Why it Matters - Evangelism

Readings for today: 1 Kings 20-21

God desires all to be saved and come to a knowledge of His truth. All means all. Every single person on the planet. The Lord is actively pursuing them. Actively reaching out to them. Actively showing His love to them. This is what it means when we say God is missional. Missional is not just something He does, it’s who He is. It’s a part of His divine nature and character. He is the first missionary. He is the first evangelist. He makes Himself known to us in all sorts of ways. He is the God who sees. He is the God who hears. He is the God who knows.

Consider how He pursues King Ahab. Literally the worst king in Israel’s history. “There had never been anyone like Ahab, who was firmly committed to doing evil in the sight of the Lord, urged on by his wife Jezebel. He was so wicked he worshiped the disgusting idols, just like the Amorites whom the Lord had driven out from before the Israelites.” (1 Kings‬ ‭21‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NET) And still God loved Him. Still God pursued Him. Still God delivered Him. Why? So He might come to know the Lord as God. He gives him victory over the Syrian armies. He gives him victory a second time against overwhelming odds. And even when Ahab compromises by refusing to kill the Syrian king or hardens his heart in bitterness and anger over Naboth’s vineyard, the Lord still shows mercy when he repents. “The Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Have you noticed how Ahab shows remorse before me? Because he shows remorse before me, I will not bring disaster on his dynasty during his lifetime, but during the reign of his son.” (1 Kings‬ ‭21‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭NET‬‬)

If God shows such divine forebearance with a man as wicked as Ahab, imagine what He shows you. Me. Any one of us who resist His will and His love. God is still on a mission. God is still making Himself known. God is still seeking to win our hearts. Turn and embrace Him as your Lord and Savior today.

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

Why it Matters - Trustworthy

Readings for today: 1 Kings 17-19

What do you have in your hands? I was challenged by this question this week. I am currently spending time with pastors and ministry leaders from across the world. We are being hosted by an organization that does incredible things for the Kingdom. Their achievements are nothing short of miraculous. They specialize in going to hard places and doing the impossible in the name of Jesus. Their track record of success is impossible to ignore. Their growth is exponential as is their impact. And yet, they are some of the most humble people you’ll ever meet. They don’t pretend to have it all together. They don’t pretend to have it all figured out. They simply take what God puts in their hands and use it to serve the poor for His glory. They are often stretched beyond their resources. They often do not know how it will all work out. But they trust. They believe. They walk in faith. And God entrusts more of Himself and more of His resources to them as a result.

We see the same dynamic play out in the life of the widow from Zarephath. She is poor. Destitute. On the verge of starvation. When Elijah meets her, she is literally gathering firewood to prepare one final meal for herself and her son. But she is willing to trust. She believes Elijah enough to take him at his word. And she offers what little she has in service of God’s plan. What’s the result? Miraculous provision. “The jar of flour was never empty and the jug of oil never ran out, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.” (1 Kings‬ ‭17‬:‭16‬ ‭NET)

What do you have in your hands? Perhaps you’re like the widow in Zarephath and it’s not much. You’re barely surviving. You’re living on the edge. Perhaps you’re like the organization I’m with. Though you may have rose from humble beginnings, you find yourself with access to all kinds of resources. Either way, the question is still the same. What do you have in your hands and how will you use it to serve others for the glory of God? Will you trust God enough to give everything away over and over again so you might experience His miraculous provision in your life? God is looking for trustworthy people to whom He can entrust the resources of heaven. Are you such a person? Are you becoming such a person?

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 20-21

Why it Matters - Chaos

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

Chaos was woven into the fabric of creation by humanity when she fell into sin at the beginning. From that point forward, every time chaos increases it is a sure sign of God’s curse and disfavor and is the logical consequence of disobedience. Thankfully, God is not afraid of our chaos. He is not surprised by it nor is He helpless before it. Just as His Spirit hovered over the waters at the beginning of time, so His Spirit still hovers over the chaos of our lives.

Consider our reading today and the chaos that plagued the northern kingdom of Israel because they refused to obey God in worship. King after king continued to serve the detestable idols set up by Jeroboam and come under God’s judgment. “This happened because of the sins he committed. He did evil in the sight of the Lord and followed in Jeroboam’s footsteps and encouraged Israel to continue sinning.” (1 Kings‬ ‭16‬:‭19‬ ‭NET) The result was chaos. Assassinations. Kings reigning for days before being destroyed. Entire families massacred. Bloodlines ended. It was a brutal and violent time. Sadly, I’ve seen similar dynamics in play in nations where there is no rule of law and corruption runs rampant.

Where are you experiencing chaos in your life right now? Chances are that area of your life is not aligned with God. It’s worth taking time to reflect and ask yourself where you may be following short. Praying and asking God to show you where you remain double-minded and half-hearted. It’s not always obvious but nothing remains hidden to the Holy Spirit if we will simply open up our hearts and minds to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 17-19

Why it Matters - Revival

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

Revival flows from repentance. The two concepts are intimately related in Scripture. In fact, you can’t have one without the other. When God’s people repent of their sins and turn from their wicked ways, God promises to respond. He promises to hear their cries and heal their hearts and restore their nation. Repentance is more than feeling convicted. More than feeling guilty. More than feeling the closeness of God’s Spirit. More than a spiritual high or emotional moment. It always results in godly action. The tearing down of the idols in one’s life. Freedom from addiction to sin. Seeking the righteousness of the Kingdom of God for ourselves and for our neighbors. Justice in our communities and nation.

Asa led a revival in Judah. Following the reigns of his father and grandfather who were half-hearted in their devotion to the Lord, Asa set a godly example for his people to follow. He trusted in the Lord with all his heart. He tore down the idols his people had made. He even removed his own grandmother from her position because she worshipped false gods. He called on God to lead him in battle against overwhelming odds. The result was revival. Many people coming from all over to join his kingdom. He placed the worship of the Living God at the center of his life and the lives of his people and it resulted in tremendous blessing. The land had peace for many years.

As Christians, we look for revival. We pray for revival. We long for revival. But revival flows from a repentant heart. A heart dedicated to God. A life sold out to God. There is nothing God can’t do with a person who fully surrenders to Him.

This week, I have the privilege of spending time with Hal Donaldson and his team from Convoy of Hope. They are a remarkable group of people dedicated to spreading the gospel through humanitarian relief and community development. They have grown from humble beginnings into one of the largest charitable organizations in the world. All because they keep their focus on serving Christ and serving the poor, the hungry, and the hopeless in our world. Hal will tell you his is the most unlikely of stories and yet God is doing a great work through him. In fact, I would argue that the revival of hearts and lives and communities that Convoy fosters is a great example of what happens when repentance gets put into action.

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

Why it Matters - Jealousy

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

Throughout the Bible, an important question is consistently raised. Who do I serve? Do I serve God or do I serve myself? Do I serve God or do I serve man? Adam and Eve faced this question in the Garden. Will I serve God or will I seek to become like Him? Joshua challenged the people of Israel with this question as they stood on the cusp of the Promised Land. Choose this day whom you will serve. Either the Lord or the gods beyond the River. The kings of Israel were consistently challenged by this question. Would they serve God or their own self-interest? Would they remain faithful to God or would they serve the gods of the nations around them? Tragically, they far too often chose the latter.

Today’s reading introduces an important concept. Something we need to know and understand about God. He is jealous. Jealous for His name. Jealous for His glory. Jealous for the worship He righteously demands and rightfully deserves. Unlike human jealousy which is often rooted in pride and power and the need to control others, God’s jealousy is righteous and good. It is grounded in His holiness. It is reflected in His unique and perfect character. God is god and there is no other. He will not share His throne with any other. Be they gods or human beings. So when Israel seeks to live like the other nations, worshipping the false gods of the other nations, refusing to give God the glory He is due; He gives them over to those nations so they will learn the foolishness of their ways. “Yet they will become his subjects, so they can experience how serving Me differs from serving the surrounding nations.” (2 Chronicles‬ ‭12‬:‭8‬ ‭NET‬‬) God refuses to honor a divided heart. He refuses to bless divided loyalties. He lays claim over every square inch of creation and every square inch of every human heart. He will not settle for anything less.

Who do you serve? It’s a question worth pondering in your own life. What drives you? What motivates you? What gets you up in the morning? What gives you nightmares and wakes you up at night? Is it the Lord? Is everything you say and do submitted to Him? Do you find yourself seeking Him? Longing to serve Him and honor Him with your life? Or is God more of an afterthought? Peripheral to the everyday pursuits of your life? We are what we worship. Who we worship is the most important thing about us. it shapes and forms and fashions us and ultimately determines the direction of our lives.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Listening

Readings for today: 1 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10

Listening is a lost art. A skill we no longer seem to possess. Whether you’re talking about spouses in a marriage, parents and children, supervisors and employees, different political parties, or church leaders in a denomination. All of us struggle to listen. Listening is different than simply hearing the words another person speaks. Listening involves seeking to understand. To place oneself in the other person’s shoes. To try to see things from their point of view. To sympathize with their concerns. It’s a skill I often have to teach couples and families in counseling. Similarly, I’ve found myself trying to help colleagues learn to listen as we navigate challenging discussions in our denomination. I honestly don’t know how successful I’ve been. Listening is hard work.

Among the many reasons for the split in the kingdom of Israel was Rehoboam’s failure to listen. He refused to listen to the concerns of his people. He refused to listen to the wisdom of the elders. He and his friends thought his power was absolute and he therefore could ignore the very real concerns everyone raised about the forced labor his father employed. After the kingdom splits, Jeroboam also fails to listen. He refuses to listen to God and creates an entire new religious system for the northern kingdom complete with golden calves, new shrines in Dan and Bethel, new religious festivals, and an entire new class of priests. This unwillingness to listen to God lays the groundwork for the end of his dynasty and becomes an ongoing problem for the northern kingdom.

Are you a good listener? An active listener? Do you not just listen to the words others say but the heart behind them? Do you seek to understand? Put yourself in the other party’s shoes? See things from their perspective? It could be God. It could be your spouse. A child. A parent. A friend. A colleague. How can you begin practicing the art of listening today?

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

Why it Matters - Syncretism

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

Syncretism is an ever-present danger. It is so tempting for us to merge our different belief systems or religious faith or socio-cultural understandings. We struggle remain faithful. Struggle to keep God first. Struggle to worship the Lord alone. We have all kinds of reasons. It could be fear. It could be expediency. It could be a desire for superficial unity. But the bottom line is we compromise. We settle. We accommodate and in so doing, we lose our distinctiveness. We lose our uniqueness. We lose our moral and spiritual center.

This is what happened to Solomon. He started so well. He was so humble. So faithful. So devoted. But as time went on, it seems like his fame went to his head. His desire to maintain peace caused him to sin. Instead of keeping the first commandment to worship God and Him alone, he builds shrines to false gods. The gods of the nations around him. The gods of the different kings he was making alliances with. Sure, he may have had all kinds of reasons. Some of those may even seem logical and rational. But these false gods led him astray. The results are devastating. For him. For his family. For his nation.

We live in a world full of all kinds of influences. Most of which are not good. Even evil. To allow such influences in our lives is to run the risk of syncretism. Worshipping the Lord but also worshipping other gods. The gods of pride, money, success, reputation, power, influence, you name it. Jesus is clear. The greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength. All not part. Giving our full devotion to Him alone.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10

Why it Matters - Remembering God

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

Why it Matters - Satisfaction

Readings for today: Ecclesiastes 1-6

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, “As Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so the eyes of a person are never satisfied.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27‬:‭20‬ ‭NET‬‬) 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 7-12

Why it Matters - Righteous Impact

Readings for today: Proverbs 27-29

I am often asked why there is so much violence and suffering in the world. So much anger and hate. So much corruption and greed. So much injustice and oppression. My answer is always the same. Our world suffers from a lack of righteousness. What we are seeing and experiencing is the fruit of wickedness. It is the fruit of a way of life that leads to death. The fruit of a self-centered, self-absorbed society. A society obsessed with self-promotion and self-gratification. It is the seed of the original sin coming to full bloom. “You will be like god.” This was the original temptation and the human race continues to not only fall for it but actually embrace it with each succeeding generation.

Is there a way out of the mess we find ourselves in? Absolutely! But it requires us to embrace Christ. To believe in Jesus and obey His commands. It requires us to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness rather than our own. I love how Solomon puts it in today’s reading. “When the righteous become numerous, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.” (Proverbs 29:2 NET) Nothing could be more obvious and true. When a critical mass of good and righteous and godly people live in a community or a nation, that society is blessed. When a critical mass of selfish and greedy and corrupt and wicked people live in a community or a nation, that society is cursed. Certainly this ebbs and flows over time and no society is perfect. There is always work to do. Always evil and wickedness to root out. But when one looks throughout history and throughout the world today, one can see glimpses of what such a society can and should look like. William Wilberforce bringing an end to the transatlantic slave trade. Hutus and Tutsis reconciling in Rwanda. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948. The creation of public hospitals to serve the poor and sick throughout the Roman Empire by Basil of Caesarea. The fight for universal suffrage by people like Susan B. Anthony, MLK, and Sojourner Truth. All of these are examples of what happens when the righteous come together to advocate for change. And all of these are the fruit from the same root which is the Christian faith.

There is nothing Christians cannot accomplish if they band together to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Our problem is that we too often focus on the latter half of that verse. We want to make sure “all the rest will be added unto us.” So we fight and squabble among ourselves for power and privilege and wealth and influence. Meanwhile, the world around us continues to burn and the lost among us continue to lose hope and the least resourced among us continue to struggle. If only we could take our focus off ourselves and put it on Christ where it belongs. Fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and do all we can to faithfully follow Him. Give all we have and offer all that we are in service to His Kingdom. Relinquish our will and our desires and our preferences and our desire for comfort so we might serve Him. What does it look like for you to prioritize God’s Kingdom and God’s righteousness in your life today?

Readings for tomorrow: Ecclesiastes 1-6

Why it Matters - Example

Readings for today: 1 Kings 9, 2 Chronicles 8, Proverbs 25-26

There is nothing more powerful than a godly example. Godly parents setting an example for their children. Godly grandparents setting an example for their grandchildren. Godly employers setting an example for their employees. Godly pastors setting an example for their churches. Godly political leaders setting an example for their people. We tend to admire godly people even if we don’t always agree with their beliefs. Their manner of life and humility and willingness to serve is applicable no matter if you are a person of faith or not. I think of the godly men and women I have known over the course of my life. They come from all different backgrounds and life experiences. Some of them were highly educated and some had little formal education. Some were very wealthy and some didn’t have much in the way of material resources. Different ethnicities. Different nationalities. Different languages. I have been blessed by a diversity of godly mentors and friends.

At the beginning of his reign, Solomon set a godly example for Israel. “Then Solomon offered burnt sacrifices to the Lord on the altar of the Lord which he had built in front of the temple’s porch. He observed the daily requirements for sacrifices that Moses had specified for Sabbaths, new moon festivals, and the three annual celebrations - the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Temporary Shelters.” (2 Chronicles 8:12-13 NET) He followed the prescribed way of life God had established for his people at Mt. Sinai and Israel flourished as a result. The Lord blessed them with great wealth and influence in the region. Most of all, the Lord gave them peace. Peace with their neighbors. Peace with their friends. Even peace with their historic enemies. This was the fulfillment of God’s promise to Solomon. “I have answered your prayer and your request for help that you made to Me. I have consecrated this temple you built by making it my permanent home; I will be constantly present there. You must serve with integrity and sincerity, just as your father David did. Do everything I commanded and obey my rules and regulations. Then I will allows your dynasty to rule over Israel permanently, just as I promised your father David, ‘You will not fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’” (1 Kings 9:3-5 NET)

Why is it so hard for us to follow God’s commands? Especially when He guarantees they are the path to an abundant life? Abundance in love. Abundance in joy. Abundance in peace. Abundance in friendships. Abundance in community. Abundance in resources. Abundance in success. This is not a “health and wealth gospel” nor is it “name it and claim it theology.” We cannot manipulate God, force His hand, put Him in our debt, or do anything else to make Him bend to our will and bless our selfishness and vain conceit. Rather, this is simply the reality of what it means to walk with open hands and an open heart before Him. As we walk in “integrity and sincerity” and authentically and passionately seek Him and His will for our lives, He blesses us. He honors those who honor Him.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Praise

Readings for today: Psalms 146-150

I didn’t sleep well last night. Too much on my mind. Too many things swirling around in my head. The significant conflict facing my denomination next week. The presentation I am making on the floor of the General Assembly and its potential to create even more anxiety in an already anxious meeting. The opportunities God is presenting to the church I serve which are many and varied and carry all kinds of potential but also risk. The opportunities God is presenting me as a leader in the different organizations I am currently serving. My oldest child moving back home with her partner and the wonderful opportunity we’ll have with all our kids in town to build great memories. Celebrating thirty years with my wife who is the greatest gift God has given me outside of His Son Jesus Christ. So much going on in my world right now! In addition, I think of all the needs I am aware of locally and around the world. The hard choices facing so many I love. The grief and pain they carry. The heartbreak and hopelessness. Every morning I wake up to texts, WhatsApp messages, and DM’s asking for prayer and it is a privilege to come alongside my brothers and sisters to intercede but it is often overwhelming.

What do I do when I feel overwhelmed? I praise. I turn to the Psalms like the ones we read this morning to remind myself to praise God for who He is and how He holds all of life - including my life - in His hands. The Psalmist faced all kinds of hardship in his own life. Life in ancient Israel was never easy. Even in the golden age of Solomon there were threats all around. But still the Psalmist praises God. Praise is a rehearsal of all God has done in our lives. It is a reminder of His great faithfulness to His people. His provision and protection of those He loves. When I praise, I find my attention directed heavenward. Above the cares and worries of this world. Above my anxieties and fears. Above the chaos and storms that may be raging all around me. Praise leads me to peace because I know God sits enthroned above it all. I know God is more than able to intervene on my behalf. I know God is good and He loves me and He will not shut His eyes to my pain or His ears to my cries. This is why praise is essential in the life of every Christian.

What would it look like for you to begin each day with praise? Praise for a new morning. Praise for new opportunities. Praise for new mercies. Praise for the breath you’ve been given. Praise for the life God has blessed you with. Praise for the many ways God has been faithful over the course of your life. Rehearsing these things to yourself on a daily basis is a rich spiritual discipline. One that guards and protects your heart against the corrupting influences of our world.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 9, 2 Chronicles 8, Proverbs 25-26

Why it Matters - God’s Steadfast Loyal Love

Readings for today: 2 Chronicles 4-7, Psalms 134, 136

Hesed. It’s the Hebrew word for God’s eternal, faithful love. It is the love that delivered Israel from all her enemies. The love that established Israel in the land. The love that put David and his son, Solomon, on the throne. The Temple was built to be the embodiment of God’s eternal, faithful love. It was built to remind Israel of this love. It was built as a celebration of this love. It’s why, once the Temple was complete and the glory of the Lord filled the Holy of Holies, the people cried out, “Certainly He is good; certainly His loyal love endures!” (2 Chronicles 7:3b NET) It’s why the Psalmist composes Psalm 136 as a song of praise for God’s faithful love. I know sometimes we don’t like to sing songs with choruses that repeat over and over again but this didn’t seem to bother the Psalmist! Not when the subject was God’s hesed - God’s eternal, steadfast, loyal, faithful love!

In the Hebrew, hesed conveys a deep sense of connection. A faithfulness that will never end. It is eternal. It is forever. Nothing can break it. Nothing can defeat it. Not even Israel’s sin. Yes, God promises that if the people of Israel turn away from Him He will judge them with righteousness and send them into exile but when they repent, His faithful love will always bring them back home. Restore them to their former place. Return them to the Land and renew the covenantal relationship He has with them. The faithful love of God is why we can always hold onto hope. No matter how dark things get. No matter how hard things get. No matter what life may throw at us. God’s love never ends. God’s love always holds. God’s love never fails. As the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:7, “God’s love bears all things. Believes all things. Hopes all things. Endures all things. It never fails.”

So where do you find yourself today? What challenges did you wake up to this morning? What obstacles in your life are you working to overcome? What is the state of your heart? Are you following Christ or do you find yourself far from Him? Are you on the narrow road to salvation or have you taken a step off onto the wide path that leads to judgment? No matter where you find yourself, know that God loves you and is waiting for you to repent and turn back to Him. He is waiting to welcome you not with condemnation but with His eternal, faithful love.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 146-150

Why it Matters - Prayer

Readings for today: 1 Kings 7-8, Psalms 11

All Scripture is God-breathed. All Scripture is God’s Word. All Scripture carries divine weight and authority. However, I do believe there are some Scriptures worth coming back to time and again. Some Scriptures that are particularly useful and instructive for us as believers. The prayer of Solomon is one such Scripture. It is a powerful prayer combining themes of praise, petition, confession, mission, and hope for Israel’s future. It’s a model prayer worthy of emulation in our own lives. When I am struggling in prayer, I find myself coming back to Solomon’s words for inspiration and renewal. It keeps my prayers from becoming self-absorbed with anxiety and worry. It directs my attention upward and outward rather than purely inward. I commend to anyone seeking a deeper relationship with the Lord.

Solomon begins with praise. He praises God for His uniqueness. He praises God for His covenantal faithfulness. He praises God for His steadfast love in fulfilling His promises. God alone is worthy of our praise. He alone is worthy of all honor and glory. He deserves our full attention. He deserves our single-minded devotion. He alone is to be worshipped for He has created all things and He sustains all things and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. But He is not just transcendent. Not just a divine potentate. He is a loving Father who sits on the throne and who guards our lives and watches over us in love. This is why we praise Him.

Solomon continues with petition. He brings His requests before the Lord full of confidence. He knows God will deliver on His promises. He knows God is faithful. He is fully convinced God is able. There is nothing like petitioning God in full faith. Nothing like coming before the Lord with a confident heart, knowing we will find mercy and grace and help in our time of need. It may not come in the way we would expect. God may have greater plans than us. Different plans than us. But His lovingkindness never fails. His mercies are new every morning. And if we walk with open hands and an open heart before Him - as Solomon does - His promise is He will provide.

Solomon offers seven confessions and requests for forgiveness. He covers a range of topics. Everything from false accusations to military defeat to drought and famine to the general sins of God’s people as they turn from the Lord and go astray. The time will come. The time will come. The time will come. It’s a repeated refrain. An acknowledgement that God’s people are not perfect. They will fail and fall. They will need God’s forgiveness in the future. They will need God’s Spirit to move them to repentance. They will experience God’s discipline as He corrects them and draws them back to Himself. He calls on God to be just and righteous. He calls on God listen from heaven. He calls on God to forgive sin and heal their land.

Solomon turns the focus of his prayer outward in mission. He calls on God to recognize the foreigner who come seeking Him. Gentiles who are not part of God’s chosen people. Pagans who hear about God’s mighty deeds and God’s righteous reputation who will come to pray to Him. He calls on God to hear their prayers so that the nations of the earth will acknowledge His Lordship and turn to Him just as God’s people have turned to Him.

Finally, Solomon ends his prayer with hope. Hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is not blind faith. Solomon grounds His hope in God’s faithfulness. He asks God to continue to be attentive to His people, hear their prayers and cries for help, and respond to them. He grounds His hope in God’s election of Israel. God chose them out of all the nations of the earth to bear His great name, to be His special possession, His chosen race, and a royal priesthood. Solomon knows His hope will not be in vain because it rests on God’s promises.

What an incredible model for us to follow! I would encourage you to begin using this framework for prayer in your own life and see what happens. God is still faithful, friends! He still answers prayer! He is with you and He longs to have the same relationship with you that He did with Solomon.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Chronicles 4-7, Psalms 134, 136

Why it Matters - Time and Place

Readings for today: 1 Kings 5-6, 2 Chronicles 2-3

History matters to God. Time and place matter to God. The covenantal relationship God has with His people maps out in real historical events. This is what separates Judaism and Christianity from other ahistorical, human religions. It’s what separates the truths of Judaism and Christianity from the myths of other religions. We can actually look back to a real timeline, connected to real historical events that happened in real historical places. Places we can visit to this day.

“In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites left Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, during the month of Ziv (the second month), Solomon began building the Lord’s Temple.” (1 Kings 6:1 NET) The Temple is not just another one of Solomon’s many building projects. It is a unique building, representing the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to Israel. In the Book of Exodus, God hears the cries of His people. He delivers them from slavery. He leads them and provides for them in the wilderness. He gives them victory after victory in their conquest of the Promised Land. And now He gives them a secure and permanent sanctuary where they will worship Him. As such, the Temple represents something bigger than Solomon and his ascension to the throne, it represents the culmination of God’s saving acts throughout Israel’s history.

“Solomon began building the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. This was the place that David prepared at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.” (2 Chronicles 3:1 NET) Mount Moriah was not just a random spot chosen by Solomon. It was deeply connected to Israel’s history. It was here that the plague was stopped when David built an altar and offered sacrifices in the wake of his sin. God had sent the plague in judgment because David had sinfully called for a census but David repented and God showed mercy. Traditionally, Mount Moriah is also the place where Abraham took Isaac to sacrifice him but the angel of the Lord stayed his hand and provided a ram instead. These events associate the Temple with faith and obedience as well as repentance and sacrifice and it’s why Mount Moriah was the most appropriate place to build. God had chosen to reveal Himself on this very spot time and time again and would continue to do so into the future.

We cannot and should not overlook the times and places in our lives where God makes Himself known. God is a God who intervenes in human history because He is a God who desires to have a relationship with His people. The promise associated with the Temple is that this will be the location where God will place His name and fill with His presence in order to dwell with His people. Those same promises hold true for us today through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Every believer in Christ has now become a living Temple, God making Himself known to us and through us for the sake of His glory.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 7-8, Psalms 11

Why it Matters - The Way

Readings for today: Proverbs 21-24

Life is full of decisions and the outcome of a person’s life is largely based on those decisions. Yes, there is much beyond our control. Yes, there are things that happen that we cannot plan for or anticipate. Yes, time and chance happen to us all. But there is also a lot that is within our control. The little decisions we make every single day stack up over time. They shape us in profound ways and make us who we are. When we look in the mirror in the morning, we have to accept responsibility for the person staring back at us. That person is a product of the choices we’ve made along the way. This is one of the many lessons we learn from the Book of Proverbs.

“Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my instruction. For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you, and they are ready on your lips. So that your confidence may be in the Lord, I am making them known to you today - even you.” (Proverbs 22:17-19 NET) God wants us to be wise because He knows the kind of people we become when we walk in wisdom. And how does God define wisdom? Fearing the Lord. Loving righteousness. Advocating for justice. Giving generously. Loving others. Acts of kindness. Demonstrating restraint. Self-discipline. Holding onto hope. All these things are hallmarks of wisdom. They are the kind of qualities that mark a person who would be wise. And if we walk in wisdom, we make God’s heart glad. “My child, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad; my soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.” (Proverbs 23:15-16 NET)

So why don’t we do these things? What is it about us that eschews such wisdom? Why do we cling to folly? One would think humanity would have learned wisdom over the years. One would assume each generation would pass down their wisdom to the next. Tragically, we only seem to pass down our worst impulses. After tens of thousands of years on this planet, the human race still struggles with greed, lust, selfishness, injustice, oppression, drunkenness, gluttony, deceit, and violence. It’s why our world still feels so unstable. We cannot seem to get out of our own way.

Wisdom is the only way forward. “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; by knowledge its rooms are filled with all kinds of precious and pleasing treasures.” (Proverbs 24:3-4 NET) The world stands in desperate need of repair and God sends us - followers of Jesus Christ, made wise by His Spirit - out into the world to bring healing and hope. May we walk in wisdom and draw others along this same path.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 5-6, 2 Chronicles 2-3

Why it Matters - Truth

Readings for today: Proverbs 17-20

The truth is almost impossible to discern these days. Every news story has an angle. Every commentator has an agenda. Every social media post has a slant. All of them designed for a particular audience. Just about every day, I scan the headlines of the BBC, CNN, and FoxNews. Sometimes I add in MSNBC as well. I read the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. I scroll through Twitter where I intentionally follow a diverse group of people from across the social, political, and religious spectrum. And while my sample size isn’t all that big, it’s also not small and the thing I’ve learned over the years is never take anything at face value. Make sure you try to listen and understand all the perspectives in play on a particular issue before you draw any conclusions. Where did I learn this from? King Solomon. Listen to how he puts it,

“The first to state his case seems right, until his opponent begins to cross-examine him.” (Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭17‬ ‭NET‬‬‬‬)

We have a tendency to believe the first thing we hear especially if it comes from a member of our tribe. We have a tendency to rush to judgment especially if it involves the member of a different tribe. Democrats accuse Republicans and Republicans accuse Democrats. Conservatives accuse Progressives and Progressives accuse Conservatives. The list is almost endless. Each side assuming the worst of the other. Each side only considering the evidence that fits their particular narrative. Each side accusing the other of operating in bad faith. It’s a brutal, vicious cycle that can only end one way. The complete and total destruction of the “other.” It’s why we see violence and hatred and outrage ratcheting up to dangerous levels. Because there can be no compromise with the enemy. The only righteous and just thing to do is destroy them.

• The one who first states their case always seems so right until we get to hear the other side. As Christians, we are called to discern the truth. We must reject falsehoods or half-truths of any kind. We are not given the option to embrace that which supports our own personal tribal narrative. And we never operate in an underhanded, manipulative, deceitful way. We walk in the light as children of the light. We walk with complete honesty and transparency before the Lord and before the world. We listen before we speak. We make a complete investigation before we draw any conclusions. We never assume. And we always try to engage in good faith and with the best intentions. As of the writing of this blog, some 63% of Americans identity as Christians. That’s approximately 210 million people. Imagine the impact we could make if we would simply commit to follow Solomon’s advice from the Proverbs? Imagine how the spheres of politics, media, and mass culture would change if we would commit ourselves to seek the truth and speak the truth all in love?

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Leadership

Readings for today: Proverbs 13-16

I’ve been thinking a lot about leadership lately. Particularly the difference between good leadership and bad leadership. Recently, I was at a meeting where many leaders were present. The results of a survey were published. Many of those leaders self-reported feeling very effective in what they did. But then the results of the organizations they led were published. Sadly enough, the performance of the organizations did not match the self-reported performance of the leaders surveyed. What happened? Were the leaders not self-aware? Did the organization use the wrong metrics to measure performance? Why the disconnect? I wish I could say this was a rare case for me but it’s not. I often have found myself in these conversations over the years. Listening to leaders of churches and denominations attempt to justify the decline of the organizations they lead. Rarely does anyone take responsibility. Rarely does anyone attempt to make any substantial changes to the way things are done. Rarely does anyone actually “lead” anything at all. They simply are content to manage decline.

Perhaps that’s why these words from the Proverbs stuck out to me today. “A king’s glory is the abundance of people, but the lack of subjects is the ruin of a ruler.” (Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭28‬ ‭NET‬‬) Certainly I am not suggesting attendance as the only measure of success but the reality is when God’s leaders lead well, the Lord adds to their numbers those who are being saved. Professions of faith. Baptisms. Recommitments. All of these should be present in a church that is being led well. There is something to be said for the adage that unless people are actually following your leadership, you’re just a person going out for a walk. You’re not actually leading anything at all.

All of us are called into leadership on some level. We are called to lead ourselves. Called to lead in our homes. Called to lead professionally. Called to lead in our communities. Called to lead in our churches. The primary question that consumes godly leaders is what is happening in the lives under my leadership? Are they growing? Are they thriving? Are they becoming more like Jesus? Take some time today to reflect on your own answers to these questions and then ask God for the courage to make any changes you need to make.

Readings for tomorrow: Proverbs 17-20

Why it Matters - Wisdom and Folly

Readings for today: Proverbs 9-12

Proverbs 9 is a favorite of mine. Probably because it is so direct. The contrast between wisdom and folly could not be more clear. Live your life according to God’s wisdom and it will - generally speaking - head one direction. Live your life according to human wisdom, otherwise known as folly, and it will head a different direction. The first road leads to blessing. The second road leads to destruction. The first road is filled with all kinds of meaning and purpose. The second road is filled with sin and self-indulgence. The first road leads to a deep, intimate relationship with God. The second road leads down to the pit, down to Sheol.

Before I became a Christian, I dwelt in Folly’s house. I was foolish and gullible. I was enslaved to my desires. I was a drunk. I was lazy. I lived only for myself and only for the moment. The further down that road I went, the worse things got for me. I was depressed. Anxious and afraid. I could see my life was headed to down to the depths of Sheol. But I had no way out. Everywhere I turned, there was a dead end. Then I met Jesus. And I accepted His gracious invitation to become part of His family. He surrounded me with all kinds of people who prayed for me and ministered to me and mentored me. They taught me how to live according to God’s wisdom. They taught me how to be intentional about my life. They showed me what the “fear of the Lord” looked like in real, everyday life. I was hooked. My life began to turn around. My hopes and dreams returned. I humbly submitted to their teaching. I accepted their rebukes when I sinned. I gained wisdom slowly over time and my life became filled with blessing. I have never looked back. Not even for a moment. I have never longed to return to my old ways because the way of Jesus is so much more glorious and beautiful and true.

Both women in Proverbs 9 issue the same invitation. “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” They both call to the simple. To the one who lacks understanding. To the one who is searching. And both make the same promise. They promise satisfaction. They promise the fulfillment of all your desires. The difference is in the path they offer. Wisdom offers the path of self-discipline, correction, and instruction. She offers a life lived under the fear of the Lord. Folly, on the other hand, offers self-indulgence, instant gratification, and laziness. She offers a life lived under the power of sin. Take the first path and your days will be long and years will be added to your life and you will be blessed. Take the second path and your days will be short and years will be stolen from your life and you will be cursed.

Readings for tomorrow: Proverbs 13-16

Why it Matters - Work

Readings for today: Proverbs 5-8

Human beings are made in God’s image and, as such, are made to work. When God created the heavens and the earth, He worked for six days and rested on the seventh, enshrining a sacred rhythm to life that we ignore to our own peril. When God created Adam and Eve, He placed them in a garden to work and to keep it. When God gave human beings their first command, it was to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and exercise dominion over all He had made.

After the Fall, our relationship with work became corrupt. First of all, work became incredibly difficult. The ground began to fight us. Creation went to war with us and resisted our efforts to tame her. This makes sense, of course, because our concept of “dominion” now became exploitative and tyrannical rather than symbiotic and harmonious. Second, work became an idol. So did rest. So some in our world never seem to stop working and others in our world seem to never want to work at all. Some in our world love their work too much and others in our world see it as a necessary evil. Some in our world would choose to work while others would choose to never lift a hand.

This is why I love what Solomon has to say about work in today’s reading. “Go to the ant, you sluggard; observe its ways and be wise! It has no commander, overseer, or ruler, yet it prepares its food in the summer; it gathers at the harvest what it will eat. How long, you sluggard, will you lie there? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to relax, and your poverty will come like a robber, and your need like an armed man.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬-‭11‬ ‭NET‬‬‬‬) The ant doesn’t need direction. It doesn’t need anyone to tell it what to do. It is discerning enough to gather food in the right season and store it for the days when food will be scarce. It knows when to rise and when to sleep. It knows when to work and to rest. It doesn’t grow slothful or lazy. It recognizes that the welfare of the entire community is dependent to some extent on its work.

Over the years, I have counseled men and women on both sides of the equation when it came to work. For some, I have counseled them to slow down. To take a Sabbath. To make sure they have one day out of every seven to rest and worship and spend time with those they love doing the things they love. For others, I have counseled them to ramp up. To work harder. To stop trying to get by on the least amount of work possible but instead dedicate themselves to the work God has put in front of them so they can not only live a rich and full life themselves but also bless others.

Culturally, we have a problem with work. Either we work too much or we work too little. Either we never turn it off or we are doing our best to get as many days off as possible. Either we never stop working or we try to retire as quickly as possible. Both of these betray God’s original design and lead only to heartbreak and pain. God’s command is clear. Six days shall you work and the seventh day you shall rest. Work as though you are working for the Lord rather than for yourself. Labor while you have strength in the right season and store up resources for yourself and those you love for when the seasons change and your strength fades. Commit yourself to God’s original mandate to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and be a good steward over all He has entrusted into your hands.

Readings for tomorrow: Proverbs 9-12