Pastor Johnnie's Devotional Archives
July 2005
July 2, 2005
Psalm 62:5 challenges me to "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him (alone)."
This scripture is a wonderful answer to the question: What is the thing
that I long for the most in life right now? What is my biggest expectation,
my most fervent hope? Am I expecting that longing to be fulfilled in sports?
In career advancement? In alcohol or drugs? In the accolades of those
who (finally!) acknowledge my 'greatness'? In the endless quest for physical
beauty and attractiveness? In retirement? In the acquiring and spending
of money? In immoral physical gratification? In 'perfect' health with
a 'painless' existence (Say what?)? What am I looking for?
Every child of God must eventually learn that our expectations are (must
be) met in God (alone!) and in His Son, Jesus! (Psalm 39:7, Colossians
1:27) Since early childhood, many of us have heard and known that ultimate
reliance upon Him and His Son is our only hope; though admittedly, we
may have browsed around the marketplace of other suggestive and tempting
possibilities! (Psalm 71:5-6) As we've grown in our understanding of the
Scriptures, however, we have learned how true it is that "our soul
is restless until it finds its rest in Thee".
So, let our eager expectation and hope be that in no way - in our words,
our thoughts, our actions, or our attitudes - will we be ashamed, "but
will have courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,
whether by life or by death. Because to me, to live is Christ and to die
is gain." (Philippians 1:20-21)
Father, You alone can satisfy the longings of our heart. May we learn
soon, and teach our children early in life that the Lord is good to those
whose hope is in Him, who earnestly seek Him, and who wait quietly for
Him. Amen. (Lamentations 3:24-26, Hebrews 11:6)
July 13, 2005
Psalm 63:2 "I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power
and your glory."
This verse is a stark reminder that when God, by His Holy Spirit, meets
us - anywhere! - on the pathway of life, He delights in filling us with
joy and eternal pleasures, just by the sheer knowledge and reality of
His presence (Psalm 16:11)! Just as one taste of whatever it is that pleases
the palate excites us and incites an insatiable desire for more, so our
souls yearn for Him and our hearts cry with joy and pure delight over
the glory of His presence (Psalm 84:1-2). Even our understanding of the
evil around us and insights to the purposes of God for the difficult times
and His faithful discipline in our lives is incomplete until we quiet
ourselves in His presence and adjust our narrow vision to His often narrower,
heart-aimed purposes (Psalm 73:17-18).
It is imperative that each of us have a 'sanctuary', a sacred place where
or consecrated time when we sit quietly in His presence, at His feet (see
Isaiah 60:13). If we do not have a regular plan for such worship; if we
are not purposed in such worship in our personal lives (Psalm 27:4), we
face the danger of totally missing, of not even seeing, the often veiled
presence, beauty, splendor, and majesty of God Who is with us IN the circumstances
of our daily lives (Psalm 96:6; Hebrews 13:5; II Kings 6:20). This, I
believe, is why there are so many unenlightened, unhappy, unfulfilled,
uncommitted Christians in the 21st Century church!
Glorious and faithful God, draw us into Your presence. Massage and
soften our 'hard' hearts that they may once again throb and swell with
the joy of Your glorious and powerful presence (Isaiah 60:5). In Jesus'
name we pray, Amen.
July 18, 2005
Psalm 17:14 is a provocative scripture: "O Lord, by your hand save
me... from men of this world whose reward is in this life."
We are surrounded today by shortsighted men, women, and young people!
Their happiness and joy is not in what lies ahead, but is found in the
here and now. Indeed, their hearts are so earthbound, captivated by what
they see and smell in this transient world, they have come to settle for
that as 'the best' that can be had! And, as far as they're concerned,
any farsighted citizens of heaven who are merely passing through, and
for whom earth is not the ultimate, "they think it strange that you
do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation - the same
sort of excess, 'unsaved ness' - and they heap abuse on you" (I Peter
4:4).
Jesus said, "I am not of this world" (John 8:23). And, in fulfilling
His earthly ministry, faithfully giving us God's Word, we too have come
to learn how little this world means to us. "I have given them your
word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more
than I am of the world", Jesus said! (John 17:14)
Since, then, with Christ we have been raised to new life, and have a totally
different perspective, a wonderfully different focus (!), let us set our
minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-5). Let us
humbly and courageously put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature.
Let us be clear minded (i.e. heavenly minded) and self-controlled so that
we can pray and be (become) all God intended us to be during our brief
sojourn on this terrestrial ball (I Peter 4:7-11). Let us live such heaven-focused
lives that the shortsighted citizens of earth will see our good deeds
and glorify God (I Peter 2:12)! Let us remember: our glorious reward is
not in this life, but in that which is to come (Colossians 3:23-24)!
Thank You, sweet Father, for allowing us to envision beyond this life,
beyond what is seen with the human eye to that which is not 'seen', but
which, nonetheless, exists and is our real life focus! Amen.
July 21, 2005
Psalm 71:2 "Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn
your ear to me and save me."
The last time you were "in trouble" and called out to the Lord
for deliverance or help, what were some of the thoughts which, from your
point of view, made His immediate response and intervention so absolutely
necessary? Lord, I've been to church three times this year; I think that's
worthy of your serious consideration as You get me out of this mess as
soon as possible, by the way! God, the police have only been called on
me only once in the past two years; and I really didn't hit her hard enough
to call them in the first place. You need to grade me on a curve here
because I did read my Bible that one time when I was really discouraged!
Slight exaggeration, of course. But, honestly, don't we sometimes tend
to think that way? The Psalmist's basis or foundation for rescue and deliverance
has nothing to do with himself, but is powerfully consistent with the
holy character of God: "in your righteousness". Deliverance
comes only "in your righteousness" (Psalm 31:1), not due to
any supposed 'righteousness' that could be found in me! Only His eyes
can 'see' righteously (Psalm 17:2) to carry out His perfect and holy purposes.
His intervention on my behalf comes based on His faithfulness and His
righteousness, and for His name's sake (Psalm 143:1, 11), not because
of anything 'good' or righteous which, upon deep searching, I may think
should be found in me (Romans 6:17)! In other words, God will not necessarily
consider my comfort or ease when He sees the circumstances of my life
and is called upon to deliver. Rather, in the absolute purity of His own
righteous thought and eternal purpose (Ephesians 1:11), He will consider
what will bring Himself most honor; what will best produce growth in grace;
what will be most profitable for the spread of the gospel; what will enhance
the beauty and glory and majesty of His own purposes in the lives of His
children.
Guess what: from what I'm 'hearing out there', some Christians may not
call upon Him to rescue or deliver them at all because of such 'unfair'
reasoning! Believe it or not!
Gracious and holy Father, how grateful we are that Your ways and Your
thoughts are higher and purer than ours! Amen. (Isaiah 55:9)
July 25, 2005
Psalm 125:2 "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds
his people."
During our missionary days in the jungles of Panama, I loved watching
our hens lay eggs, sit on them for the proper amount of time, and then
observe the little chicks being born. As they grew and left the nest and
began to wander around looking for whatever little bugs or other food
they could peck at and eat, the doting mother would occasionally make
an excited noise, scratch at the ground, and begin rapidly pecking in
the dirt. The little ones would run to her from wherever they were and
happily peck in the spot where she herself had scratched and pecked. After
they had fed like this for a little while, the mother would make another
noise, squat down, lift her wings ever so tenderly, and all the chicks
would go under her wings and wiggle their small heads into the feathers
covering her tummy. It was amazing! It was precious! It was deeply instructive
(Proverbs 6:6)! Almost instantly they would be silent and immobile. The
mother's wings would then gently lower a bit to where the little ones
were secure in her protection until they awoke from their nap.
I am emotional as I write this, not only because of the memories it evokes,
but also because of the sweet times of personal musing and excited prayer
times I had with the Lord as I watched His creation reveal His glory in
such wonderful and instructive ways! Can any child of His not be moved
by the fact that His everlasting arms are underneath, supporting us and
all the weight of our oft troubled lives? (Deuteronomy 33:27) Can any
of us not be humbly excited by the realization that the angel of the Lord
actually encamps around (pitches His tent over) those little ones of His
who fear Him? (Psalm 34:7) Can any of us not be quieted in our spirits
when we realize that we are shielded by God's power (I Peter 1:5) and
that He is totally able to keep us from falling (Jude 24), because His
loving, caressing, and protective arm is underneath (Song of Solomon 2:6)?
How grateful we are, glorious and precious Lord, that for us little
ones, You are the surrounding, immovable, solid, impenetrable Rock eternal
(Isaiah 26:4)! May each of us daily experience increasing confidence to
trust in You forever! Amen.
July 30,2005
Psalm 132:3-5 reveals to us a serious commitment that David made to the
Lord: "I will not enter my house or go to my bed - I will allow no
sleep to my eyes, no slumber to my eyelids, till I find a place for the
Lord, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."
Each year as I commit myself to read through the Bible during my course
of study, I am reminded of the previous year's oft struggles to follow
through with that pledge. Sometimes the calendar is so full of activities,
meetings, and related responsibilities, I find myself wanting to say,
"You know what? I don't have the time for this!" Then I recall
that for 65 years now, I've seldom had that kind of 'problem' with eating
or involving myself in recreational activities or in sleeping whenever
I have deemed it necessary! There is an exemplary, blue-ribbon faithfulness
in those areas of long term 'devotion' in my life, that's for sure!
To enjoy the luxuries and amenities of life but neglect the One Who has
so abundantly blessed me with such kindnesses reveals the same spirit
of carelessness which Haggai the prophet addressed when he chided the
people of God: "Is it time for you yourselves to be living in your
paneled houses, while this house (temple of God) remains a ruin?"
(Haggai 1:4) It is to place ourselves in the same camp as those to whom
the Apostle Paul referred when he said, "Everyone looks out for his
own interests, not those of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 2:21).
Priority living means we do everything we can to assure the preeminence
of God and His Son - our Savior! - Jesus Christ in our lives! (Colossians
1:18) In my own case, though from the divine point of view, there certainly
would not be enough evidence to 'convict' me, priority living has, from
time to time, even meant putting Him ahead of my need for sleep and other
personal 'needs'. No hero mentality here. Certainly no distinguished service
medal deserved here! I just really want to "seek first the kingdom
of God and His righteousness" in my life (Matthew 6:33); to offer
my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which I understand
is my "reasonable service", a spiritual act reflecting the sincerity
of my personal worship of Him Who alone is worthy of my devotion and my
praise (Romans 12:1)!
Father, we admit to an independent spirit that constantly prompts
us to look out for our own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. Instill
within us a deeper desire to make You and Your purposes first in our lives
today! Amen.
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