Even If He Does Not…

Nov 29 – Psalm 136:1,26

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.

Are we noticing a thankfulness theme here in the Bible Gateway verses of the day?  Yes, I think so.  But that’s good.  It’s certainly worth remembering 

Looking at the Shane and Shane journal on their website (which is an AMAZING piece of computer graphics if you ask me – check it out: www.shaneandshane.com), I was reminded of a particularly powerful verse in the book of Daniel.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are standing in front of King Nebuchadnezzar.  At this exact time, they are charged with the federal crime of not bowing down to the statue Nebuchadnezzar made of himself, and they are threatened with being thrown into a furnace.  This is what they say to the king in Daniel 3:17-18 -

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. [emphasis mine]

Did you catch that?  Those are some crazy significant words – “even if He does not.”  Our God is able to save us but even if he does not, we will not dishonor him.  We believe God is going to protect us, but even if he does not, even if we die, we will obey the things he has commanded us.  

What brought this verse to mind is the first line from today’s scripture – “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.”  I think, as humans, we so often judge the goodness of God based on our own standards of what we think is good.  We think of God as being good if a child is born healthy – but what if she isn’t?  We think of God being good if He allows an injured friend to live – but what if he doesn’t?  Will we still obey Him?  Will we still thank Him?

Praise God for the examples of faith and obedience He has given us in His word.  I pray that I can live my life to glorify God with an “even if He does not” mindset and thank Him even when my human eyes can’t quite see His goodness. 

When Thanks Makes God Known

Nov 28 – 1 Chronicles 16:8

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

You know what struck me about this verse when I first read it?  Oftentimes in the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament), poets and other authors will repeat themselves as a way of strengthening the meaning in their words.  This kind of writing is all over Psalms.  For example, Psalm 3:1 says “O LORD, how many are my foes!  How many rise up against me!”  That’s saying the same thing, right?  Ok.  So keep that mindset and read today’s verse again, making a mental break at the semicolon.  What if the first part of the verse means the same thing as the second part of the verse?

“Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name” = “Make known among the nations what he has done.”

It gives a different perspective, doesn’t it?  One of my favorite authors, Brennan Manning, points out that the defining characteristic of a person who genuinely trusts God is an attitude of thankfulness in all things.  This makes sense to me because if you can thank God for your circumstances even in the most difficult times, then you are trusting God – He is in control with His best for all of us in mind.  So if we have that kind of gratitude when other people around us don’t, it becomes a testimony to the strength and goodness we find in our God.  Now, of course, it is another matter entirely to develop the kind of trust that can be thankful in all circumstances…but that takes a lifetime so we’ll save it for another day. 

How do you make God known among the nations?  Perhaps being thankful is one way you’ve never thought of.  I know I hadn’t.  Think about the ways your thankfulness might open a door for others to be introduced to God.  And then try to live that way.

The Kingdom on Earth and Acceptable Worship

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Mine was plenty busy and filled with the many cousins and other family I love so much.  DevoZines should be back right around the start of next week so we can get back on track!   

Nov 26 – Hebrews 12:28

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.

Two things about this stand out to me.  First of all, that the author says “we are a receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.“  Hmm.  A kingdom.  That cannot be shaken.  That sounds so powerful to me.  Like the unshakeable kingdom itself would be earth-shaking.  That is here among us?  It seems so hard to believe sometimes, but it’s true.  The thing we have to remember is that our lives are what can bring that kingdom to life in a way that really is earth-shaking.  Today, choose a gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) and read Jesus’ words.  Now, what if He really meant what He said?  Wouldn’t that be a crazy upside down kingdom?  Take a look and tell me if you agree.

The second thing that jumps out to me is that the author tells us to “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.“  I don’t know about you but my worship involves some hand clapping, some singing, maybe some shouting if I’m doing certain David Crowder songs, and I might be moving my feet a little bit but “reverence and awe” would not be the words I would use to describe what I do.  As always, God is more concerned with the condition of our hearts than with our actions so I believe it is fully possible to be worshipping in the most fun ways and still be worshipping God in awe.  But let’s be honest – I think most of the time, we tend to miss that boat of reverence and awe.  What gets me about this verse is that it says to worship God acceptably in reverence and awe – reverence and awe are what is acceptable to God.  Reverence is “respect tinged with awe” and awe is described in part as being overwhelming.  Are you overwhelmed in your worship of God?  Take a look at a few verses from Job 38-41.  That inspires awe of God rather quickly.

Something that both frustrates me and comforts me about our relationship with God is that we are never finished.  We will never be perfect.  We will never be like God.  There will always be deeper places of God to explore and darker places of ourselves to expose.  And God will continue to shape us and awe us and recreate us.  Beautiful, isn’t it?

Thankful for the Joy in His Presence

Nov 20 – Psalm 95:1-2

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

Today was a good day.  Today was a needed day.  I spent all of yesterday distracting myself – sleeping, eating, playing frisbee, listening, etc. – but I have to admit that I was not yet ready to sit down with God.  But today, I was.  And as blissful as yesterday’s day full of slothful nothingness (or relaxing rejuvenation depending on your perspective) was, it still is eclipsed by the joy of being with God again.  To talk to Him again and write to Him again, to let Him guide my thoughts and my processing, to allow Him to be gently honest with me – that kind of day is the one I will take time and again.  I found myself driving with a smile instead of tears of frustration and soon afterward, tears borne of praise.  “Let us sing for joy to the Lord…Let us come before him with thanksgiving…”  Yes!  What a wonderful gift our government gave us in scheduling a day of thanks-giving, a break from the daily routine to take time for family and friends and to honor the God who gives us all things.

There is so much to be thankful for.  What comes to mind in your thankful heart this year?

A Confession – Oh, To Love Well

Nov 19 – Psalm 1:1-2

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

It has been quite the weekend for me.  I had the privilege of taking some of the wonderful youth from my church on a camping trip to a campground not so far away for their first experience with church camping.  A lot is asked of them, in terms of serving and cooperation and, overall, they really rose to the occasion.  Sunday morning, each of three groups presented a portion of our camp-style worship service.  The last group shared some verses that really caught me off-guard about Jesus who was rich making Himself poor for us.  At that point, I realized that, when I leave my job where I am now, the one thing I want to leave them with is some beginning knowledge of just how much they are loved – because, to some extent, I think every Christian believer has to start there.  God enabled me that morning to share my heart in the way I wanted to but something slammed me between the eyes later in the day - despite just how very much I want them to know they are loved, I’m not so sure I have demonstrated that love to them.

It is so easy to lose focus on the WHY.  It is so easy to concentrate on the actions in ministry.  I try to build the best group I can build and help individuals be the best individuals they can be…and I forget to just be Jesus to them.  I want to be one who “delights” in the Lord.  I want to show that to them.  I want to love them well so that, in time, they become the ones mentioned in these two verses who delight in the Lord.

What is your focus?  Where is your heart?  And if your intention are good, do your actions coincide with where your heart is?  Think about it.

And if you are any of my youth reading this, know that you’re hearing my heart.  I hope you will see Jesus in me more in the next month than I have shown you in the past.

Delighting in the Commands of God

Nov 15 – Psalm 119:143

Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight.

Hmmm…I’m pondering this verse.  Here are my semi-random thoughts:  My first thoughts is that “your commands are my delight” does not sound like something I would normally say.  Normally, we do not like people telling us what to do.  For that matter, we sometimes don’t like God telling us what to do either so why is the author delighting in God’s commands?  Well, the first part of the verse says “Trouble and distress have come upon me…”  When trouble and distress come upon me, I know my mind tends to get frazzled and I feel overwhelmed and I’d really just like someone to come in a fix everything.  So maybe God giving commands functions like that – His commands give some direction and some focus and maybe even some calm in the midst of some very stressful times.  In verse 105 of the same psalm, it says “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” – light that points the way out of those darker and frustrating times.

My other thought is that God’s commands – which could also be considered rules or laws – are really just boundaries for living.  We tend to see boundaries as such a bad thing, but consider what a world with no boundaries would be like.  Your first thoughts may be something like, Great!  I can stay out as late as I want!  or I can wear whatever I want!  or  I can drive as fast as I want!  But then, that means that, with no boundaries, people can steal from you and murder can’t be punished.  It means that 5 year olds could drive cars and mothers could leave their children.  In truth, while they sometimes seem restrictive or unnecessary, laws keep us safe and when laws come from God, they’re there to show us the way He created us to live.  Just like raising a child, you sometimes have to make them do things they don’t like just because you love them and want the best for them and you know what is best far more than they do.

Today, consider the boundaries that are in your life because of who God is.  Think about the ones you don’t mind and think about the ones you hate and remember that God has those boundaries there for you on purpose.  He wants His best – His holiness – for your life.  Find the up-side to His commands and maybe you’ll be able to delight in them just little bit more as well. 

When Christianity and the World ‘Crash,” It Can Be Pretty Great

Oh man.  I did it again.  I skipped a day!  I’m sorry.  I’ve been very scattered these last few days.  I hope you don’t hold it against me. 

Nov 14 – 1 Peter 3:18

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.

I love that Christian lyrics are not solely found in “Christian” songs.  Take a look at these lyrics from Daughtry’s song “Crashed”:

Well I was moving at the speed of sound.
Head-spinning, couldn’t find my way around, and
Didn’t know that I was going down.
Yeah, yeah.
Where I’ve been, well it’s all a blur.
What I was looking for, I’m not sure.
Too late and didn’t see it coming.
Yeah, yeah.

And then I crashed into you,
And I went up in flames.
Could’ve been the death of me,
But then you breathed your breath in me.
Then I crashed into you,
Like a runaway train.
You will consume me,
But I can’t walk away…

From your face, your eyes
They’re burned into me.
You saved me, you gave me
Just what I need.
Oh, just what I need.

Now, make that song about crashing into God.  Hebrews 12:29 (quoting from Deuteronomy) says that “our ‘God is a consuming fire.’”  Our old way of life is consumed, our earthly human desires are consumed, and God breathes His breath into us to raise us to life, just as Jesus was, only our resurrection is one of the Spirit.  And this is Chris Daughtry singing this!  I love it!

What things outside of immediate Christian culture speak to you about the truth of who God is?  What messages do you see in “secular” music or movies or TV that remind you about who God is and who He created people to be?  Discuss 

*If you want another great song related to these lyrics, check out “Consuming Fire” by Third Day.  It’s one of my all-time favorites!

Prayer Power x2

Nov 12 – Colossians 1:9

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

I’m not going to lie.  I had a rough morning this morning.  I woke up from a not-so-pleasant dream and still had some upsetting things on my mind from last night and I just generally didn’t want to see the world.  I came into the office and attempted to act normally which I did for the most part, but I don’t try to hide my emotions much from my wonderful co-workers.  They knew I was kind of down but didn’t really delve into why.  About 10am, I got a text message from a friend of mine – someone I haven’t spent much time with and can’t spent much time with because of where we live but someone who I love nonetheless and who I was blessed to spend some quality time with just last week.  All it said was “Hey!  Is there anything i can pray 4 you about today?”  At that time today, that one simple question brought tears to my eyes.  It was just what I needed. 

Have you ever thought about the power of prayer?  Not just how powerful it is when we share with God what we need but how powerful it is in our relationships with other people.  If you’re anything like me, maybe you pray a lot more for yourself than you do for anyone else.  Other people might come to mind every now and then, but most of the time, they’re not your main concern in prayer.  But have you ever had someone ask you what they can be praying about in your life?  It is such a blessing to me when someone asks that!  It means that, not only do they care about me but they care enough to spend some time talking to God about me.  Wow. 

That is my challenge to you this week.  It may be hard and it may feel unnatural to you at first, but ask someone close to you what you can be praying for in his/her life right now.  You never know how much they might need that outlet at the moment.  The hard part comes AFTER you ask though - then you actually have to pray!  Be a blessing to someone in that way this week and while you’re at it, consider what a privilege it is to be able to come to God any time you want. 

The Crazy Reasoning of God and Scarlet Worms

Nov 9 – Isaiah 1:18

    ”Come now, let us reason together,”
       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.”

I like this verse, in part because of the first line which I had never really noticed before.  Only God could say, “Come, let us reason together” and then go on to describe something that will happen that is almost impossible to do.  Have you ever tried to get grape juice out of carpet?  How about red Kool-Aid?  (I had a friend in middle school who dyed part of her blonde hair with red Kool-Aid and it didn’t come out for 6 months!)  Have you ever had to get a spot of blood out of a rag or a favorite shirt?  It can be next to impossible – and that’s with modern-day technology!  In the ancient world, I’m pretty sure that, once something was dyed, it was dyed, you know what I mean?  Those red stains just don’t go away and they sure would be noticeable.  But as far as our sin stains are concerned, when God looks at us through Jesus, he sees snow, wool.

I just learned something, right this minute.  The word used here for “crimson” actually makes reference to the worm that crimson dye made from.  Scarlet or crimson dye was gathered from the dried (dead) body of a female scarlet worm.  When this worm is ready to give birth, she attaches herself to a tree and lays eggs under her body, protecting them.  They remain there until they hatch, at which point the young go on about their new lives.  The mother, however, attaches herself so firmly to the tree that she cannot leave and so she dies, staining both her young and the tree bright red.  Crimson stains from a dying protector cover the young, bringing them new life.  Sound familiar?

The richness of God’s word never ceases to amaze me… 

*If you’re interested in looking further into this, just Google “scarlet worm.”  And if you’re interested in learning the original meanings of other words in the Bible, visit www.blueletterible.org.

You Get A Daily Choice!

All right.  No more devo skipping for me, DevoZine or no DevoZine!    Biblegateway.com has a verse of the day that I’ll use from here on out until I get the DevoZines in the mail.

Nov 8 – Joshua 24:15

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

It’s interesting to me that Joshua truly lays this before the people.  He gives them a choice – “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”  The wonderful and frightening thing is that we are each given this choice every single day.  The choice we make daily will determine many of our actions and will influence the ways we interact with people.  Jesus addresses this point in Luke 9:23 when he says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” [italics mine]  What happens if you choose to follow Jesus?  How do you act?  What about if you choose to follow something else?  Maybe you would rather not choose, but a famous Bob Dylan song speaks true - ”You Gotta Serve Somebody.” 

The other thing that stands out to me about this verse is the last line – “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”  Joshua takes a strong stance here.  He makes a statement as the spiritual leader of the household and declares where his family stands.  This is the kind of firm commitment we need to make in our lives each day and it is the kind of commitment parents make that creates a family founded on faith.  What kind of faith home are you in now?  What kind of faith home did you grow up in?  How did that influence what your faith means to you now?  I encourage you to make that commitment or at least to explore what it would mean for your life.  Now is a great time be asking questions!