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March 30

Thursday, March 30th, 2023

What does God require of us? That is the question I posed to my  “66” class last night. (I am teaching a class on the 66 books of the Bible).

I can hear it now. “Pastor Bill is going to click off a list of Do’s and Don’t’s related to his interpretation of Scripture and tell me that “God says you can do this-or-that, but you can’t do this-or-that.” Most often when some makes this kind of list (particularly a pastor or religious teacher) the list of what you cannot do far outnumbers the list of what you can do.  And sadly, the list includes things which are outward. “You don’t wear this or that.” “You don’t cut your hair.” “You don’t wear pants.” (It always seems to be tougher on women-know what I mean?)

Even “religious” things are involved. Regular church attendance. Tithing (cheerfully of course). Read the Bible on a daily basis. Clean language. Sing (old hymns only) with gusto. Read the KJV only. Now…I’m not saying those are bad things in, and of themselves (although I might balk at the hymns and KJV only idea 🙂 ), but even those are duties.

You see…all of those, as well as others, can be done by anyone, even if that person’s heart is not right with God. They are all centered on the outward and reveal nothing of the heart.

Micah, the Old Testament prophet, has a different take on what is required. Micah 6:8 says, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness (mercy), and to walk humbly with God?” (ESV)  Three things: 1) do justice; 2) love mercy; 3) walk humbly with God.

The qualifier is that last one. It takes the other two and tells us why we should do them and how. To walk humbly with God infiltrates all we do. Every act of justice, every act of mercy, flows from a heart walking with God. The so-called “justice movement” we witnessed in the summer of 2020, and even now, was not justice. It was anarchy.  It was not rooted at all in Biblical truth or in walking humbly with God.

If you want to see an example of justice in action, stop right now and read James (a book in the Bible) 2:1-9,14-20.

Three things are required: do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Talk about a game-changer! Hmmm not a stitch of clothing or hair mentioned. 🙂

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March 29

Wednesday, March 29th, 2023

There is one word that might be the most oft-used word in the English language. It only has three letters but it might as well have 15. It just might be the most troubling, most forlorn, most desperate word used. The word?

WHY?

A tornado strikes a sleepy town in Anywhere, USA and its destruction involves property and life. The question? Why?

A shooter enters an elementary school and kills innocent children and adults. The question? Why?

A person seems to have life by the tail-career, fortune, fame-but decides to end it all. The question? Why?

A child (or adult) gets cancer, a glioblastoma for example, where they say there is no cure. The question? Why?

Sometimes the answer-although it still hurts-is easy to find. An overdose from a junkie. (The more daunting question is “Why did he/she make that choice?”). The death of 6 million at the hands of an evil madman. We understand somewhat how sin enters the picture or how we reap what we sow. But yes, we still ask, “Why?” That is a normal question.

Within the past few months I have been involved in ministering during a horrific event, and to top it off three people have found out they have a glioblastoma- two of them children. The resulting question? Why?  That is especially haunting when it involves children.

Truthfully, only a Sovereign God knows that answer. We can use cliches like “You can’t see the forest for the trees” or “When you get beyond and look back you will see” but while they may be true (to a certain extent), we are best served by leaving the “why?” question up to a sovereign God.

I’m sure the genocide of Hebrew boys was not understood. It led Moses’ mother to put him in a basket in the Nile; Pharaoh’s daughter finding him; Miriam intervening to have his mother care for him, and we can look back and see it set off a chain of events that revolutionized history. In this case, history gives us a pretty good answer to the “Why?” question.

God’s plan is always at work. We may not understand it. We may not see it. Our best approach is “Not my will but Yours be done” and let Him worry about the “Why?” question.

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March 28

Tuesday, March 28th, 2023

I recently read a great historic clip. During the Korean War, a unit known as Baker Company was separated from the regiment, and enemy forces were advancing on them. For several hours, no word came from Baker Company. Finally, radio contact was made, and when asked for a report of the situation, Baker Company replied, “The enemy is to the east of us. The enemy is to the west of us. The enemy is to the south of us. The enemy is to the north of us.” Then, after a brief pause, a voice continued, “And this time, we’re not going to let them escape.”

After a chuckle and a smile, I thought, “How many times have I felt surrounded?” Let me ask you: how many time have you felt surrounded by enemy forces?

Lust. Greed. Pride. Envy. Jealousy. Hatred. Illicit requests. Sorcery. Idolatry. Division. (For a fuller list check out Galatians 5:19-21).  The list certainly seems endless doesn’t it?

And there seems to be no way out. But there is! In Matthew 4 Jesus was attacked by Satan in the wilderness. Three specific temptations are recorded for us, but Mark 1:13 tells us the temptations were constant during His 40 days in the wilderness. Jesus didn’t wring His hands in worry, fear, or defeat. No.  He went on the offensive. Three times He said, “It is written.” Not “I’m gonna have to think about this” or “Well, Satan, you sure have me behind the 8-ball this time.”

Jesus wasn’t defensive; He was offensive. In Ephesian 6 the Apostle Paul writes about the spiritual armor available to us. The shield of faith is used to fend of the enemy’s arrows, but the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT (which is the Word of God) is an offensive weapon. You don’t parry arrows with a sword, you fight with a sword.

There is authority and power in God’s Word. Don’t stand idly by. Use it!

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March 27

Monday, March 27th, 2023

Why do you exist? What is your purpose in this life? Seriously, why do you live on this planet?

Are you just taking up space?

Are you living for yourself, seeking personal fulfillment?

Are you trying to make a difference in the world, and more specifically, in the life of others?

I recently read about a poll taken that asked Americans what they thought was their main purpose in life. You might think the main results would be “To make a contribution to society” or “To have a meaningful life.”

Nope.

The majority said, “Life is enjoyment and personal fulfillment.”  So…in other words…live for yourself.  Sounds like the old Grassroots song: “Sha la la la live for today.” (A ’60s song…look it up).

Years ago Pastor John Piper wrote a book entitled “Don’t Waste Your Life.” That about sums it up.  You can waste your life pursuing trivial pursuits and living for yourself or you can live it for the benefit of others. There is a quote which has made it rounds and no man really knows where it came from. It was used by Harry Emerson Fosdick in 1942 but it had circulated for years before he made it popular.

A man who is all wrapped up in himself makes a mighty small package.

Benjamin Franklin said,

A self-centered person is not very appealing to others.

A person who lives for himself is indeed a very small package. As a follower of Christ, my life is to be lived for Him and for His glory. Jesus Himself said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Don’t waste your life on yourself. Spend it by giving it away to others.

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March 23

Thursday, March 23rd, 2023

Do you know what a cool bean is? No? Well some kindergarten kids in our school system do.

One of the programs I was involved in was called Real Men Read sponsored by the UW of Monroe County. I live in Owen County but it was a partnership since we don’t have one. Each month I would read to Mrs. Lee’s K class as part of the program. COVID shut the program down, although I was able to keep reading to Mrs. Lee’s class (we met outside when possible). I approached the K teachers (which my daughter, Tami, is one of) about restarting it and received 100% approval. Once a month I read to 5 different K classes in 3 different schools (1-1-3) and our youth pastor, Ryan, reads to three classes in the other school.

This month has been a book called The Cool Bean. Long story short: It’s about a bean who was left out of his pod of four beans. The other three became well known all over as The Cool Beans. He tried wearing sunglasses like they did. He tried slicking back his “hair.” He tried swagging when he walked. He tried acting cool.

He failed and was left out.

Then one day everything changed. One of the cool beans helped him when he spilled something. Another bean used a “beandaid” to cover a wound. And another helped in class.  He was included in the cool beans and they had his back. One day he saw a fellow bean fall and spill his books and papers everywhere so he asked if he could help. The other beans saw it and said, “Now that is C-O-O-O-L.”  Yeah…I know…cheesy. But effective.

The story taught several lessons. One I stressed to them is you’re not cool by the sunglasses or clothes you wear; you aren’t cool by anything outward. Then one of the little girls yelled out, “It’s inside. It’s your heart!”  “Absolutely right,” I told her. She got it. “Who you are, how you treat others is what really matters.” I also told them to go home and yell out to their parents, “I’m a cool bean! and when they wonder what you are talking about, show them the book.” (The three teachers yesterday bought them the book I read to take home).  “Then, ask them to read it to you.”

When Samuel was choosing a successor to Saul as king, he had Jesse bring his sons before him. Each one he thought was the right specimen. But God had other ideas. “Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.” Case closed.  (And no, I didn’t tell this part of the lesson).

Being accepted, being loved, is not really determined by our outward appearance. Surface is not important. Beauty is more than skin deep. Don’t treat others on the basis of the outward. Serve because you don’t care about the outward and because your heart is full of humility.

Then you too can be a C-O-O-O-L BEAN!!

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March 22

Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023

We often talk about being different. Diverse is the word that is used. And we are. God has made us different in personality, looks, reactions, intelligence, etc. But there are some ways we are all alike. One way in particular. Let me put it this way:

Taking things for granted is bad. Taking people for granted is worse.

That’s right. All of us are guilty of taking things and people for granted.

We walk out of the house in the morning and we expect our vehicle to start. When I hit the remote start for my truck, I don’t first stop and ask, “Well, will it or will it not start this morning?” No. Unless you have been having trouble with your truck/car starting, you just assume it will.

When I go to the office shortly, I’m not going to look at my X-chair and ponder the probability of it collapsing when I sit in it.

I just assume, I just take for grated my truck will start and my chair will hold me up.

Worse is taking people for granted:

  • Jo and I celebrate 50 years of marriage on June 16 (Lord willing). The way to destroy a marriage is to take each other for granted.  As the old song says, “I love her more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow.”
  • A child/teen takes his/her parents for granted failing to appreciate their love or expressing love to them.
  • I take the folks in the church I pastor for granted if I fail to shepherd them and show them love.

Like many things, you don’t seem to appreciate people or what they do or how they added to your life until they are gone.

Taking things for granted is bad. Taking people for granted is worse. Taking God for granted is the “worsest.” (Sorry for the poor English).  🙂  In Revelation 2 the church at Ephesus is told “You have left your first love.” A lot can be said, a lot of questions can be asked about that and its meaning, but let’s just suffice it to say the church found someone or something else to draw their affection and attention. They found another “first place.”

That begs the question: have I left my first love? If so, what am I going to do about it?

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March 21

Tuesday, March 21st, 2023

You may have heard the saying-and I know I have used it numerous times:

God is seldom early but He’s never late.

That speaks to one of the hardest things we have to do, whether we are a Christ-follower or just a traveler on the earth:

W.A.I.T.

We are not a patient lot. Just look at our eating habits. Microwave ovens. Get food done faster (although some foods don’t heat up well. Pizza tends to get rubbery). Microwave meals. Insta-pots (Jo uses hers a lot). Instant oatmeal.  Instant coffee (I don’t drink any coffee at all. Can’t stand the taste of it). Self-checkout at the stores (usually faster than standing in one of the few lines open at WM or some grocery store). Instant potatoes (talk about fake!). E-filing our taxes and direct deposit the refund (guilty as charged). The list goes on and on. We are accustomed to getting things now…not later. We are not kin to waiting.

“Hurry up and wait” seems to be the order of the day.

The saying I mentioned earlier-“God is seldom early but never late”-is often used when someone wonders why it is taking so long to get an answer from God. It’s like, “C’mon God! I prayed yesterday and I’m still waiting!” 🙂 And so we continue to wait.

Patience is not our strong suit. We want an answer and we want it N.O.W. We need to keep in mind that God’s timetable is not always ours. As much as it pains me to say it, from time to time God’s best answer for us to W.A.I.T. “Slow down,” He says. “Don’t be in such a hurry. I have your best interest in mind.”

There is a great Scripture in Galatians 4. In verse 4 it says, “But when the right time came, God sent His Son…” (NLT)  That phrase “But when the right time came” is so important. (There are several historical events that show why this is true, but this is not the time to state them. Maybe another time). Jesus came at just the right time. 

God always shows up at the right time. Not early. Not late. Trust Him. Don’t rush Him.

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March 20

Monday, March 20th, 2023

Counselor and teacher, the late David Powlison, wrote about what he called “ladders to nowhere.” It goes something like this: if you’re on the sixth rung and I’m on the fourth, you’re better than me. But if I’m on the sixth and you’re on the fourth, I’m better than you.

It’s sad that we see life through those eyes. While he would call it “ladders to nowhere” (and I have no quarrel with that), I would call it “the comparison game.” We find our lack of self-worth or our height of self-worth in how we measure up to another. I read years ago where someone said, “Comparisons are odious.”

We all do it. “I make so-and-so.” Our importance is wrapped up in how much we make. “I do this-and-this in my company.” Our importance is wrapped up in a title or a job description. I know for a fact pastors do it. Get a group of them in a room on a Monday morning and their demeanor will often depend on how Sunday went. Ask them how their church is doing and you will hear the latest stats-giving, attendance, converts, and visitors. Sad. Then ask them how they are doing and one will often hear that they are doing in direct proportion to how their church is doing. Even sadder. Men who should be finding their worth in their relationship with Jesus are no different than their secular counterparts.

My worth, your worth, is not found in having a letter or letters after our name. An “R” or “D” or “I” or “L” should not be our identity. A title of “Pastor” or “Dr.” or “PH.D” or something of that nature should not define our worth. Nor should our worth be tied up in our job, how much we make, how much territory we cover, our title, our family name, or any other temporary means. To quote Powlison: “Before the living God, however, all of us are poor. We are all strangers, not insiders. We are all weak. We are all disabled. We are all dying. We’re all slaves. We’re all children. We need a deliverer.” *

That deliverer is Jesus. He is the One who sets us free from the endless pursuit of nothingness. He is the One who sets us free from worth determined by trivial pursuit.

*Powlison quote from Take Heart-Daily Devotions to Deepen Your Faith– (March 19-p.79)

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March 16

Thursday, March 16th, 2023

“God is a cosmic killjoy and His Book is the consummate rule book.”  So say some people.

The argument goes something like this:

  • God is like a father towering over his children;
  • He delights in spanking and meting out judgment;
  • Therefore, He is a killjoy bent on taking the fun out of life.

Another argument goes like this:

  • I want to have fun;
  • The Bible says some things are wrong;
  • Therefore, the Bible is a rule book designed to stop or inhibit my fun.

None of that is true. It IS true that God is like a father. He is one. Jesus called Him that. But standing over us with a divine “ruler” to whack us? No.

And it IS true that the Bible says some things are wrong. It also says some things are right. But to be cracked open as a divine rule book of “Do this or don’t do that or else”? No.

God is a Father. His Word is Law. But see it as His standards-not to legislate or restrict us-but to free us. To give us some boundaries so we might truly enjoy life to the fullest. See them as protection, designed not to keep us in, but to keep our enemy out.

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (ESV)  That is not restrictive, involving punishment for wrong doing. That is liberation! Those are boundaries for our mind and heart to know freedom. James calls it the “perfect law of liberty.” (1:25)

See God as a Liberator. See His Word as a protective fence. He loves you too much to stifle you, but He also loves you too much to want to see you suffer the consequences of your sin and bad choices.

 

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March 15

Wednesday, March 15th, 2023

I heard it again last night. Sometimes it is used offhandedly.  Sometimes it is used to stress a point. Sometimes it is used to bolster an opinion. Sometimes is is used to be mean, i.e. politically. And sometimes it is used sympathetically, to state a truth, a fact.

What is it?

The depression of young people and what is happening in our culture.

My heart hurts, it literally feels like it is going to break in half, shatter in little pieces, or come out of my chest whenever I read another story of a young person (or any person for that matter) who takes his/her own life. Depending on the circumstances, it is used to show the sadness of many young people (or adults), or to even show the tragic result of the COVID lock downs.

There is not a one of us who has not been affected by depression, either ours or someone we know. I have been blessed with a personality that has not been prone to it. I have those days where I’m blah, let’s call them “brown” days (and I can’t remember it lasting more than a day or two).  I’ve never had a day or a period of days that I can remember where the light seems to go out.  But after 50+ years as a pastor, I know many who have. I can remember as a very “green” youth pastor (I was 21 at the time) visiting someone in the mental wing of a hospital-someone I had just been laughing with a few days before. I certainly didn’t understand why “Jane” was in there, suffering from this new thing (to me) called depression. In my naivete I could not understand how one who calls themselves a Christian could have this issue. Let me tell you: I know now! I have met and dealt with and tried to help countless suffering from depression. I know a lot more now. It is, however, not the point of this devotion to go into all the reasons for it, etc.

What I have found out is depression is far more common that I ever knew. Even in the Bible.

There is a man in the Bible, his name is Elijah. In I Kings 19 he has a confrontation with the prophets of Baal. After his victory (a truly mountaintop experience), Jezebel threatens- no make that vows- to have him killed. He runs and finds himself under a tree in the desert bemoaning his fate and wallowing in his despondency. As he laments his lot in life and wishes to die, God does an amazing thing. No condemnation. No yelling and telling him to “buck it up.” Just the opposite: He comes alongside Elijah and feeds him and reassures him of His love and support.

I don’t know all the reasons why people fill with despair. There are many answers to that-their circumstances, their personality, their DNA-as a short list. But I. DO. KNOW. the God who cares, loves, and will stay with that person.

Don’t despair. Don’t give up. Don’t feel helpless and hopeless. If you do, please get help. But also know there is a God who loves you more than you know.

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