Month: September 2021

Remember What God Has Done

…watch yourself, that you do not forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Deuteronomy 6:12 (NLT)

This week I’ve spent time in Psalms 95 which begins with a call to sing praises as we worship God.  The first few verses focus on how great God is and what He has done.  But verse 8 is the one that captured my thoughts as I read it again this week:

“Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah.”

I needed a reminder of the situation at Meribah and the events leading up to it. The footnotes in my study bible pointed to Exodus 17:1-7.  Here’s a summary:

The people of Israel had been led by Moses out of slavery in Egypt and were crossing the wilderness toward the land God had promised Abraham and his descendants several centuries earlier. They had camped at a location where there was no water.  A desperate situation, of course!  The people demanded that Moses give them water.  They grumbled against him asking, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”

I looked at the previous chapters in Exodus to be reminded of what had taken place leading up to this situation. In chapters 13 and 14 the Egyptian Pharaoh finally allowed the Israelites to leave.  But soon he changed his mind and he followed after them with his entire army.  The people saw the army coming and said to Moses, “It would have been better for us to stay and serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”  Moses told them, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord… The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent” (Exodus 14:13-14). God miraculously opened up the Red Sea so the people could cross on dry land! As the Egyptian army followed them, they were all drowned.

Soon after that (chapter 15) the people again grumbled at Moses because they had found no water in the wilderness.  God miraculously provided water for them. 

In chapter 16, the Israelites again grumbled at Moses because they were hungry. Once again, God miraculously provided by sending manna every morning and meat in the evening.  “And you shall know that I am the Lord your God” (verses 1-12). 

Do you see the pattern? The people grumbling, complaining to Moses, and then God miraculously providing everything they needed. He had proven Himself many times!

Now, back to Exodus chapter 17.  After all the Israelites had experienced – their release from slavery in Egypt, the Red Sea parting so they could cross on dry land, miraculous provision of water and food in the wilderness – we might be tempted to think, “What is wrong with these people who grumbled and complained every time there was a desperate need instead of just trusting God to provide! Wouldn’t you think they would begin to realize that God was with them and would faithfully provide everything they needed?”

I realize this is a lesson for our lives today. How will we respond when we face seemingly impossible issues?  Instead of grumbling and worrying and trying to figure everything out on our own, we need to look back at how God has provided in our own lives.  If you have received Jesus as Lord and Savior by faith in His death for the forgiveness of your sin, you have the promise of eternal life. He gives the Holy Spirit to live in you. As followers of Jesus, we can set our minds on the promises in His Word that assure us of His knowledge of absolutely everything we are going through, His constant presence, His faithful love, His unlimited power to provide, His perfect strength in our weakness.  We can remember who God is, what He has done, and choose to believe and be thankful that He will provide – no matter what we are going through!

PERSONAL REFLECTION

What are you going through right now that could tempt you to grumble and complain?

Are you willing to turn instead to trusting God for His provision?

Here are some scriptures to help focus our attention on God’s promises:

Philippians 4:19 My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 40:31 Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord is the one who is going ahead of you; He will be with you.  He will not desert you or abandon you.  Do not fear and do not be dismayed.

Joshua 1:9  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Philippians 4:6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Who Is My Neighbor?

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me.

Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

Are you familiar with the story Jesus told about the good Samaritan?  You can read it Luke 10:25-37.  Jesus tells of a man, almost certainly a Jewish man, who was on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho.  This was a very dangerous road, and a band of robbers stripped him, beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.  A Jewish priest was going down that road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  A Levite, an assistant to the priests in the Jewish temple, also saw the man and passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, hated by the Jews,  was going down that road, saw the man and felt compassion for him.  He came to the man, bandaged his wounds, put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day the Samaritan gave the innkeeper two denarii (two day’s wages) and gave them to the innkeeper, telling him to take care of the man and offered to repay the cost of any more care when he returned.

Jesus told this story to a religious Jewish leader, an expert in the law of God, who was putting Jesus to the test by asking “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  Here is the conversation recorded in Luke 10:25-37:

Jesus: “What is written in the Law?”

Religious expert: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus: “You have answered correctly.  Do this and you will live.”

Religious expert (wanting to justify himself): “But who is my neighbor?”

Jesus was making a statement that is the foundation of salvation.  It isn’t enough to just know God’s Word.  He wants us to do His Word.  James 1:22 tells us “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.”  And He wants us to do it from a heart of love for God and love for others.  

We can ask the same question the religious expert asked: “Who is my neighbor?” I wrote the last devotional message about inviting the five neighbor ladies on my street to my home to get to know each other.  We have lived on the same street for several years, but most of us didn’t even know each other! So these women are literally my neighbors.  How could I love them if I don’t even know them?

But Jesus wants us to go beyond just the people in our families and our own neighbors.  The needs all around us and around the world are so great!  It is overwhelming to think of all the people who are suffering! 

What excuses do we have for ignoring the needs of others and “walking by on the other side?”  The need is too great, and I wouldn’t know where to begin.  I’m too busy writing Bible studies and devotional messages to get involved.  It’s so easy to say, “I’ll pray for you.”  But do I honestly commit to praying? It is easy to do like the religious leaders did and just “walk by on the other side” ignoring the needs that are right in front of me. I realize that God wants me to be asking Him each day, “Who is the ‘neighbor’ you want me to love today?” 

I’ve been asking God for a heart of deeper love for Him, and a willingness to follow wherever He leads me.  I believe this conviction about loving my “neighbors” is an answer to that prayer.  As He shows me a particular need that He wants me to respond to, and as I reach out to meet that need, I am loving God! And I can trust Him to provide all I need to meet that need – the compassion, time, energy, resources, His wisdom and love. I want to be open to whoever the Lord shows me as I’m going along my day.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Has the Lord put a specific person or a specific need on your heart that you know He wants you to meet?

Are you willing to ask Him each day for eyes and ears that are open to discover the needs of someone He shows you?

What excuses do you have that might keep you from reaching out to meet a need that He brings to your attention?

I’m reminded of Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  He promises to provide whatever we need to accomplish what He asks us to do.   

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Luke 10:27

I’ve thought a lot about the first part of that verse – and I’ve been asking God for a heart that loves Him more and more.  I do want to be completely committed to Him, and I ask each day for Him to show me His will.  But recently, God highlighted the last part of the verse in my mind: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t even know the neighbors on my own street!  We know some of their names, we’ve had brief contact with a few of them, but I don’t really know them. We live on a street with only 6 houses surrounded by wheat fields and forests.  It isn’t like a city street where the houses are close together and you might make contact with neighbors by just walking out your front door.  But that’s no excuse for me!

            One of my first thoughts was, “I don’t even know some of their names.  It would be strange to just walk up to their doors and introduce myself after all these years!”  But it became clear that God was asking me to do something.  I got the idea to invite the women of the neighborhood to my home just to get to know them. But where to start?  I had the phone numbers of two of them, so I called them first.  They gladly welcomed the idea of getting to know the rest of the women! One by one I was able to get the other phone numbers and invite them.  The man across the street came over to ask us about the new paving on our driveway.  We never see them at all, and I didn’t know anything about him.  I told him my idea and asked if there were any women in his house that I could invite.  He gave me his wife’s number. She’s delighted to come!

            I’m amazed at how quickly it all came together once I took the first step.  In just a couple of days I had called them all and discovered a time in a late afternoon when they would all be available!  And they are all really looking forward to it.  I’m writing this message on a Thursday morning, and they’re coming this afternoon!  I’ll write after our gathering and tell you how it went!  Several of my friends are praying for this time.

*************

            Okay, it’s Friday, and the ladies came yesterday at 4:00.  We had such fun getting to know each other!  They were here till 7:00!  I used some get-to-know-you questions that I’ve used with ladies from church when we meet for Newcomers Welcome – How long have you been in Spokane? Tell us about your family. Are you working/retired?  What kind of work did you do?  What are some of the activities or hobbies that make you happy? Anything else you’d like us to know about you? I had asked each of them to bring something that represents that activity or hobby.  It’s always fun to see what people bring!  It’s amazing the conversations that come from answering these questions. And it guides the conversation so we really do get to know each other a little better.  Now we’ve exchanged phone numbers and email addresses will be able to contact each other.

                        The ladies told me how much they enjoyed meeting each other.  And they expressed interest in getting together again.  One of them told me she’d be interested in visiting my church! I offered each of them a copy of the devotional book I published this year on Amazon: “Living in God’s Extravagant Grace; Encouragement from God’s Word.”  They all wanted a copy and asked me to sign it.  They are not all church attenders.  But maybe this will be the first step in some of them coming to know Jesus!  I’m excited to see how God will lead next!

I’ve learned a few important lessons by taking this step to get to know my neighbors:

  1. When God clearly puts something on my heart, do it!
  2. Even if it feels uncomfortable at first, do it anyway!
  3. Trust that it is His plan, and He will give me one step at a time to accomplish it.
  4. It’s never too late to get started on what He’s asking me to do, even if I’m reluctant.
  5. He abundantly blesses what I’ve done in obedience, more than I imagine!    

(6) When I love others, I’m expressing love to God.

For the next devotional message, I want to write about “Who Is My Neighbor?”

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Is God prompting you to take specific steps to do something?

How will you respond?

Be encouraged that He will provide everything you need to follow what He is asking you to do.

True Worship from the Heart

NOTE: An error occurred during the posting of the devotional for September 6th. Some received it over the weekend, some said they didn’t receive it at all. So I’m posting it again. The one I sent out originally is called “True Worship.” I’ve changed the name on this one to avoid any more confusion.

True Worship

The time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.  The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.  For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.

John 4:23-24 (NLT)

I woke up one morning recently with the words of a song on my mind: “Set my spirit free that I might worship Thee.  Set my spirit free that I might praise Thy name.”  Then this Scripture in John 4:23-24 came to mind.  Jesus made it clear that true worship must come from our heart.

What is true worship in spirit and in truth? Here are some thoughts that came to mind this week as I’ve read and prayed about it. Jesus was speaking to a Samaritan woman at the well where He asked her for a drink of water. He turned the conversation to spiritual truth about her need for the “living water” that He would offer her. She knew a lot about God, but she didn’t know God!  

Worship is an inward attitude of the heart, my spirit responding to who He is and all that He has done.  The truth of who He is and what He has done is found in His Word.  Attending a service at church on Sunday morning does not necessarily mean that I have worshiped God.  Is my heart truly engaged in the words of praise I am singing and the words of the sermon? Going through the motions out of habit or routine is not worship.

God sees our hearts!  Matthew 15:8 and Isaiah 29:18 tell us that “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”   In my daily Bible reading, am I asking God to speak His words to my heart?  Am I willing to follow in loving obedience to what He says?

Here are some Scriptures that describe a true heart of worship:

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) makes it clear that we are to “present our bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your true and proper worship.”

Colossians 3:17 tells us “Whatever we do in word or deed, do it as unto the Lord.” 

Luke 10:27  God commands us to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Louie Giglio wrote the book “The Air I Breathe; Worship as a Way of Life.”  It is one of the best and simplest books I’ve read about worship.  I read it again this week. He makes a suggestion that I plan to follow.  He calls it a 30-day Worship Journey. He suggests starting with a prayer, “God, I am here for You; please show me who You are.” As you read through the Psalms, look for one attribute of God that grabs your attention and captures your heart.  Write that word at the top of a journal page and take time to meditate on that aspect of God’s character.  For example, faithfulness.  Think about what it means to your life that God is faithful.  Make it personal.  Keep that word with you throughout the day and thank Him for what He has shown you.  Remember that we are not just gathering information about God, but truly getting to know Him personally. He suggests singing a song praising God. We can ask God to transform our hearts to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Has God spoken to your heart as you’ve read these words?  How will you respond?

I love this song that expresses a true heart of worship.  You can find it on YouTube and sing along!

“The Heart Of Worship”

Matt Redman

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless Your heart
I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath
I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus (Repeat the chorus)

True Worship

The time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.  The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.  For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.

John 4:23-24 (NLT)

I woke up one morning recently with the words of a song on my mind: “Set my spirit free that I might worship Thee.  Set my spirit free that I might praise Thy name.”  Then this Scripture in John 4:23-24 came to mind.  Jesus made it clear that true worship must come from our heart.

What is true worship in spirit and in truth? Here are some thoughts that came to mind this week as I’ve read and prayed about it. Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders who knew a lot about God, but they didn’t know God!   Worship is an inward attitude of the heart, my spirit responding to who He is and all that He has done.  The truth of who He is and what He has done is found in His Word. Attending a service at church on Sunday morning does not necessarily mean that I have worshiped God.  Is my heart truly engaged in the words of praise I am singing and the words of the sermon? Going through the motions out of habit or routine is not worship.

God sees our hearts!  Matthew 15:8 and Isaiah 29:18 tell us that “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”   In my daily Bible reading, am I asking God to speak His words to my heart?  Am I willing to follow in loving obedience to what He says? 

Here are some Scriptures that describe a true heart of worship:

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) makes it clear that we are to “present our bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your true and proper worship.”

Colossians 3:17 tells us “Whatever we do in word or deed, do it as unto the Lord.” 

Luke 10:27  God commands us to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Louie Giglio wrote the book “The Air I Breathe; Worship as a Way of Life.”  It is one of the best and simplest books I’ve read about worship.  I read it again this week. He makes a suggestion that I plan to follow.  He calls it a 30-day Worship Journey. He suggests starting with a prayer, “God, I am here for You; please show me who You are.” As you read through the Psalms, look for one attribute of God that grabs your attention and captures your heart.  Write that word at the top of a journal page and take time to meditate on that aspect of God’s character.  For example, faithfulness.  Think about what it means to your life that God is faithful.  Make it personal.  Keep that word with you throughout the day and thank Him for what He has shown you.  Remember that we are not just gathering information about God, but truly getting to know Him personally. He suggests singing a song praising God. We can ask God to transform our hearts to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Has God spoken to your heart as you’ve read these words?  How will you respond?

I love this song that expresses a true heart of worship.  You can find it on YouTube and sing along!
“The Heart Of Worship”

Matt Redman

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless Your heart
I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath
I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus

(Repeat the chorus)