Category: Devotional

 

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“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).

Mike Benson, Editor

 

THERE ARE THREE desires of the human mind that create the circumstances for a perfect spiritual storm…

First, we will seek happiness in our lives. Second, we will seek to fulfill our own desires. Third, we will do what we have to do to be at peace with ourselves. Our minds will find a way to accomplish these goals if we do not control them. They will be wild horses loosed from their stables.

People will do anything to accomplish these goals. They will lie to themselves and everyone else. They will abandon their loved ones and plunge into human depravity while maintaining their innocence. These desires become the core of their lives and anything that crosses them suffers the consequences.

Those who cannot silence their conscience will dig deep to find justification for their actions even to twisting Scripture. Rationalization, accomplished at the speed of light, alleviates our minds of all manner of complications. We act and then find the means to justify our actions. There appears to be no limit to our skill in this area. In our haste, we leave no room for reason and sobriety.

One of the most devious of these rationalizations is, “God wants me to be happy.” God ultimately becomes irrelevant as we seek our own pleasures, no matter the cost.

Keeping these facts in mind, we examine whether God wants man to be happy. The answer is obviously affirmative. God desires that we find joy in our time on earth. However, the happiness we find must be God’s definition. Man’s selfish brand of happiness is insufficient.

God promises, “[T]he peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). We can find inexpressible joy in our lives if we are in Christ (1 Peter 1:8; Ephesians 1:3; Psalm 100).

God’s mind is vastly different from man’s mind (Isaiah 55:8,9). We cannot hold him to our lax standards. God bases truth on absolute standards established prior to the construction of time (Psalm 119:89). Situational or cultural ethics have no bearing on God. The feelings we cherish are simply grass blowing in the wind, ready to be burned and cast aside.

God did not call man to happiness, but to holiness. Holiness should make us happy but holiness comes first. Happiness never supersedes holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:7; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 1:3,4).

Man expects to do as he pleases, to accomplish the three goals mentioned previously, and God should stand by his side as he does so. We do what we want and expect God to agree. We imprison God in the structure we have constructed for him. We live however we wish and when confronted with the objective truth of Scripture, we say, “Well, God wants me to be happy!”

We must never confuse our voice for God’s voice. Millions do this every day. They are completely convinced that whatever they do, God will nod affirmatively. Therefore, the Lord is no longer the God who demands obedience (John 14:15), but the indulging grandfather ready with a smile and treats.

Wayne Jackson said, “How very foolish we are when we allow ourselves to be enticed from godliness by the temporal and exceedingly shallow emotions of passing mirages that will prove to be nothing more than cruel illusions in the eternal order of things.”

In our delusion, we believe the lie that true happiness is found outside of God in fleshly pleasures. We choose sexual pleasure, allegiances and materialism to justify disobedience to God. However, as C.S. Lewis wrote, “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” (Richard Mansel)

“For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness” (1 Thess. 4:7).

KneEmail

 

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).

Mike Benson, Editor

Good

THE MAJORITY OF Americans seem to believe that all a person has to do in order to go to heaven is be a “good person…”

Sure, rapists, drug pushers, and child molesters will be lost; Hitler and Osama bin Laden will go to hell for sure; but if you try to be a “good person,” you’ll surely be in heaven.

While it is commendable to be good, of course, our goodness alone is insufficient. Cornelius is an example. He was a “devout man…feared God with all his household…gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always” ( Acts 10:2; cf. v. 22). A very good man! Yet, he needed to hear words by which he and his household would be saved ( Acts 11:13, 14; cf. Matt. 19:17-23).

We cannot get to heaven by our goodness alone.

(Wade Webster)

“So He said to him,

‘Why do you call Me good?

No one is good but One,

that is, God…'”

~Matt. 19:17~

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“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).

Mike Benson, Editor

Wise

“MENSA” IS AN exclusive organization composed of those who are deemed to be geniuses…

Only the truly intelligent need apply. They have meetings where they express their erudition, I suppose, and a newsletter of the same name that is, presumably, full of intelligent and brilliant insights. Doctors and scientists and members of “think tanks” join this group.

They are undeniably smart, but they are not wise.

Albert Einstein was perhaps the most brilliant mind of this century, perhaps the most intelligent man who ever lived. He proposed the Theory of Relativity, and played a part in discovering how to split the atom. He wrote many insightful things.

He was undeniably intelligent, but he may not have been wise.

When the Bible speaks of “wisdom,” or “foolishness,” you must understand that it is not talking about IQ, or the amount of “gray matter” one possess. The Bible does not mean to be insulting when it calls someone a “fool.” Such a person is not a buffoon, or a moron. He is simply not wise by God’s definition.

James helps us to see “wisdom” the way God does. The truly wise person does not “harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition” in his heart. Wise people are “peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

Wisdom has to do with our behavior. A wise person displays the sweet spirit of Jesus. He does not love a “good fight,” he loves peace between brethren. He does not have ambition that by its selfishness steps on others.

Hannah the mother of Samuel may not have been a genius, but she was wise.

Nathaniel the skeptic from Bethsaida may not have been a member of Mensa, but he was wise.

You remember the story of the wise and foolish builders? It was one of the earliest Bible stories you ever learned. You have probably sung the song a million times, mimicking the action of the “rains” and the “floods.” Jesus defines the wise man as the one who “hears my words, and does them” ( Matthew 7:24-27). He similarly describes a “fool” as one who “hears” his words, but “does not do them.”

So wisdom is not what you know, because both people knew what Christ wanted. The wise person lived by it.

So I say it, not proudly, but gratefully; I belong to an inclusive organization. It’s called the church. Those who live by the organization’s charter are wise. Not geniuses, necessarily, but wise.

Would you care to join? (Stan Mitchell)

“Who is wise and understanding among you?

Let him show it by his good life”

( James 3:13).

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“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).

Mike Benson, Editor

“THE WORLD HAS no problem accepting and following a religious leader who permits them to stay in their sins…

but they will crucify the man who dares to point them to a narrow gate that leads to a narrow way” (Warren Wiersbe).

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matt. 5:10

 

Franklin Graham talks about Naman, a man who seemed to have everything:

Decision Minute

Man of Power

Franklin Graham

Naman was a man of power, great power, the commander in chief of the largest army in the world at that time. He was a man of integrity; he was honest, moral man. And the Bible says that human goodness and morality is not enough to satisfy God. It’s not enough to be just a good person, and I’m sure today there are many of you in this audience, you consider yourself a good person. Well, Naman considered himself a good man. It’s not enough that you’re religious. It’s not enough that you pray. It’s not enough that you tithe. It’s not enough that you’re a Sunday School teacher. You’ve got to be born again.

You will be born again when you come to Jesus Christ through faith. To make that decision and begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, call us at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, toll free, at 866-JESUS-CARES. Or click billygraham.org.

I DON’T WANT THEM

TO CHANGE ME

Elie Wiesel was brought up in a closely knit Jewish community in Sighet, Transylvania (Romania). When he was fifteen years old, his family was herded aboard a train and deported by Nazis to the Auschwitz death camp. Wiesel’s mother and younger sister died at Auschwitz — his two older sisters survived. Wiesel and his father were then taken to Buchenwald, where his father also perished. Wiesel has devoted his life to ensuring that the world does not forget the atrocities of the Nazis, and that they are not repeated. He tells this story:

A just man decided he must save humanity. So he chose a city, the most sinful of all cities. Then he studied. He learned all the art of moving people, changing minds, changing hearts. He came to a man and woman and said, “Don’t forget that murder is not good, it is wrong.” In the beginning, people gathered around him. It was so strange, somewhat like a circus. They gathered and they listened. He went on and on and on.

Days passed. Weeks passed. After a while, they stopped listening. After many years passed, a child stopped him and said, “What are you doing? Don’t you see nobody is listening? Why do you continue shouting and shouting? Why?”

And the man answered the child, “I’ll tell you why. In the beginning, I was convinced that if I were to shout loud enough, they would change. Now I know they won’t change. But if I shout even louder, it’s because I don’t want them to change me.”

We live in a world where there is a battle going on. I’m not talking about the conflict in Iraq or Afghanistan or Kenya. You may not even be aware that this battle is taking place, but I assure you that it is. It is a spiritual battle being waged between God and his people and Satan and his people (Eph. 6:12). It is a battle for the control of the hearts and minds of men and women, including you and the people around you.

We sometimes use the word “evangelism” to describe our attempt to influence ungodly men in a way that will draw them to God, the God who created them and loves them. But we sometimes forget that efforts (sometimes diligent efforts) are being made by ungodly men to pull us away from God. Be assured of this: One of two things is happening — either you are having an influence on other people, or other people are having an influence on you. It’s a constant battle, much like a tug-of-war.

And there are times, as in the story above, when we need to speak up or take some action, not so much to change others, but to prevent others from changing us.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

 

 

A GOD WHO UNDERSTANDS

 

There’s a man trying to cross the street. As he steps off the curb, a car comes screaming around the corner and heads straight for him. The man walks faster, trying to hurry across the street, but the car changes lanes and is still coming at him.

So the guy turns around to go back, but the car changes lanes again and is still coming at him.

By now, the car is so close and the man so scared that he just freezes and stops in the middle of the road.

The car gets real close, then swerves at the last possible moment and screeches to a halt right next him.

The driver rolls down the window. The driver is a squirrel. The squirrel says to the man says, “See, it’s not as easy as it looks, is it?”

There have been times when I’ve discovered that experiencing something is more difficult than it looks. For example, when I was younger, I was full of ideas on how parents ought to be raising their children. However, after having three of my own, I’ve discovered that “it’s not as easy as it looks.”

Maybe there was a time when you thought someone ought to be handling a divorce or a death in the family better than they do. But after experiencing it for yourself, you found out that “it’s not as easy as it looks.”

Sometimes there’s no way to know what it feels like to go through something without actually experiencing it yourself. That’s why the incarnation is so important. There’s no way we can say to God, “Living here on this earth — it’s not as easy as it looks!” God knows. He’s taken on flesh and blood and walked this earth. He’s experienced temptation, frustration, persecution, disappointment and a host of human emotions. He knows how tough it is. He understands. And that’s why He is in a position to be of help to us.

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:15-16)

It’s true. Living life on this earth is “not as easy as it looks.” But may you find comfort today in knowing that God understands that more that you can begin to imagine.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Decision Magazine Weekly E-mail Devotional

February 26, 2008

A Word From Billy Graham

The Bible says, “All we like sheep have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6). Man is like sheep. We wander around blind; we get lost. We’re lost from God. We’ve strayed from God. …

Jesus tells a story of a lost sheep. This farmer had 99 sheep that were safe, but one had wandered away. He was lost. So this shepherd decided that he was going to go after the one lost sheep. After much searching, he found the sheep. And he called all of his friends together, and they rejoiced because he had found the sheep (Luke 15:4-6). Are you that one lost sheep? Jesus Christ would have died on the cross if no one had been lost but you. God loves you and He’s searching for you.

The shepherd lives with his sheep. He gives them food and protection and security. Jesus said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Whatever happens, however sick you may get—you may lose a child, you may lose a father or a mother—Jesus is with you. You’re the sheep; He’s the shepherd. He loves you, and He gave His life for you. When He died on the cross, God took all of our sins and laid them on Him.

Devotional Prayer:

 

Lord, we thank You for sending Jesus to find us when we had wandered far from You. Help us to stay close to you as we seek out those who are still lost and need to hear of the salvation that you offer them through Christ. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).

Mike Benson, Editor

 

Change

OFTEN WE HEAR that “prayer changes things…”

I have only one question. It deals not with what prayer changes, but whom.
Perhaps we are under the illusion that it is the role of prayer to change God’s mind. The astounding thing is that there are indeed times when frail flesh can change the intention of eternal Deity! Moses averted God’s anger against Israel ( Exodus 32:11-14); Hezekiah bought extra time ( Isaiah 38:1-8). These incidents remind us that “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” ( James 5:16). Talk about friends in high places, the child of God can go to the most powerful figure in existence, and be heard!

But the marvel of prayer lies not in our ability to change God, but in his ability to change us. When we pray, we admit that we need his help; we express humility and dependence with regard to the course of our lives; we throw ourselves on his mercy; we seek his wisdom, his strength, his love.

When we pray, the universe is reoriented. Our universe!

Prayer isn’t about changing God’s mind; it’s about changing ours! “God,” someone has said, “never alters the robe of righteousness to fit a man; he changes the man to fit the robe.” God seeks to mold us, change us, make us something wonderfully better. And the process begins when our posture changes from standing to kneeling.

“O house of Israel,

can I not do to you as this potter does?”

declares the Lord.

“Like clay in the hand of the potter,

so are you in my hand,

O house of Israel”.

~ Jeremiah 18:6~

Prayer won’t change things until we allow it to change us. (Stan Mitchell)

Prayer changes things – us!

Anna Lee

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“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).

Mike Benson, Editor

 

Towel

 

THE IDEA IS shocking…

It is a thought many people have never even entertained. What is it that is so astounding? It is the fact that God hates. Most often we think of God as love (1 John 4:8). Love eliminates hate, right? Wrong. As a matter of fact, appropriate hate is a result of love. For instance, Psalm 119 is a very lengthy expression of love and appreciation for God’s word. It is as a result of that love for God’s instruction that the Psalm expresses hatred for “every false way” (Psm. 119:104, 128).

 

God is love. He loves us as His creation and above all else desires close fellowship with us. That fellowship is destroyed by sin. Sin taints and tarnishes His people and makes association with a holy God impossible. That is why God hates sin. It destroys those whom God loves. How tragic when people become enamored with the very things that ruin their relationship with God, the very things God hates. So, in Proverbs, seven objects of God’s hatred are listed:

1. haughty eyes
   
2. a lying tongue
   
3. hands that shed innocent blood
   
4. a heart that devises wicked plans
   
5. feet that run rapidly to evil
   
6. a false witness who utters lies
   
7. one who spreads strife among brothers.

 

Yes, God hates these things. And, if we love God, we’ll hate them too. It is no virtue to love everything. If we love what God hates we are estranged from Him (1 John 2:15). That’s the very problem Jesus died to fix.

So, what do you hate? (David Deffenbaugh; Bill McFarland)

“These six things the LORD hates,

Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

a proud look,

a lying tongue,

hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked plans,

feet that are swift in running to evil,

a false witness who speaks lies,

and one who sows discord among brethren.”

Prov. 6:16-19

 

Don’t let these things get in the way of the service He has called you to do.

Anna Lee