Daily Biblical Devotionals

[Need2Know]

May 04, 2012

Lacking Leadhership

To Titus, a true son in our common faith.... For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.... Titus 1:4-5 (NKJV)

The church at Crete had its share of challenges. For starters, it had a very immoral reputation (Titus 1:12-13). To make matters worse, an unusually large amount of false teachers plagued this particular region (Titus 1:10-11). These factors took their toll on the congregations at Crete, which prompted Paul to station Titus there with the task of setting things in order.

How was he supposed to meet this goal? The first order of business in restoring order was to appoint elders. Notice that Titus wasn't expected to run around and fix every problem on his own but was called to raise up spiritual leaders. There's an inseparable connection between leadership and order. Where there is strong leadership, there will also be a strong sense of order. Leaders are needed to identify problems, understand the best way to correct them, and maintain a presence that prevents problems from popping up again. No leadership, no order.

Many times our lives seem to be a bit out of order, and we can't figure out why. We expend every effort to stay ahead, yet we still feel like we're falling behind. Nothing works the way we want it to, and our frustrations mount. May I submit that a stronger sense of the Lord's leadership is needed in these moments? A deeper sense of His leading presence is the only thing that can correct both external and internal problems.

Sadly, we're the ones who limit His leadership by not submitting and surrendering to Him. Often we'd rather go about our day calling the shots. As a result, our lives are "out-of-order." Let's avoid this by inviting and yielding to the Lord's leadership in our hearts. For where there's strong leadership, order is sure to follow.

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See Yourself as a Steward

For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God.... Titus 1:7 (NKJV)

I appreciate the practicality of God's Word. It's not just theoretical but actually provides guidance that works in the real world. We see a great example of this when Paul advised Titus on the people whom he should choose as leaders in the church. The first quality Paul listed was that a leader must be a steward of God.

We don't use the word steward very much these days. The word itself is a combination of the words house and administrator. A steward was entrusted with making sure a household was run according to the owner's wishes. All purchases pertaining to home life went through the steward. Yet, at the end of the day, the steward was not the owner. He was simply a servant who had been trusted to make decisions on behalf of his master. Every Christian is essentially a steward because God owns everything and graciously lends to us all that we have (Psalm 24:1).

Paul wanted Titus to promote men who had a strong grasp of this understanding. Here's why: When people see themselves as stewards and not owners, they're going to be all the more responsible with their behavior. They're going to think twice before making decisions, because they know they're eventually going to give an account to their Master. I'm not just referring to financial decisions, for stewardship is about a lot more than money. It also includes the faithful distribution of the eternal truths of God's Word:

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 1 Corinthians 4:1 (NKJV)

When a pastor sees himself as a steward, he'll be faithful to share God's Word. But bear in mind that this doesn't just apply to the pastoral position; it holds true for each and every Christian. We all need to see ourselves as stewards who have been entrusted with the responsibility of sharing the Good News.

[Need2Know]

See Yourself as a Steward

For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God.... Titus 1:7 (NKJV)

I appreciate the practicality of God's Word. It's not just theoretical but actually provides guidance that works in the real world. We see a great example of this when Paul advised Titus on the people whom he should choose as leaders in the church. The first quality Paul listed was that a leader must be a steward of God.

We don't use the word steward very much these days. The word itself is a combination of the words house and administrator. A steward was entrusted with making sure a household was run according to the owner's wishes. All purchases pertaining to home life went through the steward. Yet, at the end of the day, the steward was not the owner. He was simply a servant who had been trusted to make decisions on behalf of his master. Every Christian is essentially a steward because God owns everything and graciously lends to us all that we have (Psalm 24:1).

Paul wanted Titus to promote men who had a strong grasp of this understanding. Here's why: When people see themselves as stewards and not owners, they're going to be all the more responsible with their behavior. They're going to think twice before making decisions, because they know they're eventually going to give an account to their Master. I'm not just referring to financial decisions, for stewardship is about a lot more than money. It also includes the faithful distribution of the eternal truths of God's Word:

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 1 Corinthians 4:1 (NKJV)

When a pastor sees himself as a steward, he'll be faithful to share God's Word. But bear in mind that this doesn't just apply to the pastoral position; it holds true for each and every Christian. We all need to see ourselves as stewards who have been entrusted with the responsibility of sharing the Good News.

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Approachable People

For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered.... Titus 1:7 (NKJV)

As Paul continued with his list of pastoral prerequisites, he wrote that a bishop mustn't be quick-tempered. A more contemporary way of putting this would be that a pastor shouldn't have a short fuse. He shouldn't be the sort of person who's prone to being angered easily but should have a high tolerance for hassles and difficulties. Something is spiritually "off" when a minister constantly loses his composure, because an angry attitude doesn't accomplish God's righteousness:

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20 (NKJV)

This doesn't mean that a pastor should never be angry. In fact, the Bible acknowledges there are certain situations where anger (without sin) is an appropriate response (Ephesians 4:26). But Paul was talking about something different here. He was referring to the kind of anger that defines a person's character. The sad effect is that people no longer feel the freedom to approach their pastor when they should. I can't ask a question like that because he'll chew me up and spit me out! I can't confess that sin because I'll get blasted. A pastor ought to address and confront sin when necessary, but he should also be approachable.

Jesus was approachable. People weren't afraid He'd "go ballistic" on them when it came to their sins. In fact, there were several occasions when people felt the freedom to interrupt Him with their problems (John 4:47; Mark 7:25; Matthew 17:14; Luke 18:38). We're also told that parents were comfortable with Jesus handling their little children (Matthew 19:13). None of this would have happened if Jesus had the reputation of being a hot-tempered man.

Let's take it one step further and ask ourselves whether we're quick tempered. But Pastor Bob, I'm not planning on being a pastor anytime soon. It doesn't matter. All of us, as Christians, are called to walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6). Our Lord wasn't easily angered but instead projected a sense of approachability and accessibility, and so should we.

[Need2Know]

Avoiding Alcohol

For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine.... Titus 1:7 (NKJV)

Some subjects are just as controversial today as they were when the Bible was written, and we have one before us now. It's the age-old question about alcohol. Can a Christian have an occasional drink? I mean, there's nothing in the Bible that says we can't, right? It's true; there isn't a single verse prohibiting alcohol. But the preceding prescription for a pastor says that he must not be given to wine. In other words, alcohol isn't on the mind of a minister because he understands that it costs more than it's worth.

What's the cost? Consider the following instructions in the book of Romans:

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way. Romans 14:12-13 (NKJV)

Roughly twenty percent of all Americans are either addicted to or live with someone addicted to alcohol. Think that through when it comes to ordering an occasional drink. It means there's a one in five chance of either causing someone to stumble in their addiction to alcohol or reminding someone of a loved one's painful problem. At some point, all Christians (not just pastors) need to come to their senses and see that alcohol just isn't worth it.

As if this weren't reason enough, 1 Corinthians points out the hazard in exercising those freedoms that have the potential to enslave us:

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12 (NKJV)

God knows we have the potential to become bound by alcohol. To spare us from this painful problem, He warns us against becoming enslaved by something we're technically free to enjoy. It just isn't worth the possibility of being brought into bondage. May we take these warnings to heart and avoid alcohol for the sake of others and ourselves.

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A Sense Of Concern

Statistics are tricky. While numbers give us information, sometimes they can also desensitize us to the people those numbers represent. This hit me recently as I read a statistic: Every year 15 million people die from hunger. That’s chilling, and for those of us who live in cultures of plenty, it’s hard to fathom. In 2008, nearly 9 million children died before their fifth birthday, with a third of those deaths related to hunger. These are staggering numbers, but they are much more than numbers. They are individuals loved by God.

We can show the Father’s heart of love by responding to people’s physical needs. Solomon wrote, “He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy” (Prov. 14:31). We can show mercy to the needy by volunteering at a soup kitchen, assisting in a job search, financially supporting the drilling of wells in places in need of fresh water, distributing food in poverty-stricken regions, teaching a trade, or providing lunches for school children.

Accepting this responsibility honors the Father and His concern for all. And those who are starving might be better able to hear the message of the cross if their stomachs aren’t growling.

If God ordained to giveOne gift for all my days,I’d want the way He lovesTo permeate my ways. —VerwayThe more we understand God’s love for us the more love we’ll show to others.

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The Old Windmill

A man who grew up on a ranch in West Texas tells about a rickety, old windmill that stood alongside his family’s barn and pumped water to their place. It was the only source of water for miles.

In a strong wind the windmill worked well, but in a light breeze it wouldn’t turn. It required manually turning the vane until the fan faced directly into the wind. Only when properly positioned did the windmill supply water to the ranch.

I think of that story when I meet with pastors from small churches in remote areas. Many feel isolated and unsupported—caregivers for whom no one seems to care. As a consequence, they grow weary and struggle to bring life-giving water to their flock. I like to tell them about the old windmill and our need to daily reposition ourselves—to intentionally turn toward the Lord and His Word and to drink deeply from Him who is the source of living water.

What’s true for pastors is true for all. Service for God flows from within, outward. Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). It’s when God speaks to our depths that we are able to touch the lives of others. To refresh others, let’s return to the Source of life regularly.

When our hearts grow weary,When our spirits dim,He will go before us,Leave it all to Him. —Anon.When you’re weary in life’s struggles, find strength in the Lord.

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Seeing Near and Far

Having two healthy eyes is not enough to see clearly. I know this from experience. After a series of eye surgeries for a torn retina, both eyes could see well but they refused to cooperate with each other. One eye saw things far away and the other saw things close up. But instead of working together, they fought for supremacy. Until I could get new prescription glasses 3 months later, my eyes remained unfocused.

Something similar happens in our view of God. Some people focus better on God when they see Him as “close up”—when they think of Him as intimately present in their daily life. Other Christians see God more clearly as “far away” or far beyond anything we can imagine, ruling the universe in power and majesty.

While people disagree about which view is best, the Bible works like a prescription lens helping us to see that both are correct. King David presents both views in Psalm 145: “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him” (v.18) and “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable” (v.3).

Thankfully, our Father in heaven is near to hear our prayers yet so far above us in power that He can meet every need.

Lord, You’re the high and lofty One,Yet close enough to hear our voice;You’re powerful, yet personal;Your love for us makes us rejoice. — God is big enough to care for the smallest needs.

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Courageous Conversation

Is it possible that technological advances in communication have left us unable to confront people properly? After all, employers can now send layoff notices via e-mail. And people can criticize others on Facebook and Twitter instead of talking face to face. Perhaps it might be better to put all that aside and emulate how Paul communicated with Peter when they had a disagreement.

Paul had to confront Peter for compromising grace (Gal. 2:11-16). Peter had been fellowshiping with Gentiles, but when the Judaizers arrived (who believed that sinners are saved through Jesus plus keeping the law of Moses), Peter separated himself from the Gentiles. He ostracized them while professing to be one with them. Seeing this hypocrisy, Paul, in love and with passion, confronted Peter face to face for cowering to a legalistic system that was powerless to change lives. He vigorously reminded Peter that grace leads to freedom from sin’s slavery and to obedience to God.

Having courageous conversations with fellow Christians can be difficult, but they will promote purity and unity. We can carry out our responsibility to one another to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) by walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, give us courage to confront Believers who have strayed;And then with gentleness restore by coming to their aid. — A well-chosen word can speak volumes.

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A Place For You

A couple who brought their elderly aunt to live with them were concerned that she would not feel at home. So they transformed a room in their house into an exact replica of her bedroom at the home she left behind. When their aunt arrived, her furniture, wall hangings, and other favorite things felt like a special “Welcome home!” to her.

In John 13:36–14:4, we read that at the Last Supper Jesus spoke to His disciples and tried to prepare them for His death. When Simon Peter asked, “Where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward” (13:36). Jesus was still speaking directly to Peter (and also meant it for all of His followers) when He said, “In My Father’s house are many mansions [rooms]; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (14:2-3).

Heaven is a family gathering of believers from every tribe and nation, but it is also our Father’s house—and in that house He is preparing a room just for you.

When you arrive in heaven and Jesus opens the door, you’ll know you’re home.

I have a home in heaven above
From sin and sorrow free
A mansion which eternal love
Designed and formed for me.
—Bennett

For the Christian, heaven is spelled H-O-M-E.

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Not What I Planned

This isn’t the way I expected my life to be. I wanted to marry at 19, have a half-dozen children, and settle into life as a wife and mother. But instead I went to work, married in my forties, and never had children. For a number of years I was hopeful that Psalm 37:4 might be for me a God-guaranteed promise: “He shall give you the desires of your heart.”

But God doesn’t always “bring it to pass” (v.5), and unmet desires stir up occasional sadness. Like mine, your life may have turned out differently than you planned. A few thoughts from Psalm 37 may be helpful (even though the psalm is primarily about comparing ourselves to the wicked).

We learn from verse 4 that unfulfilled desires don’t have to take the joy out of life. As we get to know God’s heart, He becomes our joy.

“Commit your way to the Lord” (v.5). The word commit means “to roll.” Bible teacher Herbert Lockyear, Sr., says, “‘Roll thy way upon the Lord,’ as one who lays upon the shoulders of one stronger than himself a burden which he is not able to bear.”

“Trust also in Him” (v.5). When we confidently entrust everything to God, we can “rest in the Lord” (v.7), for He is bringing about His best for our lives.

As I walk along life’s pathway,Though the way I cannot see,I shall follow in His footsteps,For He has a plan for me. —Thiesen

A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. —Proverbs 16:9

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Pat’s first job was working on the night crew at a grocery store. After closing time, he and the other employees stocked the shelves. Pat’s boss had instructed them to always turn the soup cans forward so that the label could be read easily. But he had gone a little further by saying, “Make sure that they’re facing forward—three cans back.” One night as Pat was arranging the shelves, his co-workers began to scoff, “Just make sure the front can is turned the right way. Who’s gonna know?”

It was a moment of decision for the teenager. Should he obey what his boss had asked him to do, or just do what was easy?

We’ve all been in similar situations where we’ve had to make a choice. The apostle Paul encouraged his fellow believers to be obedient even when no one was watching: “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God” (Col. 3:22).

Doing the right thing should not be dependent on whether our employer is around or if anyone else is watching. It’s not always easy or convenient to be obedient. But it’s right.

Remember, “to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

Lord, help me to follow Jesus,To obey Him day by day,To be His faithful disciple

And please Him in every way. —Fitzhugh

Our character is measured by what we do when no one is looking.

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FEAR NOT

My wife became seriously ill during her pregnancy with our second child. As the doctors struggled to find the problem, she continued to grow weaker—dangerously so.

Watching her suffer was a helpless and horrible feeling for me, and there were days when it felt as if God were not hearing our prayers. One Sunday, while I was looking for comfort from Scripture, my eyes landed on the first verse in Isaiah 43.

“Fear not,” it begins, and ends with “you are Mine.” Instantly, the Holy Spirit made the words personal. The intimate way God addresses Israel reminded me of His always-present attention to us too: “When you pass through the waters . . . through the rivers . . . through the fire” (v.2). Each phrase rose up in crescendo, from the pages to my heart.

Our comfort in that hour came not from promises of healing or miracles, but from knowing we were never alone. We had many other frightening times, including just after Ethan’s birth, when it looked as if both he and Cheryl would be lost. But God had used His words to comfort us and prepare us for those harder moments!

Let these words be a reminder to you that you are never alone.

At times our fears may loom so large,We long for proof that God is near;
It’s then our Father says to us,“Have faith, My child, and do not fear.” —D. De Haan

Never forget in the darkness, what you know to be true in the light.

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TAKING RISKS

In his book Stuntman! My Car-Crashing, Plane-Jumping, Bone-Breaking, Death-Defying Hollywood Life, Hal Needham reflects on taking risks. Needham has slugged it out in fist fights, raced cars at high speed, walked on wings of airborne planes, fallen off horses, and has even been set on fire! He risked his life to entertain film audiences and to distinguish himself as a top Hollywood stuntman.

Paul and Barnabas were also “men who have risked their lives” (Acts 15:26). But their motivation was far different. Their goal was to exalt Christ through the preaching of the gospel. As a missionary in the Roman Empire, Paul faced hazards that resulted in shipwrecks, beatings, persecution, and imprisonment—just to name a few (2 Cor. 11:22-30). But Paul was more than willing to take these risks to make Christ known.

Many believers take risks to spread Jesus’ good news. But fear of rejection causes others to remain silent. Have you been passively sitting on the sidelines ignoring opportunities to share the gospel? God has provided His Spirit to empower you (Acts 1:8) and His Word to make the message clear (Rom. 1:16). Ask God for the courage to speak up and witness for the Savior. Taking the risk will be well worth it.

Will you be bold in your witnessBy giving lost sinners God’s Word?Jesus will honor your service,And sinners will surely be stirred. —Bosch

The rewards of witnessing are well worth the risks.

[Need2Know]

COVERUP STINKS

The smell at an overflowing garbage landfill site became a growing public concern. So workers installed high-pressured deodorant guns to counteract the smell. The cannons could spray several gallons of fragrance a minute over a distance of up to 50 yards across the mounds of putrefying garbage. However, no matter how many gallons of deodorant are sprayed to mask the odorous rubbish, the fragrance will serve only as a coverup until the source of the stench is removed.

King David tried a coverup as well. After his adultery with Bathsheba, he attempted to use silence, deceit, and piety to mask his moral failures (2 Sam. 11–12). In Psalm 32 he talks about experiencing the intense convicting hand of God when he remained silent (vv.3-4). Unable to withstand the conviction any longer, David uncovered his sin by acknowledging, confessing, and repenting of it (v.5). He no longer needed to cover it because God forgave him.

It’s futile to try to hide our sin. The stench of our disobedience will seep through whatever we use to try to cover it. Let’s acknowledge to God the rubbish in our hearts and experience the fresh cleansing of His grace and forgiveness.

Father, I know that I cannot hide my sins from You
for You know what’s in my heart. I confess them
now to You. Cleanse me, forgive me, and help
me to make a brand-new start. Amen.

Own up to your sin and experience the joy of confession.

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CONVERSION

Before my husband and I travel, we go to the bank and trade in our US dollars for the currency of the country we’ll be visiting. We do this so we can pay for expenses while we’re away from home.

When we become Christians, another kind of exchange takes place. Our lives are like currency that we convert from one medium to another. We trade our old life for a new one so that we can begin “spending” ourselves in a different kingdom. Instead of spending ourselves for the causes of this world, we are able to start spending ourselves for the cause of Christ.

The apostle Paul is a good example of this difference. After his dramatic conversion on the way to Damascus (Acts 9), he began spending his life in a dramatically different way. Instead of pursuing Christians to imprison and kill them, he began pursuing non-Christians to convert them. Then he spent the rest of his life for their welfare. He wrote to the church at Corinth, “I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls” (2 Cor. 12:15). Everything he did was for the edification of his spiritual children (vv.14,19).

Conversion is far more than just changing our final destination. It’s changing the way we spend each day of our lives.

Lord, help me to spend myself on what will last,not on what will fade away one day.
I give my life to You that I might spend and be spent
for others and Your will. Amen.

Conversion takes only a moment—transformation takes a lifetime.

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PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Back in the 1930s, my childhood home was loving and happy, but my parents were often away. On those occasions, the center of warmth in our home was the kitchen and our tiny, joyous housekeeper named Annie.

I spent many hours with Annie, sitting at our kitchen table reading books or playing with toys and listening to her sing and hum spirituals and hymns. From her heart sprang a continual flow of wisdom, cheerfulness, and song.

One morning, with childish exuberance, I used a racial slur I had heard. “Oh my, no,” she said, and then proceeded to pour out her heart in a gentle lecture on the harm and hurt in that, accompanied by a terrible sadness in her eyes. I never used that word again.

I learned that we cause unfathomable sorrow when we dishonor and debase others through bigotry. Every human being is created in the image of God—more like God than any other creature and worthy of honor. To demean that image is to wound another human being at the deepest level.

There is but one race: the human race. God “has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth” (Acts 17:26). We are of the same family, made to be treasured and cherished by one another.

Of all creation’s treasures rare,
Not one compares in worth with man,
In God’s own image he was madeTo fill a place in
His great plan. —D. De Haan

God desires that we show respect to all people, because everyone bears His image.

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GOD'S WHEELCHAIR

Jean Driscoll is a remarkable athlete. She has won the Boston Marathon eight times. She has also participated in four Paralympic Games and won five gold medals. Born with spina bifida, Jean competes in a wheelchair.

One of Driscoll’s favorite Bible verses is Daniel 7:9, “The Ancient of Days was seated . . . . His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire.” Seeing a connection between Daniel’s vision of God and her own situation, she is able to pass along words of encouragement to others. “Anytime I’ve had an opportunity to talk with people who use wheelchairs and feel bad about being in a chair, I tell them, ‘Not only are you made in the image of God, but your wheelchair is made in the image of His throne!’”

Daniel’s vision, of course, doesn’t portray God as being impaired in motion. In fact, some see God’s “wheelchair” as a symbol of a just God sovereignly moving within human affairs. Other passages speak of God’s providence providing help to those who believe (Prov. 3:25-26; Matt. 20:29-34; Eph. 1:11).

Jean Driscoll’s faith in God has helped her triumph over personal challenges. We too can be confident that the high and holy One is near and ready to help us if only we ask (Ps. 46).

He cannot fail, your faithful God;
He’ll guard you with His mighty power;
Then fear no ill though troubles rise,
His help is sure from hour to hour. — Bosch

With God behind you and His arms beneath you, you can face whatever lies ahead of you. — Ward

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FAULTY THINKING

Four people—a pilot, a professor, a pastor, and a hiker—were flying in a small plane when the engines died. The pilot said, “There are only three parachutes. Since this is my plane, I’m taking one of them.” He put it on and jumped out. The professor said, “I’m brilliant and the world needs me, so I’m taking a parachute,” and he jumped out.

Then the pastor told the hiker, “I don’t want to be selfish, so you take the last parachute.” The hiker replied, “There are still two left, so we can each have one. The professor jumped out with my backpack instead of the parachute!” Though the professor thought he would land safely, his assurance was based on faulty thinking.

Some people have an assurance of salvation based on faulty thinking. They believe that church attendance, baptism, or just being good will gain them approval from God. But our thinking is faulty if it isn’t based on what God says in His Word. God says that “all have sinned” and that we are His enemies. But through the death and resurrection of His Son, we can be made right with God (Rom. 3:23; 5:8-10). By faith in what Christ has done, we can have peace with God (5:1) and the assurance of eternal life in heaven.

Do you believe it? Your eternity is at stake. Don’t trust faulty thinking but put your faith in Christ.

I am trusting You, Lord Jesus—Trusting only You;
Trusting You for full salvation,
Great and free. —Havergal

If we could earn our salvation, Christ would not have died to provide it.

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WINNING AND LOSING

The Masters Tournament is one of the most prestigious in professional golf. In 2009, Kenny Perry placed second after leading during the final round. Writing in The New York Times, Bill Pennington described Perry as “disappointed but not despondent” after the loss. “I’ll look back on it occasionally and wonder what I might have done differently, but I won’t dwell on it,” Perry said. “If this is the worst thing that happens in my life, I’ve got it pretty good. I won’t let it dog me. There are so many other things in life that matter more . . . . I’ll go home tonight with my family and we’ll have fun.”

The ability to look beyond our disappointments is essential for followers of Christ. Our focus determines how we face the victories and defeats in life. “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1-2). This way of thinking looks to Christ, rather than our achievements, for significance and validation. We seek Him, not success.

When we strive for excellence and give our best effort, losing hurts, but it doesn’t have to harm us. The key is where we set our minds and hearts.

Lord, thank You that You are the one who measures
how we’ve done in life and determines
whether we’ve been successful.
Help us to keep thatfocus even in disappointments.

When Christ is the center of your focus, everything else comes into proper perspective.

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Just This Once

As a boy, I used to ride a go-cart that was steered with a rope. On one occasion, as I propelled my way down the driveway, my parents’ warning came to mind: “Always look up and down the street for cars.” But I rationalized: It’s okay not to do that just this once. Then I heard the sound of screeching tires as a car came to an abrupt stop to avoid hitting me. Thinking I could break my parents’ rule nearly cost me my life.

The Bible has many examples of those who knew better but who chose to break God’s rules. From boyhood, David had meditated on the law of God while he tended his sheep. He knew that the seventh commandment condemned adultery, yet when he saw a beautiful woman bathing he used his royal power to take the wife of Uriah for his own. This sin resulted in terrible consequences (2 Sam. 11–12).

The psalmist wrote: “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins” (Ps. 19:13). Have you felt tempted to do something “just this once” even though you knew it was wrong? Glancing at Internet pornography, “borrowing” money from an account at work, or stretching the truth may each seem like an isolated activity but can lead to terrible consequences. With God’s help, turn from sin and find His way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13).

Prone to wander—Lord, I feel it;
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above. —Robinson

Temptations will knock at your door; don’t ask them to stay for dinner!

[Need2Know]

Uncontrollable Unexpected

Life is full of surprises—some of which take life in unwelcome directions. I still remember the shockwave that hit our family several decades ago when my father lost his job through no fault of his own. With a house full of kids to feed, it was a jarring blow. But as certainly as Dad’s job loss was beyond his control and unexpected, he still knew he could trust God for his future.

As Jesus’ followers, we must recognize that there are things in life that are the “uncontrollable unexpected,” as I call them. To help us in those moments, James 4:13-15 offers this wisdom: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. . . . Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ ” The people to whom James was writing were making plans while excluding God’s prerogative to direct their lives.

Is it wrong to plan for the future? Of course not. It is unwise, however, to forget that God may allow some “uncontrollable unexpected” events as He sees fit. Ultimately, all that happens is for the best—even when it’s hard to see. We must trust Him and His plans for our future.

I know who holds the future,
And I know who holds my hand;
With God things don’t just happen
Everything by Him is planned.
— A. Smith

We may not know what the future holds, but we can trust the One who holds the future.

[Need2Know]

A Circle of Friends

Many high school students with autism or Down syndrome feel excluded and ignored. They often eat alone in a crowded cafeteria because other students don’t know how to relate to them or simply don’t care. To address this need, speech therapist Barbara Palilis began “Circle of Friends”—a program that pairs students with disabilities with nondisabled peers for lunch dates and social activities. Through this outreach, special-needs students and those nondisabled peers who befriend them continue to be enriched and changed through the gift of acceptance, friendship, and understanding.

Being included is at the heart of the gospel of Christ. “God, who is rich in mercy, . . . even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Eph. 2:4-5). Through faith in Christ, we “who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (v.13).

Our privileged place as members of the “household of God” (v.19) should give us eyes to see and hearts to care for those around us who are ignored and alone. If each of us would reach out in caring friendship to one person today, what a difference it would make for us all.

I needed help. Someone came alongside,
Sent by our Savior to care and to guide.
I now help you. We know that He is there,
Loving us both, and extending His care.
—Verway

Reach out in friendship and encourage the lonely; energize the weary.

[Need2Know]

Peacocks And Their Kin

Male peacocks are resplendent creatures with iridescent blue-green plumage and elongated trains tipped with “eyes” colored in hues of gold, red, and blue. They are strikingly beautiful birds, but they have ugly feet!

To be honest, most of us have some type of physical limitation. It may be something we’ve borne all our lives or one we’ve recently acquired.

Paul described his deficiency as a “thorn in the flesh” that kept him humble (2 Cor. 12:7-9). Three times he asked the Lord to remove it, probably thinking that he could then serve God better. But the Lord assured him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul replied, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

One of the ironies of faith is that God often chooses us to accomplish His most important tasks despite our imperfections, not because of our speaking ability, looks, or fitness for the task. Missionary Hudson Taylor said, “God was looking for someone weak enough to use, and he found [you and me]!” When we find our strength in Him, He can use us in ways we could never imagine (v.9).

Lord, I have many weaknesses.
Please show Your strength through me
by using me in whatever way You please.
May others see You at work in me and
praise Your name. Amen.

God’s strength is best seen in our weakness.

[Need2Know]

The Best Teacher

In talking to young people about preparing for the future, I’ve had several say something like this: “We must get into the world to experience ungodly situations and ungodly people in order to grow stronger.”

This kind of thinking has swallowed up many immature Christians and eventually turned them against God. Sure, we’re in the world (John 17:15) and we’re exposed to non-Christian situations (school, job, neighborhood), but we need to be careful that exposure to those situations does not lead to embracing ungodly philosophies. All of us would mature faster by following the divine pattern suggested in Psalm 1:1.

First, let’s not let our decisions and choices be controlled by the “counsel of the ungodly.” Second, we shouldn’t put ourselves in a place where those who don’t know Jesus can unduly influence our thought processes. Third, let’s avoid getting comfortable with those who mock God, His Word, and His role in our life so that their thinking seems right to us.

Counsel from such sources leads us away from God. Instead, it’s best to get our training, our guidance, and our advice from God’s holy Word and those who know it and love it. God and His Word, not experiences, are our best teacher.

You’ve given us Your Spirit, Lord,
To help us grow, mature, and learn,
To teach us from Your written Word,
So truth from error we’ll discern. —Sper

Let God’s Word fill your memory, rule your heart, and guide your life.