Pastor Johnnie's Devotional Archives
October 2004
October 1, 2004
Psalm 1:6 tells why the wicked will have no place among the godly at the
time of judgment: For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
It seems almost incomprehensible that there is Someone Who is so capable
as to watch over the entire course of a person's life; to be so totally
aware of their way of living; and therefore be able to accurately perceive
whether the ultimate quality of their words, thoughts, actions, and attitudes
is good or bad; righteous or unrighteous. To the morally wrong, actively
bad person, their path is so attractive and 'delicious' that they actually
conclude that their way of life is right and good (Proverbs 14:12), believe
it or not! Like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct who are born
to be caught and killed, they laugh at things spiritual, about which they
know so little (II Peter 2:12). But the True Shepherd knows those who
are His (II Peter 2:12); He knows His sheep by name. He knows (watches
over) those whose practice it is to listen to His voice and whose deepest
desire is to obediently follow Him throughout the course of life (John
10:14, 27). So, lonely, weak, fearful, perhaps brokenhearted, grieving
child of God, today may you walk confidently in the truth that the Lord
is good; that He's a refuge in times of trouble; and that He cares for
those who trust in Him (Nahum 1:7)!
Oh Faithful Observer of life, we are grateful that You love the righteous;
that You uphold the cause of the oppressed; that You give food to the
hungry; that You set prisoners free; that You give sight to the blind;
that You lift up those who are bowed down; that You watch over the alien;
that You sustain the fatherless and the widow; but that You also frustrate
the ways of the wicked (Psalm 146:7-9). Glorify Your name in all the earth!
Amen.
October 4, 2004
Psalm 4:5 Offer right sacrifices (i.e. sacrifices of righteousness) and
trust in the Lord.
A common occurrence with the Lord's people - apparently - was that they
often 'followed the rules' regarding sacrifices, but their daily lives
revealed a gaping dissonance. In other words, they were very good at talking
the walk and very lousy at actually walking the walk. God's complaint:
the children I raised have turned against me. No matter what I do for
them, they still do not understand (Isaiah 1:2-3). The sacrifices indicating
appropriate worship were there, but when it came to trusting the Lord
for the strength and courage to practice godliness in daily living, they
were failing to love justice; they were giving themselves, their time,
and their energies to unwholesome activities; they were ignoring the needs
of the oppressed; they weren't defending the orphan or fighting for the
rights of the widows (Isaiah 1:17), all things which the Lord actually
'hates' (Isaiah 61:8).
Today, may we walk in righteousness that reflects a genuine trust in the
Lord, an appropriate acknowledgment of His ways, and a humble obedience
to His Word.
Righteous Father, strengthen us today to live in such a way that our
mouths and our feet are in sync. Amen.
October 6, 2004
Psalm 8:2 speaks powerfully to the glory and authority of God: From the
lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your
enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
Not that many years ago, when communism was a very active threat to the
free world, stories would seep out of those in-bondage nations verifying
the fear that communist governments were systematically targeting for
extinction or long-term prison terms those adults who were intellects,
educators, or clergy. The point was that, with those 'thinkers' out of
the way, communism would more quickly and easily achieve it's goal of
world domination. 'Darkness' has long sought to extinguish the light (John
1:3-4, 9); its part of the enemy's strategy for global prominence. But
God's opponents don't give that much credence to child-power. That's why
we must 'target' children for Christ from the earliest age. They play
a more significant role in God's overall plan than we give Him (them)
credit for. The wise and the learned stumble over God's wisdom; so He
reveals it to kids and youth (Matthew 11:25), considered to be among the
weak things of the world (I Corinthians 1:27). With enthusiasm, and unhindered
by embarrassment and feeble excuses, children excitedly tell and retell
the stories of faith (Matthew 21:16) to each other and to parents! Imagine:
kids whose delight it is to relay truth which leads us all to adoration
(Hosanna!) The enemy doesn't count on that!
Glorious and sovereign God, Your plan for global penetration and ultimate
saturation by the gospel is unparalleled! Keep us adults alert to our
responsibility to teach and train up our children in the Way they should
go! Amen.
October 8, 2004
Psalm 28:1 is one of those verses that can challenge your faith or feed
your unbelief: To you I call, O LORD my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to
me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down
to the pit.
Stretching the point a little bit, I admit, unbelief says: I call to You
all the time; You're just not listening or something! Sometimes I think
You're deaf. It's like I'm in a deep cistern that's often used as a prison.
I call and call, but You remain silent; I only hear the echo of my own
voice! So, what's up?
On the other hand, faith says: I am fully aware of Your awesome, immeasurable
ability to show Yourself strong on my behalf. You could speak a word,
wiggle Your nose, point Your finger, twitch Your ear, raise one eyebrow
- or whatever! - and I'd be delivered! You're my Rock, my Fortress, my
Deliverer, my Shield, my Refuge, and the Strength of my salvation (Psalm
18:2). So, I hope not.... but if You turn a deaf ear to me for now or
for some reason remain silent for a period of time, I know it's for an
eternally good and holy purpose. So, to You I will call, O LORD; for You
work out everything in conformity with the purpose of Your will, in order
that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise
of Your glory (Ephesians 1:11).
Father in heaven, Eternal Rock, my tongue will speak of Your righteousness
and of Your praises all day long! (Psalm 35:28) Glorify Your name in all
the earth! Amen.
October 10, 2004
Proverbs 10:4 is a poignant spiritual reminder: Lazy hands make a man
poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
This weekend, at our men's retreat, I sat with a group of men for quite
a few hours listening to and interacting about "The Story".
Beginning with creation and going, chronologically, all the way through
to the death and resurrection of Christ, we were reminded again of the
beautiful flow, the incredibly deep but understandable story line, and
the orderly significance of God's wonderful plan to save sinners through
the power of the gospel (Romans 1:16). As I listened, interacted with,
and observed the group in excited conversation, I was again struck with
the beauty and simplicity of the story of Jesus Who is able to save completely
those who come to God through him (Hebrews 7:25); and how diligent study
and digging into the treasures of the Bible brings such lasting 'wealth'
and satisfies so completely (Proverbs 13:4). I was also reminded of statistics
I keep hearing which indicate that a growing number of God's people, too
busy or too lazy to search the scriptures (Acts 17:11) or to familiarize
themselves with "The Story", only contribute to their own spiritual
impoverishment. May we obey the Holy spirit's prompting to be obedient
people of the Word whose reward is very, very great (Psalm 19:11).
Patient Father of mercy and grace, forgive our laziness and instill
within us a fresh desire to be diligent in our understanding of the Word
of God. For Jesus' sake, and for the sake of the lost world around us,
we humbly pray. Amen.
October 12, 2004
Psalm 32:7 eventually brings a smile to the face of every authentic child
of God. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and
surround me with songs of deliverance.
As a nine or ten year old boy in Springfield, Illinois, I can remember
walking, frightened that 'someone' was behind the bigger trees lining
the sidewalks I was on. I recall singing words to Christian songs as I
would leave the sidewalk and go out onto the street for safety, but with
my eyes always watching the big tree as I passed by it. Singing loudly,
I would actually do a 360 as I walked by the potential offender hiding
behind the tree, who, I was convinced, was waiting to pounce on me and
snuff out my young, tender, valuable life!
I love the terminology of the Bible. The Lord God is our refuge. He's
actually a stronghold, an impregnable, fortified place of safety and protection
when we're surrounded by danger (Psalm 9:9). In the day of trouble, He
keeps us safe in His dwelling; He'll hide us in the shelter of His tabernacle
and set us high upon a rock (Psalm 27:5). The rock, I've since pondered,
was not just to remove me from harm's way, but to put me in a place where,
with eyes of faith, I could look 'down', observe, and, through faith in
Him and His Word, 'see' and more deeply understand the purposes for darkness,
trials, difficulties, hardships, and frightening times in my life. For
me, the 'rock' actually became the shelter of His presence in which He
has continually hidden me from the intrigues of men (Psalm 31:20). How
great is His goodness!
O Lord, surely You bless the righteous;You surround them with Your
favor as with a shield (Psalm 5:12). And for that we are eternally grateful!
Amen.
October 14, 2004
Referring to evildoers, Psalm 14:5 says: There they are, overwhelmed with
dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous.
Ruth and I went to a church meeting while on vacation in Florida. We had
been told that a "converted Muslim" was to give his testimony.
Sure enough. A nice looking gentleman came to the podium and excitedly
told how that as a high schooler, though dressed and looking different
from all the other students, another 15 year old boy had asked him to
join him during a week of revival meetings at his small Southern Baptist
Church. Unable to resist the student's persistence, he finally agreed
and went. Three consecutive nights he heard the gospel preached. On the
fourth night, as the elderly preacher was waxing eloquent, hands in the
air and his eyes closed, the young Muslim, overwhelmed with dread of an
eternity separated from God, entered the aisle, walked down and stood
right in front of the closed eyed, preaching minister. When he opened
his eyes, he saw the young man. "Yes, what is it." "I want
to be saved!" "Right now?", said the preacher. "Can't
you wait til I've finished my sermon?" "No, I can't wait!",
said the young man. With the presence of God so powerfully felt in that
little storefront church building, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit
weighing heavily on him, he received Christ as His Savior. He was immediately
ostracized by his family and literally disowned. But, by God's grace,
praying daily for them over the next 15 to 20 years, he witnessed the
salvation of a brother, his mother, and his elderly grandmother. Today
both he and his brother are Professors of Theology and preachers of God's
Word!
Glorious Father of mercy and grace, may Your presence always be so
powerful in our churches that sinners are 'overcome with dread' and brought
to saving faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ! Amen.
October 16, 2004
Psalm 116:5 is a wonderful verse to start out any day: The Lord is gracious
and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
At a time in Israel's history when their flagrant, in-your-face departure
from God involved rebellion, idolatry, and general corruption as they
ran wildly out of control (Exodus 32), God told Moses, "when the
time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin" (32:34).
Then, when Moses ascended Mount Sinai the second time for the new stone
tablets of the law to be produced by God, He presented Himself again to
Moses. And, once again He confirmed the principle that sin is always dealt
with by God, but preceded His comment regarding that aspect of His righteousness
by describing Himself first of all as: "the Lord, the Lord, the compassionate
and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining
love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin" (34:5-7).
Of course, He is described as such throughout the scriptures. And, mercifully
for me!, His conduct has always matched His description! Thus, the Apostle
Paul, speaking for the Christian, says, "but because of His great
love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even
when we were dead in transgressions" (Ephesians 2:6-7).
Glorious Father, rich in mercy and grace, among the gods there is
none like You (Psalm 86:8)! You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding
in love to all who call to you (86:5). This day, may many penitent sinners
call upon Your glorious name and plead for Your mercy and grace! Amen.
October 18, 2004
In Psalm 18:33, the shepherd, David, reveals some of the
inner struggle he had when jealous King Saul sought so diligently to kill
him. Speaking of God's intervention on his behalf while fleeing from Saul,
he said, He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand
on the heights.
While serving the Lord as missionaries in Central America for over 20
years, Ruth and I had the privilege of living among the Choco Indians.
When they could not afford the cost of a .22 caliber bullet with which
to shoot their prey, they demonstrated their human cunning and skill by
chasing - on foot! - the deer they may have come across and targeted for
food. Many times I smiled at the stories they told of the chase - and
most often of the deers' 'escapes'.
Saul's intent was to kill him. But the sovereign God had a greater plan
for David; a plan which included him one day being King of Israel. This
auspicious responsibility would require great trust in the living God
Whose eternal purposes are never thwarted. Reading I Samuel 19 through
24 will give you an idea of how the Lord made his feet "like the
feet of a deer" and how He enabled David to achieve strategic advantage
over his enemy.
Today, as you and I trust in His sovereign grace and protection over the
evil one, and over the evil around us, the Lord will gladly transform
our feet as well, granting us escape and deliverance. Like the announcer/judge
at a tennis match, I can already hear Him declaring, "Advantage:
Johnnie!".
Father in heaven, today may we hear the same words You spoke years
ago to King Jehoshaphat: "Do not be afraid or discouraged because
of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's" (II Chronicles
20:15). Amen.
October 20, 2004
Psalm 20:4 is a wonderful prayer request: May he (the Lord) give you the
desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
This was not an immature, pleasure-focused request of someone looking
for a new car, a better spouse, or an easier job. This psalm is a prayer
before the war (I Kings 8:44-45). When your people go to war against their
enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to the Lord toward
the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, then
hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.
As tracers scream over their heads; as car bombs explode close by; and
as 'suspicious' people with big bulges in their clothing enter a crowded
venue, uppermost in the minds of most of our troops in Iraq is wisdom
in the strategy of warfare, personal and corporate safety, family, and
a general ability to effectively combat the enemy whose intent is to destroy
them. Such should be the focus of the prayers of God's people today. We
also are in a great war. The enemy (Satan) may use candy, cars, and carousing
as temptations to get our minds off of the most serious aspect of our
lives; but God fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their
cry and saves them (Psalm 145:19). Shallow requests may reveal shallow
Christianity as well as a shallow focus on the reality of warfare in the
Christian life.
Heavenly Father, teach us to effectively fight as we battle against the
powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in
the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). Amen.
October 22, 2004
Psalm 44:6-7 form what might be called a statement of faith for daily
Christian living: I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me
victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries
to shame.
I'm grateful that my young Christian upbringing put me in the presence
of some very brilliant, educated, sold-out-to-Jesus-Christ men of God.
Actually, it wasn't until I was much older that I learned how brilliant
and educated and proficient they really were, measuring by the world's
standard. But the thing that still excites my heart about them is that
their constant message, in word, attitude, and self-effacing lifestyle
was: "Johnnie, bows are nice; and so are swords. But do not put your
confidence in them or become 'secure' in them or in your ability to use
them. You must settle in your heart right now that any spiritual success
in your life will not be because you are bright, strong, capable, educated,
or proficient in the use of weapons of war; rather, Johnnie, without fail,
success in the warfare of daily living and ministry will come through
the presence of and your absolute dependence upon the indwelling Christ
Who gives you the strength (Philippians 4:19). Get it right early in life,
Johnnie: even a horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its
great strength it cannot save. But, the eyes of the Lord are on those
who fear him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love" (Psalm
33:16-17).
Thank You, glorious Father, for Your early input into me through the humble
life and word message of very 'equipped' men and women of faith. I am
absolutely convinced, as You told Judah, 'I will save them - not by bow,
sword or battle or by horses and horsemen, but by the Lord their God'
(Hosea 1:7). Let Your power and glory be seen through each of us today!
Amen.
October 24, 2004
Psalm 36:7 is a wonderful reminder that there is a wide range of application
to our daily lives which a personal relationship with Him provides: How
priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge
in the shadow of your wings.
In today's world of fickle and fragile relationships (even among Christians!)
and 'modeled' for us by Hollywood, it is very rare to hear of love that
is steady and unfailing. Of course, King David is referring here to God's
love. It is priceless to one who takes the time to reflect on it and understand
it, especially having been the unworthy recipient of it through the thick
and thin of life's experiences. By saying what he did, David is staking
God's reputation on His love, which he declares to be 'unfailing'. He
gives no quarter, so to speak, to the one who may claim disappointment
in God's love for whatever perceived or mistaken reason. And, to lend
support to what those disappointed might call his 'outrageous' statement
regarding God's inexhaustible, infallible, unfailing love, David further
cites the fact that, among the high and low, rich and poor, popular and
unpopular, healthy and unhealthy, there are many others who have sought
refuge in the shadow of God's protective and heat-shielding wings and
found His love to be constant and incapable of error. That's priceless!
My soul praises You, O Lord, because you faithfully satisfy our desires
with good things such that, like the eagle, we fly high with You and have
a perception of life that is different from those who feel they have no
reason to trust You. Truly, how priceless is Your unfailing love! Amen.
(Psalm 103:5)
October 26, 2004
Psalm 26:12 My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will
praise the Lord.
Feet in the Bible are of great significance. They can symbolically relate
not only to our standing in Christ (level ground; steady; firm) but to
our condition (balanced; off balance) at any given moment. To be standing
on un-level ground, for example, might indicate that we're in a place
we shouldn't be, and it is, therefore, affecting our spiritual equilibrium.
Solomon reminds us that the person of godly integrity walks securely;
not really so for the one who is not on level ground, who takes 'crooked
paths' (Proverbs 10:9). When the Lord God took us out of the miry pit
of a sinful lifestyle where walking correctly (righteously) was an impossibility
(Psalm 40:2), He set our feet on a rock (think: the Rock, Christ Jesus)
and (on/in Christ Jesus) gave us a firm place on which to stand. It's
a 'straight' path He put us on, not crooked (Psalm 27:11). And, on this
path, the Lord will guard the feet of His saints (I Samuel 2:9). Perhaps,
however, as David is saying in today's verse, the most important role
the feet will play is to transport us to the great assembly of saints
where the focus shifts from the feet to the heart and the mouth as we
shout out: I will praise the Lord!
Holy Father, thank You that because of Your immeasurable mercy and
grace to me, my feet stand on level ground. I can't wait to share that
with someone else today! Amen.
October 28, 2004
Psalm 28:9 is filled with a longing which reflects prayerful desire and
sweet encouragement: Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their
shepherd and carry them forever.
Save Your people - The need for intervention, deliverance, and constant
encouragement is immeasurably great for us Christians. If there were any
other means of salvation or deliverance, we desperately poor and needy
would quickly run and glob on to it! But only He can save; only He can
deliver; only He can provide what we ultimately need! See Isaiah 63:1c
Bless Your inheritance - Just acknowledging that we are His inheritance
brings sweet peace to our hearts. We understand the care with which a
wise Investor guards and protects His investment, and we are profoundly
grateful. See Deuteronomy 9:29.
Be their shepherd - The Shepherd models sacrificial living (John 10:11)
so that the sheep might also live sacrificially on His behalf to draw
other sheep into His fold.
Carry them forever - So tender; gentle; compassionate; caring; concerned;
kind; loving. He faithfully tends His flock. See Isaiah 40:11
Gentle Shepherd, there's no other we can turn to! Come and lead us,
for we need You to help us find Your way. Gentle Shepherd, come and feed
us, for we need Your strength from day to day! Amen.
October 30, 2004
Psalm 30:1 I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
The new Osama Bin Laden tape threatening further terrorist activity against
the infidels of the USA remind us that our enemy, Satan, wants to "swallow
up" Christians, individually and/or collectively (Psalm 35:25). Often,
under the guise of a 'religious cause', he has specific plans which are
birthed and motivated by the most ungodly of desires: a 'holy' war designed
to steal, kill, and destroy (Psalm 140:8 and John 10:10)! Undaunted by
his threats, the authentic Christian spends far more time rejoicing over
the present and ultimate power and authority the Lord has over the enemy
(see Romans 16:20!!) than reviewing the hassles the enemy concocts and
causes in his or her daily life. Why? Because we know the final chapter,
the story's end. The sovereign God's purposes for you and me, and for
the earth He created, are truly holy. And, those who walk in pride, who
actively seek to thwart those purposes, He is very able to humble (Daniel
4:37). So, today, glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together
(Psalm 34:3)! Let us live with eternity's values in view!
Glorious, Story-ending God, save your people and bless your inheritance;
be their shepherd and carry them forever! (Psalm 28:9) Amen.
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