Pictures of God's Kindness

DAILY READING

Ruth 2:17-23

REFLECTION

Pictures of God's Kindness

by Karen Burkhart

Savvy students of the Bible know to always be on the lookout for the grand story of God in the telling of the Bible's many little stories. Scholars call this grand, overarching story, the metanarrative. The metanarrative of the Bible is the story of the redemption of mankind by Jesus Christ. It is, perhaps, no more beautifully showcased than in the book of Ruth. I encourage you to read through all four chapters of this layered love story in one sitting to see the clearest display of the redemptive theme.

As you read, you may notice that God is not mentioned often, though it'll be hard to miss His incredible “behind-the-scenes” involvement in the story of Ruth. And though you'll find no mention of the coming Messiah, you will uncover an irresistible picture of Him in the person of Boaz, making him a “type” of Christ. A type is something or someone from the Old Testament that foreshadows something or someone in the New Testament. I love the wisdom of God to weave such foretastes of Jesus into the Word of God--and into the very lives of those who came before Him.

Knowing that Boaz is a type of Christ, it’s good to ask, “What does the person of Boaz teach me about what Christ is like?” Of course, we have to be careful to avoid making one-to-one comparisons because Boaz IS NOT Christ. From today’s passage, I think it’s safe to say that Boaz typifies Christ in three ways: 1) He notices the marginalized 2) He shows relentless kindness to the living and the dead and 3) He redeems people. Certainly, the book of Ruth is not the only place in the Bible we uncover these traits of Christ, which lends greater confidence to my assertions. Also bearing witness, though far less reliable than Scripture, is my own personal experience walking with Christ. Just this week, in fact, I experienced this Christ who notices the marginalized and never stops showing kindness to the living and the dead.

While in Canada helping my dad get settled into his new apartment, I noticed his walls were looking a little sterile and needed some art. Adding warmth and interest to my dad's surroundings is more important than ever now that my mom is gone. Because my dad lives in a small rural community with few stores, I decided to see what Facebook Marketplace may have to offer. I set the market radius to about an hour’s drive from my dad’s apartment hoping it would turn up a few suitable pieces. And it did! My dad dismissed one for not being his style and then we learned another had already been sold, so we were left with just two options and they were ideal in color and size. I texted both sellers individually and told them I was interested but would need to figure out how to pick up the art since they were both about an hour from us. On a whim, before hitting send, I also let the sellers know where we were located. The thought crossed my mind, “you never know—they might happen to have a reason to travel our way.”

Not long after, I got a response from one seller and she said, “My husband is going to be in your town tomorrow night, and he could drop it off for you!” Then, she added, “I just noticed you enquired about a second piece as well? Do you want both?” I was floored--I hadn’t even noticed it was the same seller for both and couldn’t believe that we would be getting home-delivery! The next night, right on time, a nice young man came to my dad’s door with the artwork in hand. I immediately hung the pieces and stood back and marveled--they fit perfectly and the colors coordinated with everything else in the room, as if I had designed the room around them.

Finally, I marveled at my God who notices the empty wall spaces of an

eighty-five-year-old widower living on his own for the first time in his life. And He didn’t just notice him, He also showed great kindness by arranging for personal delivery in a timely fashion so I could hang them before I left town. You know who else God showed kindness to? My mom. God answered her prayers for my dad to be cared for after her passing. You see, not even death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39)

 

Aaron Speaks for Moses

PRAYER PRACTICE

Prayer Journal – To begin your daily worship today, grab a pen and paper and write out a prayer to God. Give thanks to God for all that He gives. And then finish with supplication – with your prayer requests to God. When you are done, tuck this away somewhere (so you can read it later and see how God has answered your prayers) and then move into hearing from God through His Word.

DAILY READING

Exodus 7:1-7

REFLECTION

Aaron Speaks for Moses

by Karen Burkhart

Last week, I wrote about the story of Abraham’s two sons, Ishmael, and Isaac. Though Ishmael was the firstborn, God did not choose him to establish the family line through which the Messiah would come. Instead, God chose his younger brother, Isaac. In today’s reading we see again God bypassing the older son (Aaron) to call the younger son (Moses) to a vital mission. Throughout Scripture, there are at least seven other younger brothers whom God exalted: Joseph, David, Jacob, Gideon, Solomon, Ephraim, and Abel. I love how God is not bound by our cultural norms and expectations—He can do whatever He wants, with whomever He chooses. Consider what the Lord said to Samuel about David, who was the youngest of eight:

  “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

The story of Moses and Aaron is different than the examples mentioned above in at least one obvious way: God didn’t completely sidestep the elder brother. Rather, He enlisted Aaron in the mission of Moses, as spokesman. As second born myself, I can’t help but feel for Moses who had to endure his older brother speaking on his behalf, though I imagine the bigger burden was with Aaron who had to humble himself to take instructions from his baby brother. 

To understand why Aaron was called to come alongside Moses, we have to go all the way back to the story of the burning bush in Exodus 3. From there, we learn that after hearing God’s instruction to go to Pharaoh, Moses pushed back not once, not twice, but five times, culminating in, “Please send someone else!” Though Moses didn't get exactly what He wanted, God did meet him part way.      

I'm struck by how bold Moses was to suggest to God that He may have chosen the wrong person and that He should send someone else. I'm even more struck by how patient God was with Moses. God could have said, "Fine! I'll send your brother Aaron in your place!" But he didn't--He accommodated Moses' insecurities, giving him Aaron as a partner, whose strengths would complement his weaknesses. Obviously, God knew this partnership would be the end result so It's curious to me that He didn't just start there. Perhaps God wanted Moses to really feel his inadequacy so that He would welcome help from his brother, Aaron. Any good parent or teacher knows that children are far more accepting of help when it's their idea. God is so kind to account for our sin nature and shortcomings in His Divine plan. 

Have you ever felt inadequate for the tasks to which God has called you? Have you been known to recount your shortcomings and even offer up other candidates for the missions you’ve been called to? If so, you’re in very good company. Rest assured, God doesn’t make mistakes and He won’t cast you aside even when you try to sideline yourself. Accept your weaknesses as an opportunity to unwrap the gift that is the people of God--the Body of Christ--perfectly designed and lacks nothing. Look around. Maybe God's got an Aaron waiting in the wings to come alongside you. Imagine what you could do for the Kingdom of God together.  

 

The Death of Abraham

 DAILY READING

Genesis 25:1-11

REFLECTION

The Father's Will to Bless

by Karen Burkhart

Last week as I read for the first time this week's writing assignment, I was at a loss to know what point to draw out from the Scripture. Reading a second time, I noticed the mention of Abraham's concubines along with the summary that Abraham lived a long and satisfying life, and I couldn't help but laugh; I thought surely this is correlation and not causation! I have seen TLC's Sister Wives after all, and know that multiple wives is not a prescription for a happy life. After several more readings and insights from others I finally saw it:

Abraham gave everything he owned to his son Isaac.

If Isaac had been Abraham's only child or even his firstborn son, I likely would have blown right by this, but he was neither. Abraham had, in fact, eight sons and Isaac was born second. As a mother of two sons, I shudder to think of the circumstances that would lead their father and I to decide to will everything to our youngest. But Abraham's decision to give everything he owned to his son Isaac was not punitive or born of hostility or even favoritism--it was born of God.  

You see, when Abraham was 75 years old God told him that He would make him into a great nation and bless all the families of the earth through him. God was revealing that the promised Messiah would come through one of Abraham's descendants. Though the how and the why were mysteries to Abraham, we are told that, "Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness."  

God had always planned for Isaac to be the firstborn and the branch from which the Messiah would come, but Abraham and Sarah grew impatient. It's hard to not sympathize with them; they had given God more than ten years to do the miraculous and still--no offspring. Perhaps they felt God had forgotten or bitten off more than He could chew, so they hatched a twisted little promise-assistance plan. The result? Ishmael. Though Abraham loved Ishmael, he was not the one through whom God planned to establish the lineage of the Savior of the World. Consequently, life got complicated and Abraham and Sarah waited another thirteen years for the arrival of the child of the promise, Isaac. Eventually God confirmed with Isaac the covenant he had made with Abraham to bless all the nations of the earth through his seed.  

Even on his deathbed Abraham believed God so he gave everything he owned to God's chosen, Isaac. To the rest, he gave gifts and sent them on their way. I admit, the disparity doesn't sit right; my flesh wants everything to be divided equally. But God is not bound by human ideas of fairness, though He is always just. God, therefore, had a profound purpose for making Isaac the sole beneficiary of Abraham's estate. Through the relationship of Abraham and Isaac, God was not only establishing the sacred genealogy for Jesus, He was painting a picture of their Father-Son relationship and revealing how we, like Isaac, can become children of the promise and partakers of the spiritual inheritance.

The Father loves the Son and has given everything into His hand. He who trusts in the Son has eternal life. He who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him (John 3:25-26).

Just as Abraham was made righteous by believing God, we who trust in Jesus are made right with God and become joint heirs with Jesus! This blessing and inheritance isn't reserved for Jews, or males, or the wealthy, or even those who've come into this world "legitimately"--it's available for all!  Praise be to God!

Father in Heaven, thank you for the Word of God that faithfully leads us to Jesus, even in the parts written before He came to earth in the flesh.  Thank You for helping us to see that Your ways are always good and have purpose even if we don't understand them immediately.  Thanks for giving me all that is yours, to be fully enjoyed one day in heaven, just like Isaac received all that belonged to His Father.  Help me, like Isaac, to use my spiritual inheritance to carry on the mission of delivering the hope of Jesus to the world.  

God's Promises

DAILY READING

Genesis 8:1; 14-22

Yes and Amen!

By Karen Burkhart

No doubt we have all been stung by a broken promise.  And, if we're honest, we'd probably confess to breaking our own word a time or two.  In my experience, unkept promises in our personal lives are rarely intentional.  Many times, a promise-breaker means well but underestimates what it would take to fulfill the promise.  Or, perhaps, a promise-breaker forgets about the promise or procrastinates until it is not possible to make good.  But we also observe circumstances that seem more calculated, such as the broken promises of a scheming politician or overly aggressive salesman.  In light of all these let-downs, it's no wonder we're a little skeptical when we hear the words, “I promise”—even when they escape our own mouth!  The truth is: there is only One whose word we can take to the bank 100% of the time--God.  Not only does He lack nothing to fulfill His promises, but He also remembers every promise and has never had a window close on Him.

Even though I am convinced of these truths intellectually, I admit, sometimes my heart lags behind.  That's why the radical trust demonstrated by Old Testament prophets is amazing to me.  Noah, for example, trusted in God's promise to send a catastrophic flood and save his family by means of an ark, and he lived in that trust publicly for roughly seventy-five years.  It's one thing to quietly believe and hope that God will one day fulfill His promise; it's quite another to rearrange your life around it for all to see.  I often marvel at the measure of ridicule Noah and his family surely endured as they faithfully labored on this gargantuan lifeboat that had no apparent purpose. I question if I could dare live my faith that boldly.

Remarkably, Noah even trusted God’s promises despite not having ALL the information.  Here's what the Bible tells us Noah knew when he wielded his ark-building hammer for the first time:

• God was going to destroy all living creatures on the earth with a flood
• The specs of the large boat he was to build
• Who and what was to go on the boat: Noah and his family, pairs of every animal and bird, and enough food to sustain them

Here's what we can assume Noah didn't know:

• When, how, and how many animals and birds would come to him
• When it would start raining
• How long they would all be in the ark
• How Noah would know when it was time to leave the ark
• What life would be like after they left the ark

Planners like me don't like not knowing all the details in advance, but God shares on a “need-to-know” basis. He’s a Good Father who understands that our knowing everything can short-circuit our finite minds and emotions. Our job is to simply obey what we know He wants us to do then trust that He will either lead us to next steps or faithfully do His part.  In Noah's case, after he obeyed all God had originally instructed, God sent the animals and rain then closed the door of the ark.  The ark floated aimlessly for five months before resting on dry ground, but Noah had to wait another seven months before God finally told him to leave the boat.  I bet that felt like eternity. Afterward, God  made another promise which must have brought such comfort to Noah's heart:

“I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood.  I will never again destroy all living things.  As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night (Genesis 8:22).”  (See also Genesis 9:12-17)

Praise be to God; this promise continues to us today!  We can be certain that, even when things look really bad, as long as this earth remains, God will sustain life.  He will sustain us!  He is and has always been the One who holds it ALL together.  And let us not forget that God also promises that one day He will give us a new heaven and a new earth free from corruption, where Righteousness has the final—and every—word.  

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!”  And, through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Jesus, thank you that not one of your promises have gone or will ever go unfulfilled.  Help me to build my life around your promises even if I end up looking like I'm toiling in vain.  You are the One I can trust and You alone are my salvation.  

Living for God

PRAYER PRACTICE

Spoken Prayer – Out loud, pray for God to speak to you through the reading. Praise God for giving us His word. Ask the Spirit to help you read with faith, and to live out what you hear from God through the passage.

DAILY READING

1 Peter 4:1-11 

REFLECTION

Power On

By Karen Burkhart

It's been said that dying for Christ is easy, it's living for Him that's hard. I couldn't agree more. Though I hope I am never in a position where someone with a gun is demanding I renounce my faith in Christ, I expect my response would be something akin to: Over my dead body. You see, I know that momentary suffering is nothing compared to the joy that awaits me in heaven. Still, if I could write the script for my life, the final scene would be set at home surrounded by my loved ones. Thankfully, few of us will ever be called to literally die for Christ, but all of us are called to live for Him--moment by moment, day by day, year by year.   

So, what makes living for Christ so hard? For starters, people naturally love the way of least resistance but living for Christ means always swimming upstream. Sometimes the current is tumultuous like the Colorado River and other times gentle like a lazy river at the waterpark, but in either case, exhaustion is inevitable. Further, with each labored breath, temptation mounts to grab hold of one of the many ropes tossed from friends and strangers alike floating blissfully downstream in the endless parade of rafts. It takes great resolve and endurance to keep one’s eyes fixed and body progressing upstream toward the only Source of hope.

Another reason it's hard to live for Christ is that people naturally love to be loved but being a Christian means never being nominated for, let alone winning, the world's popularity contests. If it’s generally true that you can only please some of the people some of the time--it’s extra-true for Christians. There is simply no way to hold to the teachings of Christ and not, at times, be offensive to others. People don’t like it when you don’t grab the lifeline they have made the effort to toss to you. People don’t like it when you won’t affirm their values that contradict Biblical ones. People don’t like it when you refuse to participate in the activities you used to participate in with them before you met Christ. Above all, people don’t like hearing you say that Jesus is the only way to reach God, the Father. The good news is: true Christian fellowship with even a few is more soul-satisfying than being Time Magazine’s Person of the Year.

If today you're struggling for your next stroke in your swimming marathon, maybe it's time for a rest period so you can refuel on the Bread of Life and drink in some Living Water. The Word of God and The Spirit of God are strength-building, joy-inducing, life-giving resources that never run out and are available to everyone at anytime! If instead or in addition you're feeling alienated and lonely, turn to a brother or sister in Christ and share your burdens, sharpen one another, and pray for one another. Sometimes all it takes is a few minutes of true fellowship to be reminded that you're not swimming upstream alone and to gain courage to power on.

Keep loving God "with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! (1 Peter 4:11b)"

Hope in the Lord

DAILY READING

Jeremiah 14:20-22 (NLT)

DEVOTION / REFLECTION

Plan A through Z

by Karen Burkhart

The context for today's Bible reading is a sobering one--the nation of Israel was in the midst of a great drought brought on by their willful disobedience to God. Israel had had every opportunity to be the recipients of God's great blessings simply by obeying His voice, but instead she disobeyed. God then, being faithful and true, had no choice but to make good on His promise to overtake Israel with the curses He had warned them about (see Deuteronomy 28). 

Unlike human inclination, God doesn't punish to be vindictive but to get attention for redemptive purposes. Drought, in particular, has a compelling way of getting people to look up, especially in an agrarian society. When the land is parched and the cisterns empty, life comes to a grinding halt and that's when stiff-necked people are most inclined to cry out to God and beg for His forgiveness. That's exactly what we see the prophet Jeremiah doing on behalf of Israel in Jeremiah 14:20-22.  

When the prophet Jeremiah saw the connection between Israel's sin and the drought, he didn't waste breath trying to justify Israel before God. He didn't whitewash Israel's sin or recount times past when she walked in obedience; Jeremiah simply cried out for the mercy of God and appealed to His honor and His promise. Jeremiah knew God could have justly abandoned and scorned Israel and kept rain from falling because Israel had broken her side of the covenant, but Jeremiah also knew that God is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. With a God like that, there's always a chance He will relent and allow His blessings to pour again (see Joel 2:12-14).  

For many of us today, we are uncomfortable with the idea of a God who punishes; we prefer to focus on God's attributes of grace and kindness. When we read the Bible, we tend to camp out in The New Testament and speed through stories like the one about Ananias and Saphira whom God struck dead for lying. Though it's true that Christians are no longer under the law of the Old Testament, it's important to know that God's nature and character did not change between the Testaments. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Holiness and obedience still matter to God.  

So what can we learn and apply to our lives from today's Scripture and its context? First, when we find ourselves in overwhelmingly difficult circumstances we should at least consider if God may be wanting to get our attention and call us to repentance. Then, if we acknowledge we have wandered from God's ways, we should repent and cry out to Him for mercy. We can have full confidence that God will not despise the plea of a humble and broken heart (Psalm 51:16-18). 

A second application of today's Scripture is to follow Jeremiah's example by placing ALL our hope in God alone. You see, God doesn't want to be our contingency plan--He wants to be our plan A to plan Z. That's not to suggest when we place all our hope in God that everything will work out favorably for us here on earth in all ways and at all times, but it does mean it will ultimately be well with our soul.  

Listen to MercyMe's song, Even If

PRAYER PRACTICE

Spoken Prayer – Out loud, pray for God to speak to you through your reading. Praise God for giving us His word. Ask the Spirit to help you read with faith, and to live out what you hear from God through the passage.

Love In Action

DAILY READING

 Romans 12:9-16 (NLT)

DEVOTION / REFLECTION

Love is a Verb

by Karen Burkhart

My heart sunk.  There it was in black and white in my son's essay: "Love is a feeling." How could he have gotten something so important so wrong? I wondered.  I knew there was only one answer: I had neglected to teach him the whole truth about love. Sure, I had modeled unconditional love in action every time I forgave an offense, hugged him during a mood, or looked after him through an illness, but somehow that wasn't enough to offset the steady stream of messages from movies and media that told him that love is passive, rather than active. I knew I had some work to do.  

Today's Bible reading offers a good place to learn about real love. The passage begins with:  "Don't just pretend to love people. Really love them."  Those opening lines seem to provide the foundation for what follows in the section, which in some Bible translations is given the heading, "Marks of a Christian."  No doubt, love is the ultimate sign of a being a Christian.  Jesus said, "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. (John 13:35)"  

So how does the apostle Paul say we are to really love others? Well, on the "to do" side, there are many calls to action--like weep with those who weep, and be ready to help those in need. On the "things to not do" side, there is guidance like never be lazy and don't be too proud to associate with ordinary people. The list can seem a little daunting; there are a lot of things to keep in mind.  

Sandwiched in the middle of these instructions are three that at first glance may seem unrelated to loving others: "Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying" but there's a connection. You see, doing these things changes us and spills over to those near us. For example, when I choose to rejoice in my hope for salvation, I live above my present circumstances which may cause others to take notice and enquire about the hope that is in me. When I take the long view and am patient in trouble, my family is spared from spiraling with me into despair. When I pray instead of worry, I gain peace and take it with me into all my interactions with others.  

For someone like me who is very attuned to my own feelings (just ask my husband), it can be hard to not allow them to lead me, but if I want to really love people, I must resist. It's been said that feelings make a wonderful caboose, but a lousy engine. How true that is! Our lives should be driven by an unwavering commitment to unchanging truth, not our feelings. True love may very well involve wonderfully warm feelings but those aren't prerequisites for action. The call to love in action goes out continually through the highs and the lows of all our emotions.  

PRAYER PRACTICE

Turn again to today's Bible passage and as you read through it slowly, prayerfully consider what one or two actions you could do to demonstrate real love to someone today.  Some possibilities may be:

Send a note of congratulations to someone who is rejoicing.

Call a friend who may be experiencing a loss and let them cry.

Invite a neighbor to share a meal with you.

Pray a blessing on someone who is making your life difficult.  

Lord, help me to embrace the truth about real love and begin to really love people with my actions. When I feel down, help me to not stop serving the people you gave me to love. When I'm tempted to love people only superficially, help me to be willing to go deeper even if that means things getting messy. Lord, thank you for being the perfect example of how to really love. Thank you for giving me your Holy Spirit who continually empowers me to do what I could never do on my own. In Jesus' name, Amen.  

Fellowship of Believers

DAILY READING

 Acts 2:42-47

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

DEVOTION / REFLECTION

A Portrait of Devotion

By Karen Burkhart

Today's Bible reading paints a beautiful portrait of the first century Church. Oh, how I would have loved to have been there sharing in their devotion to the Word of God, true fellowship, and prayer, and witnessing the daily addition of new believers. Clearly, the Lord was at work among them, unifying them, and giving them favor with everyone. It doesn't get any better than that! 

I'll admit that when I consider the Church in America today, and even the little Church that lives at my address, I can't help but see a less attractive picture. Don't get me wrong--the picture can look pretty good on Sundays, especially if there's a potluck after the service. But what about the rest of the week? There's no shortage of devotion, that's for sure; but sadly, in our home that devotion often is not directed toward the One who matters most.  Could it be that the difference between us and first century believers is that we've lost our first love for Christ, or worse--never really loved Him? Or could it be that we've pulled ourselves away from the fire of Christian community and that's why our love has grown cold?

One might argue it was easier to live a life fully devoted to Christ in the first century than it is today. Under the constant threat of persecution, there was no social advantage to being a Christian. Early Christians counted the cost of discipleship and were willing to die for Christ which made their faith more robust. Constant opposition moved them to keep close-at-hand the lifelines of the Apostles' teaching, each other, and prayer. I would love for Christian devotion to increase without opposition or suffering, but I suspect for many of us, those are often the pushes we need to set our priorities straight. Though my flesh hates to suffer, I'm thankful that God has graciously given me enough to keep me clutching Him.  

Today, if you reflect on the scene in Acts 2 and it feels a little foreign, let me encourage you: you don't need to wait for things in your life to heat up before reconnecting with the Lord and His community. Take the wisdom from the letter to the Church at Ephesus who had lost their first love: "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first (Revelation 2:5)." Isn't it interesting that the prescription for a love that's grown cold is to do things--well, not just any things--the right things? 

I know it feels risky to return to Christian fellowship if you've stepped away for a while, but I promise it'll be worth it--not just to you but to the entire Body of Christ and the watching world. We were made to live in community with each other and fulfill the purposes of God side-by-side.  

PRAYER PRACTICE

Dear Father in Heaven,

Thank you for making us for relationship with You and one another. Thank you for the gift of true Christian fellowship that keeps us loving you and moving forward in the mission you left us with. Please reveal to me ways I may have pulled away from Your Body and how it may be affecting my devotion to You. Help me to move beyond superficial relationships with other believers so that we can experience true Christian fellowship.  

You Can Resist Temptation

 James 1:13-15

13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.  

Let's Stop the Blame Game

By Karen Burkhart

Blaming others for our own sinful actions is a protective maneuver that goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden.  When confronted by God for eating the forbidden fruit, Adam responded with, "It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it" and then Eve followed his lead and added, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate it."  The truth is they each had the power to say no to the temptation but instead gave in to their fleshly appetites.  Two people who literally walked and talked with their Creator in the garden should have known that not even a thought could escape God's detection, but humans are remarkably skilled at deceiving ourselves to justify the evil we desire.  

Not much has changed since the Garden.  People are still blaming each other and the Devil for the temptations they face and choices they make.  Occasionally, desperate people even blame God.  Most of us know better than to think God actively entices or wills us to sin.  Still, we sometimes try to pass the buck with ideas like: "If God had prevented me from losing my job, I wouldn't have cheated on my taxes" or "If God hadn't made me this way, I never would have begun this affair." We may feel better about ourselves believing we aren't capable of being tempted or sinning without being externally set-up, but the fact remains: we don't need any "help" at all.  You see, everyone born after Adam and Eve was born with not just the capacity to sin but a nature of sin.  This means that sin comes naturally to us, and we can not be good on own own.  

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone (Mark 10:18).

All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one (Psalm 14:3).

Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins (Ecclesiastes 7:20).

But thanks be to God; He is good and made a way through the death and resurrection of His Son to pass on His righteousness (goodness) to those who believe and place their hope of salvation in Him. Unfortunately, as long as we are on this side of heaven, we will continue to face temptation to sin.  In fact, no one is immune to temptation--not even Jesus.  Remember when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights? The difference between Jesus and us is that even in the face of that prolonged temptation Jesus never sinned.  From this we learn that being tempted isn't itself sin--it's how we respond to it that matters: will we squash it or allow it to grow?  Thankfully, God hasn't left us powerless in our war against our flesh. Though we will never be sinless, by God's grace, we can sin less.  

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Prayer Practice

Spoken Prayer – Dear Lord, I come to you today acknowledging that inside me are fleshly desires that are in opposition to You.  I confess that sometimes when temptation comes, I linger and cherish sinful thoughts instead of capturing them and making them obey You.  Please strengthen me against these temptations so I can live a life that is pleasing and glorifying to You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.  

Children and Parents

DAILY READING

Ephesians 6:1-4

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

DEVOTION / REFLECTION

Honoring Attitudes 

By Karen Burkhart

If you're a parent like me, the commandment referenced in today's reading may be your you all-time favorite, especially if your children are teens. What's not to love about a commandment that tells our children to honor and obey us. And it doesn't stop there, it even extends a reward to those who comply that doesn't cost us us a thing. That's what we call a "win-win!" 

In our delight, however, we may overlook that this commandment doesn't just apply to children under the age of eighteen--it applies to children of all ages! If you're blessed to have at least one living parent, as I am, God still wants us to honor them. Honoring your parents as an adult will, no doubt, look different than honoring them as a child, but honor we must.  For minor-children, honoring parents may be primarily about actions. For adult-children, honoring parents may be mostly about attitude.   

Let's consider some attitudes that are honoring toward parents. First, an attitude of gratitude is a great place to begin. Even imperfect parents are deserving of our gratitude.  Our parents may have gotten many things wrong over the years, but surely they got some things right and you're living proof. Make it a practice to focus on the valuable lessons taught, the love shown, and the provisions that enriched your life. Looking at people through a lens of gratitude can eclipse remnants of resentment.  

A second honoring attitude is empathy. The effort we make to put ourselves in someone else's shoes goes a long way to bridge any relationship gap and create warmth. Before getting frustrated with your parents for not taking advantage of today's technology that could make life easier, consider how successful you've been changing your habits after 50, 30, or even just 20 years. Try expressing something like, "I know it's hard to change. I've been trying to learn a new system at work (or whatever) and it feels so foreign, like I'll never master it." You may be surprised to find that your empathy leads to their willingness to try that new banking app,  

Third, maintaining an attitude of respect toward parents is a wonderful way to honor them.  Respect may look like not treating them like children, even when they are in decline. Or it may look like helping them stay in their home if it's possible. When I was caring for my mom in her final week of life, there was a day when I contemplated sending her to the hospital despite her wish to remain at home. I was emotionally and physically exhausted and I couldn't see the finish line. Thankfully, a wise and compassionate doctor saw more strength in me than I saw in myself, and counseled me to respect my mom's wishes and maintain her dignity to the end. It turned out that the finish line was only 2 days away from that conversation. I have looked back on that day many times and been so grateful for that advice. 

This is just the beginning of ways we adult-children can honor our parents. Ask God to show you what things you can do, or even avoid doing, to honor your parents specifically.  Not only will God be watching and ready to bless us, it's likely that our children will be too.  In time, we will be glad we modeled before them how to honor their father and mother.  

PRAYER PRACTICE

Lord, in the busyness of our lives with children in our homes, or managing our careers, help us to remember and find time to honor our parents by showing gratitude, empathy, and respect. Bring to our minds today, specific things we might do to bless and encourage them. I know we honor you when we honor them.  

Let Christ's Peace Rule Your Heart

DAILY READING

Colossians 3:12-17

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, 

to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

DEVOTION/REFLECTION

Let Peace Begin With Christ

By Karen Burkhart

After more than a year of chaos and division, what most of us want right now is peace--in the world, our country, our homes, and above all, in our hearts.  If it could be bought, we would surely wipe stores clean and hoard it in our basements; we never want to be in short supply again. Knowing we can't add peace to our Amazon carts, we may try to create our own peace or mine for it deep within ourselves, by altering our circumstances or even our consciousness. Unfortunately, the first isn't always possible, and the latter is at best, temporary, and at worst, destructive.  

There is only one source of soul-satisfying, lasting, peace, and His name is Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you (John 14:27).” Christ’s peace is not the absence of mental stress, conflict, and war--it's better--it transcends life circumstances while keeping us firmly planted in reality. If it did not, no one could enjoy peace this side of eternity, especially not one on his way to Calvary. As it is, Christians through the ages have experienced deep abiding peace in fox holes, on death row, and even in lions’ dens. 

So, if Christ’s peace is not the absence of difficult circumstances, what exactly is it and how do we get it? According to Ephesians 2:14, Christ’s peace is Christ Himself! He does not just possess peace and share some of it with us, He IS our peace. No Christ, no peace.  Know Christ, know peace.  When a person receives Christ, Christ’s peace becomes, in essence, part of the spiritual DNA of that believer. Unlike our physical DNA that just is, we  have a part to play: “let the peace that comes from God rule in your hearts (Colossians 3:15).” Jesus offered the same encouragement in John 14:27 :“let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” That three-letter word, let, seems to imply there is something we can do to allow peace to rule in our hearts. Other Scripture give us some insight into what that something may be:

Set Your Mind on God

“you keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 

"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6

The world will tell you to clear your mind to achieve inner peace, but not surprising, the Bible teaches the opposite: Fill you mind. Read the Bible. Pray with understanding. Think on Jesus. 

Pray and Be Thankful 

"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippans 4:6-7 

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15

Brothers and sisters in Christ, remember that the Spirit of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, lives inside you. If you are lacking the experience of peace in your life today, as we all do from time to time, I encourage you to consider how you can let His peace rule in your heart today. How might you set your mind on God today? Do you need to tune out someone or something today? Is there a care or anxiety you can pray about today? Has it been a while since you sat and just recounted the things for which you can be grateful?  

Prince of Peace, help me to set my mind on you today and to have a grateful heart, regardless of my circumstances. Forgive me for thinking the world may be able to satisfy my soul's longing for peace. I don't want a counterfeit, I want the real thing--You are the PEACE my soul craves.  

PRAYER PRACTICE

Prayers of Thanksgiving

Look at your surroundings and thank God for what (or who) you see that he's provided for you. Tell God the difference his provision of that thing (or person) makes in your life.  Next, consider something you possess today, whether material or immaterial, that you once lacked, then thank God for his gracious provision.  Conclude this time considering recent answers to prayer that you may have yet to thank God for.