Guarding against Extremes April 30, 2016

Romans 14:22 (NIV)   22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.

Three suggestions come to mind as I think about living with the risks of grace and putting all this into balanced living.

First, guard against extremes if you want to enjoy the freedom grace provides. Try your best to keep balanced, then enjoy it. No reason to feel guilty. No reason to be afraid. Try this first: Simply give yourself permission to be free. Don't go crazy . . . but neither should you spend time looking over your shoulder worrying about those who "spy out your liberty," and wondering what they will think and say.

Second, treat grace as an undeserved privilege rather than an exclusive right. This will also help you keep a balance. Live gratefully, not arrogantly. Have fun, but don't flaunt. It is all in one's attitude, isn't it? It has nothing to do with financial status or where you live or what clothes you prefer or which car you drive. It has everything to do with attitude.

Third, remember that while grace came to you freely, it cost the Savior His life. It may seem free, but it was terribly expensive when He purchased it for us. And who wouldn't want to be free, since we have been purchased from the horrors of bondage?

Grace is God's universal good news of salvation. The tragedy is that some continue to live lives in a deathlike bog because they have been so turned off by a message that is full of restrictions, demands, negativism, and legalism. You may have been one of those held in bondage, victimized by a system that has stolen your joy and snuffed out your hope. If so, I have some wonderful news. You've gotten very close to the border. There's a flag flying. And on that flag is a cross. And if you come into this camp of grace beneath the cross, you'll never have to be in that awful bog again.

Thought for today: Do I abuse grace?

Unavoidable Tension April 29, 2016

1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.

Because of grace we have been freed from sin, from its slavery, its bondage in our attitude, in our urges, and in our actions. But having been freed and now living by grace, we can actually go too far, set aside all self-control, and take our liberty to such an extreme that we again serve sin. But that isn't liberty at all, that's license. And knowing of that possibility, many opt for legalism lest they be tempted to live irresponsibly. Bad choice. How much better to have such an awesome respect for the Lord we voluntarily hold back as we apply self-control.

I remember when I first earned my license to drive. I was about sixteen, as I recall. I'd been driving off and on for three years (scary thought, isn't it?). My father had been with me most of the time during my learning experiences, calmly sitting alongside me in the front seat, giving me tips, helping me know what to do. My mother usually wasn't in on those excursions because she spent more of her time biting her nails (and screaming) than she did advising. My father was a little more easygoing. Loud noises and screeching brakes didn't bother him nearly as much. My grandfather was the best of all. When I would drive his car, I would hit things . . . Boom! He'd say stuff like, "Just keep on going, Bud. I can buy more fenders, but I can't buy more grandsons. You're learning." What a great old gentleman. After three years, I finally earned my license.

I'll never forget the day I came in, flashed my newly acquired permit, and said, "Dad, look!" He goes, "Whoa! Look at this. You got your license. Good for you!" Holding the keys to his car, he tossed them in my direction and smiled, "Tell you what, son . . . you can have the car for two hours, all on your own." Only four words, but how wonderful: "All on your own."

I thanked him, danced out to the garage, opened the car door, and shoved the key into the ignition. My pulse rate must have shot up to 180 as I backed out of the driveway and roared off. While cruising along "all on my own," I began to think wild stuff—like, This car can probably do 100 miles an hour. I could go to Galveston and back twice in two hours if I averaged 100 miles an hour. I can fly down the Gulf Freeway and even run a few lights. After all, nobody's here to say, "Don't!" We're talking dangerous, crazy thoughts! But you know what? I didn't do any of them. I don't believe I drove above the speed limit. In fact, I distinctly remember turning into the driveway early . . . didn't even stay away the full two hours. Amazing, huh? I had my dad's car all to myself with a full gas tank in a context of total privacy and freedom, but I didn't go crazy. Why? My relationship with my dad and my granddad was so strong that I couldn't, even though I had a license and nobody was in the car to restrain me. Over a period of time there had developed a sense of trust, a deep love relationship that held me in restraint.

After tossing me the keys, my dad didn't rush out and tape a sign on the dashboard of the car, "Don't you dare drive beyond the speed limit" or "Cops are all around the city, and they'll catch you, boy, so don't even think about taking a risk." He simply smiled and said, "Here are the keys, son, enjoy it." What a demonstration of grace. And did I ever enjoy it! Looking back, now that I'm a father who has relived the same scene on four different occasions with my own children, I realize what a risk my father had taken.

Thought for today: Why do I keep myself/desires in check?

Alternatives to Grace pt. 2 April 28, 2016

John 8:30-32(NKJV)

30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

If I choose not to risk, if I go the "safe" route and determine not to promote either salvation by grace or a lifestyle of grace, what are the alternatives? Four points come to my mind, all of which are popular these days. I shared two points with you yesterday and will share two points today.

I can leave no room for any gray areas. Everything is either black or white, right or wrong. And as a result, the leader maintains strict control over the followers. Fellowship is based on whether there is full agreement. Herein lies the tragedy. This self-righteous, rigid standard becomes more important than relationships with individuals. We first check out where people stand on the issues, and then we determine whether we will spend much time with them. The bottom line is this: We want to be right (as we see it, of course) more than we want to love our neighbors as ourselves. At that point our personal preferences eclipse any evidence of love. I am of the firm conviction that where grace exists, so must various areas of gray.

I can cultivate a judgmental attitude toward those who may not agree or cooperate with my plan. Grace killers are notorious for a judgmental attitude. It is perhaps the single most un-Christlike characteristic in evangelical circles today.

A quick glance back through the time tunnel will prove beneficial. Jesus found Himself standing before the brain trust of legalism, the Pharisees. Listening to Him were also many who believed in Him. He had been presenting His message to the crowd; it was a message of hope, of forgiveness, of freedom.

"As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free' " (John 8:30–32).

He spoke of the liberating power of the truth. Even though the official grace killers rejected His message, He assured them it could make them free. All who embrace grace become "free indeed."

Free from what? Free from oneself. Free from guilt and shame. Free from the damnable impulses I couldn't stop when I was in bondage to sin. Free from the tyranny of others' opinions, expectations, demands. And free to what? Free to obey. Free to love. Free to forgive others as well as myself. Free to allow others to be who they are—different from me! Free to live beyond the limitations of human effort. Free to serve and glorify Christ. In no uncertain terms, Jesus Christ assured His own that His truth was able to liberate them from every needless restriction: "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). I love that. The possibilities are unlimited.

Thought for today: How do I recognize grace at work in my life?

Alternatives to Grace pt. 1 April 27, 2016

Isaiah 44:22 (NIV)

22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”

If I choose not to risk, if I go the "safe" route and determine not to promote either salvation by grace or a lifestyle of grace, what are the alternatives? Four points come to my mind, all of which are popular these days. I'll share two points with you today and two points tomorrow.

I can emphasize works over grace. I can tell you that as a sinner you need to have a stronger commitment to Christ, demonstrated by the work you do in His behalf, before you can say that you truly believe. My problem in doing so is this: A sinner cannot commit to anything. He or she is spiritually dead, remember? There is no capacity for commitment in an unregenerate heart. Becoming an obedient, submissive disciple of Christ follows believing in Christ. Works follow faith. 

Behavior follows belief. Fruit comes after the tree is well rooted. Martin Luther's words come to mind:

No one can be good and do good unless God's grace first makes him good; and no one becomes good by works, but good works are done only by him who is good. Just so the fruits do not make the tree, but the tree bears the fruit . . . . Therefore all works, no matter how good they are and how pretty they look, are in vain if they do not flow from grace.

I can opt for giving you a list of dos and don'ts. The list comes from my personal and/or traditional preferences. It becomes my responsibility to tell you what to do or not to do and why. I then set up the conditions by which you begin to earn God's acceptance through me. You do what I tell you to do . . . you don't do what I tell you not to do, and you're "in." You fail to keep the list, you're "out." This legalistic style of strong-arm teaching is one of the most prevalent methods employed in evangelical circles. Grace is strangled in such a context. To make matters worse, those in authority are so intimidating, their authority is unquestioned. Rare are those with sufficient strength to confront the list-makers.

Thought for today: Do I tend to put more trust in the “I’m a good person” defense in order to not address grace?

The Gamble In Grace April 26, 2016

1 Corinthians 6:12     12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.

Is grace risky? You bet your life it is. I am well aware that this issue of grace is indeed controversial; especially when I am calling for a new awakening to the freedom Christians have in Christ. A few will take what I write about grace and go crazy with it. Others will misread what I write and misquote me, misunderstand me, and charge me with caring little about the holiness of God because (they will say) I give people the freedom to sin. On the other hand, some in the camp of carnality will thank me for relieving their guilt, because in their misunderstanding they now think it is okay for them to continue in their loose and carefree lifestyle. I wish these things would not occur, but that is the chance I'm willing to take by holding nothing back in order that the full message of grace be set forth. Yes, grace that is presented in all its charm and beauty is risky. It brings grace abusers as well as grace killers out from under the rocks!

Let's return to a key verse of Scripture, Romans 5:1: "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

In order for anyone to stand securely and be at peace before a holy and just God, that person must be righteous. Hence, our need for justification. Remember the definition of justification? It is the sovereign act of God whereby He declares righteous the believing sinner while still in his sinning state. It doesn't mean that the believing sinner stops sinning. It doesn't even mean that the believing sinner is made righteous in the sense of suddenly becoming perpetually perfect. The sinner is declared righteous. God sovereignly bestows the gift of eternal life on the sinner at the moment he believes and thereby declares him righteous while the sinner still lives a life marked by periodic sinfulness. He hasn't joined a church. He hasn't started paying tithes. He hasn't given up all to follow Christ. He hasn't been baptized. He hasn't promised to live a sacrificial, spotlessly pure life. He has simply taken the gift of eternal life. He has changed his mind toward Christ (repentance) and accepted the free gift of God apart from works. Period. Transaction completed. By grace, through faith alone, God declares the sinner righteous (justification), and from that moment on the justified sinner begins a process of growth toward maturity (sanctification). Day by day, bit by bit, he learns what it means to live a life that honors Christ. But immediately? No way.

Please understand, to be justified does not mean "just as if I'd never sinned." I hear that often and it always troubles me. In fact, it weakens the full impact of justification. Justification really means this: Even though I still sin periodically and have found myself unable to stop sinning on a permanent basis—God declared me righteous when I believed. And because I will continue to sin from time to time, I find all the more reason to be grateful for grace. As a sinner I deserve vengeance. As a sinner I'm afraid of justice. And so, as a sinner, my only hope for survival is grace. In its purest form, it makes no earthly sense!

Thought for today: Do I allow anything to control me?

Grace As A Covering April 25, 2016

Romans 3:27 (KJV)     27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

For the next few moments, graze slowly over this paragraph of truth recorded by Paul in the letter to the Ephesians. Take your time. Don't hurry.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ(by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:1–9)

Pay close attention to ten single-syllable words, "by grace through faith . . . it is the gift of God."

One of my greatest anticipations is some glorious day being in a place where there will be no boasting, no name-dropping, no selfishness. Guess where it will be? Heaven. There will be no spiritual-sounding testimonies that call attention to somebody's super-colossal achievements. None of that! Everybody will have written across his or her life the word "Grace."

"How did you get up here?"
"Grace!"
"What made it possible?"
"Grace."
"What's your name?"
"Grace."

Thought for today: How strong is my faith?

Bonus April 24, 2016

2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV)     9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

Most people I know look forward to payday. You do too, right? For a week, or perhaps a two-week period, you give time and effort to your job. When payday arrives, you receive a hard-earned, well-deserved paycheck. I have never met anyone who bows and scrapes before his boss, saying, "Thank you. Oh, thank you for this wonderful, undeserved gift. How can I possibly thank you enough for my paycheck?" If we did, he would probably faint. Certainly, he would think, What is wrong with this guy? Why? Because your paycheck is not a gift. You've earned it. You deserve it. Cash it! Spend it! Save it! Invest it! Give it! After all, you had it coming. In the workplace, where wages are negotiated and agreed upon, there is no such thing as grace. We earn what we receive; we work for it. The wage "is not reckoned as a favor but as what is due."

But with God the economy is altogether different. There is no wage relationship with God. Spiritually speaking, you and I haven't earned anything but death. Like it or not, we are absolutely bankrupt, without eternal hope, without spiritual merit; we have nothing in ourselves that gives us favor in the eyes of our holy and righteous heavenly Father. So there's nothing we can earn that would cause Him to raise His eyebrows and say, "Now maybe you deserve eternal life with Me." No way. In fact, the individual whose track record is morally pure has no better chance at earning God's favor than the individual who has made a wreck and waste of his life and is currently living in unrestrained disobedience. Everyone who hopes to be eternally justified must come to God the same way: on the basis of grace; it is a gift. And that gift comes to us absolutely free. Any other view of salvation is heresy, plain and simple.

Thought for today: Am I welcoming or judgmental?

Grace Abounds April 23, 2016

Proverbs 3:34 (NIV)     34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

My plea is that we not limit grace to Christ. We, too, can learn to be just as gracious as He. And since we can, we must, not only in our words and in great acts of compassion and understanding but in small ways as well. Let me describe four practical expectations you can anticipate as you get a firm grasp on grace.

First, you can expect to gain a greater appreciation for God's gifts to you and others. What gifts? Several come to mind. The free gift of salvation. The gift of life. The gift of laughter, of music, of beauty, of friendship, of forgiveness. Those who claim the freedom God offers gain an appreciation for the gifts that come with life.

Second, you can expect to spend less time and energy critical of and concerned about others' choices. Wouldn't that be a refreshing relief? When you get a grasp on grace—when you begin to operate in a context of freedom—you become increasingly less petty. You will allow others room to make their own decisions in life, even though you may choose otherwise.

Third, you can expect to become more tolerant and less judgmental. Externals will not mean as much to you. You'll begin to cultivate a desire for authentic faith rather than endure a religion based on superficial performance. You will find yourself so involved in your own pursuit of grace, you'll no longer lay guilt trips on those with whom you disagree.

Fourth, you can expect to take a giant step toward maturity. As your world expands, thanks to an awakening of your understanding of grace, your maturity will enlarge. Before your very eyes, new vistas will open. It will be so transforming, you will never be the same.

Thought for today: Can/do I extend grace?

Grace: A Beautiful Gift April 22, 2016

Psalm 84:11     11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

We use grace to describe many things in life:

·        A well-coordinated athlete or dancer

·        Good manners and being considerate of others

·        Beautiful, well-chosen words

·        Consideration and care for other people

·        Various expressions of kindness and mercy

Those statements remind me of Christ. What a perfect illustration of grace! Think of several examples with me. He stood alongside a woman caught in adultery. The Law clearly stated, "Stone her." The grace killers who set her up demanded the same. Yet He said to those self-righteous Pharisees, "He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone." What grace! Under the Law they had every legal right to bury her beneath the rocks in their hands . . . and they were ready. There they stood with self-righteous fire in their eyes, but He intervened in grace.

When His friend Lazarus died, Martha met Him on the road and Mary later faced Him in the house. Both blamed Him for not coming earlier: "If You had been here, my brother would not have died!" There is strong accusation in those words. He took them in grace. With the turn of His hand, He could have sent them to eternity; but He refused to answer them back in argument. That is grace.

When He told stories, grace was a favorite theme. He employed a gracious style in handling children. He spoke of the prodigal son in grace. As He told stories of people who were caught in helpless situations, grace abounded . . . as with the good Samaritan. And instead of extolling the religious official who spoke of how proud God must be to have him in His family, Christ smiled with favor on the unnamed sinner who said, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." Even from the cross He refused to be angry toward His enemies. Remember His prayer? "Father, forgive them . . . " No resentment, no bitterness. Amazing, this grace! Remarkable, the freedom and release it brought. And it came in full force from the only One on earth who had unlimited power, the Son of God.

Thought for today: do I ever stop to think about and thank God for the many time He’s shown/provided grace?

Understanding Grace April 21, 2016

John 1:14     14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

What exactly is grace? And is it limited to Jesus' life and ministry? You may be surprised to know that Jesus never used the word itself. He just taught it and, equally important, He lived it. Furthermore, the Bible never gives us a one-statement definition, though grace appears throughout its pages . . . not only the word itself but numerous demonstrations of it. Understanding what grace means requires our going back to an old Hebrew term that meant "to bend, to stoop." By and by, it came to include the idea of "condescending favor."

If you have traveled to London, you have perhaps seen royalty. If so, you may have noticed sophistication, aloofness, distance. On occasion, royalty in England will make the news because someone in the ranks of nobility will stop, kneel down, and touch or bless a commoner. That is grace. There is nothing in the commoner that deserves being noticed or touched or blessed by the royal family. But because of grace in the heart of the queen, there is the desire at that moment to pause, to stoop, to touch, even to bless.

The late pastor and Bible scholar Donald Barnhouse perhaps said it best: "Love that goes upward is worship; love that goes outward is affection; love that stoops is grace."

To show grace is to extend favor or kindness to one who doesn't deserve it and can never earn it. Receiving God's acceptance by grace always stands in sharp contrast to earning it on the basis of works. Every time the thought of grace appears, there is the idea of its being undeserved. In no way is the recipient getting what he or she deserves. Favor is being extended simply out of the goodness of the heart of the giver.

Thought for today: Can I accept grace or do I have to do/say something to claim that I made it happen?

The Power of Grace April 20, 2016

Ephesians 1:7     7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

Candidly, I know of nothing that has the power to change us from within like the freedom that comes through grace. It's so amazing it will change not only our hearts but also our faces. And goodness knows, some of us are overdue for a face change! Were you reared by parents whose faces said "No"? Or are you married to someone with a "No" face? If that is true, you envy those who had "Yes"-face parents or are married to "Yes"-face mates. All of us are drawn to those whose faces invite us in and urge us on.

During his days as president, Thomas Jefferson and a group of companions were traveling across the country on horseback. They came to a river which had left its banks because of a recent downpour. The swollen river had washed the bridge away. Each rider was forced to ford the river on horseback, fighting for his life against the rapid currents. The very real possibility of death threatened each rider, which caused a traveler who was not part of their group to step aside and watch. After several had plunged in and made it to the other side, the stranger asked President Jefferson if he would ferry him across the river. The president agreed without hesitation. The man climbed on, and shortly thereafter the two of them made it safely to the other side. As the stranger slid off the back of the saddle onto dry ground, one in the group asked him, "Tell me, why did you select the president to ask this favor of?" The man was shocked, admitting he had no idea it was the president who had helped him. "All I know," he said, "is that on some of your faces was written the answer 'No,' and on some of them was the answer 'Yes.' His was a 'Yes' face."

Freedom gives people a "Yes" face. I am confident Jesus had a "Yes" face. I have never seen Him, but I've determined from what I've read about Him that this was true. What a contrast He must have been! He was surrounded by lettered men, religious, robed, righteous, law-quoting, professional men whose very demeanor announced "NO!" Pious without, killers within . . . yet none of their poison seeped into His life. On the contrary, He revolutionized the entire direction of religion because He announced "Yes" while all His professional peers were frowning "No." That has intrigued me for years. How could it be? What was it that kept Him from getting caught in their grip? In one word, it was grace. He was so full of truth and grace, He left no inner space for their legalistic poison.

Thought for today: Are my life changes the result of grace?

Baggage Claim April 19, 2016

Galatians 6:1     Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

This day—this very moment—millions are living their lives in shame, fear, and intimidation who should be free, productive individuals. The tragedy is they think it is the way they should be. They have never known the truth that could set them free. They are victimized, existing as if living on death row instead of enjoying the beauty and fresh air of the abundant life Christ modeled and made possible for all of His followers to claim. Unfortunately, most don't have a clue as to what they are missing.

That whole package, in a word, is grace. That's what is being assaulted so continually, so violently. Those who aren't comfortable denying it have decided to debate it. Similar to the days of the Protestant Reformation, grace has again become a theological football kicked from one end of the field to the other as theologians and preachers, scholars and students argue over terms like frustrated coaches on opposite sides trying to gain advantage over each other. It is a classic no-win debate that trivializes the issue and leaves the masses who watch the fight from the stands confused, polarized, or worst of all, bored. Grace was meant to be received and lived out to the fullest, not dissected and analyzed by those who would rather argue than eat. Enough of this! It's time for grace to be awakened and released, not denied . . . to be enjoyed and freely given, not debated.

Grace received but unexpressed is dead grace. To spend one's time debating how grace is received or how much commitment is necessary for salvation, without getting into what it means to live by grace and enjoy the magnificent freedom it provides, quickly leads to a counterproductive argument. It becomes little more than another tedious trivial pursuit where the majority of God's people spend days looking back and asking, "How did we receive it?" instead of looking ahead and announcing, "Grace is ours . . . let's live it!" Deny it or debate it and we kill it. My plea is that we claim it and allow it to set us free. When we do, grace will become what it was meant to be—really amazing! When that happens, our whole countenance changes.

Thought for today: Do I fully embrace grace?

Peace Of Mind Pt. 2 April 18, 2016

Isaiah  26: 3- 4     3 You will keep in perfect peace

all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

4 Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

How could Joseph forgive his brothers who had mistreated him so badly? We saw it yesterday: plain and simple, he left all vengeance to the Lord. To use our terms, Joseph rested and relaxed, trusting in His God.

At the climax of this great story, we read the secret of Joseph's life:

His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, "Behold, we are your servants." But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive."(Genesis 50:18–20)

Question: How could Joseph respond like that? Why didn't he feel angry and seek to have them punished? Answer: He could forgive them because his mind focused on the sovereignty of God. Rather than nursing hatred and plans for revenge, he deliberately took the long view and realized that God, who "causes all things to work together for good" (Romans 8:28), had a plan for saving Joseph's own family—and that would never have happened had Joseph not been in Egypt where he was promoted to a role of leadership that gave him authority of that vast food supply.

To use our terms, he mentally rested and relaxed. Because he made the Lord his God the center of his focus, good resulted from all that evil. And in the meantime, Joseph enjoyed an inner peace rather than inner torment. It's exactly as the prophet Isaiah once wrote:

"The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,

Because he trusts in You.
Trust in the LORD forever,
For in God the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock." (Isaiah 26:3–4)

So much for Joseph—now it's your turn. For you to have that kind of "perfect peace," for you to enjoy a life of mental rest and relaxation, you need to lay aside the hatchet, erase your mental hit list, and forgive all those who have done you wrong. Start that process today.

Like, NOW.

Thought for today: Do I seek the solutions that bring peace of mind?

Peace Of Mind Pt. 1 April 17, 2016

Genesis 50: 18 -20    
18 Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said.

19 But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

Throughout the past few devotionals, we've concentrated our attention on the value of allowing our bodies sufficient time to rest. As important as that is, there is another rest that is equally important—resting our minds.

I'm referring here to releasing the things that drag us down and torment us. As we shall see, God has a much better plan. He wants us to trust Him, to let Him handle all of that, rather than churning and worrying. When we strain and struggle, we end up mentally exhausted. When we release to Him the details we cannot handle, He takes charge and . . . we relax!

There once lived a man named Joseph, who was the youngest in a very large family. All of his brothers were jealous of him, so they turned against him, mistreated him, and finally sold him to a caravan of strangers: "Out of sight, out of mind" was their thinking. How unfair!

Long story short, the brothers returned home, lied to their daddy, telling him that Joseph had been killed . . . and Joseph wound up in Egypt. He was then sold as a common slave and was forced while still a teenager to begin another life in a country far removed from home. After more unfair treatment, including his being falsely accused of rape, serving a prison sentence, and being left and forgotten in an Egyptian dungeon for years, he was finally released. And—would you believe it?—he ultimately became the prime minister of Egypt, serving as the Pharaoh's right-hand man. Among many other huge responsibilities, he was in charge of overseeing the vast food supply for that nation. The man went from the pit to the pinnacle—that's when things got really interesting.

A famine struck the entire region of land—a severe famine. It became so extreme that those same brothers, who had heard that Egypt had grain in abundance, traveled there to meet with the prime minister (!), not knowing that he was their long-lost younger brother. To cut to the chase, when they found out, panic set in. They anticipated his revenge to the maximum, paying them back for all the wrong they had done to him. It never happened. Joseph had refused to become resentful and bitter, even though those men deserved the severest of punishments.

Instead of retaliating, Joseph forgave them.

How could he? Plain and simple, he left all vengeance to the Lord. To use our terms, Joseph rested and relaxed, trusting in His God.

Thought for today: Can I truly give “it” to God and not worry?

Make Time, Take Time April 16, 2016

Matthew 11: 28 – 30     28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

"I like that, Dad." I remember those words. It's like they were said to me yesterday.

Actually, they take me all the way back to the late 1970s. In '71, Cynthia and I moved our family (four children, ages 1 through 10) from a sleepy, casual bedroom community outside Dallas, Texas, to rapidly growing Orange County in Southern California. Almost before we knew it, we had entered the fast-lane life of the West Coast, doing our best to keep up. As time passed, we found ourselves doing double-time driving freeways, leading an expanding church with a multi-person staff, hauling busy kids to and from school, mixed with holidays and birthday celebrations, sleepovers, and endless ball games. My publishing world had suddenly exploded, which resulted in too many trips around the country and not enough down time to rest my spirit and calm my nerves and be with those I loved the most.

Mother's Day was fast approaching, so my older son and I dropped into the local Hallmark store to find a nice card for Cynthia. As I thumbed through numerous Mother's Day cards, he wandered back to the section where the posters were displayed. Before long he asked me to join him. He was standing before a large poster portraying a serene scene. A well-worn fishing boat was out on a lake. It was early dawn, with the sun peeking over the horizon. Its warm rays reached across a deep blue-gray sky wrapped in lacy white clouds. Two thin lines were in the water—one hanging from a pole held by a father, sitting in the back by a little outboard motor, and the other held by his son, sitting at the other end. Their corks made gentle ripples on the water's glassy surface. You could feel the closeness. You could hear the easygoing conversation as father and son savored the morning together.

Two simple words appeared at the bottom of the poster. They stung as I read them:

TAKE TIME.

"I like that, Dad," said Curt. I reached an arm around the broadening shoulders of my growing-up teenaged son, looked at him, and then looked again at the poster. "I do, too, son . . . I do, too." He didn't want to buy it. I realized he simply wanted me to see it. To think about it. I did. In fact, it was a needed wake-up call to this too-busy dad, whose son had hurriedly come into the store looking for something to buy for his mother, but who left slowly, far more concerned about his dad.

How easy it is for you and me to get caught up in a "hurry-worry sindrome," doing too much, driving too fast, eating too quickly, juggling too many things. It all seems ultra-important at the moment—but later we realize much was done at the expense of cultivating deeper and more meaningful relationships with those we love the most. Being held hostage by the tyranny of the urgent is not how we were meant to live.

Knowing how prone we are to this, Jesus offered a very sincere and gracious invitation. You may have read it before . . . but this time, linger over it. Turn the words over in your mind; let them seep in.

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28–30)

I suggest you accept Jesus's invitation—today. Come to Him. Tell Him how weary and over-burdened you are. Pull that heavy backpack loaded with all your stuff off your shoulders and drop it at His feet. Do it now. Then enter into His rest. Relax for a change—take an extra several minutes to enjoy His presence . . . embrace His peace. Before you turn in tonight, curl up alongside those who mean the most to you and tell them how much you love them, how valuable they are to you.

TAKE TIME.

Thought for today: Is my prayer life rushed and cursory?

Staying In Balance pt.2 April 15, 2016

Exodus 18:24- 26     … 24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 26 They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge.…

Thanks to Moses's father-in-law, Jethro, the great leader was able to confront a long-standing habit, which was wearing him down. Working so hard that you never have a break will wear anyone down, as we saw in a previous devotional. I commend Jethro for telling his son-in-law the truth. He didn't stutter: "The thing that you are doing is not good" (Exodus 18:17).

Before any need for change can be recognized, we have to face the truth. Thankfully, Moses did just that. Rather than arguing, he listened and did the right thing. He shared the burden of leadership. As you read yesterday, he "chose able men . . . and made them heads over the people" (18:25). The act of delegation works best when those who are given a share of the load are qualified to handle those responsibilities. What a relief that must have been to Moses! As a result, he finally took time to relax.

I hope you didn't miss something very important that Jethro said to Moses. He urged Moses to do this "so it will be easier for you . . . then you will be able to endure" (18:22–23). Working smarter is the ticket, not working harder. And the ultimate payoff: you'll "endure"!

I'm convinced that one of the reasons Moses remained so productive and healthy right up to the very end of that last 40-year segment of his life was that he learned the importance of delegating his heavy load of responsibility. Doing that allowed him sufficient time for R & R—rest and relaxation. We can all learn some vital lessons from ol' Moses.

By the way, he lived to be 120—healthy to the very end. His epitaph?

Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated. (Deuteronomy 34:7)

Thought for today: Do I have a “If I don’t do it, it won’t get done” mentality?

Staying In Balance pt.1 April 14, 2016

Exodus 18:13 – 18     13 The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening.

14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?”

15 Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. 16 When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.”

17 “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. 18 “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.

Most likely this year, you've already poured a lot of energy and effort into changing unhealthy habits. Because we're all creatures of habit, we find ourselves having to face the hard truth that many of those habits we have formed were not good for us. We have not only been eating the wrong things, we've been eating too much of everything! Furthermore, due to busy schedules and a host of responsibilities, we've not maintained the discipline of consistent physical exercise. To make matters worse, most of us have a work environment that is more sedentary than active, which also works against us. Changing all that requires a lot of effort!

Now that we're engaged in replacing unhealthy habits with wholesome ones, it would be easy to discount the importance of rest and relaxation. It's what I often call "the problem of the pendulum." We tend to swing toward one extreme (staying constantly active) in order to counteract the other extreme (being a couch potato). We think: "Now that I'm into this great diet or exercise program, it's time for me to get with it—day and night, week after week!" Or, to use an old expression often said by type-A, neurotically driven personalities, "I'd rather burn out than rust out!"

How stupid is that? Either way you're "out"! Go figure. That makes no sense at all!

Because one of our major goals in becoming healthy is balance, the need for giving our bodies and minds a break is just as essential as maintaining the disciplines of eating right and exercising regularly. Keeping that balance means that those of us who occupy leadership roles need to guard against trying to do everything ourselves. The secret in one word is delegation.

If you're a workaholic, chances are good that you have trouble sharing your workload. And because, truth be told, you can do the job better than most others, you'd rather work longer and harder than run the risk of it not being done as well as you can do it.

Believe it or not, there's a story in the Bible that addresses that very real problem head-on. It's found in Exodus 18. Here's a suggestion. Stop right now, open your Bible, and read that chapter . . . I'll wait.

. . .

Isn't that a terrific story?! It's a classic example of proper delegation—the secret to staying balanced.

Thought for today: Do I know how to delegate? Can I set healthy limits for myself?

Let Your Flag Fly Free April 13, 2016

Proverbs 15:13-15  New International Version (NIV)

13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
    but heartache crushes the spirit.

14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Solomon left us many statements about the value of joy in his book of Proverbs. Yesterday we read: "A joyful heart is good medicine, / But a broken spirit dries up the bones" (Proverbs 17:22). Take a quick look at a couple more: "A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, / But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken" (15:13); and "a cheerful heart has a continual feast" (15:15).

There is no more effective testimony of a changed life than a winsome spirit. The joy that oozes from that kind of person is contagious. Christians talk a lot about love and faith and hope, but we often fail to emphasize the value of joy. How strange! Especially since it appears next to the top of the list in the fruit of the Spirit, remember?

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22–23).

If God handed out ribbons to those who bear the right fruit, those who demonstrate love on a regular basis would win the blue . . . and those who model joy would wear the red. Laughter that pours out of a joyful heart is one of the most delightful of all sounds on earth. God loves it!

As someone once said, "Joy is the flag flying high above the castle of the heart, announcing that the King is in residence there." (Read that again.)

So, let's lighten up. Let's allow ourselves to rest and relax more often during spontaneous segments of each day, filling those moments with a little fun. Let's stop suppressing our laughter (remember those "hips" from yesterday's devotional!). Let's remind ourselves that a healthy and well-exercised sense of humor is as much a mark of spirituality as being faithful in prayer and being committed to the truths of Scripture.

It's time to unwrap that flag, raise it to the top of the mast, and fly it high!

Thought for today: Do/can I consistently contribute in a positive way?

Chillax April 12, 2016

Proverbs  17:22    
22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,  but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

If I had two words of advice to give to people today, those words would be, "Lighten up!" Teenagers only need one word to say the same thing, "Chill!"

One of the sad byproducts of an uptight lifestyle is the absence of fun and laughter. Unfortunately, we who are more conservative in our theology, believing that the Bible really is God's Word, tend to be far too serious about everything. While we're intense about growing deeper in our walk with Christ and sincere about applying the truths of Holy Scripture to our lives (and there's everything right about both!), without realizing it, we slowly begin to lose our sense of humor.

It's like, if you are really committed to spiritual things, you don't have time to have fun anymore. Frankly, the guy who came up with that kind of nonsense should have been shot at sunrise while nobody was looking.

A great sense of humor is not only enjoyable for others to be around, it's downright healthy. As Solomon once wrote, "A joyful heart is good medicine, / But a broken spirit dries up the bones" (Proverbs 17:22).

The statement in Hebrew is even more vivid. It reads, literally, "a joyful heart causes good healing." In other words, there are physical, mental, and emotional benefits to relaxing, for leaving room in our lives for fun and laughter. How easy it is to forget that! When we do, our faces tighten up, our nerves get tense, and we take too much of life too seriously. As one of my mentors used to say with a twinkle in his eye, "You can be a fundamentalist, but you don't have to look like it!" One very funny lady once suggested that when we start looking like that photo on our passport, we need to stop traveling. A popular and clever comedian of yesteryear, the late Fred Allen, used to say that it was bad to suppress your laughter, because when you do, it goes back down and spreads to your hips.

Thought for today: How do I define fun and what does it look like?

Godly Rest April 11, 2016

Exodus 20: 8-11

8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

The venerable preacher, Vance Havner, used to look over the top of his glasses and say to his congregation, "If you don't come apart, you will come apart." While not all stress is bad for us, too much of it over too long a period of time can be a killer. Literally. Most of us are wound pretty tight, which can result in everything from mild anger and irritation all the way to road rage and even a complete emotional breakdown. The old Greek motto wasn't far off: "You will break the bow if you keep it always bent."

It's interesting what our Creator did on the seventh day of creation. Do you remember? Just in case you forgot, read Genesis 2:2 for yourself: "By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done."

Now, why? Why did Almighty God need to rest? He didn't need to, He chose to. But why? Being God, He certainly wasn't tired (an absolute impossibility). He rested because He considered His work complete. He also rested to leave us an example to follow . . . to pattern our lives after. Many, many years later, He very deliberately included the importance of resting in His top ten priorities. These have come to be called the Ten Commandments. Obviously, they represent the ten things God cares about the most when it comes to wholesome human behavior. Number four on that list is found in Exodus 20:8-11, which reads:

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work . . . . For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."

"Sabbath" is actually a Hebrew term, meaning "seventh." The seventh day of the week is Saturday. It was tradition that transferred Saturday to Sunday, but in God's original plan, He never had Sunday in mind, only the seventh—or last—day of the week. On that final day, REST!

My concern at this point is not which day you choose to rest and relax—only that you take time to do so. As Jesus taught, "the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27). Because of stacks and stacks of legalistic traditionalism, many people have gotten the plan all mixed up. They wind up arguing over which day is the actual Sabbath while they overlook the primary purpose God had in mind in the first place: taking sufficient time to rest and relax. Finding relief from the stress. Pushing away from our computers. Leaving the responsibilities of work. Giving our bodies time to refuel. Allowing our minds to be renewed. Letting our emotions be refreshed and restored.

Here are five searching questions only you can answer:

Do you deliberately and regularly take time each week to rest?

When you're taking time to relax, do you mentally release yourself from your responsibilities?

Are you strong enough to say no to things that would result in your falling into the trap of over-commitment?

Have you begun to cultivate hobbies that relieve your stress and free you to be creative?

After you have rested and gotten recharged, do you return to your responsibilities without any guilt for having taken the time off?

In all my years in the ministry, I've never known or heard of anyone near death, wishing they had spent more time at the office.

Thought for today: A paradox -  Can I unplug and yet still get recharged?

Eating At Home pt. 2 April 10, 2016

Ephesians 5:25
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her

Ephesians 6:4    

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

As we saw yesterday, domestic nutrition in the home lands squarely on the shoulders of the husband and father. The apostle Paul used the Greek term ektrepho to urge, first of all, every husband to "nourish" his wife (Ephesians 5:25). Today, we'll examine Paul's second use of the term.

All who are fathers are exhorted with the same urgency to care for their children. Read the verse carefully, especially if you're a dad:

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (6:4)

See those words, "bring them up"? That's ektrepho, which, as we learned yesterday, could be rendered "rear them tenderly." It's the idea of treating your children fondly and carefully, deeply cherishing each one of them.

Much more could be said to husbands and fathers, but that's enough for now. In fact, let's face it, men . . . we have found enough in these few paragraphs to keep us busy for an awfully long time!

How easy for us to think of nutrition and/or nourishment as something meant only for the health of our physical body. Yet, when you search the New Testament, you find that it's also something very important for the health of our family. And just to make sure we don't pass over it too quickly, let me urge you—especially you who are husbands and fathers—to pause and realize how valuable your partner is to you . . . and while you're at it, think about how significant each one of your children is as well.

With Paul, I urge you to demonstrate your love to them. To begin with, express your affection in words of genuine appreciation. And next, spend some extra time with each this week, tenderly cultivating those relationships. I suppose we could call this kind of meaningful and loving nourishment "domestic nutrition."

Thought for today: What do my offspring (children, products you’re cultivating, mentees, etc…) look like?

Eating At Home pt. 1 April 9, 2016

Ephesians 5:28-29 New International Version (NIV)

28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—

If you look up the word nutrition in the dictionary, you'll find that its primary and most popular meaning is, "the act or process of nourishing." A closer examination of the word reveals a much more complex meaning: "the sum of the processes by which an animal or plant takes in and utilizes food substances."¹ We'll leave that latter definition to the professional physicians. They understand those processes and are able to explain and apply the science of nutrition much better than you or I could. To keep things on a much simpler basis, let's go back to the former and more popular meaning as we focus our attention on the root term, nourish.

As you may remember, the New Testament was originally written in Greek. If you were to do a word search in the New Testament, looking for the word that is translated "nourish" in English, you would find the original Greek term, ektrepho . . . and if you're like me, you would find it interesting that it appears only twice, both times in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. To make it even more interesting, you'd discover that each time it is used in a context addressed only to men. The first time, it's in a series of statements Paul wrote to all husbands—and in this particular verse (Ephesians 5:29), he exhorted each husband to love and cherish his wife. The second time, it's in a brief verse (6:4) where Paul wrote to all fathers—as he exhorted each father to treat his children with tenderness, being faithful to encourage them, discipline them, and teach them well. Each time, Paul chose ektrepho as the key term, which could be rendered "clothe" (when addressed to husbands) and it could also be rendered "rear tenderly" (when he wrote to fathers). Let's go further by observing each example more in depth—the first one today, and the second one tomorrow.

First, all who are husbands are strongly urged by the apostle, "love your wives" (5:25)! Paul then illustrated the extent of that love by using two analogies. First, husbands are to love their wives "as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (5:25), and second, husbands are to love their wives "as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it" (5:28–29). See the word rendered "nourishes"? 

That's ektrepho. As we learned earlier, it conveys the idea of clothing—just as a man clothes himself, feeds himself, and takes care of himself, he ought also, with equal diligence and commitment, "nourish" his wife.

Thought for today: What do I find nourishment in?

What’s Good? April 8, 2016

Acts 10:12-13 New King James Version (NKJV)

12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

As we are thinking about nutrition, we must keep in mind that while certain foods may be good for us and necessary for our health, some are neither. And no two people are exactly alike.

Speaking of that, it is an interesting study to check out what was eaten by many of the people who lived back in biblical days. You won't believe it . . . talk about individual tastes! Trust me; you need to think twice before deciding to blindly follow the diet of any one person who lived way back then. Let me illustrate.

Esau, being a man of the field who enjoyed hunting, liked venison, while his father, Isaac, really preferred wild goat (Genesis 25:27–28; 27:6–9).

Shortly before the Exodus, the Hebrews were instructed to prepare and eat roasted lamb, bread without yeast, and bitter herbs (Exodus 12:8–9).

While on their way to the Promised Land, the Hebrews longed for the fish, fresh vegetables, and melons they had left behind in Egypt, while their wilderness diet consisted mainly of manna, except for one entire month when they had nothing but quail (Numbers 11:5–9, 18–20, 31–34).

Samson ate honey out of the carcass of a young lion he had earlier killed (Judges 14:8–9).

The high priest Eli and his sons made themselves fat by ripping off the people who came to worship, eating the choicest portions of the offerings they had brought as sacrifices to the Lord (1 Samuel 2:29).

Abigail catered a large meal of mutton, roasted grain, raisins, bread, and wine to David and his men in the field (1 Samuel 25:18, 27, 35).

The prophet Elijah drank from a brook and ate bread and meat, brought to him each morning and evening by ravens (1 Kings 17:5–6).

Young Daniel turned down the King of Babylon's choice food and wine, preferring a diet of only vegetables and water (Daniel 1:8–12).

John the Baptizer limited his diet to locusts and honey (Matthew 3:4).

Jesus and His disciples ate fish cooked over an open fire (John 21:9).

Peter was instructed to eat "all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air" (Acts 10:12–13).

By now, you're smiling—or you should be! The list is incomplete, but you get the picture. Obviously, there is no single dish or preferred food that people ate in the days of the Bible. And, frankly, some of the things they did eat would make us gag if we tried to choke them down! If you doubt that, imagine munching on an appetizer of locust and wild honey, followed by a sandwich made up of a few slabs of some crawling creature placed between a couple slices of manna (which, by the way, was like coriander seed and, when you baked it, it tasted like oil, according to Numbers 11:7–8). Sounds pretty yummy, huh?

My point? Think about it. In each individual case, there was great nutritional value for those who ate specific foods. And what God provided for one wasn't necessarily meant for another.

As I said at the beginning, each person is an individual. That means each one of us must discover which foods are best for us, which foods our bodies can tolerate, and which foods we need to stay completely away from. All of that can be accurately determined as a result of tests and analyses, if you choose. If you hope to get the best nutritional value from what you eat, it's important that you take the time and go to the trouble to find out which foods are best for you.

Once you make that determination, ask God for the discipline to say no to those foods you have no business eating. And while you're at it, don't forget to give Him thanks for the ones that help keep you healthy, happy, energetic, and enthusiastic about life.

Thought for today: What does my diet consist of?