Application is the Sauce

The goal with each post to this devotional site, is to provide application. It is rewarding to write for this blog, as I seem to gain so much more than I ever give. When I spend time seeking out God's will for me from a daily reading and the application is revealed, I am humbled. Understanding the situation in each daily reading is valuable time spent.

There is so much richness in Scripture. I discover passages I have read many times over, have a new or different meaning for me personally in any given season of my life. I sensed God telling me during my husband's illness, "the battle is not yours, but God's." (2 Chronicles 20:15b) So I just put him in the Heavenly Father's hands.

What I hear, what I sense God is trying to teach me all revolves around what is happening in my life at the time. That is why, when you read one of these posts, you may come away with an entirely different sense than what I am presenting. God is speaking into our individual life situations each time we open our Bibles and read with purpose.

For instance, I read 2 Kings 1:7-17 numerous times. I could not find the words that were speaking to me, the words that were meant to grow or guide me. I read from a few different versions, checked a couple commentaries and then it happened. God began to point out to me the idols that I worshiped. My finances have become an idol and that idol has created fear and worry.  I started to see God's Word guiding me to move from fear to trust Jesus.

King Ahaziah's idols did nothing to save him. Mine will not save me either. Only Jesus saves.

By the way, trust is my word for 2020, and the scripture verse is Proverbs 3:5-6. Do you have one yet? There is time.

2 Kings 1:7-17

Doing What's Right

How refreshing to read: Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done. (1 Kings 15:11) The story of many of those kings we just read about began different, "_____ did evil in the eyes of the LORD."

Asa wasn't perfect, but he tried to follow the Lord. He successfully made some difficult decisions about his faith. He got rid of the idols his ancestors made, he deposed his own grandmother because she continued to worship Asherah. (More information on the life and rule of King Asa can be found in 2 Chronicles 14-16).

The fact Asa followed in King David's footsteps instead of in his own father's, is noteworthy. It reinforces that not only the sins of the fathers' can follow us or influence our lifestyle; so to, the righteousness and pleasing goodness of our fathers' impact us in a strong way. These stories are not only interesting, they are great teaching moments. 

I realize from this story; it isn't good enough to abolish most of the evil in our lives. We must banish all. King Asa removes most of the idols, but not all. I wonder why? Can this behavior be compared to us, when we follow Jesus, but keep one foot in our old life?

Once I began to grow my relationship with Jesus, I would recognize things I needed to turn away from. My old friends didn't always like that idea and encouraged me to go back to the times we used to enjoy. They didn't understand my new heart rejected that old fun. I wanted different things, my goals and desires changed.

But sometimes I still struggle with the 'old me', I still fight against those things which once controlled my heart. I suppose it is natural, but not necessary if I truly cast aside the sin that so easily entangles, (from Hebrews 12:1). Therein lies the value of reading scripture on a regular basis. When I spend time in the Old and the New Testament, I am informed and challenged to live a better life. I want to trust God for all things, always. One day I want to hear It said, "she did what was right in the eyes of the Lord."

1 Kings 15:9-24

Food for Thought

"I'm hungry!"  Oh, my, how many times a day do we say or think these words? I often find myself grazing through my kitchen in search of something to satisfy my hunger...my boredom...my loneliness...my quest for something to fill the void.

Recently I came to the realization that food, or maybe just eating, had become an idol. Just what is an idol?  The dictionary says: A person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered. Well, some days, that definition certainly fits. I have this craving, this desire to satisfy and, if I am honest, even food doesn't fill the hole.

John 6:32 (NIV)
   Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 

I didn't understand what an idol food had become until this past Lent when I was trying to fast for 24 hours each week. It was such a difficult task, and I began to examine my heart to try to understand why. I turned to Isaiah 58:11, "The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame."

I must admit, I still struggle with this particular idol in my life, but at least now I can put a name to it, recognize where I am heading when I start to focus on food and not on God. I recall the Israelites and how God provided manna for them. They never went hungry. I want to start today to turn to God, to Jesus for my hunger and thirst issues.

Jesus will fill me up if I turn to Him. 

John 6:32-40

Show Me the Money

Psalm 86:8-13

In the movie Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise plays a sports agent who is restarting his career based on idealistic principles that downplay the almighty dollar and promote relationships. The only problem is that the athletes are looking for the money. In an iconic scene, Cuba Gooding Jr, who plays a NFL football player, gets Cruise to scream into his phone, “SHOW ME THE MONEY”!

As important as money is, most of us don’t have visions of becoming rich and famous, but we do want enough money to live comfortably and to enjoy the pleasures of life. However, even such benign motivations can lead to creating our own gods; to creating idols that we worship with our time, talents and treasure.

⁸ Where among the heathen gods is there a god like you?

Where are their miracles?             TLB

When David wrote these words, he probably didn’t have money in mind. He might have

been thinking of Baal or Ashtoreth or Dagon or Molech. Or, he may even have been thinking of how he made Bathsheba his god and the pain that it caused.

In verse 8, The Living Bible asks us a penetrating question that actually points out the deficiency of manmade gods. Yet our nature pushes us to other gods; pushes us to find other objects of worship; pushes us to try to find meaning in life outside of the true God. We can’t help ourselves; but He can, He has and He does.

 ¹⁰ For you are great and do great miracles. You alone are God. ¹¹ Tell me where you want me to go and I will go there. May every fiber of my being unite in reverence to your name. ¹² With all my heart I will praise you. I will give glory to your name forever, ¹³ for you love me so much! You are constantly so kind! You have rescued me from deepest hell.         TLB

 Let us respond to the Living God, the only God, as David did; by following Him wherever He leads; by worshiping Him with every fiber of our being; by praising Him with all our heart and giving Him all the glory.

“SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!” It was a funny scene in an entertaining movie, but so hollow compared to the one true God.

The god of Our Own Creation

 

 (“I am the Living One”)

Revelation 1:12-20

 

 

In Columbus, Ohio, and throughout the Buckeye nation, if you are an Ohio State football player, you are idolized; and on Saturdays, you are worshiped. When the Shoe is filled with over 106,000 rabid fans; when TBDBITL forms Script Ohio; when the Buckeyes score their first touchdown; the god of football is in its throne.

 

As humans, we tend to put many things ahead of God in our life; we tend to make idols; to make a god of our own creation. People have made idols since the beginning of time. Isaiah wrote this about carpenters who made idols:

 

¹⁶ Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.” ¹⁷ From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, “Save me! You are my god!”          NIV

 

We may not make our idols out of wood or stone or gold or silver; but don’t ever doubt that we still make idols. It could be football, work, family, church or addictions like drugs, alcohol, gambling and sex. The potential list is endless. The difference between these idols, or gods, and Jesus is that He is the Living One.

 

“Only God can do the impossible and bring life from nonlife. Just as He breathed human life into the dust of the ground in Genesis, so also He conceived life in a virgin’s womb”. (From Today in the Word devotional.)

 

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. ¹⁸ I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.            Revelation 1:17-18 NIV

 

What god of our own creation can do this? Only Jesus, the Living One, can reach out and touch our heart to draw us to him; to mold and shape us; to lead and guide us; to give us strength to face our daily challenges. Only Jesus can. Therefore, “Do not be afraid”.

 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%201%3A12-20&version=NIV;NCV
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Rev.1.12-Rev.1.20

 

 

 

 

 

Rich Man, Poor Man

Revelation 2:9 "I know your afflictions and your poverty--yet you are rich!"

I don't consider myself rich. By worldly standards, some may not even consider me comfortable because I don't have everything I want. Over the years and through living life, I have come to realize my 'wants' are so trivial, so unimportant to the meaning of life.

I am reading a book by Kyle Idleman called, "gods at War." This book discusses the idols in life and how they rob us of true worship and love. Then a devotion today by Craig Groeschel had these words to share, “Idolatry is worshipping anything that ought to be used, or using anything that ought to be worshipped.  – Augustine

Idol worship seems to be the norm and the root of all sin. The list of 'wants' can become our idols. God knows what we do not have, but because He also knows what we DO have, He considers us rich--wealthy beyond belief even.  Not in earthly things. "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised to those who love Him?"  (James 2:5)

We (Believers) can consider ourselves rich because of our relationship with Jesus. But, there is a cost when we put our trust in Him, as the world doesn't respect this belief. We may be mocked or ridiculed, but we are in good company. Jesus suffered the same scorn and derision.

Put aside the idols and recognize we are in good company. Hebrews 11:26 has this to say about Moses, "He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt because he was looking ahead to his reward."

Revelation 2:8-11

The Question Mark god.

Acts 17:22-23 (MSG)
So Paul took his stand in the open space at the Areopagus and laid it out for them. “It is plain to see that you Athenians take your religion seriously. When I arrived here the other day, I was fascinated with all the shrines I came across. And then I found one inscribed, to the god nobody knows. I’m here to introduce you to this God so you can worship intelligently, know who you’re dealing with.

Paul’s works are interesting to read. First he acknowledges the fact the Athenians believed in gods. Then he made note of the many hand-made shrines the idol worshipers constructed. He went so far as to recognize the inscription below one of the shrines: To the God Nobody Knows. What an opening this provided for Paul to share who this unknown God is.

Paul’s life reads like an amazing testimony, one that would open doors for Jesus to walk through. The fact the Athenians wanted to hedge their bets and be certain they didn't miss a god worthy of worship, they paid respect to a question mark god. This offered great opportunity for Paul to provide a name and a title to their unknown god.

Jesus was an unknown to us until someone shared the story. Many of us learned as children, some as young adults and still others more recently. The reason we wear the title, Christian, is because someone invested in our future. The Holy Spirit was working on our behalf so that we were ready to hear when someone told us the story of Jesus. 

That is discipleship at its finest.

Acts 17:16-34

Joshua 23

Joshua 23:8 (MSG)
"Hold tight to GOD, your God, just as you've done up to now." 

Do I hear an "AMEN!" to this command?  This chapter speaks to us today and I for one am hearing it loud and clear.  Joshua is reminding his people of the faithfulness of God.  He is encouraging them to stay strong, do not weaken or give in to idol worship.  We know from reading chapters leading to this point that honoring false gods has been an issue.  Guess what?  It still is today.

Joshua reminds his people in his farewell address to "Be Strong...Be obedient". Those words are timeless and we should take them to heart too.  As I read the words of Joshua to his people, imploring their hearts and minds to stay focused and tuned to The God, I am recognizing all of the false gods in my life.  I must be diligent to ignore the call of worldly things.  For me it is gadgets.  I can waste a lot of time and money on things I don't need.  God has been teaching me that my use of food as comfort can be a form of idolatry.

Are there false gods in your midst?  Are there things you put before God, worshiping and valuing them above all else?  For some of us money has our hearts; for others our day-planner rules, or maybe grandchildren or...

It is time we come to terms with what is truly valuable and worthy of our time and our effort.  To do this will require courage and strength and obedience.  We as Christians must be different from the world.  We must stand out, not blend in.  We must be a night-light in a dark room.  We can not do this alone.  Joshua 23:8 (MSG)  "Hold tight to GOD, your God, just as you've done up to now." 

Read Joshua 23 here

Listen to Joshua 23 here

1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1

This past year has been an eye-opener for me.  I never thought of myself as one to worship anything but God.  Then my husband died and my life became unstable.  I found myself fearful because the anchor and the security I felt were no longer with me.  I discovered my idol was financial security.

Idolatry, a serious problem even today, takes a different form than in Paul's time. We don't put our trust in statues of wood and stone but in paper money and plastic cards. But, we get into the same trouble the Corinthian people did.  We face God's displeasure.  The Bible teaches putting our trust in anything but God is idolatry. What is a modern day idol for you?  When we recognize those things we put before God we can begin to understand Paul's words to "flee from the worship of idols". 

"Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?  Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf." (1 Corinthians 10:14-17)

My devotional reading each day challenge me to accept the fact that I am made stronger through trials, my faith grows when heartache and pain enter my life.  I resisted this concept for months, enjoying the occasional pity party as I allowed the loss of my husband and then my idol (security) to imprison my happiness.  I was shackled by chains of fear and doubt.  Slowly, God has been revealing to me that He is all I need.  His grace is sufficient for me.  Is there an idol in your life?

Read the 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1 text here.  Listen to an audio reading of 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1 here.

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Jesus' appearance in this world delivered mankind from death. The Messiah's purpose was to redeem our sins and wash us clean so that we could gain entry to Heaven and live eternally in glorious bliss. Before Jesus, blood had to be shed, the blood of the best animal owned, in order for atonement to occur. Jesus became that sacrifice, He is the Lamb of God, and it was His blood that changed everything.

Today, it is difficult to read this text and understand how it applies to us today. Christians do not worship idols any longer, or do we? Idols are everywhere if we are honest with ourselves. I recognize that there are times I allow something of this world, something I really enjoy and feel entitled to, to pull me away from the task Jesus has set aside for me.

The words in our reading today are applicable for us today. The message I am hearing is Love Your Neighbor. The lesson I am taking away is that my neighbor, my unbelieving neighbor, needs to feel my love. He knows that I am Christian, he sees me leaving the house every Sunday morning and going to a Worship service. This is the example I make on Sunday morning. The question now is what are the examples this same neighbor will witness Monday through Saturday?

• "But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do." (1 Corinthians 8:8)
• "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak." (1 Corinthians 8:9) 

This is what it boils down to for me. Do not allow our behaviors - even if they are permissible - to become stumbling blocks to those who are new to the faith.

Read the 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 text here.  Listen to an audio of the 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 text here.

Acts 19:23-41

Is Jesus good for business?  The scripture story today tells us of a business man whose trade was making statues and shrines of the local and popular gods.  Evidently it was a lucrative trade, as he and others were very upset with Jesus' followers because they were putting a damper on their business.

About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there....There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.” (Acts 19:23-24,27)

According to The Life Application Commentary Demetrius and his fellow craftsman had not quarreled with Paul's doctrine.  They only became concerned when his preaching threatened their profits.  How often do I do the same thing, go along with Jesus' teaching and encourage others to do the same, until that practice gets in the way of my checkbook; then you better watch out.

This lesson points out to me that Jesus wants to be part of our entire life, every waking minute of every day of our life.  He requires us to include Him in our work life, our home life and our social life.  So, is Jesus good for business?  Without Him, without the Holy Spirit to call upon in life, including my work life, I would have no business.

Read Acts 19:23-41 here.

Acts 17:16-34

How often do you find the saying, "some things never change," to be true?  There are times I realize a particular scenario, be it good or bad, has happened before. For instance, the scripture today highlights the fact idols are everywhere in Athens, the community Paul now finds himself.

As much as Paul tells them God is all everyone needs, he is the true God, “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.  And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else" (Acts 17:24-25)

Idols are everywhere today as well.  I can't help but feel like the budget battles going on in Washington now involve idols.  We humans want to hold on tight to things that don't really matter while allowing the important things in life to go wanting.  " “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill." (Acts 17:29)

While we might not pray to a statue for fertility or to another shrine for wealth or health -- we have a God who is in control of everything.  We don't need to go to a mountainside to find Him; we need not travel further than the place we now stand to call upon Him.

Read Acts 17:16-34 here.

Standing Firm...today - Acts 14:8-20

As human beings we are easily swayed from one point of view to another. It is fun to hear a professional speaker talk on a topic we are interested in. It is invigorating to participate in a weekend retreat with a motivational speaker addressing those gathered. Mountain top experiences occur during these times, the only problem is they usually don't last. Even those times we call 'life-changing', seldom are.

Today we find Paul and Barnabas in Lystra on the next leg of their first missionary journey. If you recall, they were run out of Antioch and Iconium after preaching the news of Jesus Christ. If we could read the journal entry for Barnabas we might find this paragraph.

• "Finally, Paul and I are in Lystra and it seems Your Word will be heard here. Thank you, Father, for using Paul to heal that crippled man's feet. It was a moment of incredible joy to see him jump up and walk when Paul told him to rise. Those who witnessed the event were very excited. There was lots of buzz afterwards. The people are calling us gods, so we have lots of work to do to tell them the truth, but at least they seem to be listening."

 It didn't take long for the crowd to turn against the men sent by God.   "Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead." (Acts 14:19) 

Human kind is fickle, we may give up our idols in the passion of the moment, but will just as eagerly snatch them up again.

Read Acts 14:8-20 here.

Excess Baggage Joshua 24:14-27

Have you ever gone through your house and purged its contents? My husband and I have and it always feels good to get rid of things that we just don’t need. The first time was right before we moved to California.

We had boxes upon boxes in our garage that we hadn’t unpacked from our earlier move and instead of just throwing them in another moving truck, I went through each one and threw box after box away. The contents of the boxes were unnecessary. It was all stuff that literally cluttered our lives.

In today’s scripture Joshua is taking a stand and proclaiming where his allegiance lies. He is proclaiming to all of Israel that he and his family will serve the LORD. The people of Israel follow suit and vow to serve God too. Joshua explains to them the importance of the commitment they were making. He proceeds to say, “Throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel”

Joshua knows that the only way Israel will be able to follow through with their pledge is if they purge their lives of all the other gods they serve. Worshipping false gods is nothing but clutter piling up. Joshua does not want Israel to sift through the baggage he wants them to throw it out!

Let’s all pledge to throw out any excess baggage in order to serve God and Him only.  
Read the entire passage on Biblegateway Joshua 24:14-27

Jacob - Genesis 34-36

The reading today is rich with lessons. I reread it many times. My mind for writing kept returning to Genesis 35:2-5.

Jacob, acting as head of his household, tells his people to get rid of all the pieces of idolatry in their possession. These things are culturally acceptable to have, but Jacob knows they are sinful distractions toward acknowledging and worshipping God.

Even good things can become sinful idols if pride enters and allows them to be the most important focus of life. The perfect house, perfect yard, perfect job, cars, money, possessions are only a few in a list of many of contemporary idols. Drug, alcohol and other addictions can take over lives as well. We may not worship our idols, but they can distract us from focusing on God.

This is a good time to pause and clean our own houses. Idols rob us of the joy, hope, love, and peace that happen when God has first place in our hearts and minds. It is worth doing the hard work necessary to recognize, admit, and throw them out of our lives.

God’s lesson about idolatry is a happy one for us. God has not left us on our own to make it through our trials and temptations. We have the gift of His son who intercedes for us. We can turn from the idols in our life, ask forgiveness and receive it. We know that with God first in our life, He will empower us, protect us, guide us, and love us. What an awesome God!

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To read today's text on Biblegateway, Genesis 34-36, click here.