July 1 - Let It Snow!

 Read today’s texts first: Isaiah 1-3; Titus 3

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Need evidence for God?
Look at the lives He’s changed! 

Isaiah is like a mini-Bible. Its 66 chapters parallel the 66 books of the Bible, book by book, with a clear division after 39 chapters. The next 27 books contain prophecies of Jesus and themes of salvation foreshadowing the whole New Testament! It is fascinating and so obviously inspired by God, confirming the credibility of not only the original autographs of Scripture but also the process involved in forming the canon.

In the first chapter, we see the effects of sin followed by a promise of future redemption, just like the book of Genesis:  “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” (1:18).  The suffering Saviour promised later in Isaiah (eg. ch. 53) will make it possible for sinful man to be fully redeemed.

Paul describes this “washing” to Titus: At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour (3:3-6).

Some of the greatest evidence for the truth of God’s Word and the completed work of Jesus is our changed lives. It is so obvious in the place where I serve as chaplain that it will be my topic for a chapel next week. I love hearing the stories of these incredible saints and learning about how God miraculously turned their lives around. “Lord, though the change in my life may have seemed less dramatic than some, there’s no doubt that You turned my dark heart white as snow!”

July Devo - Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer

The bright afternoon sunshine warmed me from the inside out. The flowers greeted me in full bloom, with colours so vibrant only God could have imagined them. It is summer in all its glory, my favourite season! I’m walking from Buchanan to Royal Columbian to visit two of my favourite people. Life is almost too good, until a bird, happily chirping in a tree branch above me, poops on my shoulder! Surprise bird droppings exemplify the “crazy” part of summer that belongs right up there with the “lazy-hazy” parts!

Every season has its beauty. That’s why I love our home here in BC’s Lower Mainland. We can appreciate the gentle warmth of a 49th parallel summer, the resplendent leaves of autumn, the greening rains and whitening snowfalls of winter, and the promise of resurrection life so perfectly illustrated every spring. But during those same glorious four seasons, some only see the summer heat waves, decaying fall leaves, slushy winter streets, and endless spring rain showers.

Remember, how we embrace the seasons of the year can reflect the attitudes we choose during the “seasons” of our life (Philippians 4:4-9). God created the seasons for us to enjoy while we wait for the new heaven and new earth to be finished. Right now, this is what we get, bird poop and all: As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease (Gen 8:22).

But if this world, with all its human and foul contamination, can still be so awe-inspiring, imagine what’s next! What God can create, when no person or bird can desecrate, will redefine what we now call beautiful. In the meantime, enjoy the lazy, the hazy, and the crazy parts of summer! (And be glad the birds are eating so well!).

June 30 - Pull Out the Plumb Line

 Read today’s texts first: Amos 7-9; Psalms 104; Titus 2

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

A crooked foundation will inevitably lead to collapse.

The book of Amos is best known for the image of the plumb line (7:7,8). As God revealed the possible consequences of Israel’s sin, this soft-hearted shepherd-turned-prophet pleads with Him to relent. It is strikingly similar to Scrooge pleading with the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come: Are these the shadows of the things that will be, or are they shadows of things that may be, only? God, in response to the pleadings of Amos, shows him the plumb line, as if to say, things are off kilter, My standard has been ignored, a crooked foundation will inevitably lead to collapse. It is unavoidable if there is no change!

Paul holds up a similar standard for Titus: In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned (2:7,8). So often we dismiss sin with the rationalization: “hey, we’re only human, we’re sinners - what did you expect?” Well God expects us to follow His commands. In fact, His Spirit is living inside of us to help us do just that. Notice how often he uses the word “self-control” (vs. 2,5,6,12)!

Contrary to the changing values of our world, there is an unchanging standard known as God’s Word. No matter how you dress it up with political “correctness” (eg. pro choice, gay pride, right to die), sin is sin and a crooked foundation will collapse. It is inevitable.

“Lord, while Your salvation is a gift I could not earn, there is still an expectation to work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12). Thank You for the gift of Your Spirit who works with me every day to keep my life plumb to the standards of Your unchanging Word!”

June 29 - Lions and Snakes and Bears, Oh My!

 Read today’s texts first: Amos 4-6; Psalms 86; Titus 1

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Playing with sin is like playing with lions, snakes and bears, oh my!

Yesterday we looked at the very real threat of marauding lions looking to devour Israel, and us if we act like Israel. Today, the pessimism of the prophet Amos persists:  It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him (5:19).  Okay, bears really are mentioned, but there are no tigers in this prophecy, only venomous snakes.

So Amos is saying, if Israel continues to ignore their God, even if they should outrun the lion (which is highly unlikely), they are going to run right into a bear, and if they duck for cover inside their house, guess what, snakes know how to get into your house. In other words, there is no escape from God’s judgment. It is shocking to see how far Israel has fallen. Their two most sacred cities (remember, Jerusalem is in Judah, not Israel) are Bethel and Gilgal. Bethel is where Abraham and Jacob regularly met with God, and Gilgal is where Joshua renewed their vows to God when they first entered the Promised Land. Now they are the centers of idol worship.

Sin is progressive, or more accurately regressive. If left unchecked, the heart grows harder and the sin becomes more perverse.  Paul warns of that in his letter to Titus: To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted (1:15). Despite the pessimism of Amos, he does offer hope: Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph (4:14-15).

“Lord, I ask that you will bring quick intervention and conviction when I sin, so that repentance and mercy can follow. Lions are bad enough without bears and snakes right behind them!”

June 28 - Come On and Roar You Lions Roar!

 Read today’s texts first: Amos 1-3; Psalms 80; 2 Timothy 4

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Don’t face the “roaring lion”
without the Lion of Judah right by your side.

Lions aren’t mentioned that often in the Bible, so when two of the readings randomly refer to them, it’s worth a further look. I am fascinated by these magnificent, deadly animals. While I wouldn’t want to run into one in my backyard (we recently had a cougar alert so it could happen), I am transfixed watching them in a game reserve or on TV. Whether it’s the king of the jungle in Africa, the asiatic variety common in ancient Palestine or the mountain lions we have in BC, they are awe-inspiring! One-on-one, without a weapon, we will lose to a lion every time. When they are our enemy in Scripture, the inference is that we can only overcome them with God’s help, the Lion of Judah, the undisputed King of all kings (including the king of the jungle)!

Amos is filled with prophetic warnings: The lion has roared - who will not fear? (3:8).   He goes on to say: This is what the Lord says: “As a shepherd saves from the lion’s mouth only two leg bones or a piece of an ear, so will the Israelites be saved” (3:12). This is not good news - they will be saved but only small parts of them! At first he predicts bad news for Israel’s enemies but this lion analogy actually refers to Israel. They will be attacked and torn apart because they have forsaken the one true God (3:11-15). Like we said, you don’t go up against a lion without God’s help!

Paul presents the other side: I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom (4:17,18). Whether you are dealing with actual lions, like Samson or David, or allegorical lions, like Peter or Paul, God trumps them all. Peter directly referred to Satan as a marauding lion: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.... And the God of all grace... will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast (1Pet. 5:8-10).

“Lord, there are lions lyin’ in wait, ready to devour me if I decide to face them alone. But when I say I want the Lion of Judah on my side, I ain’t lyin’!”

June 27 - The Power of Passion

 Read today’s texts first: 2 Kings 13,14; 2 Chronicles 25; 2 Timothy 3

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Pursue the whole will of God - wholeheartedly!

It’s my birthday today and I feel good. In fact, I feel stronger than I’ve felt in years. Having had a couple years to recover physically, emotionally, and, most of all, spiritually has rejuvenated me. One of the factors has been restoring my time of daily Bible reading and praying God’s Word into my everyday life. It’s true, all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (3:16,17).

Today I saw how important it is not just to read God’s Word and to know God’s will, but to passionately pursue it. The first clue was the unusual test Elisha gave Jehoash, King of Israel. He told the king to strike the ground with the arrows but Jehoash only half-heartedly struck the ground three times. If he had responded to God’s Word with passion he would have completely routed his enemies (13:18,19).

The second clue was the description of Amaziah, King of Judah: He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash (14:3). If you’ll remember, David was a man who passionately pursued God’s heart; Joash waffled in the face of public opinion. The parallel passage gives us some more insight: He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly (25:2).

“Lord, I ask for more than just instruction from Your Word about Your will for my life. I ask that my heart will passionately pursue Your heart and that my will will match Your will.”  Three “wills” in one sentence - now that’s will power!

June 26 - Be Strong

 Read today’s texts first: Jonah 1-4; 2 Timothy 2

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Grace is strength under control,  power tempered by
Gentleness and conviction coupled with forgiveness.

Timothy, as a young pastor of a large influential church, is facing some challenges that will push him far beyond his age, experience, or training. False teachers are infiltrating the church of Ephesus, most of them older and supposedly wiser than Timothy. And yet Paul is urging him to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2:2). That’s the X Factor – God’s grace. Paul knew from his own experience that God’s grace is sufficient and that His strength is made perfect in [our] weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).

If only Jonah had a mentor like Paul. Maybe he could have saved the time he wasted running from God. You can’t outrun God’s call on your life. He may have avoided the stormy seas you can expect if you ignore His call. He may have enjoyed his belly full of fish instead of enduring a fish belly full of Jonah! He may have arrived at Nineveh in style instead of being vomited up on a beach, likely with bad body odor, bleached skin and seaweed in his hair. Maybe his experience and weird looks helped him get his message across to the Ninevites, but God’s grace would have been a lot easier!

God’s grace would also have helped him process his disappointment with God when He withheld His judgment from Nineveh. That’s the nature of His grace. Like meekness, it is strength under control, it is power tempered by gentleness, it is conviction coupled with forgiveness. Look at how Paul advised Timothy: the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth (2:28,29). God’s strength is available to us, not to win fights or arguments, but to win souls.

“Lord, there’s no point in running from Your will so I ask for Your grace to be strong enough to do it!”