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!”

June 25 - Fan the Flame

 Read today’s texts first: Joel 1-3; 2 Timothy 1

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

God’s Master Plan has taken 1000s of years to unfold but His timing is always perfect! 

I’m excited as we move into the writings of the prophets. These ordinary men heard and spoke extraordinary messages for God. The book of Joel became a key theme for the founder of Foursquare, Aimee Semple McPherson. She correctly recognized the grand scope of Joel’s prophecy, from Judah’s oppression, likely during or right after the reign of Joash, all the way to the entrance of the Messiah and His Holy Spirit.

Paul’s encouragement to Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God” (1:6) was proof of the accuracy of Joel’s words: the Holy Spirit had arrived on the scene. This is what Joel promised at least 600 years before it happened: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit (2:28,29).

Sister Aimee was part of another outpouring of God’s Spirit, in the beginnings of the modern Pentecostal movement. She wrote a book called “This is That” in reference to Peter’s comments during the first outpouring of God’s Spirit described in Acts 2. Peter said: This is that which was spoken through the prophet Joel (2:16).

Like Peter, Paul, and Aimee (sorry, you were probably hoping I would say “Mary”), we need to read through the writings of the prophets with an appreciation for God’s incredible master plan. It has taken thousands of years to unfold but His timing is perfect. It gives us a sense of eternity which will help us understand and endure the trials of our present day.

“Lord, I marvel at how You sovereignly oversee history, accommodating man’s choices, both good and bad. Your will is coming to pass, You will come again as promised, there is life beyond our time on earth, and Your Holy Spirit is available to me right now to help me live out my part of Your master plan!”

June 24 - Man of God

 Read today’s texts first: 2 Kings 11,12; 2 Chronicles 24; 1 Timothy 6

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

He who floats his boat on the tide of public opinion
will soon be shipwrecked.

Paul called his young protégé “Man of God” (6:11), while encouraging him to stand up against false teachers. It takes a real man to resist social pressure, be it from authority figures, peers, or those who serve under us. Scripture continually teaches and illustrates how we should be dependent on God; in fact, that is a sign of spiritual maturity. But that doesn’t mean we should be dependent on people or easily swayed by public opinion. Spiritual maturity often calls for us to go against the flow of people pressure, which isn’t always easy for a young man.

This gives us some context for the story of the young king, Joash. In some ways he was mature beyond his years, considering his dysfunctional (to say the least) family. After his father, King Ahaziah, died, his grandmother, Athaliah, proceeded to execute all her grandchildren so she could rule in her son’s place (not exactly a candidate for grandmother-of-the-year!). Fortunately Joash had a good aunt, Jehosheba, who protected him from Queen Athaliah, and a godly priest, Jehoiada, who instructed Joash throughout most of his reign: Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him (12:2). However, after Jehoiada died, Joash started to listen to the wrong people and completely went off the rails (24:17-25). He would be among the many Bible leaders who did not finish well.

While Timothy lived up to his “Man of God” title, Joash will be known as the “Boy King.” That may be mostly because he assumed the throne at age 7, but it could also be that he never quite grew into a “man.” Nor was he “of God.” He served God vicariously through Jehoiada, but he was really only serving people. That’s a critical distinction and a warning to all believers.

“Lord, my desire as a man is to obey You and You alone. While I hope I will always respect people and their opinions, I also hope they will never rule my life. I want to be known as a ‘Man of God’!”

June 23 - When We All Get to Heaven

 Read today’s texts first: 2 Kings 10; 2 Chronicles 22,23; 1 Timothy 5

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

If  we want to see how God’s judgment and mercy
come together, look to Jesus! 

If you’ve already read today’s passages you may be wondering where I found the inspiration for this title: “When We All Get To Heaven.” Forgive me, but it has more to do with a request from one of our residents than it does with today’s readings. Martha asked if we could sing this great hymn because she loves it, and because she longs for a better life in a better world. Well, after reading more about the sickening violence of pre-exilic Israel (“pre-exilic” means before they were taken into exile), I’m with Martha. In fact, I promised her we would sing her song in our next chapel!

In understanding God’s part in the violence of this era, we need to develop a perspective that embraces both God’s justice and His mercy. That’s not easy. Though we are created in His image, we are still far from understanding God’s ways. Our view is so finite, so limited to this world, this life, that we will never fully grasp his eternal plan. But in simple terms, God has the right to expect that His creation will honour Him and His commands. When we don’t obey the One who gave us life, we deserve and should expect death.

Often in history, the human condition deteriorated so much, God had to exact judgment. He intervened to postpone our eventual self-destruction, and to allow the time necessary for His plan of redemption. Throughout these times of judgment we see God’s mercy, especially when people responded with humility and repentance. In our New Testament reading we see His tender compassion for the widows, as one of many examples of a merciful God. Jesus was the clearest illustration of God’s judgment and mercy, in one moment clearing out the Temple money-changers with a whip and in another touching and healing unclean lepers.

“Lord, I am eternally grateful that Your judgment for me was poured out on Your Son, and that I have experienced first-hand Your great mercy. I do long for the day, though, when the time of judgment will be over and “we will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever!” (Psalms 89:1).

June 22 - Everything God Created Is Good!

 Read today’s texts first: 2 Kings 8,9; 2 Chronicles 21; 1 Timothy 4

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

God allows evil because real love requires free will.

“Everything God created is good!” It’s hard to reconcile these words from Paul’s inspired letter to Timothy (4:4) with the murderous corruption we read in the Old Testament. I had this discussion recently with the husband of one of our residents. His concern is a common one: “how can a good and loving God allow the innocent to suffer?”

While thinking about that, I started today’s readings from 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. It was not happy reading: wars (21:10), the cold-blooded murder of six brothers (21:4), vile disease (21:18), the assassination of three kings (8:12-15; 9:24-27), and a queen thrown out a window and devoured by street dogs (9:32-37). The most shocking part was reading how some of these events were predicted and possibly orchestrated by God. How can a good and loving God be involved in this kind of mayhem?

There’s a much better long answer but here is the short version: this kind of world was not God’s preferred plan. His initial creation was perfect: no sin, no disease, no death. His final creation will be similar, but even better. But this present world has been so contaminated by sin that even innocent people are affected. God allows it because love demands free will. Sometimes God has to judge sin when it happens to slow down our self-destructive ways, as we read today. However, if God decided to judge everyone who has ever rebelled against Him, we would all be dead. But He withheld His judgment from us, and poured it out instead on His own Son. That’s an incredibly good and loving God!

“Lord Jesus, what You did for us, for me, was far more loving than we deserve. And yet, I gratefully receive Your free gift of forgiveness and look forward to joining You in the perfect creation yet to come, where there is no more sin, no more disease, and no more death.”

June 21 - The Battle is the Lord’s

 Read today’s texts first: 2 Kings 6,7; 2 Chronicles 20; 1 Timothy 3

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

We are never out-numbered when God is on our side. 

Two of my favourite stories from the Old Testament are found in our readings today. At first I was torn as to which I would write about until I realized how the message from both is the same. The first involves four lepers going out for dinner, the second is a badly outnumbered army led by their worship team.

The Arameans were subjugated under Solomon, but when the kingdom split under his son Rehoboam, they pulled away and became a powerful enemy of Israel. Their language, Aramaic, would become the common language of northern Palestine and surrounding regions, and the language Jesus spoke.

Israel was starving to death because of their oppression, until Elijah asked God to intervene. The Arameans ran for the hills and abandoned their camps when they heard God’s special sound effects of a massive approaching army. Four desperate, almost suicidal lepers strolled into their empty camps and pigged out on Aramean delicacies. It’s a funny story of unlikely heroes who discovered first-hand how we are never out-numbered when God is on our side.

In the second story, Jehoshaphat was also out-numbered trying to protect Judah from a three nation alliance. Unlike most leaders, who abide by the “fake it until you make it” motto, Jehoshaphat was honest and transparent before His people and his God: For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. In response God spoke through Jahaziel: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s (20:12,15). Same God, different miracle: musicians instead of lepers, and instead of sound effects, confused allies who killed each other.

“Lord, so often I think I have to fight my own battles, but You challenge me with impossible odds so I learn to rely on You. When I do that, my response will be like Jehoshaphat’s worship team: Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”

June 20 - Missionary or Mercenary?

 Read today’s texts first: 2 Kings 4,5; Psalms 83; 1 Timothy 2

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

If we rely solely on our own resources
we can miss out on the miraculous!

Elisha got what he asked for, a double portion of what God had given his mentor, Elijah. At the time, it may have seemed self-serving, but, as we read about Elisha’s ministry, we know that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Like the widow’s oil, God could pour His blessing into Elisha knowing he would keep pouring it out for others (4:5,6).

The miracles he performed were easily marketable. He could have charged high fees and retired a very wealthy man. But we read of a prophet who relied on the generosity of others for food and shelter (4:8-10), who had to trust God to make a bad pot of stew edible for himself and his fellow prophets (4:38-41), and who took 20 donated barley loaves and miraculously fed 100 men (4:42-44). His life sounded very similar to the One who came to serve and give His life a ransom for all (2:6).

When Elisha healed Namaan he refused his gifts in return, despite having earned them and cultural protocol demanding he graciously accept them. Elisha had no interest in material things. He knew God would provide everything he needed, just as He had done for his mentor, Elijah. If you have your own resources you miss out on ravens delivering your breakfast and dinner (1 Kings 17:2-6), and angel-food cake (okay, bread) made by an actual angel (19:5-8). That’s why Elisha was so upset with his protégé, Gehazi, for going back for Namaan’s gifts, lying about his reasons, keeping them for himself, and then covering it up (5:20-27).

I made the same decision years ago about being a missionary, not a mercenary. I’ve never really been motivated by money and never demanded a higher salary in my 50 plus years of ministry. My wife and children have urged me to, and I know other ministers do, but I want to experience God’s miraculous provision. I haven’t been fed by ravens yet (I did accidentally kill a crow with my car recently – didn’t eat it though), but God has always provided more than I’ve needed. I may not have a big nest egg set aside for my declining years but I serve a big God!

“Lord, this verse and chorus from ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus’ says what I feel today: I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, precious Jesus, Saviour, friend; and I know that Thou art with me, wilt be with me to the end. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more!”

June 19 - Finishing Well

 Read today’s texts first: 2 Kings 1-3; Psalms 82; 1 Timothy 1

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

No matter how you may have faltered in your life to
this point, you can and you must finish strong.

It is an ongoing concern in churches and in theological schools. I used to talk about it almost every day when I was a pastor and Bible college president, preparing Christian leaders to “finish well!” The average throughout history tells us that 70% of leaders will not. My role then was preventative, trying to steer young leaders down the road of faithfulness and consistency. 

Well, it is even more of a concern in a seniors facility. Now, as a chaplain at Buchanan, my role is more redemptive, trying to help older leaders make needed adjustments in their final days on earth. My goal is to reassure these dear saints (the sinners too) that, no matter how they may have faltered during their life, they can still finish strong. It is the theme emerging from our readings today and it will be my message for an upcoming chapel service!

Contrast the kings of Israel with the prophets God sent to help them. Ahab’s life ended badly because he failed to listen to God. Then his son, Ahaziah, did the same thing. In today’s reading, he’s fallen and he can’t get up, literally, so he consults the non-god of Ekron. Word comes to him from Elijah that he will never get up again (his dad and the prophet Micaiah all over again!). “So he died” is his sad legacy (1:17). Compare his ignominious end with Elijah’s big finish. He ended his time on earth literally in a blaze of glory, or more specifically, in a chariot of fire!

Paul’s words to his young protégé sums it up well: Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith (1:18,19). May we all learn from the examples in Scripture, both good and bad, how to fight the good fight, holding on to our faith right to the end.

“Lord, my prayer in this assignment as chaplain is that I will become a model for others on how to finish well!”

June 18 - No Yes Men!

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18,19; Colossians 4

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Surround yourself with godly people who speak the truth even when you may not want to hear it.

I learned this lesson early on in my ministry and it has served me well: “say no to yes men!” (or “yes women” for that matter). Foursquare polity allows for leaders to lead, but that can be dangerous if we surround ourselves with people who always agree just to be agreeable. Leaders who look for those people are often insecure, arrogant, or, as in Ahab’s case, intractable.

Now on the flipside, I don’t look for disagreeable people, because I like to make decisions with full consensus. Making good group decisions requires servant-hearted leaders who have no personal agenda, care more for the good of others, and can clearly hear from God. Micaiah was just such a man, and Ahab wanted nothing to do with him: Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?” So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!”  (22:7,8).

It’s a funny story, if you don’t mind a violent ending - all the “yes men” prophets lining up to encourage the king, the prepping of Micaiah to make sure he doesn’t spoil the roll they’re on, Micaiah’s tongue-in-cheek prophesy, Ahab asking for the real truth, getting it and not liking it, ignoring him and going to war, disguising himself to avoid being a target, then getting shot by a random arrow between the plates of his armour, and, oh yeah, the dogs licking up his blood just like Elijah prophesied (another prophet Ahab hated!).

“Lord, it’s really not that funny when we become so afraid of the truth that we hide from it and from people who speak it. Help me to always surround myself with godly people who will tell me the truth even when I may not want to hear it.”

June 17 - Set Your Minds

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Kings 20,21; 2 Chronicles 17; Colossians 3

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Know God’s Word inside out
because that’s the way we are meant to live! 

As mentioned in yesterday’s journal, God now leads us from the inside out. Our spirit is filled with His Spirit and He shows us how to live. He directs our steps by His Word, which we have hidden in our hearts, and by the nudgings of His Spirit, a.k.a. His still, small voice. So then our spirit dictates how our mind thinks, what attitudes we assume, what words we speak, and what actions we perform with our bodies. We live in this order: spirit, soul, body. But when we lived for ourselves, we tended to live the other way: our body and its appetites dictated what our mind thought and how our heart felt. We lived from the outside in.

Paul is describing that contrast with the image of taking off our old self and putting on our new self (3:9,10). The renewing process involves setting our minds (3:3) or, more accurately, resetting our minds. When I have trouble with my computer, or any electronic device for that matter, my go-to problem-solving technique is pushing the reset button (or the good old “control, alt, delete” on my computer). My time in prayer and in reading God’s Word every day is my spiritual reboot.

Again, today’s parallel readings in the Old Testament illustrate the advantages of letting God direct our steps. Compare Jehoshaphat’s steady and peaceful reign with Ahab’s series of debacles. What a mess! When people ask you how the God of the Old Testament can be so ruthless, have them consider the culture of the day. Corruption, violence, and war was so ingrained that God’s justice required a heavy hand - an eye for an eye. Still His mercy shows up in astounding ways, most notably when Ahab repented (21:27-29). I was thinking, Ahab, really, you actually believe his sackcloth and ashes show. Well God did and God withheld the discipline he most definitely deserved. These moments hint at the merciful nature of God that we read about more often in the New Testament.

The point of these stories is the same as Paul’s message to the Colossians and to us: whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality (3:23-25). “Lord, message received. Today, I reset my mind on the things above - Your agenda is mine!”

June 16 - The Peace of Christ Rules

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Kings 17-19; Colossians 2

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

God’s still, small voice is better
than a concert with Earth, Wind & Fire! 

Again we see our NT reading illustrated by our OT reading. Paul is warning the Colossian church to ignore “unspiritual” false teachers who try to change behaviour from the outside in, rather than from the inside out (2:16-23). Adding human rules, or enforcing external disciplines, may modify our actions for the short term, but for the long-term, we must change the heart (parents often learn this the hard way). It’s the difference between being “conformed” and being “transformed” (Rom. 12:1). 

Paul is clear: Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence (2:23). If we sneak ahead to tomorrow’s reading (sorry, I’ve read ahead in the past so I know what’s coming), we’ll discover what does work: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts .... Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (3:15,16). Tuning in to God’s Spirit brings about transformation and lasting change.

Elijah learned this, even before it was possible for God’s Spirit to live inside of us. I love these stories of Elijah, the power prophet. He specialized in the spectacular, endless food during droughts, raising a widow’s son from the dead, taking on and taunting the 450 prophets of Baal, calling down fire from heaven, then making rain fall on command.

But when things didn’t go his way, Elijah, like Moses, was given to extremes, “Kill me now!” (Actually Moses said that; Elijah said “take my life” - 19:4). So because Elijah was like Moses (they have since become buddies - check out the transfiguration - Matt. 17:3), God told him to climb Mt. Horeb, which is the same as Mt. Sinai, where Moses had his power encounter with God.

But in this moment, God decides to give us a foreshadowing of the way He will eventually lead His people, from the inside out, through His still, small voice. For contrast, He starts with a concert of “Earth, Wind, and Fire:” the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice (19:11,12).

"Lord, while I sometimes wish for a power encounter with You, I know that I learn more about intimacy, trust, and lasting change by listening to Your still, small voice, whispering within my spirit.”

June 15 - If We Continue

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 15,16; Colossians 1

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

“The Lord is with you when you are with Him.” 

As we begin Paul’s letter to the church of Colossae, we are reminded of the power of Christ’s completed work, but also of the importance of our free will. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel (1:21-23). The words “if you continue” are determinative.

Our parallel readings in the Old Testament vividly illustrate this dichotomy. The Kings account gives us insight into Israel’s history with all its instability, king after king, each worse than the one before, from Basha, to Elah, to Zimri, to Omri, to Ahab, all within one chapter, just 12 years (from the end of Basha’s reign to the beginning of Ahab’s, with some overlap).  The catch phrase we see after each one is he did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him did (16:30).

Meanwhile, in 2 Chronicles, we read about Judah’s history during this upheaval in Israel. One king, Asa, who followed God closely for most of his life, ruled peacefully for 36 years. Azariah the prophet told Asa, The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you (15:2). True to his promise, God blessed Asa and all of Judah for the full 36 years he sought God’s will.

But for the last five years of his reign he ignored God, turning instead to a heathen king for protection (16:7,8). He didn’t even turn back to God when he contracted a severe foot disease (16:12). Asa is a classic example of a man who was godly for most of his life, but in the later stages did not finish well. 

“Lord, Your Word says that the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him (16:9). I want that to be said of me right up to the end of my life here on earth!”

June 14 - I Can Do It!

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 13,14; Philippians 4

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The true sign of maturity is not self-sufficiency
but realizing our sufficiency is in God. 

We try to teach our children and their children how to be self-sufficient. That’s a good thing, right? Well it is to a point. I remember cleaning the house, top to bottom, with three young grand kids who were trying to help. Now that’s a classic case of counter-productivity, or more accurately, an exercise in futility! We followed behind them as they cleaned, removing their fingerprints from everything they touched. We also reminded ourselves, although it is more work for us, they are learning to do things for themselves.

The problem is, we also need to teach them how to be dependent on God, at least for the important things in life. They will still have to clean their own bedrooms and eventually their own houses, but for cleaning up their neighbourhoods and their own hearts, they will always need God’s help. It’s good to teach our kids and grand kids to work, pay and play, but even better to pray. And to read their Bibles. Philippians 4:13 is worth teaching them. It has that important “I can do all things” theme that we see in so many kid’s books and TV shows, but with an important addendum: “through Christ who strengthens me!”

Someone should have taught this to Jeroboam. He was such an accomplished military commander that he thought he no longer needed God’s help. When Abijah came at him with half the troops he had and less than half his experience, he was confident they would prevail. In fact, he even threw in the tried and true pincer movement. He must have been laughing at Abijah’s incompetence, allowing his meager army to be surrounded. But he forgot to account for the “God who strengthens them” part.

And when Judah looked around, to their surprise the battle line was at both front and rear; and they cried out to the Lord, and the priests sounded the trumpets. Then the men of Judah gave a shout; and as the men of Judah shouted, it happened that God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah (13:14,15).

“Lord, I can do it, but only with Your help. The true sign of maturity is not self-sufficiency but realizing my sufficiency is in You.”

June 13 - Those Who Are Mature

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Kings 13,14; 2 Chronicles 12; Philippians 3

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The world thinks of maturity as realizing our
independence and self-sufficiency.
The opposite is true in God’s Kingdom. 

The mark of maturity is humility. Younger, or older but immature, leaders tend to overcompensate for their insecurities.  Like Rehoboam and Jeroboam, they proudly assert themselves without regard or respect for their followers. We see the same negative traits in the false teachers Paul exposes in his letter to the Philippians (3:2,18-20). But the example of Paul in chapter 3 (4-17), and, better yet, the example of Jesus in chapter 2 (1-11), shows us how mature leaders will model genuine humility. The more we mature, the more humble dependence on God will define our life and our leadership.

Unfortunately, an immature, self-centered leader will hurt more than themselves. We can see how Jeroboam brought his entire kingdom, the ten northern tribes of Israel, under oppression because of his rash decision to create idols: And He will give Israel up because of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit (14:16).

The same happened to Judah under Rehoboam: This is what the Lord says, “You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you to Shishak”. The one difference was repentance. Rehoboam and his leaders realized their mistakes: The leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is just.” When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance.” (12:6,7).

The world thinks of maturity as realizing our independence and self-sufficiency. The opposite is true in God’s Kingdom. Real maturity isn’t evident until there is complete dependence on God and an unwavering reliance on God’s sufficiency. “Lord, I have finally learned how insufficient I am on my own. As an official senior citizen, I may be finally growing up!”

June 12 - Selfish Ambition

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 10,11; Philippians 2

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
 History will only stop repeating itself

when we learn from the mistakes of others. 

If only Rehoboam could have read Philippians 2, or at least had seen the example of Jesus, before splitting God’s chosen people into two competing nations. But wait, we have the completed Bible today and we do the same thing as Rehoboam, over and over again. Pastors, exercising selfish ambition to grow bigger and better ministries, are splitting churches on a daily basis around the world. The solution is so simple, and yet it seems so difficult for immature leaders.

Rehoboam’s first mistake was choosing to listen to the younger leaders instead of experienced elders. We now have a culture that embraces young leaders, with their new ideas and fresh approaches for reaching a changing world. That is a good thing! What is bad is marginalizing the past generation of leaders, dismissing their experience as irrelevant. Old guys like me have learned some invaluable lessons, usually the hard way. History will only stop repeating itself when we learn from the mistakes of others.

His second mistake was exacting sacrifice from his subjects without leading by example. It’s like politicians who promise fiscal restraint and then vote themselves a pay raise as soon as they are elected. And they wonder why they can’t get re-elected! Imagine how people would respond to a politician or pastor who leads the way in reducing spending by taking a personal cut in pay. Leaders who are willing to sacrifice and serve will earn the undying loyalty of their followers.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus (2:3-5).

“Lord, You led us all by Your example of humble service. You, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made [Yourself] nothing, taking the very nature of a servant (2:6,7). I should do no less.”

June 11 - Love Songs

 Read today’s texts first: Song of Solomon 5-8; Philippians 1

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

God created sex, made it pleasurable
and called the marriage bed undefiled. 

I’m not naturally inclined towards poetry. I do like words, so I can rip a rhyme when called upon, but I have trouble understanding or appreciating modern prose with no rhythm or rhyme. The poetry of Solomon’s day is even farther outside my comfort zone. The images seem strange, as you can see from the attached drawing based on Solomon’s descriptions of his “beautiful wife,” Abishag. I don’t think I’ll include any of these verses in my anniversary card to Jan. It’s hard to believe Solomon was a smooth-talking ladies’ man!

But what is worthwhile noting from Song of Solomon is its unique theme. This book’s inclusion in the biblical canon brings spiritual support to the beauty and purity of married love. Some think that Christianity condemns sex and sees it as a necessary evil only for the purposes of procreation. But God created sex, He made it pleasurable, and He called the marriage bed undefiled (Heb. 13:4). Solomon’s graphic description of his lover and their love-making helps us appreciate our spouses and the deep intimacy that can only be found in a godly marriage. Now that’s something I can write in my wife’s card.

“Lord, thank You for the gift of marriage in general and, in particular, my wonderful marriage to Jan.

 I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine” (6:3).

June 10 - Serving the Lord

 Read today’s texts first: Songs of Solomon 1-4; Ephesians 6

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

When what we do is for the Lord,
every task in our day takes on significance. 

The closing words of Ephesians summarizes our calling as believers:  Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men (6:7). The word “vocation” (4:1 KJV) refers to a calling (same root as “vocal”). It can apply to any career, from presidents to pastors to party planners to pipe-fitters. Because you are working for God, not just men, your duties go far beyond planning parties or fitting pipes. You are on assignment as a representative of God and His Kingdom wherever and with whomever you work!

When we choose to live a life worthy of the calling you’ve received (4:1 NIV) we will experience the promises that fill this God-inspired letter. We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing, chosen to be holy and blameless, predestined to be adopted, redeemed by His blood, forgiven, lavished with grace, given wisdom and understanding, made aware of the mystery of his will, chosen according to his plan, and marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit - and that’s just the first half of chapter one.

I love my job. It’s very different from my work during the previous 40 years, but it feels as meaningful as anything I’ve ever done. When what we do is for the Lord, every task in our day takes on significance. Our life stands in stark contrast to the meaninglessness of a life lived without God, described by Solomon in the book we just finished. When we serve God instead of men, He gets involved in our daily routine. The ordinary takes on extraordinary proportions.

Recently we had one of those moments. A woman was sent to our facility from a hospital without any family history that we could confirm. While her words sounded coherent, her medical condition made it difficult for her and for us to separate the truth from her imagination. After prayer with her and each other, a random person walked in, for a completely unrelated reason. “Coincidentally” while touring our facility, she saw the woman and exclaimed, “that's my sister!” These miraculous moments happen often when we work for God!

“Lord, I love working for You. You are my Lord, my God, and my Boss!”