Anyone

Readings for today: Amos 6-9

God can use anyone. From any background or life experience. From any nation, clan, tribe, or family. No matter how young or old. No matter how rich or poor. From every level of education. No matter your caste or social status. God can use you. All he requires is a ready and willing heart. A humble spirit. Open hands. This is what marked Amos. He was not a priest. He didn’t come from a line of prophets. He was not part of the royal family. He was a simple man. A working man. A man accustomed to hard labor. He was a herdsman. A harvester of figs. Listen to how he describes himself to the powerful people in the northern kingdom of Israel. “I was not a prophet or the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman, and I took care of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’” (Amos‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

The Lord took him from the flock and made him a prophet. It’s a great reminder that God doesn’t so much call the qualified as He qualifies the called. At the heart of the prophetic task was the ability to hear and obey God’s voice. To respond to the will of the Holy Spirit. The courage to speak God’s truth to power. The endurance to persevere no matter what the cost. Amos was all of this and more and he stands in a long of line of unlikely people whom God used to call His people back to repentance. Back to faith. Back to the covenant. Amos speaks specifically to the injustices of his day. He sees the wealth gap between rich and poor. He sees how the poor and powerless were being exploited by the rich and powerful. He sees all the idolatry. He sees all the oppression and injustice. And he sees visions of God’s righteous judgment. Like most prophets, he also sees a time when Israel will return to the Lord so he offers a note of hope. He sees a time when God will again show His people mercy and restore their fortunes. “I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel. They will rebuild and occupy ruined cities, plant vineyards and drink their wine, make gardens and eat their produce. I will plant them on their land, and they will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them. The Lord your God has spoken.” (Amos‬ ‭9‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭CSB)

Again, God can use anyone. I remember when God first called me. I was a failed college student with little to no qualifications and nothing to suggest I would make anything of my life. However, I was desperate enough to say “yes” and Jesus has taken me on an adventure greater than any I could have planned or imagined. What about you? Where do you find yourself today? Are you willing to say “yes” to the Lord like Amos and so many others who have gone before you? What’s holding you back? What’s stopping you? What’s keeping you from living out God’s call on your life? Remember, God qualifies those whom He calls. All He needs is a willing heart and a humble spirit and open hands.

Readings for tomorrow: Hosea 1-5

Good and Evil

Readings for today: Amos 1-5

Two conversations. Both with pastors. Both godly men leading vital and vibrant congregations. Both dear friends of mine. The first conversation took place a few weeks back at a denominational event I was part of where I asked my friend how he stays up on the news. Social media? Cable news? News apps? “I don’t do any of that”, he replied, “for the sake of my mental health.” The second conversation took place this week with a local pastor in a community just north of us. As soon as we sat down, he wanted to talk about the Supreme Court decisions that came down that morning that will impact his community. It was clear he’s plugged in and very aware of what’s happening in our culture. As I read through Amos this morning, I found myself wondering what he would say to both pastors.

We are about to begin a journey through the prophetic literature of the Old Testament. The words we read are delivered to the people of God at specific times in specific seasons to address specific issues happening in the world around them. The prophets take no prisoners. They speak God’s Word with boldness and passion and without fear of consequences. They often suffer terribly as a result. They are often supernaturally aware of what’s happening in the courts of kings and princes who govern the different tribal kingdoms around them. They see the injustices and oppression taking place. They take up the cause of the poor and powerless. They fight for the orphan and widow. They never stop calling God’s people to repentance. They are non-partisan. They are more committed to God’s Kingdom than to any human kingdom, even the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. They are not hypocrites. They don’t make excuses for “their team” while attacking those on the “other team.” They simply call good, good and evil, evil. Listen again to the words of Amos for example, “Pursue good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord, the God of Armies, will be with you as you have claimed. Hate evil and love good; establish justice at the city gate. Perhaps the Lord, the God of Armies, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” (Amos‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭CSB)

So back to my two friends. I think Amos would have some challenging words to the first pastor. I believe he would challenge my friend to push past his anxiety and fear and engage the culture. I believe he would challenge my friend to follow the news and pay attention to what our local, state, and national leaders are saying. I believe he would challenge my friend to get involved in public policy discussions and teach his people how to engage those discussions with boldness and passion and grace and love. I also think Amos would have some affirming words for the second pastor. I believe he would affirm his willingness to wade into difficult conversations. I believe he would affirm my friend’s willingness to speak prophetically on behalf of his people. Most of all, I believe he would challenge both pastors to remain more committed to God’s Kingdom than to any kingdom of this world. Stay true to God’s Word above any political party or platform and call out both good and evil when they see it. Of course, Amos’ words are not just for my friends. They are for all of us. May we prove faithful.

Readings for tomorrow: Amos 6-9

Anger

Readings for today: Jonah 1-4

I grew up a Star Wars fan. It was almost required as a child of the late 20th century. I remember when all the movies came out. I remember seeing The Return of the Jedi at the movie theater in Estes Park and my little brother standing up and pretending to join the light saber duel at the end. My favorite character was Yoda, of course. Dude was awesome. Not only the most powerful Jedi living but he always had the best lines. One of them has stuck with me even after all these years. “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” I thought about this line as I read through the last chapter of Jonah this morning.

Jonah never stops running from God. He runs from God when he is first called. Actually goes in the opposite direction from where he supposed to go. Books passage on a ship that will take him to what was considered the ends of the earth at the time. The point furthest away from where God wants him. God literally uses a storm and a great fish to turn Jonah around. And even though Jonah accomplishes his mission, he is still as far away from God as he can be in his heart. He is angry about revival. Angry Nineveh survived. Angry that God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and quick to relent from disaster. He might as well be in Tarshish. And this prompts an important question. “Is it right for you to be angry?” (Jonah 4:4 CSB)

It’s an important question. One for all of us to ponder. There is so much anger in the world. Anger over injustice. Anger over unrighteousness. Anger over evil and immorality. Anger over corruption. Anger over all the pain and heartbreak. And all that anger leads to hate. Hatred for those we believe are perpetrators. Perpetrators by what they say or do not say. Perpetrators by what they do or do not do. Perpetrators by how they vote or who they support. And that hatred often breaks out in all sorts of violent ways which only leads to suffering. Jonah was angry with the Assyrians because of all the pain they had inflicted on his people. His anger at them led to hatred. And his hatred led him to hope for their suffering. What Jonah failed to see was that he was no different than the Assyrians. He was as much a perpetrator as they were and yet God showed compassion on him. The same is true for us. All of us are perpetrators in some way. We all help perpetuate systems of injustice and corruption and unrighteousness and evil. We are all sinners and yet God showed grace and compassion to us. We have no right to be angry. Instead, we should align our hearts with God’s heart and work for the redemption of all those whom God loves.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Divine Providence

Readings for today: 2 Kings 14-15, 2 Chronicles 25

There is so much about this world that remains a mystery. So much about human life and human history that defies explanation. For example, we all seem to have this innate sense within us that the world should run on justice and fairness and equality and peace. We feel it viscerally when these principles are violated. We hate seeing bad things happen to good people. We can’t understand why good things happen to bad people. We grieve when the innocent suffer. We become enraged when evil seems to be winning. And there’s something deep inside that longs to make sense of it all. So we look for meaning. We look for purpose. Ultimately, we look for hope. Hope for a better world. Hope for a better life. Hope for a better future.

The same was true in ancient Israel. A new king ascends to the throne. He’s not a good king. In fact, he’s an evil king. He doesn’t worship God. He commits all the same sins as his forbears. The nation will descend into chaos after he dies. But he reigns for over forty years. And in that time, he restores the national borders of Israel to their original mandate. He rules over a “golden age” of sorts for the Northern Kingdom. He is blessed with prosperity and power. “In the fifteenth year of Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash, Jeroboam son of Jehoash became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from all the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit. He restored Israel’s border from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word the Lord, the God of Israel, had spoken through his servant, the prophet Jonah son of Amittai from Gath-hepher. For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter for both slaves and free people. There was no one to help Israel. The Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel under heaven, so he delivered them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.” (2 Kings‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬-‭27‬ ‭CSB) Essentially, the ancient authors are trying to make sense of it all here. How can it be that a king who does evil in the Lord’s sight is able to be so successful?

The answer is divine providence. God working in the world and through human beings to accomplish His will. Many may be familiar with the words from Romans 8:28 that talks about God using all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. The point in that verse is that God uses even the bad things for the good of His chosen people. The converse is also true. God uses the good things that happen to bad people for the good of His chosen people. Jeroboam was an evil king and yet God saw the affliction of His people and used even this evil man to deliver them. The point of it all is that nothing is beyond the reach of God. Nothing is outside His sovereign control.

Now think about our own situation in our nation, in our state, in our local communities. Think about the political leaders at all levels of society. All of us probably have opinions on whether they are good or evil and the reality is they all are a mixture of both. Placing our trust in them is a losing proposition because they are human. They are sinful. They will make mistakes. They don’t have much power in the grand scheme of things. So we have to look beyond them and above them to God. We place our trust in Him. We trust He is working out His sovereign purposes through those He raises up regardless of whether we voted for them or what we think of them.

Readings for tomorrow: Jonah 1-4

Mentor

Readings for today: 2 Kings 12-13, 2 Chronicles 24

My first mentor was and is a man named Don Bachman. Don became my mentor soon after I became a Christian in college and we still talk almost every month. It is not a stretch to say that I am the man and the husband and the father and the pastor I am today because of Don’s influence. In addition to Don, I can count any number of other mentors God brought into my life over the years who also shaped me into the person I am today. Charles Tyler. Berk Sterling. Peter Barnes. Doug Garrard. Tom Gillespie. Jim Kay. Cleophus LaRue. Sam Atchison. Burwell Bennett. Steve Hayner. Tom Melton. Bud Sparling. Randy MacFarland. David Schultz. Harry Lightner. Ray Noah. The list is significant. In addition to the godly men, God used to mentor me, there have been any number of godly women along the way as well. Joan Smart. Fran Atchison. Daisy Grimes. Sissy Crowe. Ruth Gamble. Sharol Hayner. Sarah Arnold. Linda Noah. Most of all, my mother, Esther Resler. Yes, the mentoring from these women took on a different tone and form than the mentoring I received from the men but it was formative nonetheless.

By all accounts, Joash was a good king. For most of his life and for most of his reign, he was faithful to the Lord. This was no accident. The Bible makes it clear that he had an exceptional mentor. “And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.” (2 Kings‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬) Jehoiada was both a godly man and a godly priest. He served the Lord until the age of 130 and they buried him among the kings of Israel in the city of David because of all the good he had accomplished in his life. Soon after he passed, Joash came under the influence of his fellow princes. They led him astray. He neglected the Temple he had repaired and abandoned the worship of God. He killed those who confronted him, even Jehoiada’s own son! Finally, he was assassinated by his own servants.

When you look back over the course of your life, who are the godly influences who shaped you into the person you are today? And who are you, in turn, mentoring in your life right now? I am blessed to meet with several men on a regular basis and we talk about life and faith and how we might follow God more closely. We discuss deep issues and we pray for each other regularly. It’s intense work at times but it’s good and I can see the difference it is making in their lives. The same difference I hope Don and all the others can see that they’ve made in my life. Mentoring is a key component to discipleship. Make sure you have people in your life who are mentoring you and make sure you are mentoring others. This is how we pass on the faith.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 14-15, 2 Chronicles 25

Judge

Readings for today: 2 Kings 9-11, 2 Chronicles 22:10-12, 23

Today’s reading is harsh, brutal, and terrifying. How can we begin to get our minds around the judgment we see in this passage? First of all, we have to remember God’s commitment to work through human beings to bring about His sovereign will. Justice in the ancient near east was a communal affair. It involved not only the person who committed the crimes but their entire families. It included those who supported them. Everyone connected with the former regime was hunted down and put to death. So when God calls Jehu to execute justice on the entire line of Ahab, the impact ripples out to every man, woman, and child connected to them.

I know it’s hard to get our minds around the blood and violence. It’s hard to understand how this could be fair and just and righteous in God’s eyes. How could a good God allow such unrestrained violence in His name? Once again we have to take a step back and remember that though the Bible was written for us, it was not written to us. What happens in today’s passage would have made perfect sense to the people living in ancient Israel at the time. They would have perceived it to be fair and just and righteous according to the cultural standards of their day. And while we may struggle to understand why they made the choices they did, it should cause us to reflect on the justice systems of our own day and age. What will future generations say about us three thousand years from now?

Once we take a step back from all the blood and gore, we can begin to understand and see the greater purposes of God. He alone has the right to judge. He alone has the right to execute justice on the earth. The line of Ahab got what they rightfully deserved after generations of false worship and murder and theft and corruption. God proved faithful to His promise to avenge the death of Naboth and his family. He proved faithful to His promise to bring an end to the pagan ways of Jezebel. And their lives serve as a warning to us. Unless we turn from our sin and place our faith in Jesus Christ, we too will come under the judgment of God. Only the blood of Jesus Christ shed on our behalf can satisfy the justice of God. May we humble ourselves before Him, confess our sin, and call on the One who is “faithful and just” to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 12-13, 2 Chronicles 24

Legacy

Readings for today: 2 Kings 8:16-29, 2 Chronicles 21-22:1-9

Ahab was a terrible king for all kinds of reasons. He broke just about every one of the Ten Commandments. He chose to worship Baal rather than Yahweh. He made graven images. He took the Lord’s name in vain. He lied. He coveted. He murdered. He stole. He treated sin flippantly and “did more to arouse the anger of the Lord” than any of the kings who came before him. His wife Jezebel was at least his equal in unrighteousness. She partnered with him in all of his crimes. She sought the death of Elijah, Israel’s greatest prophet. Together, they did more to lead Israel astray than any other king in her history.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to us when their influence exerts itself generationally over their descendants. Jehoram, king of Judah, came under their sway by marrying their daughter. As such, he chose to walk away from his own father’s example of faithfulness and instead “walk in the ways of the kings of Israel.” The results are predictable. The same things that happen to Israel begin to happen in Judah. War breaks out on their borders. Tribes like Edom successfully revolt and set up kingdoms of their own. Pagan shrines known as “high places” are re-established throughout the hill country. God’s people begin to worship other gods. After Jehoram (or Joram) dies, his son Ahaziah follows his ungodly legacy. He even makes a strategic alliance with the house of Ahab against Syria but it ends in great tragedy. The house of Ahaziah comes to an end. Jehoram, Ahaziah’s father, dies “to no one’s regret.”

It’s a sobering reminder to us all. Generational sin is real. The sins of the fathers and mothers are often passed down to the children. Sin that goes unaddressed in our lives is often repeated by those who follow us. We exert a shaping influence for good or for evil on those around us, especially those in our own homes. How often have I seen my own weaknesses and struggles reflected in my children? How often have I seen my doubts and fears reproduced in the people I serve? How often have my own sinful tendencies come back to haunt me? Thankfully, God is faithful. As I humble myself and repent before Him, He is faithful to forgive and He is faithful to make my life a living demonstration of the gospel. Through my brokenness, His surpassing grace and power makes itself known and this too ripples out across the generations. So it comes down to this…what kind of legacy do I want to pass on? And what I am doing today to build that legacy?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 9-11, 2 Chronicles 22:10-12, 23

Opportunity

Readings for today: 2 Kings 5-7, 8:1-15

Every challenge presents an opportunity. It’s simply a matter of perspective. As I think back over the course of my ministry career, I cannot tell you the number of times I have walked with someone through a challenging situation like a terminal diagnosis or an impossible business decision or a seemingly irreparable marital conflict only to have God show up and perform a miracle. I’ve seen the same thing in the churches I’ve served. Challenging circumstances that take us to the edge of our resources and beyond. Those present the best opportunities for us to experience God in a powerful way. I think of when the little church in Mobile, AL I served became a staging point for relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. I think of the time that little church opened her doors to host families dealing with homelessness in our community. Both of these efforts were beyond us. We simply didn’t have the people or the resources to pull them off. But God called us to step out in faith and met us in a miraculous way.

The readings for today are full of such opportunities. I think of Naaman, the great general of Israel’s enemies, coming to Israel to be healed of his disease. The initial response of the king makes perfect sense. Aram must be looking for a pretext for war. There is no way the king of Israel can guarantee miraculous healing. It’s not possible from a human perspective and yet the Lord had other plans. “When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.” (‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭CSB‬) We know from the New Testament that God desires all to be saved and come to a knowledge of His truth. This was true in the Old Testament as well. Israel was to serve as a light to the nations. A blessing to the nations. And here was a chance for her to fulfill her calling. So Naaman is healed and restored and sent back to his king where he will worship the one true God for the rest of his life. It must have been a powerful testimony.

It’s often been said that in order to have a testimony, one must first endure a test. Think about the tests you’ve had to endure over the course of your life. The challenges you’ve had to face and overcome. Did God not show up in those moments in a powerful way? Did God not meet you in those moments and work miraculously on your behalf? As you reflect back on those memories of what God has done for you, does it not encourage you as you think about your future? Does it not shape your perspective as you think about the challenges you may be facing today?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 8:16-29, 2 Chronicles 21-22:1-9

Miracles

Readings for today: 2 Kings 1-4

Why does God perform miracles? What is the point of signs and wonders? Why do they seemingly happen in some places but not others? Why do they appear so random? In our reading today, both Elijah and Elisha perform miracle after miracle. Future telling. Pools of water suddenly appearing in the desert. Water purification. Incredible military victories. Vessels overflowing with oil. Resurrection. Driving out poison with flour. Multiplying bread to feed a hundred men. To the skeptical, stories like these make the Bible seem primitive and superstitious. To the doubter, stories like these can be confusing and frustrating as they wrestle with why they don’t seem to happen much anymore. To the faithful, stories like these encourage belief and deeper trust in God. However, the question still remains...why does God perform miracles?

Why does God break through the time/space continuum? Why does He suspend the laws of nature and the universe? Why does He intervene in certain situations but not others? Reach down and touch certain lives and not others? These are important questions that must be faced and thankfully, the Bible provides a clear answer.

First and foremost, miracles are given for the purpose of pointing God’s people to faith. They are not ends in and of themselves. They are signposts. Pointing beyond themselves. They are given to direct our attention heavenward to the Lord of all creation. The Author of all life. They are stark reminders that we are not at the mercy of our circumstances. This world and all the natural laws that govern it - from gravity to thermodynamics to photosynthesis - is not all there is. There is a God who stands above and beyond such laws, who is able to set them aside for reasons He Himself only knows and understands.  

Secondly, miracles are given so that God’s people might always cling to hope. Even when circumstances seem their most dire. When evil seems to be on the march. Injustice and oppression winning the day. Persecution at its fiercest. Rage and violence burning white hot. Disease ravages the body. Famine and poverty threaten our well-being. Even in the darkest of times, we still have hope. Hope in a God who can and does intervene. Hope in a God who draws near the broken-hearted and crushed in spirit. Hope in a God who fights on behalf of the poor and oppressed and outcast and stranger. 

Third, miracles are given to remind us how limited and finite we are as creatures. Power. Wealth. Influence. Control. We like to live with the illusion that we are the masters of our own destinies. The captain of our fates. We like to think we are in charge. We like to act like we’ve got everything under control. But miracles remind us who truly holds the power. Miracles remind us of our relative insignificance in the grand scheme of things. Miracles bring us face to face with the power of God and, like Job, we shut our mouths and fall on our faces before Him. 

Ultimately, miracles force us to look beyond ourselves. Beyond our needs. Beyond our circumstances. Beyond our wisdom. Beyond our strength. Miracles force us to trust in God. To trust in His purposes and His design. We cannot bend God to our will. There is no magic formula to get God to do our bidding. Miracles happen on His time and in accordance with His will. Our job is to believe. To have faith. To place our lives in His hands and trust Him for the outcome.  

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

The Spirit of God

Readings for today: 1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 18-20

I used to wonder what the Bible meant when it talked about the Spirit of God “coming over” or “coming upon” a person. For example, in today’s reading, the people of Judah are fasting and praying and worshipping when the Spirit of God comes over a man named Jahaziel and he delivers a Word from the Lord. It’s a word of encouragement. A word of blessing. A word of victory. It’s a word that promises God’s miraculous deliverance and challenges them to simply stand and bear witness. Clearly it was a powerful word because the king and all the people immediately fell down on their faces before the Lord when they heard it. So how did they know? How did they know Jahaziel’s words were from God and not just wishful thinking? How did they know Jahaziel was speaking by the Spirit of God and not from his own heart? What were the signs and what convinced them?

Like I said above, I used to ask these questions a lot when I’d come across these stories. But then I met a man named Bud Sparling and I experienced firsthand what it looks like when the Holy Spirit comes over a person. It is undeniable. It is unexplainable. It is overwhelming. For Bud, it would begin with several deep breaths. The kind of breaths that come from the deepest part of the diaphragm. His body language would shift. His voice would change. His words were always direct and on point and grounded in Scripture. They were words of encouragement. They were words of challenge. They were words that called us to confession and repentance. And after the episode passed, Bud’s body language and voice would return to normal and he would never remember what he said.

My experience with Bud answered a lot of my questions. He taught me what it looked like to walk by the Spirit and be filled with the Spirit. He taught me how to listen to the Spirit’s voice especially as I prepare to preach week over week. I began to realize the truth that every time I have the privilege of sharing God’s Word with His people or with someone I meet along the way, the Spirit is at work, coming upon or coming over me to make Himself known. As you pray today, ask the Spirit to come over you. Ask Him to fill you with His Word so that you might deliver a word of encouragement and hope to those around you today.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 1-4

Pressure

Readings for today: 1 Kings 20-21

At first glance, the story of Naboth’s vineyard seems to not be a big deal. Not cast against the backdrop of the geopolitical scene in the Ancient Near East. It would seem that Ahab has much bigger fish to fry as he wrestles over his relationship with his neighbors. But the true intentions of our hearts are often revealed in how we handle the small challenges of life. On some level, it’s easier to understand why Ahab makes the decision he makes regarding Ben-Hadad. He is doing his best to secure alliances to keep his kingdom safe. Now it’s not the right decision. It certainly isn’t God’s will and he rightfully falls under judgment but I think we all can recognize the pressures he’s under. But the episode with Naboth is petty and small and reveals the depths of the greed and selfishness that runs through Ahab’s heart.

Ancestral land is a big deal in Israel. It traces all the way back to the original allotment given to each tribe and each family when Joshua divided the land. This is why Naboth resists the king when he asks for his vineyard. We’re not just talking about a business transaction here. We’re talking about transgressing the law of God who gave Naboth and his family the land in the first place. To relinquish his land to the king is to dishonor the gift of God. That’s why he cannot accept the king’s money or even the offer of a better vineyard. Jezebel obviously has no qualms about stealing the land. She was a pagan princess with no connection to the covenant relationship God has with Israel. She doesn’t understand it much less respect it. She simply does what all those with power do. She takes what she wants when she wants it. She arranges a hit on Naboth and Ahab embraces the scheme thus cementing his doom and that of his family.

Now think about your own life. How have you responded to the pressures of trusting God when facing the big challenges of your life? Even more importantly, how do you trust God in the small things? The everyday decisions you have to make. The ordinary. The mundane. The seemingly insignificant. Nothing is insignificant in the eyes of God. All of life is sacred. Every decision is an opportunity to trust the Lord. Make sure you are honoring God today.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 18-20

Faith

Readings for today: 1 Kings 17-19

Faith doesn’t often make much sense. Not from a human, rational perspective. Noah building a boat before it rains. Abraham leaving his home and family to go on a journey without knowing the destination. Moses stepping into the water and raising his staff before the Red Sea is parted. Throughout the Bible, the people of God are called to walk by faith and not by sight. To step out in faith rather than cling to safety and security. And the woman we meet in our passage today is a great example. She is down to her last bit of flour and her last ounce of oil. She barely has enough to feed herself and her son one final meal before laying down to die. Then she meets Elijah. The man of God. And he challenges her to step out in faith by making a small loaf for him first and then use the rest to make some for her and her son. And amazingly enough, she does! And then she experiences the miraculous provision of God as He continually fills her jars with flour and oil.

I try to put myself in her shoes. How would I have responded to Elijah’s request? Are you crazy? You want me to feed you first and then eat the leftovers? The crust? The crumbs? What a selfish thing for you to even ask! I think I would have missed out on the miracle. I wouldn’t have had the faith to trust. I wouldn’t have had the humility and heart to serve. I wouldn’t have been able to make the sacrifice. But the woman considered Elijah more important than herself. She considered hospitality to be a sacred act. She was generous to the point of self-denial. We don’t know a lot about her background. She appears and disappears quickly from the pages of Scripture. She’s a bit player in grand narrative of salvation and yet what a role she plays! What an example she sets!

Whenever I read stories like this and think to myself, “I could never do what she did”, God is always quick to remind me I’m not in her situation. I am not a woman living in ancient Israel during a terrible drought and down to my last bit of food. But even though her circumstances were different than mine, God’s call remains the same. God has brought all kinds of people across my path. Godly men and women. Ungodly men and women. Christian and non-Christian alike. All of them made in the image of God. All of them loved by God. And my call is to serve. To give. To offer all that I have and all that I am to feed them and nourish them and bless them. Especially in the spiritual desert that is our culture. The spiritual drought we are experiencing as a people. And every time I do, I get to experience the miracle of God’s provision just as she did. This is what it means to walk by faith and not by sight.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 20-21

Missional

Readings for today: 1Kings 15:25-34, 1 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 17

For over ten years, I’ve been teaching at a local seminary. The focus of my work is usually evangelism and mission though occasionally I teach some pastoral leadership courses. Whenever I teach, I try to focus my students outward. On the community where they are planted and where they will serve. One way I do that is through what I call the “Immersion Experience.” Basically, the student has to go out into the community and find a local gathering place. It could be a coffee shop, bar, gym, park, you name it. Just a place people in the community gather and spend intentional time there. Usually I ask them to reflect on a question or two while they are there as well. This is not just something I ask my students to do. It’s a practice I engage in myself. For almost sixteen years, I’ve been hanging out at Fika Coffee on Main Street or the Tailgate Bar and Grill in my community. I’ve built relationships with baristas and bartenders. Servers and general managers. Regulars who frequent these establishments. It’s been fun to get to know them. It’s led to all kinds of wonderful Spirit-filled conversations. I’ve been able to share the gospel many times over. Simply because I am present. Simply because I am there.

One of the more amazing things about the reign of Jehoshaphat is he sends his officials and Levites out to teach the people. He sends them out of Jerusalem into the surrounding villages and towns and communities to share the Word of God. They take the Law of God with them and they go throughout all of Judah to preach and to teach and the result is amazing. The “terror of the Lord” falls on all the kingdoms surrounding Judah. Some of them even bring tribute to Jehoshaphat. Why? Because Israel is always at her strongest when she is at her most obedient. The more faithful she is to the Law, the more the Lord protects her and brings her peace. The more she aligns her heart with God’s heart, the more she is blessed. It is the Lord who protects her. It is the Lord who strengthens her. It is the Lord who is her fortress and strong tower. This is the point I think the author is trying to make by placing Jehoshaphat’s educational reforms before the description of his military might. Because one necessarily follows the other. Jehoshaphat would have no strength if he didn’t have the Lord.

Now fast forward two thousand years. Imagine what could happen if churches would focus more on their “sending” capacity rather than their “seating” capacity. Imagine what could happen if individual Christians fulfilled their calling to take the light of the gospel to the world, starting in their own homes and neighborhoods. Imagine what could happen if we saw ourselves as sent out to teach the Word of the Lord to everyone in our community. This is the heart of what it means to be missional. It means we focus all of our energy and effort outward to a world in desperate need. It means we take all that we have learned and all that we have been given and we seek to share it with those around us.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 17-19

Fathers

Readings for today: 1 Kings 15:1-24, 2 Chronicles 13-16

Yesterday was Father’s Day. A day we take time to celebrate our fathers and what they mean to us. It’s become a bittersweet day for me. My father has been dead now for over a year and I miss him. At the same time, he wasn’t a perfect dad. He and I struggled in our relationship for a lot of those years. He battled alcoholism as well as a host of other physical issues over the years. It wasn’t easy for him or for those around him. Thankfully, he and I were able to forgive and reconcile in the latter years of his life. He became an amazing grandfather to my kids and we became good friends. Miraculously, I was able to lead him to Christ and baptize him in the Jordan River when we were in Israel about a year and a half before he died. That memory remains one of God’s greatest gifts to me.

Father’s Day can be a mixed bag. For some it is a day of celebration. They’ve been blessed to have a great dad. Perhaps even a godly dad. A dad who poured his life into them. A dad who provided for them. A dad who served them. A dad who taught them about Jesus. For others, it’s a painful day. They don’t have a great dad. Their dad walked out on them. Their dad abused them. Their dad cursed them. Their dad certainly didn’t teach them about the love of Jesus. For still others like me, it’s a bittersweet day. They’ve lost their dad. They miss his wisdom and advice. They miss his hugs and affection. They miss his faithful presence. Fathers serve a special role in our lives. They have a high calling which is to do their best to reflect the character of their Heavenly Father to their children. So many kids form their view of God based on their relationship with their dad.

I thought about the power of fathers as I read the verses for today. As we read deeper into the histories of God’s chosen people, we begin to see patterns emerge. Some kings are faithful and accomplish great things for God. Some kings are faithless and fall under His judgment. All of them are a mixed bag to some extent, seeking God faithfully at times and falling short at other times. We’ve already seen this reflected in the lives of David and Solomon and Rehoboam. Today we read about Abijah and Asa. Two men who followed their fathers’ example. The judgment of the author of 1 Kings is that Abijah did not wholly walk with the Lord. He continued the pattern of sins that his father did and yet God remained faithful for the sake of His covenant with David. The author of the Chronicles is less harsh in judging Abijah. He acknowledges the way Abijah called on God in his war with Jeroboam. Still it seems clear that Abijah left a mixed legacy to his own son, Asa. Asa fairs much better. He “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” though he did not remain true all his days. He cleansed Judah of her idolatry. He set an example by giving generously to the Temple. He cried out to God when faced with overwhelming odds in his war with Zerah the Ethiopian. Perhaps most importantly, he led a covenant renewal ceremony for all of Judah. However, towards the end of his life, his courage failed and his faith in God faltered. When the king of Israel invaded, Asa sought help from Syria rather than from God. When confronted, he refused to repent and even became cruel. God’s judgment fell. He contracted a wasting disease. His reign ended in conflict. His life serves as a sobering reminder to us all.

What kind of father did you have? Was he a godly man? Did he show you how to love Jesus? Did he teach you how to pray, how to read God’s Word, how to worship and serve? Did he leave a spiritual legacy? If you are a father, what kind of dad are you? Are you godly? Are you showing your children how to love Jesus? Are you teaching them how to pray, how to read God’s Word, how to worship and serve? Are you planning on leaving a spiritual legacy? If you are not a father yet but long to be one, what plans are you making right now to make sure you will be the kind of godly father your children need you to be? How are you developing your character? How are you growing your relationship with Christ? How are you preparing for that day when your child arrives and you’re given both the opportunity and the responsibility to raise them in the Lord? By the way, these are great questions for mothers as well. They are worthy of reflection for anyone who is a parent, longs to be a parent, or who serves as a spiritual parent for the children in a local church family.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 15:25-34, 1 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 17

Difference

Readings for today: 1 Kings 13-14, 2 Chronicles 11-12

Several years ago, I had a conversation with an atheist friend of mine. He and I were discussing what difference - if any - being a Christian actually makes on a person’s life. He cited example after example of Christians he knew who lived just like he lived. No discernible difference in the way they did business, the way they treated others, the way they engaged in community. He cited example after example of churches and ministries across the country that seemed to be more focused on making money and expanding their brand than they were on serving the poor and reaching the lost. Again, no discernible difference between them and secular business models. It was a sobering conversation to say the least.

At the same time, I could point to example after example of Christians I knew who lived generously and sacrificially. Whose lives were very different from their secular friends and neighbors. They conducted their businesses with honesty and integrity, motivated by a deeper purpose and higher calling than just making money. They treated others with the dignity and respect due to those made in the image of God. They engaged in community in ways that brought redemptive lift and blessing. I pointed to example after example of churches and ministries I know about that are making a HUGE impact in towns and villages and cities and nations all across the globe. I pointed to the billions of dollars given every year to feed the hungry and clothe the naked and provide all kinds of access to free healthcare and clean water and all kinds of other initiatives around the globe. I asked him where all the atheist non-profits were? I asked him why atheists weren’t on the front lines of global poverty and natural disasters and running food banks? It presented a sobering challenge for him to consider.

Eventually, we drilled down to a personal level. He’s a good man. He’s a lawyer in his town. He does seek to serve and make the lives of his clients better. He’s struggled personally. He’s divorced and only has partial custody of his son. He’s lonely a lot of the time with only his dog to keep him company. He spends a lot of time on social media but doesn’t seem to have very many deep friendships. He used to be a Christian and every now and then does talk about missing the connection to community. We discussed what he’s missing most of all which is the presence of God in his life. God is letting my friend experience what it’s like to try to do life without Him and it reminds me of what our reading says today about Israel, “However, they will become his servants so that they may recognize the difference between serving Me and serving the kingdoms of other lands.” (2 Chronicles‬ ‭12‬:‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬) God allowed Israel to become a vassal state to the king of Egypt so they could experience the difference between living under God’s Kingdom and living under the kingdoms of this world and He does the same for us. Under which kingdom are you living today? Which king are you seeking to serve? How you answer these questions will make a huge difference in the way you live in the world today.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Division

Readings for today: 1 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10

Division breaks the heart of God. Division weakens the people of God. It’s why Jesus prays for the unity of His people in John 17. It’s why the Psalmist talks about how the blessing of God is reserved for “brothers and sisters who dwell in unity.” Israel was at her best when she was united. When all the tribes came together as one. As soon as they divided, they became fodder for their enemies. Their strength was diminished. Their influence waned. Their wealth began to fade. They focused more on attacking each other rather than defending themselves against outside enemies. They lost sight of their purpose which was to be a light to the nations.

I’ve traveled around the world and seen the impact of division firsthand in nation after nation. Protests. Riots. Violence met with more violence. Recently, I was in the Horn of Africa in a part of a country where they are recovering from a recent civil war. While we were there, rebel forces engaged the government forces in a skirmish, reminding us once again how fragile peace and unity can be. Of course, we all see what’s happening here in the United States. The conflict over immigration is leading to confrontation in the streets. Though mostly peaceful, thankfully, there are pockets of violence that disrupt businesses and communities and people in significant ways. Lines are drawn. Sides are chosen. There seems to be little room for compromise and it’s hard to see a way through to any kind of resolution.

I have seen the impact of division in churches. I have been a pastor for almost thirty years now. I have watched denominations split as they fight over theology and property and money. I have watched churches split as they fight over worship preferences, program changes, and leadership failures. I have watched Christians divide over the finer points of theology. In our failure to keep the “main thing, the main thing” we become weak and ineffective. We lose our focus on the Great Commission. We lose sight of the Great Commandment. And the result is gates of hell are able to take their stand against the church. I honestly hate it.

In our reading today, King Rehoboam and his friends fail to read the room. They put their own wants and needs and desires over what’s best for the people of God. Rather than seek to serve, they wanted to be served and they lost the kingdom as a result. Jeroboam made a similar mistake. He acted out of fear rather than faith. Rather than trust the Lord who had called him and raised him up, he set up his own Temple system, complete with its own idols, and it would cost his family the kingdom. Pride. Fear. Anger. Envy. Jealousy. These sins will kill any community. They will break apart any fellowship. They act as accelerants with immense centrifugal force that pulls us apart.

We are not immune from these forces. We too can easily fall prey to sin and separate from our brothers and sisters over the smallest of slights. So how can we stay unified? We must keep our focus on Christ. We must obey His call to fulfill the Great Commission. We must walk in the way of the Great Commandment. As we do these things, He will be faithful to fulfill His promise and make His Great Declaration that the gates of hell will not stand against His church.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 13-14, 2 Chronicles 11-12

Finishing Strong

Readings for today: 1 Kings 10-11, 2 Chronicles 9, Proverbs 30-31

We are running an event at my church called “Finishing Strong.” It’s designed to equip believers who are 55+ to finish well in life and in faith. To use the latter years of their life to invest in the Kingdom of God. So many in my country spend their whole lives trying to retire early. There’s nothing wrong with this goal except that so many struggle to find purpose in their retirement. There’s only so much golf one can play. There’s only so many trips one can take. Eventually boredom sets in. Retirement, in this sense, is not biblical. Yes, the elders in Scripture handed over their businesses to their children at a certain point and took their seat at the city gate but it wasn’t to spend their days gossiping and drinking wine. They played a vital role in the ongoing health and welfare of their community. They were a source of great wisdom to the generations that followed them. They offered advice on any manner of things. They continued to invest in those who came after them. In fact, the worst thing you could do to a community in those days was rob them of their elders.

“When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his father David had been.” (1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Solomon failed to finish strong. He refused to listen to godly counsel and his kingdom began to fall apart in the latter part of his reign. Enemies began to circle him. Enemies from without and enemies from within. Rather than repent and return to the Lord, Solomon doubled down. The seeds were sown for a civil war that would result in great loss of life and the division of the kingdom. It’s a heartbreaking legacy and a sober reminder to us all. We never get too old to follow God. We never age out of discipleship. Our latter years are just as important as our younger years and the Lord pays attention to how we spend them.

It’s never too early to begin considering how you will spend the final decades of your life. Perhaps you are on a trajectory to retire early. My brother just retired from teaching at age 50. If he remains in good health, he will probably have another 30-40 years left of life. He and I recently talked about how he would spend those years. Where can he find meaning and purpose? Where can he invest himself? As a pastor, I’ve had hundreds of these conversations over the years. It’s striking to me how many people retire without a plan. Not necessarily a financial plan. Most have those if they are choosing to opt out of the workforce. No, I’m talking about a plan for where they will invest their time and energy and talent. A plan to find meaning and purpose and pour into the next generation. As Solomon’s example demonstrates, it’s easy to become distracted. It’s easy to find your heart turning towards other gods. It’s easy to waste the final years of your life. What plan are you making right now to finish strong?

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10

Never Forget

Readings for today: Ecclesiastes 7-12

Remember your Creator. This is the advice of the Teacher in the final chapter of Ecclesiastes. He recognizes - probably from his own life - our very human tendency to forget God in the midst of life. We forget Him when we are young. We forget Him when the sun is shining and times are good. We forget Him when we are strong and able. We forget Him when we are full of life and energy and without a care in the world. We forget Him when all kinds of opportunities are coming our way. We forget Him when we are at the height of our success and influence and wealth and power. And lest we think we are immune to this temptation, we need to remind ourselves Solomon was all these things and more.

The key is to fear God and obey His commands. But that’s easier said than done as well. Fearing God doesn’t come naturally to us. It must be trained if it is to be ingrained. It comes as a result of time spent every day with our Creator. It requires a weekly gathering with God’s people to reorient the self-centered desires of our hearts. It comes through intentionality as we allow others into our lives and share transparently with them so they can hold us accountable. These are the formational practices Christians have employed for centuries in some form or another in order to “remember their Creator.”

Furthermore, obeying God’s commands takes daily practice. We must meditate on His Word day and night so we know what He expects from us. We must memorize His commands so we can take them to heart. We must hide His Word in our hearts if we are to resist sin and take our stand against the evil one. After all, we cannot obey God’s commands if we do not know them. And we cannot know God’s commands unless we commit ourselves to studying them. So many people claim to know Christ but they have no idea how to follow Him. They claim to love Christ but seemingly have no interest in obeying Him. It must break God’s heart to see His children pursue a way of life apart from Him. Imagine the impact we could have on the world if we would remember God when we are strong and young and energetic and excited? Imagine what would happen if we would give God the firstfruits of our lives rather than the leftovers after we have primarily served ourselves? Imagine how different our lives would be if we gave God the best years of our life? We don’t have to imagine. We simply have to start right where we find ourselves today.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 10-11, 2 Chronicles 9, Proverbs 30-31

Cynicism

Readings for today: Ecclesiastes 1-6

I’ve been struggling with cynicism lately. This is a besetting sin of mine. It tends to creep up when my reserves are low which they normally are this time of year as I head into vacation. My rhythms have been fairly consistent and set for a long time. I take a Sabbath every week, usually on Mondays. I spend time with the Lord. I go to the gym. I date my wife. When my kids were younger, I spent time with them. I am afforded four weeks of vacation every year. I take most of that time in early July every summer, usually 2.5 weeks. I also take the week after Christmas off. I get to go to Africa for two weeks every fall and spring. This is a vital time for me to study, reflect, and pray on all God is doing in my life, the church I serve, and my community. Outside of those periods of rest and renewal, I run hard. I pastor a large church. I teach a classes at a local seminary. I chair the board of an incredible mission organization. I serve on denominational committees. I am blessed to lead a rich and full and blessed life. However, I am human which means my reserves do get depleted throughout the year and as I head into my vacation, I find myself running on fumes yet again. This is when I become more vulnerable to sins like cynicism.

Perhaps that’s why I resonated so strongly with Solomon’s words this morning. He too was a man who ran hard. He had a high capacity. He was blessed to lead during a period of growth and prosperity in Israel. But I wonder if the cynicism he expresses in Ecclesiastes comes from a depleted soul? Is he just being brutally realistic or are his reflections a sign of a depleted soul? Listen to them again. “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Absolute futility. Everything is futile.” What does a person gain for all his efforts that he labors at under the sun? A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets; panting, it hurries back to the place where it rises. Gusting to the south, turning to the north, turning, turning, goes the wind, and the wind returns in its cycles. All the streams flow to the sea, yet the sea is never full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. All things are wearisome, more than anyone can say. The eye is not satisfied by seeing  or the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭9‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Futility. Meaninglessness. Vanity. Weariness. Nothing new under the sun. It’s a bleak outlook to say the least. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t actually disagree with Solomon. I think he’s right. Everything we do and accomplish this side of heaven has an expiration date. And that should give us pause. But I don’t think I would go as far as to say it is all futility. That’s Solomon’s cynical side coming out.

It’s tempting to look at all that’s happening in the world around us today and throw in the towel. After all, what kind of influence can I have on the conflicts raging in Gaza, Ukraine, and other places around the world? What kind of difference can I make on global poverty or systemic injustice? How can I help alleviate the pain and suffering I see all around me? It’s easy to become cynical when scrolling through social media or watching the news. But we must resist this temptation. We must fix our eyes on Jesus who, when you stop to think about it, was the only person who had the right to be cynical. I think it is part of his particular genius that you never see cynicism creep up in his life. You never see it impact his relationships with those He loved and served. You never see it break loose, even when He hangs on the cross. Jesus rejected th way of cynicism. Jesus never fell into the trap of believing everything was futility. He kept the faith and the result was our salvation. May we, who would seek to follow Him, do the same.

Readings for tomorrow: Ecclesiastes 7-12

Satisfaction

Readings for today: Proverbs 27-29

Satisfaction is the key to freedom. Contentment is the key to peace. Those who spend their days always looking for more will never have enough. This is true on many levels. Wealth. Possessions. Success. Accolades. Position. Power. As soon as we reach a particular level, we start looking at the level above us. Several years ago, I ran across some research that sought to define what it meant to be rich. The research was based on polling data in the United States. By and large, when people were asked what it meant to be rich, they typically would define it as somewhere in the neighborhood of making twice as much money as they did at the time. If they could just double their salary, then they would be rich. This measure seemed to hold true all the way up to those making around five million a year. Once you got to that threshold, then you would agree that you were already rich. The main takeaway from the article wasn’t the identification of a number at which point people could be declared “rich” as much as pointing out that most people tend to compare themselves to those who have more not less. They tend to look at what they don’t have rather than what they do have. They tend to focus on their lack rather than their abundance and it leads to dissatisfaction. I think this applies in many areas of life not just our finances.

In the book of Proverbs, Solomon writes, “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and people’s eyes are never satisfied.” (Proverbs‬ ‭27‬:‭20‬ ‭CSB) Clearly, dissatisfaction is an issue that transcends culture. It’s not just something we struggle with here in 21st century America though the consumerism that is rampant in our culture surely doesn’t help. It’s something human beings have struggled with since the beginning. And just like death itself is never satisfied, so our eyes are always wandering. Always looking for more. Always wanting more. Always desiring more. I’ve been all around the world and I’ve seen this dynamic play out. It cuts across all economic and social classes. And it creates all kinds of problems in our world. The disparities between rich and poor. The powerful and the powerless. The “in” crowd and the “out” crowd. These inequalities lead to all kinds of conflict and even violence in some places. But even if one is able to overthrow a social order, it only gets replaced with one reinforcing the same dynamics. There’s not a single human system - political, social, or economic - that has ever solved this riddle.

So what’s the answer? Christ. Only Jesus can truly satisfy. Only Jesus can truly set us free from our sinful wants and desires. As we fix our eyes on Christ, we find ourselves desiring more of Him. And as we desire more of Him, the things of this world fade into the background. Their hold on us begins to diminish. As the old hymn says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus and the things of this earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

Readings for tomorrow: Ecclesiastes 1-6