September 30 - Humility in Duty

        Luke 17:10 - "So when you have done everything you were told to do, you should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "

        Recently, my supervisor at work called me while I was working the evening shift. Among other things, she thanked me for being a responsible worker and for doing what I was asked to do, which was sometimes a different task each day. I responded by saying that I was only doing my job.

        In the story of Luke 17:7ff, Jesus is calling us to be humble in our servanthood. After all, God is the Master; we are the servants. He is in control; we are the workers in his kingdom. The same goes for being employees for our company or boss. We have agreed to be compensated a certain amount of money and/or benefits for doing a certain amount of work. Why should we expect anything more? On the contrary, we should follow Colossians 3:22-24, knowing that it is God who we ultimately work for, and who will ultimately reward us. Galatians 6:7 also comes into play here. We really will reap what we sow. If I work to enhance my employers' business, then his blessing will become my blessing. If I increase his earnings, then I might possibly increase my earnings, however without expecting to do so. The opposite is even more true. If my employer loses money, I can certainly not expect to make more.

        So, do what you are required and more, with a humble attitude, and let God take care of you.

September 19 - Feelings and the truth

        Jeremiah 17:9 - " The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"

        2 Corinthians 5:7 - "We live by faith, not by sight."

        Feelings/emotions are a strange topic to discuss. Every moment of our lives is sensory in nature to some degree. How we react to truth, falsehood, and the perception thereof, involves not only the mind, but how we feel about those facts of life and perceptions about those things of which we don't know the facts. We obviously live day-to-day based upon facts of life. For example, I go to work to earn a paycheck, whether I feel like it or not. Because, if I don't go to work, I do not get paid. When I got married, I entered into a lifelong relationship/commitment that just doesn't dissolve because I don't feel like I am married anymore. As Wendy Kaiser once told in a story about a friend whose marriage was on the rocks, "Honey, you better adjust your feelings to the facts."

        When I became a Christian, or just before, I had somewhat of a supernatural tangible experience. However, my faith in God's redemption for me is not based, nor was it ever based, in my feelings or physical experience. The truth of the gospel is founded upon rock-solid facts about God's love and plan for redeeming the world, not about feelings or emotions that you or I have experienced along the way. Remember what Paul said in Galatians 1:8 - "If we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a good news solution, other than the one we proclaimed to you, let him be eternally condemned!" Therefore, if, e.g., the Morman missionaries, or the Jehovah's Witnesses females, come knocking on your door with their different truth, do not be fooled by their emotional arguments based upon a warm feeling that they had when they supposedly met God. The reason is that they point to that emotional feeling as confirmation of a sealed deal. They haven't read Jeremiah 17:9, mentioned above. Truth does not depend on how I feel; it depends upon God's rock-solid revelation.

January 7 - Do Something

        James 1:22-25 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says, is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, then goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. However, the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - that man will be blessed in what he does."

        Most of us comb our hair, using a mirror. Why? Because we want to know how we appear when others see us. Or we simply want to make sure that we have groomed ourselves so as not to appear terribly unkempt and ridiculous. When we are finished with the grooming, we rarely need to look again, unless an outside force, or time and gravity, has wrecked our previous efforts. We rarely have to take a second glance to make sure we parted our hair on the correct side; or to make sure that we even addressed it at all before we left the house. Those steps are fairly basic, and would be absurd, if from one hour to the next, we wondered if we ever combed or brushed our hair at all that day!

        So too, is the absurdity of simply listening to a Sunday message, and then not putting it into practice. Or simply reading a chapter in the Bible, just to say that we did so for the day. God doesn't want to see how faithful we are in our religious rituals. He wants to see action, and that from the heart. 1 John 3:18 states, "Let us love not with words or tongue, but with action and in truth."

        Years ago, I had training classes for my job. I was told that the best way to learn anything was to read the instructions aloud, while performing the task, then repeating the process. I was also told that simply reading or hearing instructions with no other action, only gave the learner a 10% chance of remembering what he heard. So if I want to be blessed and understand God's ways deeper, then I must do - regularly.

January 5 - The Great Puzzle

         Romans 16:25-26 - "Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings, by the command of the eternal God,......"

        The Bible is like a great, complicated jigsaw puzzle. It is obviously a huge book, written by many authors over a period of history approximately 1500 years in length, from c. 1400 BC to AD 90. Its "revelation", i.e., how God reveals himself to different persons and to what extent, is quite varied. That is why it is like a jigsaw puzzle. Some sections may be easy to figure out; some may take a long time.

        God himself kept some things hidden, through the years, from mankind, as the passage in Romans above (and others) states. However, Hebrews 1:1-3 clears up that mystery a good bit: "In the past, God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word....." Jesus claimed to be the ultimate revelation of God's nature and existence. That doesn't necessarily make everything clear to us humans, but it gives us enough to understand and enough in which to place our faith.

        After all, faith is putting our trust in something that is not quite a reality yet in its fullest measure. There will come a time when our "faith shall be made sight", as the old hymn has stated. I Corinthians 13:12 states, "Now we see only a poor reflection, as in a [ancient looking-glass] mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now, I understand partially; then I will know fully, as I am [already] fully known [by God].

January 6 - For Your Own Good

        Deuteronomy 10:12-13 - "Now, O Israel, what does Yahweh your God ask of you, except to revere him, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve him with all your heart and soul, and to observe his commands and decrees that I [Moses] am giving you today for your own good?"

         Many non-believers who give excuses for not wanting to follow God's rules do not realize the truth in the above verses. God has given us laws and rules to follow in order for our lives to be blessed, for things to go well, and in order to keep from being self-destructive. Isaiah 48:17-18 follows this theme, in that God is trying to teach us what is best for us. Isn't this exactly what a loving father does for his own children?

        Jesus re-iterates the need to keep the commandments in Matthew 19:16-22, but then gets to the heart of the young man in the story. The man did not have a problem with keeping the commandments or so he thought. Jesus told him specifically to sell his possessions and give to the poor; but he left Jesus in a sad state of mind, because he had great wealth. Perhaps he was unknowingly ranking his possessions in order of importance ahead of God. Perhaps he was keeping the commandments in deed only, but not in heart. Did he really love Yahweh his God with all his heart and soul (Matt. 22:37)? Did he really put God foremost in his life (Exodus 20:3)?

        Jesus also gets to the heart of the matter in Matthew 6:25-34 - which is that our heavenly Father loves us so much, that he will take care of us. So, don't worry. Surrender your life to him, and allow him to take care of you. All of these sets of verses are really tied to the nature of God - that he loves us and wants the best for us.

January 9 - The Word of God is Alive

        Heb 4:12 - "The Word of God is living and active. It is sharper than any double-edged sword and penetrates......judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

        Acts 7:37-38 - "This is that Moses.....[who] received living words to pass on to us."

        The Bible is not just a collection of spiritual stories, a history of people who had personal encounters with angels and with God himself. It is not just an inspirational book to help us live better lives in our communities. It contains the very words of God, the very thoughts of God, and his will for mankind. It is a collection (canon) of writings by individuals who were "carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:19-20). These latter verses also state that "we will do well to pay attention to it". Not only does this include the Old Testament canon (which Jesus recognized and used), but it also includes the words and history of Jesus, as well as the writings of the apostles (even before they were canonized); (cross-reference Matthew 24:35 and 1 Peter 3:2, 15-17.)

        I am not surprised at radical Muslims who kill in the name of Allah or the Quran. There are texts in the Quran that would, at least, suggest this action, and at most, command it. They are trying to follow their commander and his commands, as if they were following the words of Deuteronomy 32:45-46: "When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, he said to them , 'Take to heart all the words that I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to carefully obey all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you - they are your life." (emphasis mine)  Jesus then comes along and fulfills the law, giving us a broader and fuller revelation thereof, and of God our Father. Therefore, the active and living (written) word of God, should be your life and my life - not just the religious component for righteous living. It should be the guiding light for everything in our lives.

February 1 – The Power of Pardoning

        Psalm 130:3-4 – “If you, O Yahweh, kept a record of sins, O Adonai, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared."

        The first part of this passage brings to mind several other verses in which our perceptions of God's mercy might be a little skewed. In 1 Samuel 6:19-20, God puts to death 70 of the men from Beth Shemesh because they looked into the ark as it was traveling on the cart pulled by oxen. In verse 20, the question is asked ".....who can stand in the presence of Yahweh, this holy God?" In conjunction with Acts 5 regarding the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, there are some blatant acts that God will (has) not put up with, resulting in the death of people. On the contrary, God is perfect and completely righteous, while we humans are sinful by nature. Yet we manage to live 70 or 80 years (in God's presence). God is also by nature, patient and full of love and mercy, putting up with our general sinfulness and selfishness all of our lives.

        Revelation 20 mentions the great judgment of God at the end of time. Books are opened; the dead are judged according to what was recorded in the books. So God does keep a record of sins, as well as good deeds; yet we stand in his presence while we live. These passages appear to be in disagreement. The competing concepts can appear to be oxymoronic on the surface. But, as Romans 3:4 states, "Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: 'So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.' " Our perceptions and understanding is not always clear or complete.

        The second part of Psalm130:4 reminds me of a scene in the movie Schindler's List, Steven Speilberg's World War 2 classic. Oscar Schindler is meeting with a German officer half way through the movie. They are discussing the concept of power, as the Germans successfully wielded it against the Jewish people and other nations surrounding them. Oscar offers the officer an even greater level of power - the power of pardon, when one already holds the power to punish. The officer is intrigued by this concept and eventually utilizes it as a means of showing ultimate control over the oppressed person.(Cross-reference Proverbs 19:11.)  A little later, however, the officer kills the "pardoned" person arbitrarily. This analogy of God's power obviously does not fit perfectly, because God is not arbitrary in his judgments. However, he is to be revered, because he does hold the power of both forgiveness and punishment. The difference with God is that his nature is loving and merciful, not evil and hateful. We can humbly come to him, seeking his mercy and forgiveness, knowing that he will give this good gift to us.

September 7 – God's Faithfulness

        Lamentations 3:21-25 – "Yet this I call to mind, and I therefore have hope: Because of Yahweh's great love, we are not consumed, for his acts of compassion never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.......Yahweh is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who pursues him."

        This has always been a favorite passage of mine, along with 1 John 1:9 which is related. It reminds me that I can start over with God each and every day, knowing that it is his faithfulness to me that is the controlling factor. My faithfulness to him is growing, but negligible, and lacking. God, however, knows that we are only dust, frail humans who fight against the sinful nature within us.

        2 Timothy 2:11-13 is also related and highlights God's faithfulness, even when we are not faithful to him. It is God's nature to be faithful in dispensing his love. That is why we should focus on his great love for us, and live accordingly in pursuing him and the understanding of that great love and faithfulness. Paul's prayer for Christians in Ephesians 3:16-19 is worth repeating: "I pray that out of his glorious riches, he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit, in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all believers, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God."

September 2 – Work Ethic

        Col. 3:22-24 – ".....obey your earthly masters in everything; do it, not only when they are watching and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and respect for the Master. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if you were working directly for the Master, and not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Master as a reward. It is Christ you are serving."

        Do you want peace on your job? Do you want to reduce the amount of drama? Do you want to increase your chances for a raise? Then simply obey the verses in Colossians. Everything we do should be a reflection of the good things that God is doing in our lives.

        Well, what if I don't like my job? What if my boss is a jerk? What if I can never please my superiors? Firstly, we should take stock of our own behavior and attitude, and adjust it accordingly. We cannot control the actions of others, only that of ourselves. Remember, that it is God who is looking out for us, when we choose to obey him. Gal. 6:7 states that we also reap what we sow. So, God will remember all of our actions and repay us accordingly. Do you want a good return? Then, do your positive part up-front. If you give that employer 102%, it will return to you in a positive manner.

        I recently took home an older vacuum cleaner from my workplace. The upright shaft for pushing around the vacuum had become worn and in disrepair, so that one could barely push the machine normally. Someone had duct-taped the two metal adjustable pieces together, thus producing a shoddy, incomplete repair that probably worked in the short-term. I removed the old repair, fixed the metal tubing, cleaned all the parts, then used epoxy to solidify a repair of the shaft – all of this on my own time. I returned the machine to working condition on the job, as a favor to my employer, who was quite happy and a little surprised at my initiative.

        So, even if you are just sweeping a floor, do it to the best of your ability, because God is watching, to bless you. And don't forget Titus 2:10b, "....so that in every way we make the teaching about God our savior, attractive."

September 1 – Bus trip to Tak

        Psalm 29:3 – "Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due his name; worship him in the splendor of his holiness."

        Psalm 68:34 – "Ascribe power to God. His majesty is over Israel, his power among the clouds."

        I have a friend who wrote a small book titled "Did God Really Do That?" It contained short stories of events in his life, in which things happened so unexpectedly favorable, that there was no denying that God was working within the situation. In modern-day conversation and writing, the word "ascribe" is one that is used very little, if at all. It is a verb that means "to give credit to". My friend gave credit to God for the details of his stories.

        This story is from November, 2008. It was my third trip, traveling alone to Thailand to volunteer at a Christian school for Karen refugee kids. I had made hotel reservations for one night after arriving in Bangkok. I decided this trip to not stay downtown, but instead to stay on the outskirts. After a good night's rest, I caught a ride to the nearest bus station, anticipating an early ride to my destination, Mae Sot, eight hours away. When I got to the bus station, I was told that this particular line did not travel to Mae Sot. I had to take the line leaving from downtown!

        So I hopped the bus for downtown and caught the second bus heading for Tak, which was the next-to-last stop before Mae Sot. After a day on the bus, I finally arrived in Tak at sunset. I inquired of the bus to Mae Sot; I was informed that the last bus had already left for Mae Sot. With my heavy luggage, I thought I was going to have to spend the night in the bus station, which was basically a large outdoor area – with a hundred other people, just milling around or waiting on their rides home. I started to mentally prepare myself for that fate, as I did not know of any accommodations in Tak.

        Instead, a Thai woman immediately approached me, speaking very good English. Apparently, she knew that I seemed to be in dire straits. She offered to give me a ride to Mae Sot, for a certain amount of money. That amount was higher than normal, but not too outrageous. I took her offer; she produced a van driver, who drove me over the mountains in the dark, and dropped me off at the local hotel. I then called my contact, who came and picked me up.

        My unexpected and sudden stroke of luck was no such thing. It was God, who knew of my bus line mistake, and who provided a ride for me that evening, when I thought I was stuck. Thank you God, for watching over me.  Yes, God really did that!