Passage of the Day: Matthew 6: 31 – 32 … 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 31 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
My Journal for Today: Jesus had some highly pointed exhortations for His mostly, if not exclusively, Jewish audience for His famous sermon on that hillside in the Holy Land. And His words drive home the point that true believers, i.e., born-again Christians, are believers in the truth that God knows and provides for the needs of His children, Therefore, we should not live and act like unbelievers (i.e., “pagans”), who worry about what they eat, drink, or wear. Jesus is essentially asking us, to paraphrase a quote, “You’re not like those Gentiles (Greek = “ethnos,” which means “pagans), are you, in the way you live?”
Now Jesus wasn’t putting down the Gentiles as a people. We know, from Paul’s ministry/mission to the Gentiles, how much God loved the Gentiles. However, Jesus was using the ethnic behaviors of selfishness and greed, which were practiced by the Gentiles, as a point of demarcation in terms of how we, as believers, should “act” when it comes to handling God’s providence. For His followers [i.e., disciples in the larger sense], Jesus wanted them (us) to live differently from how the Gentiles habitually lived in that day. He wanted all of His disciples to really trust God, their Jehovah Jireh, for their well-being (which we can see from Paul’s teaching in Phil. 4: 19).
It’s really a matter of belief and trust; and Jesus is asking you and me in this passage today to trust God, The Heavenly Father, Who knows our every need and promises to provide for those needs. And He’s also saying that it’s pointless to live like pagans who worry about such things … especially when it causes them to selfishly live toward temporal and/or material concerns.
So, do we believe?! And each of us will answer that question by the way we live.
My Prayer Today: Lord, may my life reflect my trust in You. Amen
Showing posts with label materialism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label materialism. Show all posts
Monday, August 29, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
August 28, 2011 … Observing the Flowers
Passage of the Day: Matthew 6: 28 – 30 … 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
My Journal for Today: Again we read Jesus using an argument from the lesser to the greater to make His point about our attitude toward God’s providence and material things. In an earlier devotional I pointed out that one could imagine Jesus using word pictures available to all who were there on that hillside that day when our Lord delivered His Sermon on the Mount. In Matt. 6: 26, He had referred to the “birds of the air;” and it is easy to imagine Jesus pointing to sea gulls from the nearby Sea of Galilee flying there on the mountain near the crowd. In today’s passage, He refers to “lilies of the field,” which were likely there growing on the hillside for all to see. I’ve been to that hillside near Capernaum; and have seen the wild lilies growing there; and so it’s very easy for me to imagine this scene.
Jesus made reference to flowers, which were quite lovely, but were very common and plentiful; and were even used by some in those days as fuel for fires when the flowers had died and dried up. Jesus, in referring to their beauty and plenty was calling attention to a principle of God’s providence. If man was willing to trod on or burn such beautiful creations of God for comfort or security, would not God not value mankind more than those flowers? God created mankind in His own image, creating him (and her) to tend His garden, … which included the flowers.
Think about how often we’re anxious about what we wear. We stand in front of mirrors imagining how others will see us when we’re about to go out in public. Some even fret deeply over such things. And Jesus pointedly says, that His flowers are lovely; and we don’t even think twice about picking them or even throwing them away after they have served our purposes to share God’s beauty with others. What a shame it is that we waste such worry over our own appearance, when God has created mankind for far greater loveliness and beauty; and that beauty is what we ARE rather than what we wear.
And yet, look at how much we primp and prepare – and even worry – so that we’ll impress other people whom we really don’t know and who likely really don’t care what we’re wearing. Would we not do well to heed Jesus’ teaching … toiling in this life only to honor Him rather than to adorn ourselves for personal glory?
My Prayer Today: May others see Your beauty in and through me, Lord, and not what I wear! Amen
My Journal for Today: Again we read Jesus using an argument from the lesser to the greater to make His point about our attitude toward God’s providence and material things. In an earlier devotional I pointed out that one could imagine Jesus using word pictures available to all who were there on that hillside that day when our Lord delivered His Sermon on the Mount. In Matt. 6: 26, He had referred to the “birds of the air;” and it is easy to imagine Jesus pointing to sea gulls from the nearby Sea of Galilee flying there on the mountain near the crowd. In today’s passage, He refers to “lilies of the field,” which were likely there growing on the hillside for all to see. I’ve been to that hillside near Capernaum; and have seen the wild lilies growing there; and so it’s very easy for me to imagine this scene.
Jesus made reference to flowers, which were quite lovely, but were very common and plentiful; and were even used by some in those days as fuel for fires when the flowers had died and dried up. Jesus, in referring to their beauty and plenty was calling attention to a principle of God’s providence. If man was willing to trod on or burn such beautiful creations of God for comfort or security, would not God not value mankind more than those flowers? God created mankind in His own image, creating him (and her) to tend His garden, … which included the flowers.
Think about how often we’re anxious about what we wear. We stand in front of mirrors imagining how others will see us when we’re about to go out in public. Some even fret deeply over such things. And Jesus pointedly says, that His flowers are lovely; and we don’t even think twice about picking them or even throwing them away after they have served our purposes to share God’s beauty with others. What a shame it is that we waste such worry over our own appearance, when God has created mankind for far greater loveliness and beauty; and that beauty is what we ARE rather than what we wear.
And yet, look at how much we primp and prepare – and even worry – so that we’ll impress other people whom we really don’t know and who likely really don’t care what we’re wearing. Would we not do well to heed Jesus’ teaching … toiling in this life only to honor Him rather than to adorn ourselves for personal glory?
My Prayer Today: May others see Your beauty in and through me, Lord, and not what I wear! Amen
Saturday, August 06, 2011
August 7, 2011 … Loving Money: Its Effects
Passage of the Day: 1st Timothy 6: 6 – 9 [see bold text below] … 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
My Journal for Today: In this last week (see my entries for 8/3 and 8/6) inspired by Paul’s instruction to Timothy, I’ve been reviewing ways to avoid the traps of worldly/fleshly materialism and/or “sensualism.” You may not find the latter word in your dictionary; but “sensualism” is the pursuit of those things which feed our senses and become self-destructive sin patterns, deterring us from a deep and abiding relationship with Christ. This is very personal concept for me because habitual sexual sin choices for many years in my life almost kept me from Christ and came very close to the ruination of my marriage, family, and career. Now, having been delivered into a walk of freedom and sobriety from sexual sin patterns, I now struggle with the sensual sin stronghold of gluttony in my life. So, I know very personally how Satan and my own heart can collaborate in sensualism to separate me from my fellowship with Christ. In fact, as I write this, I’m on a cruise in the Mediterranean; and I’ve been quite convicted of my gluttonous tendencies, having so many opportunities to graze on the very tempting food courts which are “free” and part of our cruise charges.
In today’s highlight verse we read of Paul’s warning of the outcomes of such pursuits as Paul speaks of those who “… fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men (and of course, women) into ruin and destruction.” And we see such destruction occurring all around us with State after State sanctioning gambling, which is taking millions into financial ruin. We have an epidemic of obesity in our culture, caused by the pursuit of sensual over-eating. Our children are being plunged into the obsessive-compulsive drive to find sexual images on the TV, in movies, on the Internet, being brought to them on little boxes (called “smart” phones) which they carry around in their pockets/purses, leading to a pandemic of obsessive pornography in our world. It’s like the world, and even the Christian world, is totally ignoring the warnings of God’s word (as in today’s verse).
By our choices we are in disobedience to God’s warnings, all the way from the Old Testament (see Deuteronomy 7: 25 and Zephaniah 1: 18).
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Deut. 7: 25 … The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the LORD your God.
Zeph. 1: 18 … [God through Zephaniah] “Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD's wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth."
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Those are pretty clear warnings from God’s word; don’t you think? And reading from the pages of Scripture, the Bible is replete with stories of lives destroyed because of the pursuit of materialism or sensual pleasures.
There was the case of Achan (see Joshua 7: 1 – 26), who hid his wealth, causing his family to lose their lives and Israel to lose in warfare. And in the NT, there were Ananias and Sapphira, who were both struck dead because, in greed, they held back the Lord’s proceeds (see Acts 5: 1 – 11). And finally there was the most tragic example of all with Judas betraying Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, which ultimately led to his ignominious suicide (read Matt. 27: 3 – 5).
So, will we ever get the picture and recognize the importance of obedience to God’s word, which clearly lays out the consequences of refusing to surrender our desires to God’s will and trusting His providence completely for our needs (again read and memorize Matt. 6: 33 and Phil. 4: 19)?
My Prayer Today: I do, Lord! I get it! I am Yours! Amen
My Journal for Today: In this last week (see my entries for 8/3 and 8/6) inspired by Paul’s instruction to Timothy, I’ve been reviewing ways to avoid the traps of worldly/fleshly materialism and/or “sensualism.” You may not find the latter word in your dictionary; but “sensualism” is the pursuit of those things which feed our senses and become self-destructive sin patterns, deterring us from a deep and abiding relationship with Christ. This is very personal concept for me because habitual sexual sin choices for many years in my life almost kept me from Christ and came very close to the ruination of my marriage, family, and career. Now, having been delivered into a walk of freedom and sobriety from sexual sin patterns, I now struggle with the sensual sin stronghold of gluttony in my life. So, I know very personally how Satan and my own heart can collaborate in sensualism to separate me from my fellowship with Christ. In fact, as I write this, I’m on a cruise in the Mediterranean; and I’ve been quite convicted of my gluttonous tendencies, having so many opportunities to graze on the very tempting food courts which are “free” and part of our cruise charges.
In today’s highlight verse we read of Paul’s warning of the outcomes of such pursuits as Paul speaks of those who “… fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men (and of course, women) into ruin and destruction.” And we see such destruction occurring all around us with State after State sanctioning gambling, which is taking millions into financial ruin. We have an epidemic of obesity in our culture, caused by the pursuit of sensual over-eating. Our children are being plunged into the obsessive-compulsive drive to find sexual images on the TV, in movies, on the Internet, being brought to them on little boxes (called “smart” phones) which they carry around in their pockets/purses, leading to a pandemic of obsessive pornography in our world. It’s like the world, and even the Christian world, is totally ignoring the warnings of God’s word (as in today’s verse).
By our choices we are in disobedience to God’s warnings, all the way from the Old Testament (see Deuteronomy 7: 25 and Zephaniah 1: 18).
------------------
Deut. 7: 25 … The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the LORD your God.
Zeph. 1: 18 … [God through Zephaniah] “Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD's wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth."
----------------------
Those are pretty clear warnings from God’s word; don’t you think? And reading from the pages of Scripture, the Bible is replete with stories of lives destroyed because of the pursuit of materialism or sensual pleasures.
There was the case of Achan (see Joshua 7: 1 – 26), who hid his wealth, causing his family to lose their lives and Israel to lose in warfare. And in the NT, there were Ananias and Sapphira, who were both struck dead because, in greed, they held back the Lord’s proceeds (see Acts 5: 1 – 11). And finally there was the most tragic example of all with Judas betraying Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, which ultimately led to his ignominious suicide (read Matt. 27: 3 – 5).
So, will we ever get the picture and recognize the importance of obedience to God’s word, which clearly lays out the consequences of refusing to surrender our desires to God’s will and trusting His providence completely for our needs (again read and memorize Matt. 6: 33 and Phil. 4: 19)?
My Prayer Today: I do, Lord! I get it! I am Yours! Amen
Thursday, August 04, 2011
August 4, 2011 … Love of Money Ignores True Gain
Passage of the Day: 1st Timothy 6: 6 … 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
My Journal for Today: John MacArthur in his published devotional for this date in Strength for Today, exposing the verse for the day from Paul to Timothy, writes, “True wealth is found in contentment, not in monetary gain.” Besides citing the verse above, he also quotes an old Roman proverb which disclaims, “Money is like seawater; … the more you drink, the thirstier you get, until you die from it’s poison.” MacArthur also supports his claim by citing Solomon in Eccl. 5: 10, who warns, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income..” And finally he cites a quote from the richest man on earth in his day, John D. Rockefeller, who, at his wealthiest, said, “I have made millions, but they brought me no happiness.”
So, … are we getting the picture yet?! From the experience of the ages to the ultimate truth, which is God’s word, we see that happiness and true contentment are not correlated with the love of money and the pursuit of material gain. And yet, so many, and that includes far too many Christians, pursue wealth in the hopes of finding security, contentment, peace, and happiness. And if you read and meditate on Proverbs 30: 8 – 9 as well as 2nd Corinthians 3: 5, you will see that real contentment, peace, and happiness can only be found in a deep and abiding relationship with God.
Oh how our enemy Satan wants us to believe his lies that worldly gain can provide happiness, peace, and/or contentment. But I, for one, give as loud a testimony as I can here in print that I used to be one who pursued happiness through Satan's lie of worldly gain; but I never found contentment until I came to know God, the Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord; and the more I know Him, the more contentment I find in Him … and Him alone.
I pray that you find your peace and contentment in Jesus as well; and again, as I so often do, during my devotional time in these mornings, I remember and sing in my heart the words of that old hymn …
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of this world will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
My Prayer Today: There is no contentment, Lord, except in You. Amen
My Journal for Today: John MacArthur in his published devotional for this date in Strength for Today, exposing the verse for the day from Paul to Timothy, writes, “True wealth is found in contentment, not in monetary gain.” Besides citing the verse above, he also quotes an old Roman proverb which disclaims, “Money is like seawater; … the more you drink, the thirstier you get, until you die from it’s poison.” MacArthur also supports his claim by citing Solomon in Eccl. 5: 10, who warns, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income..” And finally he cites a quote from the richest man on earth in his day, John D. Rockefeller, who, at his wealthiest, said, “I have made millions, but they brought me no happiness.”
So, … are we getting the picture yet?! From the experience of the ages to the ultimate truth, which is God’s word, we see that happiness and true contentment are not correlated with the love of money and the pursuit of material gain. And yet, so many, and that includes far too many Christians, pursue wealth in the hopes of finding security, contentment, peace, and happiness. And if you read and meditate on Proverbs 30: 8 – 9 as well as 2nd Corinthians 3: 5, you will see that real contentment, peace, and happiness can only be found in a deep and abiding relationship with God.
Oh how our enemy Satan wants us to believe his lies that worldly gain can provide happiness, peace, and/or contentment. But I, for one, give as loud a testimony as I can here in print that I used to be one who pursued happiness through Satan's lie of worldly gain; but I never found contentment until I came to know God, the Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord; and the more I know Him, the more contentment I find in Him … and Him alone.
I pray that you find your peace and contentment in Jesus as well; and again, as I so often do, during my devotional time in these mornings, I remember and sing in my heart the words of that old hymn …
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of this world will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
My Prayer Today: There is no contentment, Lord, except in You. Amen
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
August 3, 2011 … The Love of Money
Passage of the Day: 1st Timothy 6: 10 … 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
My Journal for Today: Today’s teaching from the Apostle Paul to his younger protégé, Timothy, has become one of the classic biblical teachings to all Christians about our attitude, as believers, toward money and materialism. Yesterday, John MacArthur in Strength for Today, helped us see from verses 6 – 8 of 1st Tim. 6 that having money or things is not evil because God is the provider. However, in verse 10 we’re confronted with a self-inventory question: “Do we LOVE our money or things too much?” Thankfully, MacArthur also helps us answer this question with five indicators to help us see whether our attitudes have tipped over into sin with regard to materialism.
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#1 … BEWARE … if you are more concerned with acquiring money than using it wisely. I’ve read somewhere that it’s okay to use money and love people; but we should never love money and use people.
#2 … BEWARE … if you feel that you never have enough money or things. When the pursuit of material gain becomes our primary desire, God has been given a back seat in our heart.
#3 ... BEWARE … if you tend to flaunt or show off what you have or have bought. When you’re showing off your new car to the next door neighbors, who’s #1 … self or Savior? - Duh!
#4 … BEWARE … if you resent giving your money as God’s word teaches or to worthy causes. Do you find joy or agony when the plate is passed in church?
#5 … BEWARE … BIGTIME! … if you too easily sin to obtain money or things?
Robbing Peter to pay Paul would not be condoned by either of the Apostles.
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Forgive my glib remark following #5; but I think all too often we find ourselves looking for situational excuses when we justify handling our financial woes by doing things which clearly move into the sinful realm. How often have Christians excused their impulse or compulsive buying, feeling that they NEED or DESERVE something that is clearly a WANT or desire and not a need? How does a Christian justify obsessive shopping; or how does a Christian excuse buying lottery tickets week after week, desiring to become “rich” quickly?
Jesus clearly taught [in Matt. 6: 24] we cannot serve God and money; and today’s verse warns us what can (and will) happen when the scales of life become tipped toward the love of money over our love of God. And taking Jesus at His word (which we should always do!), our pursuit should always be things which advance the Kingdom of God (from Matt. 6: 33) rather than the pursuit of or flaunting of personal gain.
So, our pursuits need to be for the NEEDS which God will always provide; and then any blessings beyond our needs can be our gift back to God as we use His providence for His glory!
My Prayer Today: My pursuit is You, Lord! Amen
My Journal for Today: Today’s teaching from the Apostle Paul to his younger protégé, Timothy, has become one of the classic biblical teachings to all Christians about our attitude, as believers, toward money and materialism. Yesterday, John MacArthur in Strength for Today, helped us see from verses 6 – 8 of 1st Tim. 6 that having money or things is not evil because God is the provider. However, in verse 10 we’re confronted with a self-inventory question: “Do we LOVE our money or things too much?” Thankfully, MacArthur also helps us answer this question with five indicators to help us see whether our attitudes have tipped over into sin with regard to materialism.
-------------------
#1 … BEWARE … if you are more concerned with acquiring money than using it wisely. I’ve read somewhere that it’s okay to use money and love people; but we should never love money and use people.
#2 … BEWARE … if you feel that you never have enough money or things. When the pursuit of material gain becomes our primary desire, God has been given a back seat in our heart.
#3 ... BEWARE … if you tend to flaunt or show off what you have or have bought. When you’re showing off your new car to the next door neighbors, who’s #1 … self or Savior? - Duh!
#4 … BEWARE … if you resent giving your money as God’s word teaches or to worthy causes. Do you find joy or agony when the plate is passed in church?
#5 … BEWARE … BIGTIME! … if you too easily sin to obtain money or things?
Robbing Peter to pay Paul would not be condoned by either of the Apostles.
--------------------
Forgive my glib remark following #5; but I think all too often we find ourselves looking for situational excuses when we justify handling our financial woes by doing things which clearly move into the sinful realm. How often have Christians excused their impulse or compulsive buying, feeling that they NEED or DESERVE something that is clearly a WANT or desire and not a need? How does a Christian justify obsessive shopping; or how does a Christian excuse buying lottery tickets week after week, desiring to become “rich” quickly?
Jesus clearly taught [in Matt. 6: 24] we cannot serve God and money; and today’s verse warns us what can (and will) happen when the scales of life become tipped toward the love of money over our love of God. And taking Jesus at His word (which we should always do!), our pursuit should always be things which advance the Kingdom of God (from Matt. 6: 33) rather than the pursuit of or flaunting of personal gain.
So, our pursuits need to be for the NEEDS which God will always provide; and then any blessings beyond our needs can be our gift back to God as we use His providence for His glory!
My Prayer Today: My pursuit is You, Lord! Amen
Monday, August 01, 2011
August 2, 2011 … The Right Attitude Toward Money
Passage of the Day: 1st Timothy 6: 6 – 8 … 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
My Journal for Today: I think you would agree, if you are using this devotional to get closer to God’s will and His way, that our culture and our world promotes greed and selfishness and the desire for money and things. Hence in his devotionals for this month, John MacArthur, from Strength for Today posits eight principles from Scripture concerning money/wealth which we, as Christians, must believe and live. These principles, with their biblical support, are listed below. If you’re reading/studying here, I will expect that you will meditate on each scripture that is listed for each principle. …
1. Having money is not wrong. [1st Samuel 2: 7]
2. Money and possessions are from God’s providence. [Deuteronomy 8: 10 – 18]
3. If it is God’s will, we must be willing to part with our material wealth. [Job 1: 21]
4. Material wealth is not to be coveted or favored. [James 2: 1 – 10]
5. The pursuit of wealth should never be our top priority. [Matthew 6: 33]
6. Our money should be used for eternal purposes. [Luke 16: 9]
7. We will never find security in the pursuit/acquisition of wealth. [Proverbs 11: 28]
8. We must never hoard or foolishly spend God’s providence. [Proverbs 11: 24-25]
Serious application of these biblical principles, when it comes to the use of God’s providence and material wealth will honor God; and as Matt. 6: 33 (hopefully a memorized verse with you) clearly states, application of these Godly principles concerning His providence will put God and His kingdom first rather than our own selfish desires. So these principles above become the only wise use of God-given providence/wealth (see also Luke 6: 38).
As we read above, money, in and of itself, is not evil. It only becomes evil when it becomes a tool of evil thinking or evil doing. As we’ve seen in Prov. 23: 7 (from NKJV) , “… as a man thinks in his heart , so is he.” So, as we meditate on the principles above from God’s word, we need to ask ourselves, “What have I become in my use of God’s providence?” When we answer that question in tune with these eight biblical principles, prayerfully we will be living out Matt. 6: 33 in our lives.
My Prayer Today: Lord, may I use Your providence to honor You. Amen
My Journal for Today: I think you would agree, if you are using this devotional to get closer to God’s will and His way, that our culture and our world promotes greed and selfishness and the desire for money and things. Hence in his devotionals for this month, John MacArthur, from Strength for Today posits eight principles from Scripture concerning money/wealth which we, as Christians, must believe and live. These principles, with their biblical support, are listed below. If you’re reading/studying here, I will expect that you will meditate on each scripture that is listed for each principle. …
1. Having money is not wrong. [1st Samuel 2: 7]
2. Money and possessions are from God’s providence. [Deuteronomy 8: 10 – 18]
3. If it is God’s will, we must be willing to part with our material wealth. [Job 1: 21]
4. Material wealth is not to be coveted or favored. [James 2: 1 – 10]
5. The pursuit of wealth should never be our top priority. [Matthew 6: 33]
6. Our money should be used for eternal purposes. [Luke 16: 9]
7. We will never find security in the pursuit/acquisition of wealth. [Proverbs 11: 28]
8. We must never hoard or foolishly spend God’s providence. [Proverbs 11: 24-25]
Serious application of these biblical principles, when it comes to the use of God’s providence and material wealth will honor God; and as Matt. 6: 33 (hopefully a memorized verse with you) clearly states, application of these Godly principles concerning His providence will put God and His kingdom first rather than our own selfish desires. So these principles above become the only wise use of God-given providence/wealth (see also Luke 6: 38).
As we read above, money, in and of itself, is not evil. It only becomes evil when it becomes a tool of evil thinking or evil doing. As we’ve seen in Prov. 23: 7 (from NKJV) , “… as a man thinks in his heart , so is he.” So, as we meditate on the principles above from God’s word, we need to ask ourselves, “What have I become in my use of God’s providence?” When we answer that question in tune with these eight biblical principles, prayerfully we will be living out Matt. 6: 33 in our lives.
My Prayer Today: Lord, may I use Your providence to honor You. Amen
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
February 2, 2011 … The Essence of Idolatry
Passage of the Day: Psalm 50: 21 – These things you have done [addressing evil done by those claiming to be believers] and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face.
My Journal for Today: In our western, post-modern world, laced with humanistic relativism, it’s so easy to let our idolatry shape our image of God. I believe A. W. Tozer was right when he declared, “… no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God.” And today’s psalm, penned by Asaph in David’s court, is God’s warning in musical lyrics that we must not humanize God with our idolatry. As John MacArthur writes in today’s entry from Strength for Today, “… the essence of idolatry is possessing thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him.” We cannot let such satanically or selfishly driven forces, like materialism or entertainment or the cultural epidemic of sexual sin shape our concepts of God. If we do, we have fallen prey to Satan’s ploy to have us worship him rather than the one-and-only true God. Or Satan would be just as happy if we chose to worship selfish pleasure; … anything to take our eyes off Jesus; and anything which does so is an idol.
Our western culture drives us to substitute a lifestyle of truly worshipping God by focusing our minds and our time on education, science, entertainment, or psychology, all of which can/will distort our image of God if we let them. I pray that, in my own life, nothing I think or do or pursue will ever take away from my earnest and sincere goal (see yesterday’s journal entry) to know God – the one true God – Who seeks the first fruit of my attention in my relationship with Him [see Matt. 6: 33]. May I – may we – never allow our hearts to fall into the trap of idolatry and to let our deceitful hearts (Jer. 17: 9) see God blurred by the image of some idol we pursue in our lives.
My Prayer Today: O, my Lord, help me to know YOU; and let nothing in my life detract from that pursuit in faith and love. Amen
My Journal for Today: In our western, post-modern world, laced with humanistic relativism, it’s so easy to let our idolatry shape our image of God. I believe A. W. Tozer was right when he declared, “… no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God.” And today’s psalm, penned by Asaph in David’s court, is God’s warning in musical lyrics that we must not humanize God with our idolatry. As John MacArthur writes in today’s entry from Strength for Today, “… the essence of idolatry is possessing thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him.” We cannot let such satanically or selfishly driven forces, like materialism or entertainment or the cultural epidemic of sexual sin shape our concepts of God. If we do, we have fallen prey to Satan’s ploy to have us worship him rather than the one-and-only true God. Or Satan would be just as happy if we chose to worship selfish pleasure; … anything to take our eyes off Jesus; and anything which does so is an idol.
Our western culture drives us to substitute a lifestyle of truly worshipping God by focusing our minds and our time on education, science, entertainment, or psychology, all of which can/will distort our image of God if we let them. I pray that, in my own life, nothing I think or do or pursue will ever take away from my earnest and sincere goal (see yesterday’s journal entry) to know God – the one true God – Who seeks the first fruit of my attention in my relationship with Him [see Matt. 6: 33]. May I – may we – never allow our hearts to fall into the trap of idolatry and to let our deceitful hearts (Jer. 17: 9) see God blurred by the image of some idol we pursue in our lives.
My Prayer Today: O, my Lord, help me to know YOU; and let nothing in my life detract from that pursuit in faith and love. Amen
Monday, December 20, 2010
2010 – December 20 – Choices … Friendships
Study from God’s Word… Reading two traveling letters, the books of James and Jude, written to the church written by these two brothers of Jesus, who were trying to get the persecuted Jewish Christians to remember God’s covenant and to remain faithful in spite of the persecutions of the world … Passage for Reflection: James 4: 4 … NIV You adulterous people,[a reference to adulterous Israel – see Hosea 3: 1] don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
My Journal for Today: Reading the books, i.e., letters, of Jesus’ brothers, James and Jude this morning, if one cannot see the relevance of Scripture to our world today, that person would have to be a non-believer or a foolish Christian who has been duped by the paganism or carnality of worldly pleasures or materialism; and unfortunately this is a very common failing evidenced in the church and Christians today.
Dr. Smith makes the relevant case that today’s parents will try to get their kids to recognize the truth that “bad company corrupts good character;” yet, these same parents often will take up deadly close friendships with the world and allow worldly values to corrupt what God’s word teaches us. Let’s get right to Dr. Smith’s closing devotional question today (with one little addition from me): Do the decisions I make reflect a greater friendship with a faithful God or with an ever-so-fickle friend [the world]?”
Dear one, I don’t trust myself; and I acknowledge the truth of Jeremiah’s warning in Jer. 17: 9, which tells me how weak my human heart (i.e., my very HUMAN being) is; … and that I have a heart which is deceitful beyond measure. James and Jude recognized this; and they were writing (i.e., preaching) a message of warning to all Christians; yes, to those in the first century after Christ, but also to all Christians in any generation who could be deceived that we followers of Christ cannot be wooed and won by the world away from the truth which is found in God’s word.
More specifically, we see these two letters throwing up a loud warning against trafficking in worldly and fleshly pleasures and expecting us, as Christians, to be able to have a deep and abiding relationship with Christ. NO WAY! It simply cannot happen; and that is what today’s highlight text almost yells out in warning to the man or woman of “the Way,” … i.e., any follower of Christ.
So, my fellow Christian, let’s be honest and ask ourselves the question raised by James and Dr. LaGard Smith today: Are we cavorting too closely with the materialism of the world and trying to have one foot following God’s truth [i.e., the Bible] and the other foot pursuing the lured values of the world? And can we not see that such dualism will split us in half and take us away from Christ’s simple (but, oh so difficult) charge (see Luke 9: 23) to deny self, to take our cross (of Christ) daily, and to follow our Lord?
Take careful note here, my dear one, and see where your path is leading. Because if it is pursuing friendship with the world, we will be lured by the sirens of materialism and pleasure-seeking onto the rocks of death and darkness and we’ll never be able to foster the friendship offered by Christ by being obedient to Him and following Him in the friendship He and only He can offer.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I want to follow You and to stay away from the lures the world uses to divert and distract me. Amen
My Journal for Today: Reading the books, i.e., letters, of Jesus’ brothers, James and Jude this morning, if one cannot see the relevance of Scripture to our world today, that person would have to be a non-believer or a foolish Christian who has been duped by the paganism or carnality of worldly pleasures or materialism; and unfortunately this is a very common failing evidenced in the church and Christians today.
Dr. Smith makes the relevant case that today’s parents will try to get their kids to recognize the truth that “bad company corrupts good character;” yet, these same parents often will take up deadly close friendships with the world and allow worldly values to corrupt what God’s word teaches us. Let’s get right to Dr. Smith’s closing devotional question today (with one little addition from me): Do the decisions I make reflect a greater friendship with a faithful God or with an ever-so-fickle friend [the world]?”
Dear one, I don’t trust myself; and I acknowledge the truth of Jeremiah’s warning in Jer. 17: 9, which tells me how weak my human heart (i.e., my very HUMAN being) is; … and that I have a heart which is deceitful beyond measure. James and Jude recognized this; and they were writing (i.e., preaching) a message of warning to all Christians; yes, to those in the first century after Christ, but also to all Christians in any generation who could be deceived that we followers of Christ cannot be wooed and won by the world away from the truth which is found in God’s word.
More specifically, we see these two letters throwing up a loud warning against trafficking in worldly and fleshly pleasures and expecting us, as Christians, to be able to have a deep and abiding relationship with Christ. NO WAY! It simply cannot happen; and that is what today’s highlight text almost yells out in warning to the man or woman of “the Way,” … i.e., any follower of Christ.
So, my fellow Christian, let’s be honest and ask ourselves the question raised by James and Dr. LaGard Smith today: Are we cavorting too closely with the materialism of the world and trying to have one foot following God’s truth [i.e., the Bible] and the other foot pursuing the lured values of the world? And can we not see that such dualism will split us in half and take us away from Christ’s simple (but, oh so difficult) charge (see Luke 9: 23) to deny self, to take our cross (of Christ) daily, and to follow our Lord?
Take careful note here, my dear one, and see where your path is leading. Because if it is pursuing friendship with the world, we will be lured by the sirens of materialism and pleasure-seeking onto the rocks of death and darkness and we’ll never be able to foster the friendship offered by Christ by being obedient to Him and following Him in the friendship He and only He can offer.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I want to follow You and to stay away from the lures the world uses to divert and distract me. Amen
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