February 2020 – Daily Devo Time

Daily Devotional for February 29, 2020 – Listening to God – and following the lead of Jesus…it’s time to step out and serve!

Luke 4:14-15, 22
Jesus returned to Galilee powerful in the Spirit. News that he was back spread through the countryside. He taught in their meeting places to everyone’s acclaim and pleasure.

All who were there, watching and listening, were surprised at how well he spoke. But they also said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son, the one we’ve known since he was a youngster?”

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

The son of dear friends recently graduated from nursing school and is now an R.N. at a big hospital in Little Rock. Our god-son, who is also in his 20s, will soon be a registered nurse, as well. Our almost-22-year-old great niece is graduating from college soon with a degree in Elementary Education. She will be getting married this summer – and hopefully teaching a classroom of elementary students next fall.

For several years, my dentist was one of my former first grade students. We buy our furniture from another of my former first-graders, and several of my “children” are now EMTs, firefighters, police officers, teachers, writers and successful business men and women. At least two of my former students teach at the university level. And one of my Sunday school students is now a Captain in the Army Reserves, where he flies a Black Hawk helicopter and has done a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

I am going to show my age here, but it can be a little daunting to think that these “whippersnappers” are now “running things”, so to speak. In a small town like ours, it is inevitable that former students will in some way handle our health and well-being, teach our next generation of nieces and nephews, and serve our community – and even our country – to keep us safe. So when I think about the villagers to whom Jesus returned and preached, it’s no wonder that some were a little skeptical. After all…to many of them, He was Joseph the carpenter’s son – and they had known Him since He was a young child.

Now, here was Jesus, preaching and teaching…talking of how we should love each other and serve our Heavenly Father…operating in the anointed grace and peace of the Holy Spirit. And He was good at it! His message and delivery were compelling – and people were listening! Well, okay…if you read further in Luke 4, not all were accepting of Him. And this is sorta the point of my message today.

If you have surrendered to Christ, you are ordained to serve as His disciple. This means that the Holy Spirit is available to fill you with wisdom, grace and peace as you speak and act according to God’s will. It means that you are sanctified and directed to share the Good News of Jesus Christ…to demonstrate love, forgiveness, empathy, grace, mercy, kindness, inclusion, tolerance, faith, hope, and compassion to all you meet. This means that you are to speak and act in a way that always glorifies and shows respect for God – and reflects the amazing things that He is doing in your life. We are to “be the hands and feet of Jesus” to others in this world.

Along the way, some are going to question this. After all…aren’t you the sinner they knew “way back when”? Haven’t you made mistakes? Are you versed enough in the Bible? Have you been a Christian long enough to teach in a Sunday school class? Do you have any business leading a youth group or going on a mission trip? Just what are your qualifications to represent God? Sure…you sound good…you say the right things, and you seem to be a good teacher/servant. But this may not be enough for some.

So what are we to do? I believe we are to keep going and trust God to make the difference. Listen to His directives…follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. As long as you know that you are doing the will of God, don’t let what others think or say bother you. Continue to grow in your wisdom and understanding of Jesus…study hard, pray often, and do what you feel led to do. Some will welcome you – and some won’t. But when we listen to God and do what He commands, He makes the difference. Jesus has shown us the way…it’s time for us to follow!

Daily Devotional for February 28, 2020 – Say “No” to the devil and “Yes” to Jesus…dealing with temptation with faithful obedience

Luke 4:1-13
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan River, being urged by the Spirit out into the barren wastelands of Judea, where Satan tempted him for forty days. He ate nothing all that time and was very hungry.

Satan said, “If you are God’s Son, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”

But Jesus replied, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘Other things in life are much more important than bread!’”

Then Satan took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time; and the devil told him, “I will give you all these splendid kingdoms and their glory—for they are mine to give to anyone I wish—if you will only get down on your knees and worship me.”

Jesus replied, “We must worship God, and him alone. So it is written in the Scriptures.”

Then Satan took him to Jerusalem to a high roof of the Temple and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say that God will send his angels to guard you and to keep you from crashing to the pavement below!”

Jesus replied, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to a foolish test.’”

When the devil had ended all the temptations, he left Jesus for a while and went away.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

It seems like today, more than ever before, we are bombarded with information – and also misinformation. E-tail giant, Amazon has removed over one million listings for items that inaccurately claim to cure or defend against the coronavirus. I saw a video clip of a well-known televangelist who was touting a product on his program that made claims to kill this virus and dozens of others. This same person said that those who make fun of him will have to answer to God – and all but threatened that they will be severely punished or condemned to Hell for these behaviors.

Everywhere we turn, we face temptations…and not just whether to eat that last piece of Valentines candy or skip a workout! We are tempted to share a juicy piece of gossip. We are tempted to listen to liars and charlatans – and to perpetuate their falsehoods. We are tempted to throw up our hands and just “go with the flow”. We are tempted to question God’s presence – or His actions (or perceived inactions) – and simply decide to “wing it” on our own.

On this second day of our Lenten study, I want you to consider Jesus. I mean really consider Him. Sit and think about the temptations that He endured. He was mocked, abused, disrespected, starved, and cajoled that “it won’t really matter”. The devil attempted to bribe Jesus with wealth, riches and “splendid kingdoms”. God allowed all of this…and the Good News is that Jesus did not even blink. He rebuked the devil in no uncertain terms, refused every “offer”, and informed him that God is not to be tested. This is our lesson…this is what you and I need to internalize and practice in every area of our lives.

We are going to be misled. We are going to be bombarded with falsehoods, crazy conspiracy theories, outright threats, and offers to grab some “snake oil” that will supposedly cure everything! But hear this…Jesus is the cure for what ails us! God’s word and will are the truth. There is no “test” that will show us whether or not God is for real…this has been declared and settled – and we are to grab onto the example of faithful obedience exhibited by Jesus…and never ever let go!

I don’t know what will tempt us today, but I know that the devil is always busy. He may be “in your head” planting seeds of doubt and fear about something. He may be filling your body with sickness and hoping you will throw up your hands and toss in the towel. Satan may be telling you that nobody cares about you…that all of the challenges of the day are too much…that you are too young, too old, too fat, too weak, too poor, too ugly, or just too stupid to think for yourself. None of these things are even remotely true.

God will never leave you alone…He will never stop caring about you. God has a plan for each of us…and it is perfect and complete. OUR JOB is to pay attention…to listen for His voice, and then to follow His directives. When you feel the least bit unsettled, tell the devil to “beat it”…and whisper, “Come, Lord Jesus.” The Holy Spirit is right there beside you, ready to step forward and fill you with His peace and protection.

Take a few minutes today to thank Jesus for the 40 days He endured in the wilderness…and the lessons that He gives us as a result. Thank Him for being our answer to any and every temptation. Nothing is too big for God…from the allure of that last piece of Valentines candy to the life-changing decisions you may be facing this very day. Are you ready to say “No” to the devil – and “Yes” to Jesus? Isn’t this the perfect day to do so?

Daily Devotional for February 27, 2020 – Discovering who we can become in Jesus…a Lenten beginning

Luke 3:21-23
While everyone else was being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. Then as he prayed, the sky opened up, and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven said, “You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you.”

When Jesus began to preach, he was about thirty years old.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

Last night, I attended Ash Wednesday services at our church. An explanation printed in our service bulletin explained that, ”Ash Wednesday…usually begins with a service where we recognize our mortality, repent of our sins, and return to our loving God.” The explanation also noted that Lent is the 40 days before Easter (excluding Sundays). This year, it’s from February 26 – April 11, 2020. Many resolve on Ash Wednesday to make changes in their lives over the next 40 days. To symbolize this, the pastor or some other church leader marks the sign of the cross on each person’s forehead with ashes.

Because I don’t generally skip a day with these devotionals, I am going to spend the next 40+ days until Easter Sunday sharing scriptures from the Book of Luke that will help us discover who Jesus really is. I hope that we will gain a little deeper insight into our relationship with Him and come to a better appreciation of the precious covenant between us. In these three verses from Luke 3, we are reminded that Jesus humbly received holy baptism as a demonstration of His obedience and submission to the will of God. He joined others who received this holy sacrament from His cousin, John the Baptizer, as an outward declaration of unity. Jesus wanted to show that we belong to Him…and He is with us!

Like our sign of the cross on Ash Wednesday indicates that we are committing our hearts and minds to a renewal of our faith and right relationship with Jesus, God sent a dove to mark the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus Christ. He publicly declared Jesus to be His Son, in whom He was well pleased. I want my sign of the cross to mean that God has anointed me as His child – redeemed me by the blood of Jesus and marked me with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. If you did not physically get a “sign of the cross” on Ash Wednesday, it doesn’t matter. God’s anointing is still available to you as you pledge to serve Him humbly and wholeheartedly. Just as God was pleased with Jesus, I want Him to be pleased with my faithful obedience and service to His Kingdom. My prayer is that you want this as well.

Elsewhere on our bulletin was an anonymous quote…”Let today be the day you give up who you’ve been for who you can become.” My prayer is that on this first day on our journey to learn more about Jesus and grow more deeply in love with Him, you will make this your goal. Vow to give up your desires for those of Jesus – and to feel His presence and power more profoundly for the rest of your days.

During the service, we were asked to turn to our neighbor and say, “May the peace of Christ be with you”…and to answer, “And also with you.” This is my prayer for you today and in the days to come – that you will more fully experience the grace and peace of Jesus Christ – and grow in your love and commitment to Him. And so begins our Lenten season. To God be the glory – Amen!

Daily Devotional for February 26, 2020 – No “ifs, ands, or buts”…are you the Master – or the servant?

John 13:12-17
After Jesus had washed his disciples’ feet and had put his outer garment back on, he sat down again. Then he said:

Do you understand what I have done? You call me your teacher and Lord, and you should, because that is who I am. And if your Lord and teacher has washed your feet, you should do the same for each other. I have set the example, and you should do for each other exactly what I have done for you. I tell you for certain that servants are not greater than their master, and messengers are not greater than the one who sent them. You know these things, and God will bless you, if you do them.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

Many have noted that the word “but” negates everything that precedes it in a sentence. Let me just say that I use this word just like everyone else. And I will probably struggle not to use it in this message today! Let’s look at how this matters in terms of our obedience to Jesus.

We say, “I know You have told us to love one another…but, I can’t love So-and-So.” Or we declare that “I know You visited the sick and suffering – and fought for those who were discarded in some manner…but, Lord, I have my hands full just taking care of myself and my immediate family/interests!” You tell God, “I want to serve you in whatever manner you desire, but this is just not a good time – and I am simply not comfortable doing these things.”

In other words, for all of our grand declarations that Jesus is the Lord of our life – and we seek the will of our Heavenly Father – what we desire is greater at the end of the day. Even if this is just the wish to stay in the background when God is calling us to step up and out…we seem to find it easy to place our will ahead of His.

I won’t go into details, but recently, a situation arose where I very strongly felt God telling me to speak to a relative stranger in a specific manner. I will tell you, this was out of my comfort zone, and I had what I thought were some really great excuses. “But LORD, this is not my forte. But this is none of my business. But I’m in a hurry and the other person is otherwise occupied – I’d be interrupting.” There were more arguments – I think you get the idea. In short, I did speak to the person, and I knew instantly that it was the right thing to do. I saw that for every “but” I had offered about not bothering that person – and not getting involved – God was asking me…”Are you trying to be the servant or the master?”

I don’t know what your “but” is today…or where you need to get out of your comfort zone. I know I have a lot of work to do in my own discipleship…and plenty of “buts” to overcome. But I also know that I am most certainly not the Master…and my job is to follow His lead…not create my own. Jesus gave us example after example of how to serve Him by loving others…and none of them involves putting our own interests first.

In true demonstrations of faithful obedience, there is no room for “ifs, ands or buts”…so what will you do to remove them? We all have work to do in this area…how will you get started?

Daily Devotional for February 25, 2020 – What God really wants…offering Him our humble obedience

Jeremiah 7:21-23
The Lord told me to say to the people of Judah:

I am the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, but I won’t accept sacrifices from you. So don’t even bother bringing them to me. You might as well just cook the meat for yourselves.

At the time I brought your ancestors out of Egypt, I didn’t command them to offer sacrifices to me. Instead, I told them, “If you listen to me and do what I tell you, I will be your God, you will be my people, and all will go well for you.”

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

The last few times that our younger nephew Nathan has visited us, he has asked to go to a park and play. That boy loves his parks – and we have several nice ones right here in our community! Nathan particularly likes digging in the sand at one – and playing in the babbling creek at another. There are times when he will ask us to “buy me something” – an action figure or a costume. But what Nathan really wants the most is for us to take him to a park – and play with him. It’s about our relationship and showering him with love and attention – not what we can buy him or give him. He wants us…not hollow gestures.

On a much grander scale, this describes how God wants to interact with you and me. He doesn’t want us to show Him how “faithful” we are by signing up for every church committee. God is not impressed just because we regularly attend a Bible study or worship service. God is not anxious to put anyone into debt because of a monetary “sacrifice” to missions and ministries. God loves the chorus of joyful and adulatory voices…but singing in the choir doesn’t necessarily score us any “brownie points” with our Heavenly Father.

God is looking for attentive, obedient servants who listen for His voice – and obey His commands. Sometimes, this will involve sacrifice…but it probably isn’t the kind you envision. God may call you to step out of your comfort zone and lead a small group or teach a Bible class…or He may tell you to simply open your Bible more often and really study what is written there. He may tell you to invite a stranger to worship with you – or to speak up when people you love and respect begin to disparage or disrespect another person or group. God may direct you to sell all you have and give the money to the poor…or He may tell you to go to a soup kitchen and help prepare and serve food, love and acceptance, to the “hungry” there. God may call you to put down your electronic devices and go to a park to dig in the sand, play in a creek, or push a child in a swing.

The point is that God is not looking for a show…He’s looking for humble, faithful servants who are paying attention to His directives. He is seeking willing disciples who will go wherever He sends them and share His love and teachings with others – without reservations. God is looking for those who will do whatever He commands…even when it takes them completely out of their comfort zone.

God is looking for you and me to step up – and step out – and serve Him in the ways that He designs and desires. This is not about a show…and it’s certainly not about how much we “suffer” for our King. It’s truly all about how well we listen – and obey. I’m pretty sure we all have some room for improvement in this regard…what do you think?

Daily Devotional for February 24, 2020 – Getting out of our comfort zone and loving a few “old dogs”…are you serving God with faithful obedience?

James 2:24-26
You can now see that we please God by what we do and not only by what we believe. For example, Rahab had been a prostitute. But she pleased God when she welcomed the spies and sent them home by another way.

Anyone who doesn’t breathe is dead, and faith that doesn’t do anything is just as dead!

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

Greg and I recently viewed a CBS news story* about Robby Gay, an 8-year-old boy who was adopted out of foster care, where he was apparently quite a handful. Robbie was abused so badly that twice he was hospitalized for brain injuries. But his adoptive parents saw past his outbursts and troubled past. They found a boy with a heart of gold and a profound need to be loved and nurtured – and to love others in kind. Robbie has developed an affinity for the older, less adoptable dogs at his local animal shelter in Palm Coast, Florida. He gravitates toward these less desirable pups and snuggles them on his frequent visits to the facility.

Robbie didn’t think anyone would adopt an “older” child. He notes that people tend to overlook older children and dogs in favor of “babies and puppies.” In these elderly animals, Robbie sees what many cannot…a need to still be loved and nurtured and valued. He adopts as many as his parents feel they can manage – and he gives them the best life possible for however long they have left. We could use a lot more “Robbies” in this world.

I encourage you to read Joshua 2 and brush up on the incredible story of how a former prostitute named Rahab served God. Then watch the video of Robbie Gay and the animals he saves. Let these stories remind you that God loves us all and has a purpose for each of us – no matter our past. He can use a “Rahab” who obeyed His commands (and saved His messengers at risk of her own peril) – and an 8-year-old boy who shows us how to love the most discarded among us. God wants to use us to exhibit humble faithfulness and obedience, also.

I know it may seem crazy to share stories of an 8-year-old boy and a former prostitute in the same space. But there are countless examples of people who serve God with faithful obedience…and they come from “all walks of life”, just like you and I do. They show us that it isn’t enough to claim that God has transformed us…we have to show this in our daily living. We have to internalize His commands and the teachings of Jesus – and exhibit them in our own actions.

You and I can claim all day long that we are redeemed…that we love God and seek to serve Him in all things. But if we don’t back up our talk with physical proof, many will never see Jesus through us. The message will either be misconstrued – or missed altogether. This is not how God has called us to serve. Every single one of us is flawed in some way…yet Christ has said, “Take up My cross and follow Me.” He didn’t tell us to simply claim to be His disciple…He said to “get up and get busy” serving when, where, and how He determines. For some of us, this will be a tremendous challenge. We may risk rejection and ridicule…we may even lose a friend or two. For others, this will mean getting out of our comfort zone and loving a few “old dogs”. Either way, don’t miss this opportunity to do what God asks of you.

God is watching and waiting to see just how serious you are about your faith. What are you going to show Him?

* CBS News Story – A Special Bond

Daily Devotional for February 23, 2020 – It’s time to prove it! Demonstrating Christian faithfulness and obedience in our everyday living…

James 2:14-17
Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

I’ve started getting all sorts of “political” flyers in the mail…and I bet you have, too. I will tell you, I’ve never even heard of half of these people…and while they SAY that they are “all that and a bag of chips,” I honestly have no clue whether this true or not. I will also tell you that just because someone tells me that he/she is going to do these great things for our courts, our state, or the country doesn’t mean that I believe them!

I need to see proof. I need to examine the records of these candidates and see if their words line up with their actions – and their promises. And people need to see this in us as Christ’s disciples. It doesn’t matter where we go to church, how many Bible studies we attend, what our “level of giving” is – or whether we even give at all, how loudly we sing, or how much we claim to love Jesus. If we don’t show this in our daily living, our “faith” is a fraud…and our “witness” can actually be a detriment to God’s Kingdom plans.

Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. You may very well be a redeemed sinner who is destined for Heaven – and never demonstrate your “faith” to others. I have a feeling there will be a lot of folks who stand before God and have to admit that they really didn’t do a whole lot in their earthly lifetime with His gift of Salvation. Not only will this be a sad thing for them…it will be such a waste! There is so much joy to be found in living out our faith!

So what does this look like for you and me? Find the joy in everyday things. Quit being a grump and sulking around. Stop being so negative. Look for ways to lift up others, and always, always be kind and inclusive. Stop judging and start helping. Discover the joy in giving to others…time, attention, and even physical things that they may need far worse than you. I guarantee, anytime you give something to someone else, you probably won’t ever miss it!

If you think that showing up at church or a Bible study – or even posting scripture verses and references on your Facebook page is going to demonstrate to others just how faithful and obedient you are…you are mistaken. As Dr. Phil McGraw likes to say, “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care!” What are you showing to others? How are you physically sharing your faith and obedience to God? What are your words and actions telling others about your relationship with Christ? Are you giving them a single reason to cultivate their own association with Him? Don’t you think it’s time you were?

Daily Devotional for February 22, 2020 -Listening to God and acting on what you hear…are you a “scatterbrain Christian”?

James 1:22-25
Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.

But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

I am watching a docu-drama that recently aired on the History Channel about George Washington. In the first episode, an account was given of a battle that Washington (then in his twenties) and fellow British soldiers engaged in with the French. Aided by Native Americans, Washington ambushed a French troop and massacred them. One of the French leaders tried to present Washington with a document that stated that a diplomatic resolution was desired….but Washington’s men killed him before the declaration could be read.

Washington was so eager to show the British authorities that he was “officer material” that he charged ahead and acted on impulse and the poor “intel” of the Native Americans. He then penned three hastily-prepared letters to the Virginia Lieutenant Governor, Robert Dinwiddie, in an effort to justify his actions. The young George Washington was apparently not who we think of today – and tend to revere – as a great leader in the early life of our country!

I often find that I am “listening” to a news story or program on television – and doing something else at the same time – and I miss a good deal of what was said. Often, I have to back up and watch the report or episode again in order to absorb what I missed. I would venture to guess that this happens to you, also.

We have become a society of “multi-taskers” who are easily distracted. We often lack focus. We grasp half of the story and tend to misconstrue the facts because of it. Still, we mimic Washington and charge ahead as if we have all of the facts and necessary information. As a friend noted on Facebook, we read the headline and hit the “share” button without investigating further to determine whether the story might be truthful, outdated, or downright propaganda. The end result is that we perpetuate half-truths and misinformation…and we misrepresent many situations and circumstances.

While this may not directly result in the actual death of someone, the fact remains that people are watching. They may see you as a person of integrity…someone they respect. More critically, they may believe that you are an obedient Christian servant – and they may strive to emulate you. If you are only half-listening – or perpetuating falsehoods – you are misguiding others and dishonoring God. And we’ve all done it. Whether we are deliberately promoting a personal agenda – or inadvertently spreading fabrications, disinformation, and outright lies – our inattentiveness to the getting the facts straight and listening for God’s truth can cause a ton of damage.

One of the historians who offers commentary during the Washington docu-drama notes that we have all been taught that this “Father of our Country” was a man who “could not tell a lie.” Yet George Washington lied. He misrepresented facts and situations. This doesn’t negate his entire life’s work, any more than our sins define us. But this does show just how important it is to pay close attention…to regain focus…to listen to God’s directives, hear them, and truly obey His commands. Will we always get everything right? Probably not…but we will have a far better shot at doing so.

If you have become a bit of a “scatterbrain” like I have, make this the day that you vow to do better. Regain focus and live more intentionally in the will of God. Pay closer attention – especially to what God is telling you. Make every effort to really hear His orders – and fulfill them. Be the example of truth for others…a faithful, obedient servant of God Almighty who operates in facts and fairness. God is counting on us to be “the real deal” for Him. And people.are.watching! What are you showing them?

Daily Devotional for February 21, 2020 – Learning to obey God – even in our “sufferings”

Hebrews 5:8-9
And even though Jesus was God’s Son, he had to learn from experience what it was like to obey when obeying meant suffering. It was after he had proved himself perfect in this experience that Jesus became the Giver of eternal salvation to all those who obey him.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

“Why is this happening to me?” You may have asked this question at some point in your life…perhaps many times. The proverbial question is “Why does God let bad things happen to good people?” And we need look no further than His Only Son, Jesus Christ, to find the answer. Why did God allow Jesus to suffer? God has all the power. So why didn’t He send Jesus to earth in total glory…to be adored and revered by every single person He met? Why did God allow Jesus to be physically and mentally abused and mistreated?

We find the answer in Hebrews 5:8-9. God allowed Jesus to suffer as a human, so that He fully understood human suffering – and what it felt like to remain obedient in those conditions. Perhaps this is why God allows us to suffer, too. After all, we are certainly not above Jesus Christ. If God allowed Jesus to suffer, surely we cannot expect our “earthly ride” to be totally smooth and easy.

I believe that in part, God allows suffering and challenges in our lives so that we have a reference point for our witness to others. Because of the things that we endure, we can better minister to others in the same condition. Illness, human loss, relationship difficulties, financial struggles, natural disasters and other experiences can create a bond of empathy and human understanding between us and those we encounter. When we can say to someone else, “This happened to me, and here’s how God got me through it”…they are more likely to listen – and trust that we truly do care about their plight. More importantly, they are more apt to believe that God really cares about them.

God wants us to demonstrate faithful obedience in all circumstances. Yes, it is hard to trust Him when you have been stripped of your health…the earthly presence of loved ones…your job, home, freedom, and/or dignity. When we realize that even Jesus was made to suffer, we realize that God is not picking on us. He is always with us…and in our “sufferings”, He gives us strength, courage, hope – and incredible care.

God equips us to serve Him – and witness to others – by giving us the necessary “tools”. Sometimes, this involves suffering in some manner. Are you prepared to use whatever God allows in your life to serve Him and model faithful obedience for others? Will you trust the example of Jesus and humbly follow God, no matter where He leads you and what obstacles may arise along the way?

Just how much are we willing to do for God? How far are we prepared to go to show God – and the world – that we belong to Him, no matter what happens? Are we able to take our “suffering” and “count it all good” for the glory of our Heavenly Father? Don’t you think it’s time we were?

Daily Devotional for February 20, 2020 – Sharing each other’s troubles and problems…are you a “Marlena” to the “Harolds”?

Galatians 6:1-3
Dear brothers, if a Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong. Share each other’s troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord’s command. If anyone thinks he is too great to stoop to this, he is fooling himself. He is really a nobody.<

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Greg and I enjoy a Facebook page called “The Dodo”. It features stories about animals and the people who love them. We are particularly drawn to stories about cats and dogs. This morning, I watched a video about Harold, a pit bull who was adopted from an animal shelter three times – and returned each time. I don’t know exactly what Harold’s “sin” was, but for some reason, his new owners all decided that he was not welcome in their homes.

Enter a woman named Marlena, who met Harold at the shelter and felt an instant connection. Marlena began visiting the shelter every day to take Harold on a walk. She even took him on short excursions…and she discovered that her bond with Harold extended beyond daily visits to the animal shelter. So one day, Marlena walked Harold to her car and drove him home…and they have been together ever since.

Marlena made an interesting statement about Harold…”There’s not much I don’t love about him.” In other words, Marlena recognizes that Harold is not perfect. She has worked to train Harold to respond to commands…but she notes that what he truly reacts to best is simply love and acceptance. I am grateful that there are “Marlenas” in the world to embrace the “Harolds” among us – both the four-legged and two-legged kind.

Here’s the thing…Jesus didn’t come to save the perfect – because there are none among us. We’ve all got something…done something…have things in our makeup that are sinful – and some have been deemed us downright disgusting. But Jesus sees none of this. He sees the person who is precious, lovable, and fully redeemable. Jesus sees the “Harold” in all of us. And as His disciples, we are called to do the same thing.

I’m not saying that you have to rescue every “stray” that comes along. I am simply saying that we must find room in our heart for all of God’s creatures. We must gently and lovingly show them a better path…and often, this begins with dropping judgment and pretense at the door. No one will believe that you represent the love of Jesus if you are condescending, judgmental – or hateful toward them. And let me tell you, people can ferret out these attitudes even when you think you are doing a good job of hiding them. Either you operate in genuine love and acceptance, or what you offer others is phony discipleship.

Search your heart. Spend some time in prayer and conversation with God. Ask Him to give you a “Marlena” heart that sees past the sins of others and notices what Jesus sees. Quit being hypocritical. The same Jesus who died for your sins and faults died for those of others. The same Jesus who loves you (warts and all), loves that other guy, too. And He is counting on you to demonstrate this…to walk in love, forgiveness, acceptance and inclusion…and to show the world that God’s love is for everyone…even the “Harolds” among us.

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