Month: September 2022

If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.
Luke 16:31

The Word is Enough

My father is a man of few words, but he is also a man of his word. As a child, I learned that when he had something to say, I had better listen and obey.

I remember once, we were on a road trip, driving across middle America. I was sandwiched between my two sisters, and I was getting on their nerves. We bickered back and forth for a while. And then dad spoke.

“That is enough!”

And that was enough. Just like that, the argument was over. The fighting stopped. Peace was restored.

Jesus once told a story about a man whose soul went to hell after he died. Not wanting his still-living brothers to suffer the same fate, he asked that a dead man whose soul was in heaven be sent to earth to warn them. The answer he received is striking.

“They have God’s Word. That is enough.”

That Word is enough. This is because the Bible tells us all we need to know. It tells us all about Jesus and what he did for us. Jesus became earthly poor so that you might become eternally rich. He took on our debt of sin, paid for our guilt with his blood, and suffered our punishment with his death. And he rose from the dead to prove that he is our salvation.

Knowing these truths, recorded in the Bible, is all you need because it proves how much God loves you. No matter what you may be facing, you can go back to the Bible and be reminded again and again. This is why you do not need something more than the Word of God. You do not need something better than the Word of God. The Word is enough.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for showing me your love in your Word. Amen.

Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. . . The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.
Psalm 146:3,8

The Lord Lifts up the Lowly

His skin oozed as he scraped at the sores and scabs that covered his flesh. He sat on his throne of ashes, looking out at all that was left of his once great wealth. And it wasn’t much.

Satan had systematically stolen all that was his. His livestock was stolen. His servants were massacred. His livelihood went up in smoke. His children were killed. His health was hanging on by a thread. His wife gave up on him. His siblings and acquaintances abandoned him.

But there was one thing that Satan could not touch. The hope Job had in the Lord his God. In good times and bad, God is the help of the helpless, the defender of the defenseless, the lover of the loveless and unloved. When Job’s life let him down, God remained his helper. When he was laid low—the Lord lifted him up and restored him.

Like Job, you can trust in the Lord. He is the God who allowed himself to be lifted onto a cross to pay for your sins, to make you righteous in his sight. He is the one you can trust to lift you up when life lets you down.

Whatever you are facing this day, put your trust in the Lord.

Prayer:
My Lord and my God, I will praise you as long as I live, for you are my hope, my help, and my salvation. Amen.

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.
Hebrews 13:1

A Strange Kind of Love

Jesus had loved his disciples for the three years he was with them. Now that his death was near, Jesus showed just how much he loved them. Jesus got up and took off his tunic. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he washed their feet.

He stooped down and scrubbed the grime from between his disciples’ toes. One by one, he washed their feet—the feet of the one who was about to betray him, of one who would deny him, of one who would doubt him, of a skeptic, a tax collector, glory-seeking twins, a zealot.

The disciples thought this was strange. Washing people’s feet was a dirty job often given to servants. But here was their rabbi, showing them what love is by serving—a love that gives. But they were about to see stranger love than this. They would watch him give his head to thorns, his hands to spikes, his side to a spear, his life for ours.

It is a strange kind of love. Jesus’ love is foreign to this world. It is unlike anything that the human heart generates. His is not a love that acts only if he gets what he wants from us. He loves to help without expecting or demanding anything in return.

When he gives his help, he gives nothing less than his love. And because love is who he is, he gives us nothing less than himself. When we have him, we have his help. We have his love. We have everything we need to love as he has loved us.

That is what the writer of the book of Hebrews encourages us to do in today’s Bible reading—love one another the way Jesus has loved us. Love with actions–serving, sharing, helping. Look for opportunities to do this today.

Prayer:
God of peace, equip me with everything good to do your will and work in me what is pleasing in your sight. Amen.

Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come!
Amos 6:1

A Shining City Upon a Hill

A shining city upon a hill. That is how President Reagan described the United States. He saw this nation as “God-blessed, teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace.” He envisioned it being “a beacon for all who must have freedom.”

A shining city upon a hill. The leaders of ancient Judah and Israel also viewed their kingdoms that way. They thought of Mount Zion and Mount Gerizim, their capital cities, as pieces of heaven on earth. The problem was these leaders cared only about their own comfort and cared nothing for the poor and oppressed among them.

Those of us who live in the wealthiest parts of the world can easily fall into the same trap. We can become so concerned with our own comfort that we have no concern for the less fortunate all around us. The warning given by the ancient prophet Amos might well be aimed at modern-day men and women like us. Woe to us who live in luxury and are indifferent to the fate of others. Woe to us who are addicted to feeling good but could not care less about the world’s moral rot and ruin. Woe to us because what this world offers will be taken from us.

For all our self-centeredness and selfishness, let us turn to God for forgiveness. And, thankfully, there we find it. Our God has graciously freed us from sin and death. Through faith in Christ Jesus, who died for our “me-first” focus, God transports us into a spiritual kingdom brimming with the overwhelming peace of forgiveness, the rock-solid hope of the resurrection, and eternal pleasures at his right hand. Through his Word, God transforms us into something new.

You are a shining city upon a hill. As your life beams with God’s kaleidoscopic gifts of grace, you light up the world. Shine on that those who hunger for freedom may find it in Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord God, fill me with the light and life of your Son that his love may shine through my every thought, word, and action. Amen.

[Jesus said to them] “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.”
Luke 16:19-21

Looks Can Be Deceiving

There was a rich man whose life appeared perfectly fabulous in every way. He wore the finest clothes, and every meal was a feast.

There was a poor man whose life appeared perfectly miserable in every way. His clothes were dull. He never had enough to eat.

The poor man’s name was Lazarus. Though the world did not know him as anything special, God knew him well. And Lazarus knew his God well. It was in God that he trusted, in spite of his circumstances. So, while it looked like he had nothing, in God, Lazarus had everything.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Your eyes may see a nobody, someone overlooked or forgotten, but Jesus knows your name, and he has your number! Your eyes may see someone whose life is defined by countless bad decisions, but Jesus has already done all things well for you and purified you completely with his blood. Your eyes may see someone who is struggling, but you are more than a conqueror through Christ who loves you. It may feel, at times, like you have nothing, but in Jesus, you have everything.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, open my eyes to see my wealth and my worth in Jesus, my Savior. Amen.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5

Money Makes No Promises

Define financial stability. Is it having enough money to purchase needs or also the wants? How much savings determines stability—$1,000? $10,000? $1,000,000? Defining financial stability is not so easy.

No matter how we define it, a time of financial instability can be unnerving. When money is tight, the dreams can be dashed. But it is not just dreams that need money. For most, money buys the basics of food, clothes, and shelter. How devastating it is if earthly needs can’t be met from lack of funds. Whether it’s funding dreams or daily needs, the money we thought would always be there can fail us.

There is someone, however, who will never fail us. God has promised in his Word never to forsake those who are his own. In fact, God specifically tells us that we ought not place our trust in money, which can fail, but in him, who never fails. Whether we have $1,000,000 or $1, God will not turn his back on those he loves.

No, God has not promised that he will give us everything we want. But he has promised to supply us with everything we need. He has promised to see us through the hard times. And he proved his promise by sending his own Son, Jesus Christ, to forgive the sins of the world. God loved you and me so much he saved us from the eternal punishment our sins deserved. He also loves us enough to provide for us when money is tight.

Money can make no promises. God says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Prayer:
Dear God, give me what I need for my daily life. Keep me from a love for things that gets in the way of my love for you. When tough times come, strengthen my trust that you will be with me and that you will provide. Amen.

[Jesus said] “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Luke 16:13

Merciless Master

We tend to live urgently. Deadlines, high-priority messages, and target dates have many of us working at an unsustainable pace. When we finally catch our breath, we wonder how we’ll survive the next big push.

Pressing deadlines and demanding supervisors make it challenging to have a life outside of work. Often, we try to do two things at once—or more! We bring our phones to the dinner table. We reply to emails during soccer games. Even when we’re finally unplugged, date night is ruined by the overflow of office stress. What is the return on our investment? Divided attention, disappointment, and sometimes even divorce. Our closest relationships suffer the most when work and life are not properly aligned.

So why do we live this way? Money is enticing because it offers potential. If we had more, we could do more. More money means a better house or car. To us, better stuff means a better life.

Jesus warns that money is a merciless master. Serving money will destroy you because it always demands more. More of your time. More of your skills. More of your energy. More of you.

Money wants exactly what God wants—you. That’s why Jesus says, “You cannot serve both God and money.”

Moved by our Lord’s unconditional love, our eyes will be locked on Jesus; not on our hectic schedules. Our closest relationships can blossom because work and eternal life are properly aligned. Even when the pace quickens, God directs our focus heavenward and transforms our attitudes toward the temporal. We’re content with our present circumstances. We’re excited about our eternal future. We rest without anxiety. In Christ, we enjoy unmatched peace.

Prayer:
Lord of life, you continue to take care of all my needs. Thank you. Give me peace and fulfillment as I serve you in my workplace, my home, and my community. Amen.

Command those who are rich in this present world . . . to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous.
1 Timothy 6:17,18

Rich

Imagine the apostle Paul has just stepped forward into our 21st Century society. He has received a detailed description of the typical standard of living for Christians who live in a modern civilization. He’s learned all about our conveniences: access to medical care, ease of travel, varieties of food, freshly squeezed orange juice in the dead of winter, closets of clothes, garages of cars, indoor climate control, family trips, net assets, investments, retirement plans, our income that’s often so disposable we may think nothing of “going out for a bite to eat” simply because we can.

Then, with Paul knowing what he knows about us, you and I stand before him and clear our throats. We then try to explain to him that the Word of God in our reading that speaks “to those who are rich in this present world” does not apply to us.

The vast majority of us—in comparison to most parts of the world and in past standards of living—are among the materially rich. That is not wrong in and of itself. We give thanks to a lavish God for it. But in light of this lavish treatment, let’s confess to our Lord and to each other all the time you and I have failed to demonstrate heartfelt generosity in its many forms. Let’s also confess all the times we have talked ourselves into thinking that we cannot afford to be generous; that generosity is meant for someone else.

Thank God that we are even richer in another way. We are rich in God’s grace. We are rich in God’s overwhelming forgiveness of our every sin through faith in the blood of Christ. That makes us truly rich, eternally blessed.

How to thank such a generous God? “Be rich in good deeds,” Paul tells us, “be generous.” And we can do so joyfully. For doing this, we are simply giving shouts of praise to God for what he’s already given to us.

Prayer:
Lord, by your gospel, displace the stinginess of my old self with generosity and joy. Amen.

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap . . . For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
1 Timothy 6:9,10

Trap

A man by the name of Hansie Cronje [pronounced HAHN-see CROHN-yah] is not familiar to many of us. In South Africa, where the game of cricket is a dominant sport, Hansie Cronje was a household name. Imagine a person with the superstar talent of a Michael Jordan, the universal popularity of a Tom Hanks, and the integrity of an Abraham Lincoln all rolled into one. In the 1990s, when racial divisions were fierce, black and white citizens alike revered Hansie, a white man, for his sense of fairness and his strength of character.

Therefore, when a report with evidence appeared that Hansie was taking money for match-fixing, almost everyone dismissed the report as outrageous. His reputation for honesty was impeccable. How could anyone even suggest such a thing?

A few days later, however, Hansie cracked. He confessed that the substance of the report was true. Later, in a legal hearing televised live to the nation, Hansie told what he had done. He also answered the question: “Why?” The reason he gave was simple. It was, he said, “an unfortunate love of money.” Authorities later banned Hansie Cronje from cricket for the rest of his life. He died in a plane crash two years later.

Hansie was honest as to the trap into which he had fallen. God’s Word, through the apostle Paul, is honest too. Across the centuries, Paul is looking us straight in the eye when he speaks to us. The love of money has always been a trap for our fallen, sinful natures. In our culture that is materialistic and money-centered, the trap is insidious. But such a trap cannot just ruin reputations and careers. Far more lethal, such a trap can pull the soul away from our Savior-God.

Are you in such a trap? Even now, Jesus reaches for you. He calls you to repentance. Be refreshed in his forgiveness purchased at Calvary’s cross. Be empowered to replace your love of money with God’s love for you in Christ.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I think about money so much, and think about you so little. Forgive me. Refresh me in your Spirit. Dominate my thoughts once again. Amen.

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
1 Timothy 6:8

Contentment

Many years ago, in the Far East, there was a man named Ali. Ali owned a farm, and he was content. However, one day someone told him about diamonds. Ali, therefore, started on an extensive journey in search of diamonds. He never found them. In the process he had to sell his farm to cover his expenses. So when all was said and done, Ali died a penniless and broken man.

Meanwhile, back at Ali’s old farm—the new owner of the farm was getting settled. He brought his camel to a stream on the farm for a drink. As the camel drank, the man looked into the stream and noticed a stone that reflected sunlight in a dazzling way. The man had just discovered the diamond mine of Golcanda, one of the most magnificent mines in the world.

The story reminds us of our lives as Christians. In our 21st Century society, we receive constant messages that tell us not to be content with what we already possess. Through television, radio, print, and the staggering array of social media, a massive advertising industry is at work not only to convince us to purchase a certain product; it is at work to shape our very view of life. Therefore, it should not surprise us that one of the great temptations for you and me is not to be content.

But here’s the problem. When the lack of contentment pushes us to wander away—always consuming, upgrading, and searching for the next new thing—we abandon the treasure we already possess.

Our treasure is Jesus and his gospel. His perfect life lived in our place, and his death on the cross for our sins has given us riches beyond our wildest dreams. Through his Holy Spirit, God himself is now ours, and we are his. We now possess his every promise to take care of us personally. And it is that very treasure that empowers us to display true contentment and remember the treasure we have.

Prayer:
Lord, forgive my lack of contentment. Refresh me in your gospel. Remind me of what I have. Amen.