.  Think of all that Jesus packed into 3 brief years.  John the Apostle said that all the books in the world couldn’t contain all that Jesus had said and done in those 3 years that He had on this earth(John 21:25).   Does this hit home for you in any way?  What you’re doing for the Lord, and giving Him your very best?  Are you?

Whatever we do, do it all for Him.  For His glory.  To reach others with the best news of all.  Do your very best.  Should we make that a commitment?  How about it?  I’m in!  Are you?

Prayer:  Lord, help us not be lazy and comfortable doing a fair to middling job for you.  In Jesus’ name, the One who gave His all for us.  Amen.

DON’T TRY TO INHERIT THEIR FAITH…2 Chronicles 24

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I’m a treasure hunter, finding hidden gems in Bible passages.  Let’s dig a little deeper.  After the deaths of kings David and Solomon, we have a procession of 8 kings of Judah, the Southern Kingdom.  Now we come to a young boy crowned king named Joash.  He wouldn’t have made it passed his fifth birthday if it wasn’t for the wife of the High Priest Jehoiada.  Her name was Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram.

Jehoram had killed all his brothers to secure the throne.  Jehoshabeath’s  brother was King Ahaziah, who was killed by Jehu one of Jehoram’s commanders.  With Ahaziah’s death, their mother, Athaliah, ruled as Queen of Judah by annihilating all the royal family.  This was her very own flesh and blood.  Nice lady!   Athaliah was a daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of the Northern Kingdom.  She brought the false worship of despicable Baal to Judah.  Athaliah broached no threat to her merciless reign.  Only one male child survived due to the intervention of Athaliah’s own daughter, Jehoshabeath.

This wife of the High Priest Jehoiada was tough-as-nails.  She knew her actions could result in her death and that of her family.  Nevertheless, she hid her one year old nephew in the Temple precincts for a number of years.  He was but seven when crowned  King of Judah.  This was Joash.  And this 24th chapter from 2 Chronicles makes it crystal clear that Joash had some marvelous, godly people in his life almost from birth.  They stayed with him throughout his reign until the High Priest Jehoiada died.

Listen to what it says in verse 15:  ‘but Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and died.  He was 130 years old at his death.  And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and His house’.  What a tribute!  A High Priest buried with the most famous kings.  Listing his age emphasizes the Lord’s blessing.  He lived longer than many other heroes of the faith–like Sarah(127), Joseph(110), Moses(120), Aaron(110) and Joshua(110).  He was long-time faithful to Yahweh God.

But, unfortunately, when he leaves the scene, so does his godly influence.  His faith, and that of his wife, could not be inherited.  Not theirs, not ours.  Faith must be found in each person.  Faith can be influenced and shared but never inherited.  Money and possessions can be.  But not our trust in Jesus.  His claims are always individual.

I pray every day and night for all our children and grandchildren.  For friends and church members, for government leaders…that all will come to know the Lord for themselves.  There is no other way.  None.  Keep praying.  Live for Jesus yourself.  Be humble.   Be His.  And leave the rest in His loving hands!

Prayer:  Lord, we ask you to move the will of our loved ones so that they make that personal decision for Jesus Christ.  In His name.  Amen.

BY THE SEA, BY THE SEA… John 7:37-39

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It was back in 1959 that my parents first rented an apartment right on the beach, at the ocean, in Ocean City, New Jersey.  For two glorious weeks!  They rented the same place for a few years, always the last week in July and the first week of August.  My father said that those were the best weather weeks of the summer.  I didn’t care when we went, as along as we did!  I loved it.  Still do.  My wife can tell when I get morose and change my name to ‘gloomy Gus’, that it’s time for a trip back home, to Ocean City, the one in New Jersey!

Have to keep going back.  ‘By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea…’  That’s my song but only for a few weeks or a month.   Jesus talked about water, living water.  If you had it, you would never thirst again.  Really?  What did He mean?

It was on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles.  He’s in Jerusalem at the Temple.  He proclaims: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'”(John 7: 37-38).  The Gospel writer, John, tells us that Jesus is referring to the Holy Spirit, who will be given to all believers.  Plain and simple.  When you believe in Him, more flows your way.  More of what counts in life.  More from within where it’s private, genuine, protected from being cast before any swine you encounter.  More love, more forgiveness, more purpose…more and more of whatever God has for us.

Rarely it’s things.  Often it’s something you can’t put your finger on.  Something indescribable.  Something money can’t buy.   That’s why the world, such as it is, doesn’t have a clue.  How can it?  Without Jesus, they have no Holy Spirit, no living water bubbling up into all kinds of thirst-quenching wonders.  Without Jesus, it’s just dryness and thirst.  Emptiness and unfulfilled pawing and craving.

But with Jesus, when we know Him and love Him and really want to serve Him, we find that the ‘water’ He pours into us is energizing, satisfying and fulfilling.  Within us.  Open your mouth to Him.  Ask Jesus for more of His living water.   All from Him.  Not one drop earned.  His gift.  Thank you, Lord…

Prayer:  Thank you, Jesus, for giving us the living water of your Holy Spirit.   For Jesus’ sake.  Amen.

Away for the next week w/o computer access. More to come the week of Oct. 3rd! How about telling someone about Reflections blog?

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I’d like to ask your help this week as we’ll be out of range of a computer to use.  Could you mention to a friend or neighbor or co-worker or relative about this Reflections blog?  Would love to share more about the Lord with even more people.  In the past year and a half it’s been amazing how many have signed up as following the blog.  Very encouraging with people from many different countries and continents.  But room for more!  Please help.  Thanks and we’ll talk more in a week!  Blessings, John

AH, SOME PEACE AND QUIET!…Psalm 76: 8

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We were the fourth house constructed in ‘Campus Peak’.  There will be 90 homes when completed.  It will take a couple of years before the sounds of construction are heard no more.  As I look out my office/study window, I can see golfers whizzing around on their carts, hearing the ping of their Ping golf balls hitting evergreen trees right and left!

Weekends are particularly lovely here as all construction ceases.  No hammering, no digging post holes for the wooden fences.  No trucks delivering trusses or foundation forms.  No nailers, roofers or painters.  Peace and quiet!

Like what it says in Psalm 76: 8.  Not talking about new home communities, but of coming judgement.  And we wonder when?  God knows… and that’s all we need to know.  Forget the speculating.  Rest in His plan.  He knows all about it.  That should be enough for us.  This verse reassures us that whenever God judges the earth and this world, we’ll know it.  No doubt about it.  All the political chatter will cease.  Money-grubbing will be useless.  The sinner’s plight unveiled for what it is, rebellion against holy God.  No more arguing.  No more bargaining.  No more shading of the truth.  No more ‘spin doctors’.  Hallelujah!

Psalm 76:8– ‘…the land feared and was quiet.’  Everyone who had turned their backs on the Lord knew that they had made a terrible mistake.  They ‘feared and were quiet’.  Stopped in their own tracks

.  There will come a day when God will give to all believers His quiet and peace.   In Hebrew it’s ‘Shalom’.  The Hebrew word for ‘quiet’ is ‘shawkat’.  It means to rest and be settled, still and undisturbed with an inner confidence and peace.  Certainly not for those who willfully and knowingly reject God, but rather only for those who bow the knee to the Lord of Lords.

I’m looking forward to better days ahead.  Much better ones!  We may see dreadful days coming, but only be for a brief period.  A season whose limits are determined by the Creator Himself.  Then will come the best… His best!   ‘Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus!'(Rev. 22: 20).

Prayer:  Lord, we claim your promises of better days ahead through your Son Jesus.  In His name.  Amen.