October 25 Reading:

Jeremiah 48:1-49:22
2 Timothy 4:1-22
Psalm 95:1-96:13
Proverbs 26:9-12

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Today’s Reading:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)

What does it mean to have fought the good fight? What race are we running? What does it mean to have kept the faith? Do you know anybody who has achieved these goals? If so, what were the indicators of a good fight, a finished race and a kept faith? Let’s explore this together.

When the Apostle Paul wrote these words, he was confident that he had achieved these goals. Paul compares his impending death to being poured out as a drink offering. This conveys the idea of sacrificing everything, even his life, to God, and he was willing and prepared to do so.

Throughout Paul’s ministry, he was totally committed to the mission God had given him, and it included a long list of sufferings. He stayed true to his divine calling. But, what about us? Has God given us a mission? Yes, He has. We are to reflect the image of Christ. We probably won’t be beaten, stoned or shipwrecked, but we will fight physical, emotional and spiritual battles.

To fight means to engage in conflict, and this is a reminder that the Christian life is a struggle against evil. We contend with evil in the world, but we also have to battle with evil in our flesh. The race Paul refers to is life’s journey, and, by now, you know life is an endless chain of tests and trials. We must never give up. The good fight is letting our light shine brightly for Christ, while persevering through every challenge. Earlier in Paul’s epistle, he tells Timothy to “endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ”.

Paul’s life and ministry provide a powerful example of modeling Christ, and Paul kept the faith. Faith in Christ is centered on love, specifically love in action. Romans 12:9-21, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love… Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

We are together in a fight and a race, persevering to keep the faith, no matter what we have to endure. I encourage you to live life to the fullest, fulfilling all that Jesus has charged and empowered you to do. In this, we will find a remarkable sense of fulfillment and contentment despite all the challenges we face day in and day out. Don’t give up. Keep fighting, keep racing, and keep the faith above all things. The crown of righteousness is within your reach.

October 15 Reading:

Jeremiah 26:1-27:22
2 Thessalonians 3:1-18
Psalm 85:1-13
Proverbs 25:16

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Today’s Reading:

Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed! Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven.
Psalm 85:10-11 (NLT)

When I read the Bible, I occasionally encounter scripture with imagery so rich and beautiful that I just need to pause and let it soak into my soul. These prolific verses from Psalm 85 have depth and hidden meaning that inspire meditation and inquisitive prayer. The psalmist is personifying a handful of God’s attributes, including unfailing love, truth, righteousness and peace, and how they work together.

While attempting to gather my thoughts for this devotion, I’ve opened four Bibles and two computer screens, and I’m pondering the wording of various translations and their implications. However, God is reminding me that although Bible commentaries are helpful, it’s more important for me to follow the direction of His Holy Spirit. So, He’s leading the way.

I was led to two other scriptures that relate to this psalm. Isaiah 32:17, “The fruit of that righteousness will be peace...”. Also, Isaiah 45:8, “You heavens above, rain down my righteousness…”. And, now I feel moved to use my literary license to present an inspired analogy that my spirit just won’t let me ignore.

Imagine a river called “Unfailing Love” flowing down the mountain of God. This river meets and merges with a bubbling spring called “Truth”, and the living water continues flowing downward. The celestial heavens open up, and a gentle rain called “Righteousness” falls with glimmering drops into the river, enhancing its flow. As the streaming water reaches the valley below, it pours softly into a quiet and crystal-clear lake called “Peace”.

This calming narrative is the product of meditating on scripture. When we take time to absorb God’s Word, the Holy Spirit leads us into peaceful places. As I consider God’s attributes, including unfailing love, truth, righteousness and peace, my thoughts turn to my Savior, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. He’s inviting you to join Him on the shores of a lake called “Peace”.

One of the frustrations in sports is when someone up and coming is drafted early and becomes a total stinker. They had such potential and everyone could see it, only to fall flat and never live up to the hype. Maybe you know someone at work or in general that had such potential only to throw it away or fail to follow through. Watching those kinds of downfalls is tragic and disappointing.

In his second letter to the church in Thessalonica, Paul opens with an empowering and grateful spur for the growth of the church members. In spite of persecution and hardships, their faith had remained strong and sure. The first chapter ends with a call to action, telling the church that he would keep on praying for the believers to be enabled to live a life worthy of the calling God has placed on their lives. High expectations to live Godly lives, praying that they would follow through.

To you reading this, I’m praying the same thing over your life. I’m praying that wherever and however God has called you to be salt and light in your circle of influence, that you would live up to that expectation. It’s not easy being counter cultural and loving at the same, but that’s why we live Spirit filled and rely on His guidance. Paul encouraged and prayed that the Thessalonians would be given the power needed to accomplish the things they were called to, and I’m praying for that over you. If not you, then who? Lets live a life worthy of calling God has placed on our lives!

October 12 Reading:

Jeremiah 19:1-21:14
1 Thessalonians 5:4-28
Psalm 82:1-8
Proverbs 25:9-10

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“But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

Light is a wonderful thing. To state the obvious it helps us see what is really there. With a newborn in the house I spend a lot of time walking around the house in the night with only the light of the flashlight on my phone. The flashlight is pretty helpful to make sure that I don’t walk into a wall or trip over one of my kids shoes that has been left out but it doesn’t allow me to see everything. One night while I was getting ready to go to sleep I crouched down to plug my phone in on my side of the bed and as I began to stand up the flash light shown on a GIANT disgusting spider crawling on the wall right above my head. It was a total panic moment since I had to then find something to kill it in the dark all while not waking up my sleeping baby. Had the light in my room been on I would have seen it clearly when I walked in and not surprised. Light helps us see and think with a clear head.

As believers we are to live in the light and see things through the lens of the truth that we were lost in our sin and Christ came and died to save us from the path we were on. We are to wear our salvation like a helmet to protect our mind from the expected attacks we will face as we walk through this life. When we take a hold of this truth and let it keep our mind focus on the things that God would have us focus on it frees us up to do what Paul lays out in the rest of 1 Thessalonians chapter 5.

With a clear mind we can encourage and build each other up, we can recognize and honor the hard work of our leaders and show them respect, we can live at peace with one another, we can warn those who are lazy, we can encourage those who are fearful, care for those who are weaker in their faith, and be patient with all people. When we live like this it makes it possible to be joyful always, to pray always, and to be thankful in all circumstances.

Psalm 119: 105 says, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” The more time that we spend in the Light the more clearly we will begin to see the world around us. Let us live in the light.

October 6 Reading:

Jeremiah 6:16-8:7
Colossians 2:8-23
Psalm 78:1-31
Proverbs 24:26

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Today’s Reading:

An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
Proverbs 24:26 (NIV)

I’m guessing some husbands have struggled with this proverb over the years. Why? Well, they weren’t sure how to respond to their wife’s question regarding how she looks wearing a particular outfit or dress. Some men tend to focus on a different verse from the Bible like Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

All kidding aside, most husbands, who have been married for a few years, have learned how to respond to such a question with discerning truth and thoughtfulness, and the man’s honesty will be rewarded by a trusting and appreciative wife. Honesty is indicative of a strong marriage.

Unfortunately, honest answers don’t seem to be prevalent in secular society. Oh yes, there are many voices out there that sound convincing and truthful, but buyer beware. We’ve all been stung by false promises and overstated hopes. After a while, you may find it difficult to believe anything people tell you.

Nevertheless, as believers and followers of Jesus Christ, it is imperative that we maintain our integrity with honest and truthful conversations. Occasionally, we find ourselves tempted to tell a “white lie” in order to avoid offending a friend or relative. But, are we really doing them a favor by this? No, it would be better not to say anything at all. Most people would appreciate hearing the truth, even if it hurts a little bit.

True and lasting friendships (and marriages) are dependent on honesty. Honesty begets trust in a relationship. When we stand on truth, relationships get stronger, and we gain confidence. Our integrity speaks volumes about our character, and it amplifies our witness for Christ. So, trust the Holy Spirit to guide your words, and, who knows, maybe you’ll receive a kiss.

The ladder of success. The food chain. The rat race. There’s many titles to describe the endless pursuit to get to the top, to be dominant, to be the king of the hill. I was recently listening to a podcast where the two men were describing ultimate worldy success. It wasn’t acquiring wealth or status, but rather the stability and resources to do whatever your interest was. There’s always someone who has more, earned more, conquered more, is more. In our innate desire to be the one sitting on the throne, how does that jive with how we were created?

Jesus relayed a parable of a guest who bulldozed their way to the seat of honor at a dinner table. He warned against such actions, for embarrassment may very well follow as the host plucks you from that seat and bestows it to their distinguished guest. Jesus instructs us to humble ourselves in order to be exalted.

Paul’s opening declarations in his letter to the church of Corinth are bold, lofty, and eye opening to the supremacy of Jesus. More than a pleasant teacher who had delightful insights on human nature, Paul describes Jesus as the end all be all to everything that exists in the universe. We think we’re hot stuff, Paul writes that all things, including us, were created through Jesus and at the same time were made by Him for Himself. Everything in reality exists for the purpose of displaying Jesus’ eminence and through His creation He will be glorified.

On the path towards being over everyone else, we must remember that Christ reigns supreme. There is no glory or role equivalent to Jesus. “He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.” (Colossians 1:17) And He loves you. He gave His very life for you. He created you, died for you, rose from the dead for you, and reigns over you. He is good, He is love, Jesus is supreme.

September 27 Reading:

Isaiah 51:1-53:12
Ephesians 5:1-33
Psalm 69:19-36
Proverbs 24:7

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Today’s Reading:

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
Isaiah 53:2 (NIV)

This is a curious verse, with two schools of thought attached to it. Most commentaries suggest it pertains to the natural physical appearance of Jesus, while others say it might be a reference to his disfigured appearance on the cross. I don’t know for sure, but the verse seems to be tied to his growing years.

All of us have a beautiful image of Jesus in our mind, and I don’t want to mess with that. Yet, this verse suggests that Jesus looked like an ordinary man without noteworthy physical features that would attract us to him. However, this doesn’t detract from the glory and majesty of Jesus, because it is His perfect inner beauty, along with His redemptive work on the cross and His divine being, that draws us to Him even today.

So, why would Isaiah include a verse highlighting Jesus’ lack of physical beauty? As with all of God’s Word, there is purpose in this verse. We see a clue in Isaiah 11 where the prophet says this about the “shoot” that comes from the stump of Jesse, “He will not judge by what He sees with His eyes, or decide by what He hears with His ears”. There’s a subliminal message here.

Our tendency is to make hasty judgements of people based on what we see or hear. That’s not what Jesus did. Jesus saw beyond a person’s outward appearance and focused on their heart, seeing what they could be with a little encouragement and with a touch of God.

My wife, Sandy, went to a small country school where her classmates took turns picking teams for games during recess. When it was her turn to be captain, she picked the kids who would normally be picked last. Why? She was compassionate, thinking about the feelings of those who were typically overlooked. But, moreover, she was focused on their heart, encouraging them to become all that they could be.

Sandy was an encourager, especially with our grandkids, but also with anyone she encountered. We all have people in our lives who need encouragement. Maybe they’ve been overlooked, time and time again. They need someone to say, “I see in you, something special.” “I see in you, a heart for God.” “I see in you, a spirit-filled child of God.” “I see in you, an overcomer.” “I see in you, someone greater than you think you could be.” Go ahead, and make someone’s day!

September 19 Reading:

Isaiah 30:12-33:9
Galatians 5:1-12
Psalm 63:1-11
Proverbs 23:22

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Today’s Reading:

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1 (NLT)

This is a praise psalm, but it’s more than that. David was thirsty, both physically and spiritually, as he traveled through the Desert of Judah. He was on the run, contending with his enemies and seeking God’s protection and provision. David was thirsty for water and for the presence of God. In loneliness and desperation, he cried out to God.

David’s journey through the wilderness reminds me of a desert trail through Waterfall Canyon in Arizona’s White Tank Mountains. It starts out on level ground as a paved path toward the waterfall. After a while, the path turns to gravel, and the incline increases. Eventually, you’re on a rocky footpath, and, in order to get to the waterfall, you are forced to climb over and around large boulders that require a good sense of balance. The closer you get to the water, the more difficult the trail becomes.

Doesn’t that sound like life’s journey? In the early years, you’re on level ground moving forward with ease and, perhaps, speed. As you get older, you realize that you need to watch your step, especially after tripping a few times. Then, as you age, you take a fall or two, and you know it’s time to slow down. The obstacles are bigger and more challenging, yet you’re determined to reach your God-given goal. And, you persevere on, until you reach the end of life’s journey.

It’s impossible to anticipate all of the challenges and difficulties that you’ll encounter during life’s journey, but you know there will be many of them. David’s problems seemed endless, yet he had the presence of mind to seek God, praise God and call on God in his distress. David’s greatest thirst was not for water, rather he sought God’s presence because he considered God’s love as better than life.

As we travel this long and arduous journey of life, let’s reflect on David’s thirst for God. David said, “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night, because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings, I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.” That same mighty hand is reaching down for you today. Take hold of it, and quench your thirst.

I heard this quote in a movie that’s gripped me. “Once you're a parent, you're the ghost of your children's future.” I’ve learned through experience that once you become a parent, what you want matters less than what is best for your child. At least the good parents live that way. My selfish ambitions cease for whatever is the best for my child. Every day we make memories for our kids that shape who they become, whether good or bad. How often our choices are influenced by the things our parents did when we were kids.

When Paul is writing this chapter, he’s addressing the controversy of that time on whether in order to be saved you needed to follow Jewish customs. He’s blasting Peter, yes the same Peter that was with Jesus, for being double standard in how he interacted with Jews and Gentiles. Paul is confident in his stance that we are no longer bound to the Jewish law when we follow Christ, meaning that someone can be saved outside of following Jewish law and tradition. This was mind blowing and ground shaking at the time, but Paul was consistent when covering the same topic in 2 Corinthians and his other letters.

Paul’s argument made in Galatians 2:20 is that when we make the conscience decision to follow Christ as our Lord and Savior, we choose to become dead to ourselves. To follow Christ means to reject our own selfish ambition and instead live to please Christ. Though I am alive in this body, out of my own free will choosing what choices to make, I surrenderer what I think I should do for what Jesus says I should do. “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” His way is always the best way, so it’s not like we’re getting a raw deal.