“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18 NIV)
My friend has a theory that when you get married God gives you a marriage download. All of a sudden those household mysteries, like how to cook a nutritious dinner every night, and impressing your father-in-law with your sporting knowledge, just fall into your head and you become the perfect spouse. I don't know about you but when I got married I missed out.
I wish I received one thing in a download package when I got married.
All I want is the ability to remove stains from the brand new white cotton linen my husband and I bought right after our honeymoon. I loved the fresh, crisp look of the white sheets and carefully made sure to wash them only with other white clothes.
One afternoon, when the bedding was blown off the line onto the sand was all it took to turn my beautiful white linen into a patchwork of browns. A bit like sin, dirt crept onto them when I wasn’t looking, and caused a stain I couldn’t remove.
I really tried to get those stains out.
I tried bleach.
I tried leaving them out for the good old African sun.
I tried miracle stain removing paste.
Nothing would completely remove the marks. My struggle to remove these blemishes made me think a little harder about Isaiah 1:18 and the miracle God performs when he takes our bright red sins and turns them as white as the froth on a cappuccino.
God hasn’t just tried (like me) to scrub out the sin in your life but he’s actually removed all trace of it (it’s like you have brand new sheets not just bleached white ones). He’s given us a brand new life, not just a new lease on life. Don’t take this gift he’s given us for granted.
Have you ever sat and thought about the miracle God has performed in removing our sins for good? Take a moment to thank him for making you completely new. —Wendy van Eyck
When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. (Isaiah 43:2 NLT)
I can remember taking swimming lessons as a child. In order to pass, we were required to jump off the diving board. This terrified me, but it was the final step in proving we could swim. I did not have a lot of confidence in my ability to accomplish this task. Finally, the instructor swam out near where I would resurface after jumping and assured me that he would be there if I needed assistance. The deep water terrified me, but knowing someone was there to save me if I could not make it on my own gave me the courage to complete the task.
Sometimes in life, things get so difficult you literally feel like you are drowning. The more you struggle the deeper you seem to go. Maybe things seem totally hopeless. You try your best, but the situation just continues to get worse. Isaiah 43:2 reminds us that no matter the battle, God is with us. He will not let us drown in the raging river or be burned up by the fire.
Exodus 14:13 says, 'The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still.' In deep water sometimes you cannot tell which way it is to the surface. It is a natural instinct to fight for your next breath, but if you will be still your body will typically begin to surface. Our lives are the same way. Sometimes, we just need to be still and let God fight for us. Soon we will see the light begin to emerge at the surface of our problem as God fights for us.
What is the deep water in your life today? Maybe it’s a relationship that seems to be crumbling at your feet, an addiction that controls your every thought, or financial difficulties that consume all your energy. Whatever the struggle, God will be with you. He will not let you drown! —Tresa Walker
So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company. (Genesis 13:11 NIV)
Choices are a part of life. Some of the choices we make are pretty minor. My clothing choices this morning likely will not have a huge impact on the rest of my life, for example.
Other decisions, however, can be much more life-changing. Sometimes—perhaps even often—we have no idea how much of an impact a decision may have on our perspective, our future, our lives.
One of these life-changing choices was made by the Old Testament character Lot, nephew to Abraham. Abraham had decided that the two of them, who had been living together, needed to part company and settle in different parts of the land. Abraham had given his nephew first choice. I'd wager Lot had no idea of the repercussions this one decision would bring.
Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. (Genesis 13:10-12)
It probably didn't look like that important of a decision at the time. In hindsight, however, we know the results were disastrous.
Lot was looking for 'the good life'—he saw the well-watered plain, and knew his existence would be much easier if he set down his roots there. His sheep would be more satisfied, his men would be more satisfied, and life would generally be less painless. Or so he thought.
He forgot to consider his neighbors. Did you notice the very end of the 13th verse? 'He pitched his tents near Sodom.' Now, you might think that this is a case of hindsight being 20/20. (I know I don't have to tell you the problems with Sodom). But, that is not indicated in the text. The very next verse informs us that the men of Sodom 'were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.'
So, perhaps we give Lot a cheer for not settling in the city. But that doesn't last long. By the time God's judgment is about to be meted on it, Lot is a resident of the city-and possibly even an official. And the damage has been done. Though Lot continues to follow God (he is, after all in the Hebrews 12 "hall of faith"), he and his family meet much disaster.
- He stooped low enough to offer his daughters as sexual playthings
- His wife turned to a pillar of salt
- He had to leave a home, no matter how debased, that he wanted to stay in
- His daughters had incestuous relationships with him, birthing two nations that would eventually be Israel's enemies
What a bunch of tragedy from one choice. Have you made a choice like this? Did you consider your potential 'neighbors?'
Seek the Lord: not the easy life. With Him behind each choice, you can't help but be in His will. —Joanne Sher
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the freedom to make our own choices. Help us, though, Lord, to make the decisions that You know are best for us. Help us to make Your priorities ours, so we will receive Your blessings and not the curses of the world around us. Help us to seek You in every choice we make. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; (Ephesians 5:19 NAS)
I read in a devotional some time ago a story of a man waiting for his heart bypass surgery. He was feeling uneasy as he thought about what could go wrong, for he was aware people die during surgery. An orderly soon came by to take him to the surgical suite. While pushing the gurney along the corridor, the orderly hummed an old Irish hymn, ‘Be Thou My Vision.’ Memories of lush green fields and the ancient stone ruins came to the man’s mind, flooding his soul like a fresh breath of home, for Ireland was the land of his birth. When the orderly finished humming the Irish hymn, he then hummed Horatio Spafford’s hymn, ‘It is Well with My Soul.’
“God has used you this day,” said the man to the orderly when they finally arrived outside the surgical suite.
“How so?” the orderly asked in surprise.
“Your ‘hums’ brought God to me,” the man replied.
The Bible teaches us to speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with our hearts to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19). When our hearts are joyful and thankful to God, our outward expressions can influence and touch others too. Knowingly or unknowingly, our Christlikeness reveals a side of God in us, for the Holy Spirit dwells within us.
Are we growing in Christlikeness and revealing Christ in us? Are we Spirit-filled, always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God our Father? If we are not, then let us be careful how we walk—not as unwise men but as wise—that we may understand the will of God and express in kind the fruit of the Spirit (Ephesians 5:15-20; Galatians 5:22-23). Like in a mirror, let us behold the glory of the Lord as we see ourselves being transformed into His image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). Let our mouths be filled with laughter and our tongues with songs of joy for the Lord has done great things for us (Psalm 126:2-3). Who knows, God may even use our humming to restore someone’s soul.
Dear Lord, thank You for Your Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Transform us Lord into Your image more and more each day as we walk in Your ways according to Your will. Fill our souls with Your joy Lord that we may not be fearful, uneasy, or overwhelmed by the cares of this world but to always be thankful, singing and making melody with our hearts to You.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. (Colossians 3:19 NIV)
Those of us who have rabbits as pets would be familiar with their thumping behavior. When a rabbit thumps its hind legs, it is usually to warn its animal or human companions of danger or simply an expression of frustration or anger. Depending on the rabbit’s body language, understanding what it is trying to communicate is easy. If a rabbit appears on alert and tense, it is a clear signal of possible danger. If it appears annoyed, it is telling us, "I don’t like what you are doing" or "I will not be ignored."
Sometimes, our behavior differs little from that of the rabbits. We are willing to look out for the interests of others at times but not always. Once in a while, in our anger or frustration we may get careless with our words and thump at another or our spouse with our unreasonable expectations. One of the most worrying trends prevalent today is domestic abuse and intimate partner violence.
"Domestic violence is a huge problem not only in our communities but tragically in our churches as well," said Dr. George O. Wood in the video Sin by Silence at ChristianityToday.com. "There are more victims in our churches than we would care to admit and it is time to courageously intervene in this plague on our nation. Abusive behavior in our homes and families is simply unacceptable."
According to an article at ForYourMarriage.org, women often stay with their abusers because of fear. They are afraid the abuser will become more violent if they try to leave. Some fear they will lose their children, while many believe they cannot make it on their own.
"I left with my three daughters several times, but he'd always track us down," said Brenda, a victim of domestic violence sharing her story at Heart-2-Heart.ca. "By the final year of our marriage, my life had deteriorated into a nightmare of fear, pain and despair, and I didn't know how to help for myself."
Abusive men tend to be jealous, possessive and easily angered, wrote the author of the article at ForYourMarriage.org. Typically, they blame their partner for the abuse, saying, "You made me do this." Alcohol and drugs are also common causes of domestic violence.
Conflicts are inevitable in every intimate relationship. Nevertheless, we can come before God to iron out our dissensions and differences toward a healthy conflict resolution. Beyond that, however, we need to understand that domestic violence is not mere marital conflicts and such has no place in a healthy relationship. If there is any abusive behavior in our homes or families, we should not be afraid to sound out to our pastors or to seek help.
The Bible says, “Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them” and “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Colossians 3:19; Ephesians 5:25). A marriage relationship is a covenant and should always be one of love and care (Malachi 2:14-15; 1 Peter 3:7). If there is anything we need to caution the other, therefore, let us do so out of love to forewarn against hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, dissensions, drunkenness and the like. For whoever lives like this and practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:20-21). Thumping to express displeasure or demand obedience is not the way to go, for God hates those who love violence (Psalm 11:5).
Dear Lord, we pray for families to live in love without abuse or violence. We ask O God for those under abuse not to remain in silence and for Your comfort and care to lead them to the help they need. Forgive us Lord if we are the abuser, and correct us in the way You would have us change from our violent ways. Tame our anger Lord and fill us with Your love, just as You loved the church and gave Yourself up for her. Renew us in spirit and mind Lord that we may be set free from our old ways to live anew to bear the fruit of the Spirit in love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, And He will hear my voice. (Psalm 55:17 NAS)
In a news article of February 21, 2013 at WishTV.com, a Greenwood doctor was reported to be under fire after he admitted to charging a patient more money for whining, among other complaints.
“I charged him level 5,” the doctor wrote in his blog post, “for taking so much of my time, for bad-mouthing his previous doctors, and for incessant whining.”
Several medical billing experts interviewed said the post written by the doctor is unlikely to rise to the level of “illegal billing” as it would be hard to prove the intent of billing abuse.
Bad-mouthing and whining are not something uncommon to many people. When we do our best in our job, for example, we tend to sometimes expect our hirer to reward us in one way or another besides paying us what is due. At times, we may feel unhappy or discontent when we do not receive the appreciation or reciprocal return we feel we deserve, especially when we see our peers getting rewarded instead of us. Perhaps we may have put in more hours at work than the others and yet receive the same wages or bonuses, or perhaps we did not receive anything at all. Gradually, we may begin to grumble and whine without realizing the harm we are bringing to ourselves and others.
The Bible contains many teachings about grumbling and complaining. In the epistle to the brethren at Corinth, Paul wrote about the events that took place in the Old Testament days to teach them the mistakes to avoid so they may not have to bear the consequences. One of these mistakes includes grumbling or complaining (1 Corinthians 10:10).
Job, in his sufferings and troubles, complained (Job 7:11; 10:1). King David, praying for the destruction of the treacherous, complained and murmured (Psalm 55:17). God responded to Job with a question and Job sought forgiveness (Job 40:1-5). David acknowledged God’s salvation and redemption in bringing his complains to God (Psalm 55:16, 18).
Are we grumbling, murmuring, complaining or whining? If we are, then let us be aware the consequences we may have to bear. While charging extra may be unethical in medical billing, the price we pay for bad attitudes or behavior can cost us more. If we are a worker or an employee, our job can be put at risk if we persist with our grumbling or whining. Such behavior is bad influence to others and can cause low morale—a sure way to get fired. Remember, in whatever we do we should work heartily as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord we will receive our reward (Colossians 3:23-24).
Dear Lord, forgive us for sometimes whining, grumbling, murmuring or complaining about so many things. We know Lord the consequences we may have to bear with such behavior and we pray that You be merciful to us in our weakness. Help us rise above our circumstances Lord, knowing that our reward is from You, not men. Renew us by Your Spirit Lord that we may grow to be more and more like You each day and not be a bad influence to others. Redeem our soul in peace O Lord as we call upon You to save us in our times of troubles and need.
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. (Matthew 5:22 NAS)
In certain parts of the world, the term ‘ding-dong’ refers to a person who is slow-witted or foolish. Where I live, if a person makes an irrational decision, we sometimes say of that person is a ding-dong.
Jesus, in His sermon on the mount, said whoever calls his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing’ or ‘You fool’ shall be guilty before the supreme court enough to go into the fiery hell (Matthew 5:22). This is in relation to speaking out in anger for which reason reconciliation is advised prior to coming before God when we remember our bother has something against us (Matthew 5:23-24).
As a team, we sometimes have to bear the consequences together. Even so, there is no need for us to blame or talk bad about the decision-maker or to label him or her a ding-dong, good-for-nothing, stupid or fool. A wrong decision made does not deserve a death sentence except when it is done deliberately against God’s counsel or offer of salvation. If we have any counsel or advice, we should let the person know prior to making the decision. The choice however is not ours to dictate, for God has granted freewill to everyone.
With each decision, nevertheless, the consequences will be bore in full. We know how the story unwrapped with Pharaoh’s decision not to let the children of Israel go in the days of Moses (Exodus 5-14). We also know what happened to Nabal when he in his foolishness turned away God’s elect, David (1 Samuel 25:2-39). Knowing the consequences the yet unsaved have to bear without Jesus Christ as Lord, all the more so we need to bring them into the kingdom of God.
Are we making decisions without consulting God and His word? Are we blaming others for the bad decisions they made? Are we neglecting the sharing of the gospel to the unsaved? Let us not be the ones making foolish decisions or saying the wrong things or be the ones sentencing people to death.
Forgive us dear Lord for the many wrong decisions we have made and for the not-so-nice things we have said in our anger. We know You have given us the freedom of choice to make the right decisions, so guide us as we seek Your will to fulfill. Help us not give up on those who have chosen the wrong path, but lead us as we continue to speak to them and bring them to You.
Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? (Galatians 3:3-4 NAS)
When I was a teenager, several crises in my life happened in succession one after another which left me rattled. A loved one was seriously ill, an affectionate relationship was broken, and a discord in church separated many friendships and the congregation. All of a sudden, it was like the entire world had turned against me and I was left all alone with no one to turn to or share my agony. For a little while my faith in God was shaken but thankfully I was not left shattered. In my sorrows, the Lord comforted me and restored my soul, and I soon returned to Him.
Like me, the two followers of Jesus on the road to Emmaus were left disillusioned and confused after all that had happened in Jerusalem (Luke 24:13-14, 18-21). They were hoping that Jesus was the One to redeem Israel, but His death had left them rattled, unsure of what to believe when told He had risen (Luke 24:22-23).
Jesus said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:25-26).
When their eyes were finally opened to recognize Jesus, they said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:31-32).
Perhaps, like the two followers of Jesus and me, there are things we have planned in our lives that did not work out the way we have hoped or crises that have left us shattered in spirit. Are we disillusioned or confused because of all these happenings that we become unsure what to believe anymore? Is our faith in God shaken because the entire world seems to be against us and we feel all alone suffering in agony?
Take heed what the Lord said and let us not be like those who are foolish or slow of heart to believe. Do we not know that Jesus suffered and died for us willingly? How is it then that we should doubt God’s love for us to think that He will abandon us in our times of agony or sorrow? Stand firm and do not let anything move us because our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:2, 58; Galatians 3:3-4). Like the followers on the road to Emmaus, let our eyes be open to recognize Jesus in all circumstances and our hearts burn within us as we listen to our Lord by His Spirit and word.
Open the eyes of our hearts O Lord that we may see You in our moments of disillusion and confusion. Do not let us be rattled to the point of straying away from You dear Lord but keep us safe in Your protection and care. Remind us Lord in our agony and sorrow that we are not alone and You are always present to help and comfort us. Keep our hearts burning for You Lord that we may in Your word grow to understand Your will and know You more and more every day.
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NIV)
"I think the content is lacking the sizzle to keep the audience interested," said the overseer. "So far I'm not seeing enough likes or comments being generated on our blog and social networks."
That is the kind of remark I would wish never to hear from my boss, but I get that a lot as a copywriter and content manager. Writing persuasive copies is what is expected of my job and unless I bring in the numbers and visitors to the websites I manage, I am at risk of losing my livelihood. This is how the commercial world works when it comes to measuring performance and the success of an online marketing campaign in getting across the message to its audience. It is all about spicing up the heat using persuasive words accompanied by outstanding design to catch attention, create interest, and stir up desire that leads to action.
Unlike the way the commercial world works, getting across the gospel message to the yet unsaved is not about using wise and persuasive words, but by the guidance of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). There is no need for us to spice up the gospel message to create the sizzle or desire. Our focus should be to accurately handle the word of truth; for while we may plant the seed or water it, it is God who causes the growth (2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Corinthians 3:6).
Nevertheless, there are a few things we can do to help the yet unsaved better understand our intent in sharing the gospel. Like the way the secular world uses the AIDA approach to create Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action, there are also many approaches we can use to share the gospel. One of them which I have found particularly useful is summarized in a word, BRIDGE. ‘B’ is to be genuine, ‘R’ is to reach across our prejudices, ‘I’ is to invest time, ‘D’ is to dialogue relevantly, ‘G’ is to go beyond the surface, and ‘E’ is to expect to be surprised by God.
Are we spending too much time trying to create the sizzle to get people to come to our church or to a gospel event? Is the numbers a concern to us in gaging how well we perform as a church or in bringing people to our Lord? Are we spicing up too much heat to draw the crowd that we become careless in handling the word of truth? Jesus in the Gospel said there is much rejoicing in heaven even over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7, 10).
When sharing the gospel, therefore, be prepared to expect the unexpected when the Holy Spirit leads. Rather than use wise or persuasive words to create the sizzle to bring in the numbers, let us be genuine in presenting the full gospel in truth. Take time to share without prejudices and do not talk without relevance. Go the extra mile whenever needed beyond just touching the surface that those who hear the good news may through us experience God’s love and receive His salvation.
Dear Lord, thank You for loving us so much. Our hearts yearn O Lord to share Your good news and to reach out to the yet unsaved in bringing them into Your kingdom. Help us Lord not to be too caught up in our enthusiasm to create unnecessary sizzle to increase the numbers, but to genuinely go beyond the surface to express our love while sharing the gospel. Keep us in tune with You at all times Lord that when Your Spirit leads, we may be ready to expect the unexpected for Your word of truth to get across more effectively.
Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it. (Isaiah 45:8 NAS)
When the weatherman said it was going to rain for the next few days, my wife and I were not dampened in spirit because it had been extremely warm and humid back home. We were on our holidays in Scandinavia and were looking forward to visiting the Briksdal Glacier in Nordfjord, Norway. When the day arrived for our visit, we traveled up on a troll car amid the raindrops dripping on our waterproof jackets with hoods on. The spectacular view of the glacier with its streams and waterfall was an amazing sight to behold and it was well worth the visit despite the bad weather.
Many a time, we are too easily dampened in spirit when we hear or know something difficult or unpleasant is brewing up and coming our way. As believers in the Lord, there is no need for us to fear because God is always looking out for us. Even if we are amid tough times or going through the ‘bad weather’ right now, we can still enjoy and behold the wonders of God’s great love for us.
Like showers and raindrops which are often symbolized in the Bible as blessings from heaven poured down dripping upon us in abundance, much more God is willing to bless us (Job 36:27-28; Ezekiel 24:26). Our LORD is always ready to open His rich treasury, the heavens, to give us rain on our land in its season and to bless all the work of our hand (Deuteronomy 28:12).
Are we troubled by what lies ahead or burdened by the things happening right now? Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1-2).
Rather than be fearful or burdened, therefore, let us rise above our circumstances and put our complete trust in God. Ask of Him to drip down from the heavens and pour down His righteous deliverance. Pray that the earth may open up to God’s salvation and spring forth to bear fruit (Isaiah 45:8).
Thank You, dear Lord, for always looking out for us and blessing us. You O Lord are an amazing God. You care for us and comfort us when we are troubled and grant us rest when we are heavy-laden. Amid our difficult times Lord, You are always present with us, and we are able to experience Your deep love for us. Pour down Your righteous deliverance Lord and let the earth open up to Your salvation that through us Your good news may spring forth to the world and bear fruit. In You Lord we put our complete trust and rise above our fears and circumstances.
