Indignant
Father, I give You thanks for Your blessings and watchcare over the weekend’s festivities. I am so grateful to not hear of any incidences of problems in families travels and I give You praise that You were amongst us in our celebrating.
Luke 5:1-7 (<<click to read the passage)
One struggle that occurred fairly often in retail was when people felt they were at liberty to tell you how to do your job. Now that might possibly be accurate in certain circumstances, i.e. if an experienced associate from another Kohl’s store came upon an inexperienced associate. But for the most part, most associates (me included!) would be, “Just be quiet. I’m the trained, experienced associate here…not you!”
In the first portion of today’s story in the life of Jesus, He, as He is teaching, is being hard-pressed as crowds, in an attempt to see and hear Him more clearly, are pushing Him closer and closer to the water’s edge. He steps into a boat just offshore and asks Simon (Peter), the boat’s owner, to push it out into the water. Now here comes the potentially testy part of the narrative.
When he had finished speaking, he [Jesus] said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” v.4 NLT
Now we definitely have to give Simon credit here in that he is not just some puttering little tyke with a stick pole who has had a poor day of fishing. Simon is a trained professional. Fishing was his job. He knew it in and out. His boat. The water. The fish. He had to know it all – it was his livelihood. It kept food on his table. And with all that skill, he could have laid into Jesus but he didn’t. This seasoned sailor politely replies, and the Amplified Bible fleshes it out a bit more.
“Master, we worked hard all night [to the point of exhaustion] and caught nothing [in our nets], but at Your word I will [do as you say and] lower the nets [again].” v.5
Now I don’t know about you but I would have put a little bit more on that last word… “lower the nets again.” How many of us would have been at least a little indignant? “Who does this guy think He is? Yeah, He’s a good teacher and all and I really didn’t mind Him using my boat as His podium from which to teach, but, I mean, we’ve fished all night and caught absolutely nothing! I know my trade and out of the blue, He thinks we can just drop out nets and ‘poof’ they’ll be full of fish? Well…”
But that’s exactly what happened! Not just Simon’s boat but his partner’s boat, as well, became so full of fish that they both were on the verge of sinking!
We’ll look at Simon’s response to the whole thing tomorrow but aren’t we hesitant to move forward when God directs us to do something? Oh, we try to shrug the Holy Spirit’s suggestions off as wild ideas. “Where in the world did that thought come from? Crazy!” …right? But especially if you are striving to follow Jesus in all the ins and outs of each day, you know that He guides you. You know that He is the One who is putting those thoughts in your mind…because you have asked Him to!
Lord Jesus, help our actions to follow suit with our words. We want to do Your will – we say so – but we would ask that You would enable us to do not just to say. Amen.
Jan 12th, 2020, Sun, 4:38 pm
Slavery to Selfishness
This week is quickly rolling to a close with a full weekend ahead, Father. As our time with Massey wraps up may we make the most of it. May Your hand be upon the wedding about to transpire. And may all parties involved find a hedge of protection around them as we come together and then return to our homes. Amen.
Luke 4:42-44 (<<click to read the passage)
Reading the notes associated with these verses in my Life Application Study Bible (NLT) I came across a sentence written in regards to Jesus’ proclamation that He “must preach the Good News”. It states, “It is Good News for us…because it means freedom from slavery to sin and selfishness.”
I got to thinking if I had written that line, I probably would have not thought to include the word “selfishness”. But it sure fits, doesn’t it? We would all admit that sin enslaves us but think about it, doesn’t selfishness enslave us, as well?
What is one of the first things as toddlers that we have to be taught? We have to be instructed to share. It doesn’t come naturally. It is not automatically encoded into our DNA. We are selfish right from the get-go – no education needed. “My toys! My book! My food!”
And unfortunately, we do not outgrow it. Someone getting in line in front of you isn’t just taboo in grade school! How many of us have our tempers flare when someone squeezes in from of us in heavy traffic? “It’s not fair! I merged over when I was told to! I was here first! You cheated!”
What is the Golden Rule?
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12 NLT
What is the greatest commandment and what is second?
“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:36-39 NLT
What is the opposite of selfishness? Love. We don’t take. We don’t hoard. We give. We place ourselves last and others first.
And what does Scripture tell us about God?
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. 1 John 4:7-12 (NLT)
Lord Jesus, may we – this day – truly embrace Your Good News! Amen.!
Jan 9th, 2020, Thurs, 1:13 pm
Isolated Place
Father, I am always grateful for Your watchcare over me. Getting up on the roof three times yesterday to repair a damaged cap on the vent of our woodstove, was more than I had bargained for but rain comes in this weekend. Up and down without a hitch – thank You, Father!
Luke 4:42 (<<click to read the passage)
When I first began this devotional journey back in 2015 my life was composed of different things. I was still working at Kohl’s and my schedule at that time lent itself more to getting up early to read, write and pray. Over time that changed and I began doing those things whenever I could squeeze them in, much as I do today.
I must say there was something special about rising before the world around me began to stir. At that time, I was usually up by 6:00 AM and it gave me a good hour to spend with the Lord. Traffic was almost non-existent. I would sit in the living room. Karen was still in bed. On most mornings it was still dark out. Peaceful. Still. Quiet.
The first part of today’s verse states,
“Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place.”
That is from the New Living Translation. Other versions use “secluded” (AMP), “solitary” (NIV), “remote” (MEV), and “desert” (KJV). It was vitally important that He get away – as far away as He was able – from all the hustle and bustle of life. His ministry was just getting started and already the crowds were diligently searching Him out.
But as my Life Application Study Bible states, “Jesus had to get up very early to get some time alone. If Jesus needed solitude for prayer and refreshment, how much more is this true for us?”
When we do it is not nearly as important simply doing it. Where we do it is not as important as simply doing it.
From experience, I am telling you that if you can make getting alone with Jesus a habit in your life – whenever and wherever you can – it will most definitely change your life.
How many well-meaning Christians crave a closer walk with Jesus? And it is just like anything else – you, and you alone, have to decide that it is important enough to do…to apply yourself to…to give yourself over to.
I need to lose weight but only I can decide that it is important enough to do.
I need to get into better shape physically but only I can make myself do it.
Alcohol abuse. Drug addiction. Pornography obsession. Gambling habit. The list can go on and on but only the person in the middle of it can make the choice to get out of it. We can seek out help but we must choose to begin.
Jesus’s greatest desire is for you to spend time with Him. He already knows you – and has known you since before the earth was formed (Ephesians 1:4)– so what is holding you back? Nothing – absolutely nothing – is more important than this decision…right here, right now. So what is it going to be?
Jan 8th, 2020, Wed, 5:47 pm
Dormant and Barren
What a beautiful last couple of days, Father! Even in this time of year where there is not much visible life, I am still moved to give You praise for the intricacy of Your creation! With foliage at its max, one can’t really see what lies on the floor of the woodlands or through the woodlands, but now all is laid bare. It is an interesting view into the previously unseen.
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Along that train of thought, I couldn’t help but notice the multitude of barren trees along the many highways and byways of my route this morning. If there were leaves present (and those trees were few and far between) they were brown and void of life.
As I pondered, the trees reminded me of humanity…specifically of those without the Lord Jesus Christ in their lives. All of us, like trees, exist because of the mighty hand of our Creator God. Each of us, at the core, has life within us – a spiritual life. But for many, that life is dormant. Until that life is brought out by our Creator, we are barren.
If trees could talk, don’t you think they would tell us that they may be dormant and barren now…but in their heart of hearts, they know that spring is coming. And with its arrival, they will be dormant and barren no more! They will enshroud themselves with lush foliage, beautiful to behold! Some similar in their beauty but not one single tree like another. They will proclaim God’s glory for they are what they were made to be, perfect in every way!
While trees may follow their Creator’s directive for life, we, on the other hand, have the ability to choose what we allow to happen to us. I have chosen His touch upon my life to no longer be dormant and barren but sadly, many others do not do the same. Instead, they try all kinds of things to find life but nothing works. Our world says, “Try this! Try that!” But to no avail. Only the touch of our Creator can bring life. Only He can enable us to enshroud ourselves with His love and the endless beauty it brings!
Lord Jesus, help us all to realize that only You can bring the grandest of our hopes and dreams to life. We find true fulfillment in You when we proclaim Your glory by becoming what we were made to be, perfect in every way! Amen!
He who has the Son [by accepting Him as Lord and Savior] has the life [that is eternal]; he who does not have the Son of God [by personal faith] does not have the life. 1 John 5:12 (AMP)
Jan 7th, 2020, Tues, 12:31 pm
But for a Breath
Father, thank You for so many words of encouragement that I have seen today in regards to the anxiety I posted on yesterday. I am grateful that Your thoughts are higher than my thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9 NLT) Your assurance brings great comfort.
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Before Daylight Savings Time kicked in this past November, just about every morning I would see two white Pekin ducks and one mallard duck, off in the yard from a pond on my high school/middle school route. They waddled in a line purposely searching for food. There was nothing special or flamboyant about them. They were just your regular run of the mill ducks but they were a consistent part of my morning routine and brought a smile to my face each time I saw them.
A couple of weeks before Christmas break as I came up to that area from another direction, I beheld a disturbing sight. It was still dark but I was pretty sure that in the road were feathers over what was left of a white Pekin duck and a mallard. That afternoon, I came upon them again and sure enough, two of the ducks had lost their lives. The loss of something so simple yet beautiful was saddening.
This past weekend we had the chance to catch up with some of my mom’s side of the family. We took my mom and dad with us and enjoyed spending time with my aunt, my one cousin, and my other cousin’s oldest son, along with his wife and young family. They have three sweet girls – a four-year-old, a two-year-old and a brand-new baby!
I loved watching them interact with their parents! Lots of energy, with plenty of wiggles and giggles! And of course, their parents just took it all in stride – it’s part of being a parent.
Now that I am getting older, I quite often will take the time to encourage young parents. One thing I point out is that time is fleeting. I didn’t mention the ducks but just as their lives were cut short in the blink of an eye, so quickly will this precious time that these young parents are currently experiencing with their family, pass into history, as well.
It is easy to take for granted, those special moments, those special people, in our lives. Unfortunately, when we are in the middle of it, it seems so mundane – nothing special or flamboyant. It is just life. It is when we look back upon it that we realize how special it was. Our parents, our children, our friends. Not one of us truly walks this dusty globe but for a breath in view of eternity.
Cherish those moments. Hold them tight, not in an attempt to never let them go or to let them grow but knowing that “this too shall pass” and the gifts we have of the present will be no more.
Psalm 90, written by Moses, is the oldest recorded psalm and in it, verse 12, passes along a very applicable bit of wisdom.
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. (NLT)
Jan 6th, 2020, Mon, 12:45 pm