(NOTE: Write out the BIBLE KEY at least once this week, perhaps in your personal journal.  Then, before you begin to read the devotional thoughts for each day, read the BIBLE KEY for that week. Become familiar with it and, perhaps, even memorize it.)

BIBLE KEY: (John 8:47, NIV) [Jesus speaking.] He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.

MONDAY

(Isaiah 55:6-9, NIV) 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

One of the main purposes of our “Experiencing God” Journey is to encourage people to diligently seek God while they can, because a time may come when He feels much farther from them than now. Or, a time may come when they are unable to seek Him—when it’s too late. It’s important to call on the Lord while He is near.

Then, when they turn to the Lord and surrender themselves obediently to Him, He will have mercy on them. He will make it possible for them to do what some consider impossible. That is, He will allow unholy sinners to come into His totally holy presence. (Have you ever thought that God could not love you because you sinned to much?) This is only possible because of God’s great love and grace that offers the cleansing of regeneration through His Son.

Now, that concept may be difficult to understand. That’s because, God is very different from us. His thoughts and ways are governed by His absolute righteousness and pure holiness. But, our the thoughts and ways—those controlled by unregenerate human nature—are governed by our selfish desires, confused morals, incomplete wisdom, mistake-filled lives, and lots of false information about spiritual matters. You see, it’s not our nature to think like God or to understand Him. Our only hope to understand Him is to listen to what He actually says. Fortunately, He will teach us His ways, if we really listen to Him.

Pray that God will give you understanding and wisdom when you read His word, the Bible. Study it so that you learn its truth.

TUESDAY

(Proverbs 19:20-21, NIV) 20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. 21 Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

Listening to advice and accepting instruction are difficult things to do. They imply that we have incomplete knowledge or inferior wisdom to make our own decisions. Most of us prefer to rely on ourselves and chart our own courses. We may not trust someone else’s judgment or motives.

From my experiences in life, I think some young people are good examples of this characteristic. They refuse to listen to their parents because they think their parents don’t understand their lives. They think they know more than their parents. They often mistrust the wisdom of people with white hair, because those old folks don’t know how things really are today. Sadly, their refusal to listen to wise advice and instruction relegates them to learn the lessons of life the hard way, if they learn them at all.

In a similar way, we need to listen to God so we can get His wise advice and instruction. Otherwise, we suffer the consequences of our foolish ways.

Regardless of how smart you think you are, God is much smarter. His plans and purposes always prevail. Your plans pale in comparison to His.

So, decide to listen and learn from God.

WEDNESDAY

(1 Corinthians 2:9-12, NIV) 9 …As it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” — 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

Though we may not know much about the Holy Spirit, He plays some very important roles in our lives. For one thing, He is our teacher. He teaches us empirical truth—truth that never changes. It’s the same in every age of time. It is eternal because it comes from an eternal God.

You see, the Holy Spirit is God, part of the Trinity. He is the gift from God (Acts 2:38) that we receive when we are born of the water and the Spirit (John 3:5). He lives in us to transform us into what God wants us to be. He does so by teaching us and guiding us.

We need to learn to listen to this unique gift from God because He knows the thoughts of God. We won’t learn the truth about God without His help. He reveals His truth through the Bible. Then, He works through that knowledge in the circumstances of our lives, when we pray, and when we interact with other Christians in the church.

What is so wonderful about all this is that the truth you learn from God will set you free from ignorance, false beliefs, and futile living. He will teach you about God, His purposes, and His ways. These are very good reasons to thank God for giving you the Holy Spirit. Why not thank Him now?

THURSDAY

(1 Corinthians 2:14-16, NIV) 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: 16 ”For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Christians are very fortunate to have the Holy Spirit living in their lives. He teaches them truths from God.

Yet, unbelievers don’t see it that way because they are blinded to the truth. They measure life from their limited perspectives. They don’t understand spiritual issues of life the way Christians do. Their values have not been impacted by the Judgment and eternity. Their hearts have not been warmed by God’s love.

The man without the Spirit doesn’t accept God’s plans, but the spiritual man does. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. He gradually gives us “the mind of Christ” as we grow in the knowledge and gracious living of our Lord and Savior (2 Peter 3:18).

Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance. Continually strive to develop the mind of Christ by discerning and learning truth in the Bible.

FRIDAY

Don’t forget to read your Bible Key each day.

(Romans 8:26-27, NIV) 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

Prayer is a marvelous mechanism. It allows us to communicate with God. Unfortunately, many times we think we are communicating with God when we spend all of our time in prayer telling God what He already knows. Prayer is more than one-way communication.

Yes, prayer can involve verbal expressions of praise, confession, forgiveness, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and commitment. But, it also involves quietly thinking about what God says to us in the Bible. In order to guide us to deal with our prayer requests, God may speak to us through His Word that is planted in our minds, as it acts on our consciences.

In this way, the Holy Spirit helps our weakness. He carries each of our heart-felt petitions to God with the clarity that we cannot express. Then, when God is ready to answer our prayer and we are ready to receive the answer, the Spirit brings to our remembrance the truth of God’s word that applies to it. After that, it’s up to us to take action on it. At the same time, we can be assured that God will act on it, too.

You should learn to practice two-way prayer. First, remove distractions around you and focus on your time with God, as if you were sitting at His feet. Humble yourself before Him by reflecting on His unique characteristics as God. Tell Him you love Him and thank Him for some of His blessings. Submit yourself to Him and make yourself available for His purposes. Tell Him what is on your heart and mind—be open and honest with Him. Surrender yourself to Him—be receptive to His instructions. Think about God and Jesus—try to recall His instructions from the Bible. Commit yourself to obeying Him, even if you must sacrifice something to do so. Then, lay your prayer before His throne of grace in Jesus’ name.

As you learn to pray in this way, you will discover a beautiful intimacy with God that will make His daily presence in your life a magnificent reality.

["Devotional Guides for the Journey" are written by Philip Walter. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2012 ]

(Scripture quotes are from the New International Version [NIV] of the Bible, copyright © 1984, International Bible Society.)

(NOTE: Write out the BIBLE KEY at least once this week, perhaps in your personal journal.  Then, before you begin to read the devotional thoughts for each day, read the BIBLE KEY for that week. Become familiar with it and, perhaps, even memorize it.)

BIBLE KEY: (John 14:21, NIV) [Jesus speaking] “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

MONDAY

Today, we look at one of the most enduring stories in the Bible. It’s about faith.  (Genesis 22:1-2, NIV) 1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

Verses 3-8 tell us how Abraham took his son and all the necessary provisions to the mountain where God commanded him to go.

(Genesis 22:9-12, NIV) 9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 12 ”Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

Verses 13 and 14 tell us that God provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice, instead of his son.

(Genesis 22:15-18, NIV) 15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice the dearest thing he had in life—his son who was the heir that God had promised. Not only would killing his son have brought terrible sorrow on Abraham, but also it would have meant that Abraham would have no heir from his beloved wife, Sarah. Though Abraham didn’t understand why God was asking him to do this, he trusted God to do what was best for him and his son. As a result, God blessed them in ways greater than Abraham could imagine.

How has God tested your faith recently? Has He put something on your heart to do that will serve His Biblical purposes? Does it require some sacrifice on your part? Maybe He’s testing your faith.

Trust God’s love for you. Draw close to Him. Obey His commands.

TUESDAY

(Hebrews 12:5-6, NIV) 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:  “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”

Sometimes, God allows us to experience various kinds suffering as a form of His discipline. When He does, He is trying to teach us important lessons about our attitudes and our obedience to Him. This kind of suffering has a purpose. He allows it to come on us for our benefit.

The idea behind the proverb in these verses is that God disciplines us because He loves us; not because he hates us. He treats us as a loving father who disciplines his dear son. He does it for our good. He does it out of necessity, not out of anger or sadistic delight.

If we consider God to be our Heavenly Father, we must learn to accept His discipline with humility, obedience, and trust.

WEDNESDAY

Don’t forget to read the Bible Key each day.

It’s interesting how different people view God’s commands. Some think they are suggestions, not requirements. Others think they are restrictions designed to steal fun from our lives. Others think they are outdated and irrelevant.

(Deuteronomy 32:45-47, NIV) 45 When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle words for you–they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

From these verses, how would you describe what Moses thought about God’s commands?

During his life, Moses learned the importance of obeying God’s commands. He had spent 40 years in the wilderness with God before God called him to service. He developed a personal relationship with God during that time. And, he saw first hand God’s power unleashed in miraculous ways. So, Moses knew that obedience to God was paramount in life.

Let’s listen to God’s Word and respect His commands.

THURSDAY

Moses was thinking of future generations who would hear about God and His Word from their parents. So, he advises fathers what to tell their children about God’s commands.

(Deuteronomy 6:20-25, NIV) 20 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?” 21 tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the LORD sent miraculous signs and wonders–great and terrible–upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers. 24 The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. 25 And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.”

Verses 24-25 reveal some of the purposes behind God’s commands—prosperity, life, and righteousness before God. God has good and noble purposes for His commands. He is much wiser than we are. He sees the hallway of history from its beginning to its end–He knows all the past, the present, and the future. He understands how everything is supposed to fit together.

So, let’s trust His word, even when we don’t understand it. Let’s resolve to obey Him. And, let’s thank Him for giving us His commands to guide our lives.

FRIDAY

(John 5:17, 19-20, NIV) 17 Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.”…….19 Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these.

At the time that Jesus spoke these words, the Jewish leaders were trying to find some way to stop Him, perhaps even kill Him. In this passage, Jesus is defending the fact that He is God’s Son, doing God’s work. In fact, Jesus was saying that He was doing just what He saw His Heavenly Father doing.

Implied in this story is an invitation for us to join Jesus in the work He is doing. So, what did He do that we should doing with Him?

There is a broad range of activities that we can do with Jesus. We could do extraordinary activities that amaze everyone who sees them, such as when Jesus healed the sick. We are accomplishing extraordinary activities when we exceed people’s expectations of what Christians can do. At the other end of the spectrum, we might do simple activities, such as when Jesus comforted those who were sorrowing or when He taught others the Word of God. We are doing these simple activities when we touch other people’s lives with Jesus’ love. When we take a little time out of our daily routine to reach out to others with Christian love, we are serving them with Jesus.

Apparently, Jesus is inviting you to join Him in His work? Will you do so? If yes, where is He at work and what opportunity is He presenting to you do today?

["Devotional Guides for the Journey" are written by Philip Walter. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2012 ]

(Scripture quotes are from the New International Version [NIV] of the Bible, copyright © 1984, International Bible Society.)

(NOTE: Write out the BIBLE KEY at least once this week, perhaps in your personal journal.  Then, before you begin to read the devotional thoughts for each day, read the BIBLE KEY for that week. Become familiar with it and, perhaps, even memorize it.)

BIBLE  KEY: (Matthew 22:37-38, NIV) Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”

MONDAY

(John 3:16-18, NIV) 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Verse 16 is one of the most popular verses in the whole Bible.  It reminds us of God’s great love for us and what He did as a result of it.  Verse 18 tells us what our response to God’s love should be.

Bask in God’s love for a moment right now.  Think about all the things that God has done for you because He loves you.  Consider little things, such as getting a good parking space, as well as big things, such as answering your prayers about something very important to you.

Now, thank God for these gifts of love.

TUESDAY

Moses assembled all the Israelites and spoke to them in Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV). This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

These words were spoken in the context of a much longer speech in which Moses set forth some additional terms of God’s covenant with Israel. (See Deuteronomy 29:1) This was a very important speech because it was a matter of life and death, blessings and curses for the Israelites and their children.  The Israelites needed to make a choice about what they wanted.

This speech was very important, also, because it established a contract between Israel and God to which they would be bound for centuries.  It affected every Jewish man, woman, and child, until it was replaced by the new covenant that Jesus established.

Moses revealed that a relationship with God was at the heart of this covenant.  “…that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.” Notice that this relationship began with loving God.  Also, it involved listening to Him and being faithful to Him, such as a husband or wife being faithful to their spouse.

Today, Christians have a different contract with God.  It came to us through faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  However, it is still based on a loving relationship with God in which we give Him our attention, obedience, and loyalty.

Pray that God will strengthen your love for Him each day during our 8-week journey and that it will bring you closer to Him.

WEDNESDAY

(Matthew 6:19-21, 33, NIV) 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

What is really valuable in life?  When faced with a life or death situation, most people choose the things that money can’t buy, such as the lives of their loved ones.

There are many things that have value to us in life.  There are plenty of things that compete for our attention and loyalty.  Obviously, material wealth is one of them.  So, what does Jesus say in these verses is more valuable than money—what we should seek?

According to verse 33, what will God give you, if you seek those things?

Consider your relationship with your material wealth.  What action will you take to develop more love for God?

THURSDAY

Don’t forget to read the Bible Key each day.

Jesus told His disciples, (John 6:44-45, 65, NIV) 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: `They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.

65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.”

According to what Jesus said in verses 44 and 65, how can people come to Him?

So, God enables us to come to Jesus when we listen to Him and learn from Him.  But, how does that work?  The Bible tells, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message [of God], and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17, NIV) This is why it is so important to read and study your Bible.  It will build your faith as you hear and believe the message of Christ.

FRIDAY

(Matthew 16:13-17, NIV) 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 ”But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

Obviously, people were speculating who Jesus really was.  But, in these verses, who did the men closest to Him believe He was?  Do you agree with Peter?

Thinking of the life of Jesus, we can see that God took the initiative to reach out to us by sending His Son.  Furthermore, He provided us with the Bible so that we could learn about Jesus centuries after He walked on the earth as a man.  God loves us and wants us to respond to His initiative by listening to Him and believing Him.  When we do, we will grow in our faith in Him.

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["Devotional Guides for the Journey" are written by Philip Walter. All Rights Reserved.  Copyright © 2012 ]

(Scripture quotes are from the New International Version [NIV] of the Bible, copyright © 1984, International Bible Society.)

BIBLE  KEY: (Psalm 20:7, NIV) Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

MONDAY

(John 12:23-26, NIV) 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

At first, Jesus was talking about the resurrection of the dead—a kernel of wheat falling into the ground, dying, and producing many more seeds.  Recognizing the importance of a resurrection to eternal life in Heaven, life in this world becomes less appealing.  In fact, we might even grow to hate it.  But, since Jesus has already experienced the resurrection from the dead, we can follow Him to Heaven and receive honor from Him, if we humble ourselves as His followers.

TUESDAY

(Exodus 2:11-15, NIV) 11 One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. 12 Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?” 14 The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well.

Moses took matters into his own hands.  He tried to bring justice on an evil Egyptian by killing him when nobody was looking.  However, his plan failed and the word about the murder he committed spread quickly, even reaching King Pharoah.

Like Moses, have you ever had a plan that you thought was noble, but it failed and brought shame or suffering on you?  Perhaps, you couldn’t understand why God allowed that to happen.

Sometimes, we try to follow our faulty human wisdom, instead of following God’s word.  We try to force our plan on God, instead of seeking His plan for us.  Then, we suffer the consequences of our own foolish decisions.  Maybe, we should pray and seek God’s wisdom before we start making our plans.

WEDNESDAY

Don’t forget to read the Bible Key each day.

(Philippians 2:12-13, NIV) 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Isn’t it interesting that when we obey God and work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, it is actually God who is working in us?  We may think we are doing the work, but God is working behind the scenes to direct us to fulfill His plan.  It all starts with trusting God, surrendering ourselves to His will, and acting on our faith.

THURSDAY

(Matthew 25:21, NIV) 14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 ”After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,’ he said, `you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 ”His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

When Jesus told this story, the primary purpose was to teach His followers to be prepared for Judgment Day.  However, this story is based on a general principle that applies in other ways.  Simply put, the general principle is that you will receive a reward for wisely using your talents, skills, and resources.  If you are foolish or lazy, you won’t receive the reward.

Perhaps, God has a great task for you to do.  You will receive your reward for doing it, if you use your talents, skills, and resources wisely in doing the task.  You must make yourself available for God’s purposes.

FRIDAY

The writer of Hebrews uses the Israelites whom God brought out of slavery in Egypt as an illustration of how people can turn away from God and be punished.

(Hebrews 3:16-19, NIV) 16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

What does verse 19 say caused their problem?  Unbelief can manifest itself in many ways, from working against God to doing nothing at all to serve God.

God had a plan for Israel.  He would make them into a holy nation where He would introduce His Son to the world.  Though Israel rebelled against Him and received severe punishment, God eventually fulfilled His plan.

Now, you can choose to serve God and receive a reward or rebel against God and receive punishment.  Which do you want?  Remember, God will eventually fulfill His plan, whether you choose to be part of it or not.

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["Devotional Guides for the Journey" are written by Philip Walter. All Rights Reserved.  Copyright © 2012 ]

(Scripture quotes are from the New International Version [NIV] of the Bible, copyright © 1984, International Bible Society.)

Instead of complaining, I want to pull back the curtain on how a pastor feels. I want to give you some insights into some experiences that I have had.

One of the reasons I am a pastor is because God called me to help people. I believe I have a pastor’s heart, a compassionate desire to serve the needs of my fellow man. I started to feel this way when I was a youth involved Boy Scouts and Explorers. As a senior in high school, I finally realized that I wanted to devote my life to serving Jesus Christ and other people. That strong desire has not changed. I still feel fulfilled when I do something to bless someone else or to bring glory to the Lord.

However, one of the drawbacks of Christian ministry is that the people you help often do not appreciate what you do. Or, they can feel it is your duty to serve them because they are somehow entitled to it. Or, they might try to take unfair advantage of the situation in order to get something more from it. These responses are very disappointing to me. In fact, I think they are some of the reasons that many ministers become disenchanted with the ministry and leave it.

Whether you are a pastor or not, serving others in Christian love can be disappointing because the people you serve are usually controlled by human nature. They act ungrateful, selfish, manipulative, prideful, arrogant, and greedy. But, what can you expect from sinners? Don’t forget, you’re one, too.

The best way to deal with this disappointment is to try to see the bigger picture, especially when the people you serve turn on you and attack you personally. As a servant of Christ, Who was abused and killed by the people He came to serve, your experiences will never be as bad as His. But as His follower, you shouldn’t expect much better treatment, either.

As a Christian, serving others in Jesus’ name and by His love is a calling. It never carries a promise of reward in this life. However, it is comforting to know that you have obeyed the Lord and you are laying up treasures in Heaven. (See Luke 6:27-36)

Why do we prefer slavery in Egypt when freedom means following God in the wilderness?

In more practical terms, why do we tend to gravitate back to former sins or unhealthy situations rather than draw near to God through the hard times of life?

Why do we try to take control of life by digging our own cisterns (broken ones) instead of submitting to God and letting Him lead us through life?

Why do we resist God’s way of purifying us through pain and hardship and turmoil?

I cannot speak for the Christians abroad, but God has given me an insider’s perspective of the American church.  I grew up as the son of a preacher and elder.  I preached my first sermon around the age of five.  I attended five years of Bible College and, later, another five in Seminary.  I’ve preached in several churches.  I’ve attended several more.  I’ve been blessed to counsel hundreds and thousands of Christian people.  And I am left to wonder, as I ponder the Church, and especially my life, why don’t we just embrace the spiritual and emotional deserts that are part of the Christian journey?

For many, the answer is simple.  The wilderness is barren and difficult and leaves us feeling dry and thirsty, emotionally and spiritually.  The wilderness forces us to leave our comfort zones and most of us would rather stubbornly gravitate towards retaining those places of respite.  Many of us hate the wilderness simply because it is tough, and we don’t like that.

For others, there are more complex answers to this question.  It may be that the wilderness forces us to be patient and to wait, which is excruciating for those who are geared to be active, the “Type A’s” in our population.  The idea of simply “waiting” on the Lord is a foreign concept in its application to life, if not in theory.  Many people speak of “waiting on the Lord” while never living out this mandate.  Truly, we seem to be more comfortable when “doing” rather than “being.”  Perhaps the wilderness forces some to face issues that they have spent years avoiding; trauma of some kind or sources of insecurity in themselves.  Maybe we don’t like the wilderness because it often reveals the worst parts of who we are, the parts that we have spent years trying to hide from view.  The trials of the wilderness certainly uncovered the worst parts of the Israelites.  Their years spent wandering in the wilderness revealed their lack of faith, their tendencies towards idolatry, and how easily they could wander from the Lord, even as His presence guided them.  Maybe the wilderness reveals the same sinful core in us and we hate that.

I have heard most of these answers before.  I have thought about them.  I have LIVED them.  The desert is no fun.  Let’s just be frank and admit this truth.  The deserts of life are difficult by their very nature.  Wilderness times steal our laughter, break down our confidence, and expose our anxieties about making it through life.  The wilderness leaves us worrying about our bills, our future, and our families.  Most of all, it is in the wilderness that we often wonder the most about God…and maybe that is the main point.

Doesn’t God use the wilderness to test our limits?  Doesn’t He test us to find out if we’ll trust Him even when things look hopeless?  Moses outlined some of God’s reasons for “wilderness-walking” in Deuteronomy chapter 8, right before the Israelites entered the Promised Land:

“Remember every road that God led you on for those forty years in the wilderness, pushing you to your limits, testing you so that He would know what you were made of, whether you would keep His commandments or not.  He put you through hard times.  He made you go hungry.  Then He fed you manna, something neither you nor your parents knew anything about, so you would learn that men and women don’t live by bread only; we live by every word that comes from God’s mouth.  Your clothes didn’t wear out and your feet didn’t blister those forty years.  You learned deep in your heart that God disciplines you in the same way a father disciplines his child.”  (Deuteronomy  8: 1-5:  The Message)

Wow…….why can’t we get it?  God’s purposes in the wilderness are, really, very clear if we will just open our eyes.  First of all, God wants to test us in the wilderness.  He desires to push us to our limits in order to reveal what we are made of, not for His knowledge (He is omniscient, you know) but exposing it for us to see and for the world to know.  He proclaims, through wilderness testing, our inner strength…our true mettle…and purifies us as through fire.  In the crucible of the wilderness, he hones our spiritual muscle in order to prepare us for the future adventures He has in store as we serve Him.  In the wilderness, he tests our resolve and enhances our strength.

He also tests our faithfulness to Him in the wilderness.  How many times did the Israelites turn to false gods because of their discomfort in the desert?  He uses the wilderness to test whether, under pressure, we will continue to draw near to Him or succumb to our natural desire to “grab the bull by the horns” and go our own way.

God also uses the wilderness as a tool to humble us.  Sometimes the desert is a form of God’s discipline, designed to humble us as we realize that we have strayed far from Him.  The book of Hebrews affirms that God disciplines those He loves, just as an earthly father tenderly and firmly disciplines his own children.  It is in the wilderness that God can get our attention and teach us lessons about obedience, purity, and the consequences of sinful living.

Wilderness times are also effective in instructing us about submission.  If there were no other reason for the wilderness, this would be enough.  It is our submission that God desires.  It is through submission that we gain freedom from sin and the pressure that comes with living life our own way.  Unfortunately, it is a life of submission that seems so difficult for many of us to attain.  Yet, without it, there is no freedom in Christ.  Without submission, God cannot fully use us as warriors in His kingdom.  Without submission there is no spiritual power.

Finally, God uses the wilderness as a chance to prove how much He wants to come through for us.  It’s true.  God loves to come through in the nick of time.  He relishes the idea of being the cavalry that emerges over the horizon, just as time is running out.  It is in the wilderness, when we exhaust all our own efforts, that God gets to save the day.  It is a role He loves and a part that He plays most powerfully in the heat of the desert.  It is in the wilderness when God’s power is most on display because it is in the wilderness where our power ebbs.  When we are on the precipice of disaster and all our efforts have gone for naught, THAT is when we can see His power with the most clarity.  It is in the wilderness, that we are most able to see the Lord.

And so, as I reflect on the wilderness, my spirit cries out, “I embrace it God!  I WANT to grow in You, mature in You and be the man You want me to be” while my flesh screams, “God, why have you forsaken me???  Why are things here so hard?  Why can’t life be easier?  Why are finances so tight?  Why is marriage so difficult?  Why is parenting so painful?  Why can’t I just WORK my way out of this wilderness?”

And God answers, “Because you’re my son and I love you.  I love you too much to leave you to your own passions and ways.  I love you too much NOT to pursue you and hone you and humble you.  Because, my child, I don’t want you to settle for the pleasures in Egypt (sin and self-reliance) where slavery also abounds.  I want you to be READY for the Promised Land….for what I have in store for you that is infinitely better than you could imagine.  But you must wait, and endure, and learn to trust in Me…..not in your own strength.”

So, my goal is to EMBRACE the wilderness.  It is a goal that I fail to reach often and, yet, it remains my goal.  See, I know that the pleasures and luxuries of this world offer nothing in the long run.  They are a dead-end street.  So, what I really want is to see the Promised Land, whether that is here on earth or in the world to come…or both.  I want to learn to trust, even when my bank account is overdrawn, when I fight with my wife, or when my kids push me to the point of insanity…even when life is hard.  I want to learn what it means to lay it all at God’s feet, not just in word but in action, so that I can see the ways in which God shows up.   I’m eager to let God’s hand mold and shape me into the person He designed me to be, so I am ready for whatever journey lies ahead.

That is my challenge to you as well.  Instead of fighting against the deserts that God puts us in, instead of complaining to Him about how hard everything is, instead of taking matters into your own hands before the Lord gives you the go-ahead……EMBRACE the wilderness.  Set your face like a flint and move forward, turning your eyes to God instead of your own ideas.  Embrace the lessons God wants you to learn:

• Trust Him instead of you
• Be humble instead of proud
• Be alert to how HE shows up and provides

Most of all I implore you to be malleable to the blows of His hammer.  Bend to the shape He wants to make of you.  Rest on the anvil of His work, trusting that He is preparing you for the joys that lie ahead.  I promise you, His land of milk and honey is way better than the pleasures and slavery of Egypt.  It is a land of freedom and joy, a land of peace and prosperity, a land where God’s presence is always near…but a land that is rarely reached except through the wilderness.

End

Ungodly actions and attitudes can develop, like those weedy vines. They can creep into our lives very slowly; almost undetectably. They put down their roots and crowd out godliness. They block out God’s sunlight and rob the nutrients of the Fruit of the Spirit. The first time we notice them, we see them as little character problems, so we often tolerate them. Over time, they spread and grow stronger until they are deeply imbedded in us. Then, they are very hard to eradicate. Like pulling weeds, it’s quite difficult to get all of the roots.

Those ungodly “weeds” ruin the beauty of our lives. They prevent us from growing spiritually in Christ. They kill the Fruit of the Spirit. And, we are not able to survive and flourish until we get rid of them. Unfortunately, we can’t do it by ourselves. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to help us.

There is a lesson to learn from this. When you finally see the weeds in your life, no matter how small they may seem to you, take action—don’t ignore them or procrastinate. Instead, immediately turn to God, surrender yourself to Him, decide to change your life, and ask for His forgiveness and help. Then, get back on track by taking whatever steps are necessary to become godlier.

The writer of Hebrews gives us similar advice, but he uses a different analogy. ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV. Be sure and notice the second part of verse one.)

So, let’s do a little gardening this spring; let’s get rid of those pesky weeds of sin and cultivate more godliness in our lives. When we study God’s Word daily, pray daily, and live the Christian life by faith, we will bloom and bear fruit.

Remember, God loves you and so do I.

Phil

Copyright © 2010 Philip Walter

I wonder what other couples who have been married for five or six decades might say. Would they agree or would they have other “secrets of success?” I’ll bet if we gathered a group of couples like that, their answers we would be good material for a book.

No doubt, there are some lessons we can learn from people who have had successful marriages. For example, Billy Graham talks about his marriage to his wife, Ruth, in his book entitled, Just As I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham. He says, “Ruth and I don’t have a perfect marriage, but we have a great one.  How can I say two things that seem so contradictory?  In a perfect marriage, everything is always the finest and best imaginable; like a Greek statue, the proportions are exact and the finish is unblemished.  Who knows any human beings like that?  For a married couple to expect perfection in each other is unrealistic… The sooner we accept that as a fact of life, the better we will be able to adjust to each other and enjoy togetherness.  ‘Happily incompatible’ is a good adjustment.” (Graham, Billy. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1997.)

Of course, accepting the imperfections in our spouses also means having lots of love, patience, tolerance, and forgiveness, just like our Heavenly Father shows toward us. This is close to the idea that Apostle Paul expresses about virtues that every Christian should develop. ¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14 NIV)

Come to think about it, maybe God allows marriage between two imperfect people because it gives them the workshop to develop their Christian character. For example, a heated argument between a husband and wife is a good opportunity to start practicing compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. It takes faith to overcome our human tendency to fight back. But when we do, our step of faith begins to transform us into godlier people, while it defuses the argument.

Let’s try practicing these virtues in all our relationships, especially in our marriages and families. They will help make them better and stronger. Then, on your fiftieth wedding anniversary, you will have a good answer to the question about the secret of your marital success.

Remember, God loves you and so do I.

Phil

Copyright © 2010 Philip Walter

At times like these, we have little choice but to put ourselves in the hands of the pilot. We have to trust that our pilot has been trained in how to fly the plane in adverse weather; that the plane’s electronic navigation equipment is functioning well; and that the air traffic controller, who is in contact with the pilot, knows exactly how to guide him through “the soup” and away from obstacles, such as other planes.

Receiving guidance from God is similar to that. Like the pilot, we need to prepare ourselves in advance for adverse situations. That means, we must study our operations manual (the Bible) so we have a working knowledge of it. We must trust our instruments to work properly (prayer). And, we must listen closely to our air traffic controller (the Holy Spirit) for instructions. The important thing to remember is that we will receive guidance from the Lord when we read and think about His word each day. Like the psalmist wrote, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105 NIV) Over time, His word can become part of our lives.

Here’s what King David thought about the laws and statutes that God revealed in His word:  The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous….  By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:9 & 11 NIV)

When we read the Bible regularly, we are reminded that God loves us; God is in charge of our lives; God wants us to follow the right path in life; God protects us; and God’s Kingdom will stand forever. All of these ideas are part of the Biblical worldview that shapes our thinking. It is very important for us to develop this kind of understanding. It helps guide our choices.

You see, the Bible is God’s message for mankind. Its purpose is to unite us with God and transform our lives to be more like Him. In its original form, it is inspired, inerrant, and infallible. We can depend on it. In fact, we can stake our lives on it.

For those reasons, let’s develop the attitude of enthusiastic learners and let’s humble our hearts so that God’s word has good soil in which to grow in our lives. Then, let’s develop the habit of daily Bible reading, thinking about what God is teaching us. Having done that over time, we will be prepared to fly through “the soup” of life.

Remember, God loves you and so do I.

Phil

Copyright © 2010 Philip Walter

That made sense to me. For a long time, I had spent most of my prayers asking God for what I wanted, even when I prayed for others. I was missing what God said He wanted, as revealed in the Scriptures. I discovered that using the Bible this way reminded me of what God wants me to do and to be. It helped invigorate my prayer life by challenging me to examine my life and actions in light of God’s word.

As I prayed, I began thinking about what to ask God that He would want me to have. Among other things, I realized that He wants me to keep growing as a follower of Christ. So, I prayed that He would help me develop stronger faith, hope, and love, but especially love. (1 Corinthians 13:13) As I prayed for each of those qualities, I thought about what they really meant and how I could develop them in my life. Then, as I read my Bible over the next few weeks, I noticed what other passages in the Bible said about these matters.

While on a business trip one time, I decided to memorize some key passages about spiritual growth. I worked on them as time allowed over the next few days, especially while flying. Soon, I could easily quote them from memory. Then, I began to include them in my prayer time. One of my favorites passages that I now use is …make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-8) Another favorite passage is But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)

Now, when my private prayers become too mechanical and dry, I ponder the meaning of each of those Biblical qualities that I have asked God to help me develop. One of the things that often happens is that I realize a short-coming, which reminds me that I need to walk more closely with Christ. It humbles me and forces me to depend on God more.

It is amazing how God can use His word to point us in the right direction when we pray. He can teach us how to live by faith, how to develop good relationships, what values are really important in life, and on and on. Slowly, He chips away our rough edges and we begin to look more like Jesus.

Remember, God loves you and so do I.

Phil

Copyright © 2010 Philip Walter

This GOD-BLOG was previously published. For the next few weeks, we will send you GOD-BLOGs that have been previously distributed, because we are trying to give Phil some extra time to meet a publishing deadline for his new book. Please be assured that each of the “oldies” will be revised and updated before you receive it. After Phil finishes the manuscript for the new book, we will resume sending you fresh GOD-BLOGs. We hope these devotionals will speak to your heart as effectively as the new ones do.

FYI: The GOD-BLOG is a free, short weekly devotional based on a Bible truth with a contemporary application. Its purpose is to give you a little spiritual boost from one Sunday to the next. It is written by Philip Walter, Minister at New Horizons Christian Church in Winter Garden, Florida. Additionally, Mr. Walter is a writer and veteran law enforcement chaplain.