Wednesday Morning Devotional

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Giving with a right heart was really difficult when I first decided to be a giver. Verses like this seemed so not attainable. Almost every time I gave, I could not help but think about what else I wanted to do with that money. Sometimes I would be more “spiritual” and think of things I “needed” to do with it. At any rate, I was really far away from being a cheerful giver like the one described in this verse.

It was probably 15 or so years ago that I decided in my heart to be a tither. I was going to give regularly to my church. The amount was $200 because I netted about $2,000 a month (those people who tithed on gross were really hardcore!) Anyway, I think January and February were no problem, but as the months went on, I just seemed to clench my fist around the money more and more. By the end of the year, I had only tithed 10 out of the 12 months. I got my first little tithe slip from the church showing I had given $2,000 so I could use it for tax purposes.

I actually felt like I did something special. I’m pretty sure at times I thought about how much better I was than other people who probably didn’t even consider tithing at my age. Since I was so far from having the correct heart, God intervened to teach me a lesson.

Towards the end of the same year that I decided to give, I was put on a committee at work that had to meet every two weeks after school. None of us on the committee thought we were going to be compensated. It really didn’t even matter because it wasn’t like it was all that difficult.

Anyway, it just so happened that around the time I got my $2000 tithe slip, I also got paid an extra $2000 from work for attending these meetings. At first, I thought God was rewarding me. I thought giving to God was the greatest thing ever invented because He turns around and finds a way to give it all back.

Then, I stumbled across 2 Corinthians 9. I got convicted because I didn’t give very cheerfully. It hadn’t been a joy to give to the God I was claiming to serve and love. The more I thought about it, I felt like God was telling me He didn’t want my money if I couldn’t give it with the right heart. He gave it all back to me and basically said, “Either do it right or don’t do it at all.”

I repented and tried again with much better results. I remember just being blessed with a sense of His presence. I remember actually beginning to get my finances in order and thinking how amazing it was that God made the 90% of my money go so much further than when I held on to all of it. God did for me what God has done to countless who have gone on before me . . . pour out His blessings on people who love Him and are obedient to His Word.

How about you? Are you a giver?

If so, is your heart right? If it isn’t, then ask God to change it. You can’t just decide to have a right heart . . . it must flow from being directly connected to His.

When I really think about how good He has been to me, even when I haven’t been so good in return, it isn’t that hard to give back to Him. In fact, it is an honor.

Lord, help me be a cheerful giver . . . just like you.

Later

Adam

“Put out into the deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” – Luke 5:4

Where I work, we are big on choices. If we as teachers are doing our jobs correctly, anger, along with any sense of “forcing” a student to do anything is non-existent. You comply with what we ask you to do, or you don’t.

In a similar way, Jesus has laid out the path of life and death. In Luke 5, Jesus gives Peter a choice. “Cast your nets into the deep water.” Here’s the thing: Peter didn’t want to. In fact, they had already had their nets cast and caught nothing. They had their nets all dried, packed up, and were ready to call it a day.

“Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” – Luke 5:5

What do you do when asked to do something you don’t want to do? If you are like me, it depends on who is asking. If I, like Peter, believe Jesus is the Master, I’ll comply. If I don’t believe He is my master, then I won’t. The choice that is laid out is clear: either comply or don’t. Follow Jesus and His ways, or don’t. But, as we are about to learn, it just isn’t worth it to refuse Him.

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. – Luke 5:6

What a reward! This was probably the catch of Peter’s life. It meant a wonderful payday. It meant food on the table. It meant another story of “Let me tell you how good God is and how He blessed me.”

If the story stopped there, it would be perfect for American Christians. The majority of American Christians think that because we complied with Romans 10:9 that we are going to heaven when we die. The problem is that most people, instead of confessing Him as “Lord” confessed Him as “Savior.” There is a big difference. If He is Lord, then He calls the shots, you either comply or you don’t.

Peter chose Jesus as Lord of His life. He complied, and he got blessed tremendously. The boatload of fish was only a small part of the reward. Here was the real reward:

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” – Luke 5:8

Who told Peter he was sinful? Nobody. What is this all about? Peter received the greatest reward that this life offers: a real revelation of who Jesus is and just how holy God is. He got to tap into the Glory of God just for a moment.

Five years after becoming a Christian, Jesus asked me to do something I absolutely did not want to do. Only because I believed He wanted me to, and the fact that I believed He could be trusted, I did it. He rescued me out of trouble. Later that week, I pondered just what He did for me. His presence engulfed me for the first time and all I could do was tell Him “I am so sorry” over and over. After just a few seconds of what I know now as either the glory of God or the presence of God, I asked Him to cut it off . . . I just couldn’t take it. “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

Many would think that because I got out of trouble, that this was the reward for my obedience. Thank God it didn’t stop there. The real reward was a real and powerful sense of His Presence. Since that moment, I have spent the rest of my life chasing after God as hard as I possibly can. I have fallen in love with the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Just like Peter did.

That’s the real reward.

Later

Adam

 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. – Psalm 136:1

I get asked a lot, “How can God be merciful if He sends people to a place called hell?” It is harsh to the hundredth power, I mean, everyone who refuses His forgiveness and rejects the offer of a relationship with Him goes there . . . forever. Only people who really know Him as “Lord of my life” will receive this mercy that endures forever. I believe most people who have no belief in Him whatsoever hate Christianity for this reason. It is so not inclusive in a world where moral relativism abounds.

So, let’s take a look at just how God could possibly be merciful by eternally eliminating a person who chooses a life of sin over Him. The answer has three parts: A God part, a sinner part, and a saint part.

The God Part

God chose for some reason not to make us mere robots that constantly repeat some lifeless, mundane, worshipful phrase to Him. He chose to make people with absolute free will. He allowed humans to reject Him. Then, out of His great love, He made a way to redeem them. Many have chosen this redemption. Many have rejected it.   From His perspective, at the end of each person’s life, He declares him or her either fit for His eternal kingdom or not. This fitness test is really simple: You either grabbed a hold of the life vest He threw to you and held on for dear life, or you rejected it and drowned. The cross is the life vest. He shows a consistent mercy to all in the fact that He gives each of us our entire lifetime to either grab a hold of it, or reject it. This offered mercy does not endure forever. On the day you and I stand before Him, you will know exactly which one you did, and believe it or not, you will be in perfect agreement with His decision either way. How can I say that? Because of the other two parts.

The Sinner Part

The Bible says that eventually every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord of all (Romans 14:11). Everyone! Some choose to do it during this life, but others choose not to. People choose not to because they love their sin. Before I came to know Him, I loved the darkness. I loved my sexual immorality. I loved my foul language. I loved music that did the exact opposite of honor God. I loved living for me, myself, and I. Now, I despise it and am beyond embarrassed about my past. I hate it because of all the hurt my sin has inflicted on so many that I claimed to love. Yet, so many people stay in love with their sin, regardless of whom it hurts. If God is merciful, does He have to let unrepentant, unregenerate people into Heaven despite their refusal of His offering of forgiveness?

Absolutely not! In fact, He would cease to be merciful if He did. Why? If He let even one unredeemed sinner into Heaven, that person’s sin would quickly make that perfect place just as corrupt as Earth is now. After all, it only took one simple act of disobedience.   Which brings us to the last part.

The Saint Part

It is really not fair that Christians (and by saying that, I mean real ones) have to live in this fallen world. I mean, because Adam and Eve sinned, we live in absolute corruption today. If you don’t believe me, just read the news headlines at pretty much any point today. Sin absolutely abounds.

Followers of Jesus take heart in the fact that there is coming a glorious day . . . a day where sin shall be no more. There will be a day when not one more child will ever be sexually molested, a day where no person is born into a world where absolutely nobody cares for them, a day where drugs will no longer slowly cause people to deteriorate and behave horribly, a day where there will not be even a single murder. There will be no more violence, no more stealing, no more being offended, and no more using the name of Jesus Christ, whose middle name is not the f-bomb, in vain. All sin, along with everything and everyone it is attached to, will be thrown into the lake of fire.

This day is coming, and the saints of God will eternally speak of His enduring mercy.

His mercy really does endure forever and ever.

Later

Adam

For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm to the end. – Hebrews 3:14

I write some really weird stuff when I’m under a spiritual attack. Do please pray for me as I am learning how to pass through these things as quickly as possible. But, it’s like every other sickness; you just have to soak in the medicine of the Word of God and rest in Him until restoration comes.

Anyway, years ago golf was my god. I would have told you I was a Christian, but what I really loved was playing golf. I live on a golf course right now because of that love. I forsook traveling with my wife in the early years of our marriage because of that love. I pretty much missed the first few years of my daughter’s life and the first year of my son because of that love. I would go to church every Sunday . . . unless there was a big golf event, and then I’m sure you can guess what I chose.

God and my wife confronted me about this . . . mostly my wife. I got mad. I pouted, but ultimately I realized she was right. So, I prayed. I asked God to help me dethrone golf in my life. Do you know what He did? He answered by making me absolutely stink at playing. Whereas I could absolutely stripe it at one time, I could barely make contact with the ball. I was frustrated and I tried to hold onto it for a bit longer, but ultimately, it wasn’t that hard to let go.

Here in these last few years, I’ve been playing a bit. I’m still not very good, but at least I can get around the course. I actually just enjoy being with my dad more than anything (except for the fact that I can’t beat him). I asked the Lord if it is ok to play. I felt He was saying, “Yes, because you will now keep golf in its rightful place in your heart. You will play now for reasons other than exalting yourself.” Ouch . . . but I got it.

So, if He is allowing me to play again, I want to get back to where I can really stripe it. I’m setting up a little practice facility in my yard so I can just go out there and work on it a few minutes every day. I started yesterday. I used the camera on my phone to examine my setup. I made a major discovery; I wasn’t holding the club properly. I wonder if all God did to destroy my swing back in the day was just have me hold the club a little differently.

How crazy is that? Years ago, I properly held a golf club, but improperly held the Word of God. He switched that around on me after I prayed. Now, here I am for the first time holding them both at the same time properly, physically and spiritually.

This realization is both really cool and really scary to me. All a person has to do to lose it spiritually is just hold the Word of God carelessly. Just believe you are going to be fine and never consider your grip. I remember seeing an older church member drop his Bible one time. He picked it up, paused, and kissed it. I knew it would be a long time before that man dropped it again.

We should all examine our hearts and think about how we are holding on to Him.

I know I sure am.

Later

Adam

God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. – Genesis 1:16

So I get up in the dead middle of the night. It is so bright in my house that I don’t even need to flip a switch to see where I’m going. I take a look outside and it is amazingly well lit. The moon is shining at its maximum capacity.

I get dressed and take a walk. Immediately, I connect with God. I tell Him, “This is amazing!” I quickly take it back and let Him know that I’m sorry that I still waste that word on things other than Him. Years ago, I told Him that I’d reserve that word for Him and Him alone, for only He is truly amazing.

I begin to pray. Pray for Lifeline, pray for myself, and pray that His light would be this present in this world even though it seems totally dark. I walk by a street lamp. For just a moment, I lose my awe. The light from the street lamp provides light as I descend to a valley with lots of trees. Very little light is provided. Something moves in the woods (of course it does) and I imagine being mauled by a bear and not even being discovered for several hours. I rebuke this fear in His Name.

I step back into the moonlight and the awe comes back. I pray some more. I think of how the moon is only reflecting the light of the sun. I think of how few people there are in the United States of America reflecting the light of the Son of God. I ask Him to help me be a light.

I pass another street lamp. Without any conscious effort, the awe switch is cut off. I focus on the things of this world in the artificial light. Once I’m out of the manmade light, I connect right back with Him. I ask Him to fill me with His light. As I see my house, I pray for my family inside . . . that they may truly reflect His light in this dark world. I pray that He will really be known by them and will be the greatest treasure they own.

Why do I write about this? I don’t really know. There’s just a perfect clarity at 3 a.m. in a world of total darkness under God’s reflected light that I’m not sure I’ve ever had at 3 p.m. The noise of the world, the heat of the day, and all the artificial lights just seem to destroy the pure sense of His Presence.

I write this so that one day when I read it again, I’ll remember.

Later

Adam

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light, because their deeds were evil. – John 3:19

When Jesus came on the scene over 2000 years ago, He came into a very dark world.   The nation of Israel, who was the only group who carried the Name of the one true God, was in captivity to the Roman Empire. Unfortunately, they carried His Name very poorly. The religious leaders had reduced following God down to keeping a bunch of rules and any idea of having a relationship with Him was completely lost. Absolutely no one was offering the hope of a changed life. When Jesus came and offered light, very few took it and ran with it . . . most loved darkness.

If there is one thing that I wish I had known when I started my walk with Him, it is that I could be completely honest with Him. I remember always asking Him to forgive me for sin in general, but I’d never get specific. For example, it seemed almost impossible to stop being sexually immoral. I was constantly sinning in this way, asking for forgiveness, promising I wouldn’t do it again, and then repeating the cycle. What was wrong with me?

The answer is pretty simple; I loved the things I did in the dark. So, why wouldn’t I just go ahead and tell God? I look back and I just don’t know. Then again, maybe I do. Maybe in my heart I thought I could have it both ways. If I feigned some sort of humility by asking for forgiveness, and then just went ahead and indulged in my favorite sin, then maybe it would still be well with my soul.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. – Matthew 5:3

The first words Jesus ever spoke as a public teacher are contained in Matthew 5:3.   I have read over them so many times, but I never took the time to meditate upon them. I know now what He means: I bring nothing to the table spiritually. I cannot save myself by trying harder, attempting to change, or doing anything on my own. In fact, I tried that. Trying harder only produced more despair on the other side of each failure. I had one weapon and one weapon only and I never once used it. That weapon was admitting that I loved my sin and that there was nothing I could do about it.

To this day, this is my picture of poor in spirit. Just go ahead and confess to God what He already knows. American Christianity looks an awful lot like Judas Iscariot. We want give the appearance of loving Him, so we kiss Him on the cheek when we are in front of everyone else. But, behind the scenes, when we think He isn’t near and no one else will know, we indulge in what we really love . . . the forbidden pleasures of the world. If only he (and we) would just scream to Him, “Help me! I love the sin that lives in me! I can’t change myself! Will you change me?”

Now there is a blank canvas upon which God can paint. There is a workshop He can work in.   There is a foundation upon which He can build. When a person finally makes it to this point, he or she is finally poor in spirit. Jesus says he or she now has access to the kingdom of heaven.

It took me more than 10 years after becoming a Christian to finally make it to this point. There was no magic wand that He waved over me, but He did give me a real desire to dive into His word. As it daily washed over me, He slowly began to clean my soul and soften my heart. Every sin that He has washed away in me has been a slow, methodical process. Even now, there remains something in my heart that knows if I were to let Him go, sin would grow right back on some seriously fertile ground.

I still have to remain poor in spirit and admit that without Him, I’d never be clean. I still have to remain poor in spirit.

Right now, I am seriously battling with the sin of pride. As I’ve preached recently, God has given me a new level of anointing. I thought I could handle it, but now I’m not so sure. I’m admitting to Him that it puffs my ego up and that I’m afraid I could be like Lucifer himself and want some of God’s glory for myself. I’m going ahead and admitting to Him that I like the attention. I’m just being honest with Him and giving those desires over to Him. I must trust that His grace covers me. I must trust that He will deal as only He can deal with this sin that has reared it’s ugly head.

Lord, help me to remain poor in spirit.

Nothing in my hands I bring.

Simply to the cross I cling.

Amen

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14

Our great country needs to heal. America is hemorrhaging. The only way for the bleeding to stop and the healing to begin is for all the people who claim to be Christians to really humble themselves, recognize the sin that lives in them, and ask God to rid their hearts of sin at the foot of the cross of Christ. Notice I did not say all people have to do this, just the 75% or so of Americans who are still claiming His name by calling themselves Christians.

It all starts by humbling yourself and realizing that you are part of the problem. I preached last night. I had a new level of anointing that I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced before. You know what I thought as I drove home? That I did really well. As soon as I got up this morning at 4:30, conviction was all over me. I did nothing but operate in His power and anointing. He gave me all that I needed to do it, and there I was basking in a bit of the glory. This morning, I’m humbling myself . . . I’m letting Him know that I hate the pride that lives within me. I’m praying that He destroys it. I’m praying that I might be as pure as possible.

But, this next one is messing with me: Seek His face. On the surface, I would think that it would be no different than praying. Surely if I’m praying, I’m seeking His face.

Not necessarily.

As I pray this morning, I’m asking for Him to do something for me. I’m petitioning Him. Once I have asked, I should believe in faith that I will receive it. “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13) If what I’m asking for will bring more glory to His Name, then I should certainly believe that He would grant my request. However, I should not stop there, for after prayer comes seeking His face.

This is such a powerful part of the process. If I’m praying, I want what He can do for me, my family, loved ones, etc. But, if I’m seeking His face, then I just want Him for Him. I just want to hang out with Him. At this point, I should just read His Word for enjoyment. I should just go and take a walk in the cool of the day and just be with Him. Not to say anything . . . just to hang out . . . seek His face.

I’m sure if you’re reading this, you have actually prayed recently. But, when is the last time you hung out with Him just because you love Him? When is the last time you sought His face?

I want to do more of this.

Later

Adam

For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. – Romans 8:38 (NLT)

So I’m binge watching a show called “This is us.” Binge watching is not something that I normally do, but Hurricane Irma has shut down our schools for a couple of days and I don’t have to go to work. I liked the show when I started watching last year. I watched all the way up until Christmas, and then never finished the season. I’m trying to finish it now so I might understand the second season when it comes on. I never thought I’d learn a spiritual lesson from watching, but I did.

I had a conversation recently with someone who really loves animals. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone give all of themselves away to their pets. But, this person comes as close as anyone I’ve ever met. I made the comment that it was pretty easy to love an animal because an animal can’t hurt you. This person immediately shot back with, “Of course they can . . . they will die.”

In this one episode of “This is us,” there is a doctor who is extremely lonely. His wife of 53 years has been dead for 14 months. He loved her so much, but now she was gone. She didn’t want to or mean to, but she devastated him by doing something all of us are going to do . . . die. The doctor’s son was trying so hard to try to get him to “move on” and meet someone else, but he didn’t want to hear it. He tried to immerse himself in work, but that was only a temporary Band-Aid. When he was alone, he still talked to the wife he missed so much.

I couldn’t help but think about my relationship with my wife. This December, we will have been married for 16 years. I don’t worry about her hurting me emotionally or physically. I love her like crazy and she actually loves me back. I could only hope and pray that we get 53 years together. But, we said in our marriage vows that we’d love each other and be there for each other . . . “until separated by death.”

I depress you to give you a glorious hope. I “received” Jesus when I was 16 years old. I didn’t really know what I was getting in to. I just pretty much figured Heaven was better than hell. Five years later, at 21, after He had been pursuing me for 5 years, I started to pursue Him back. In 10 years, by the time I was 31, all of the major idols in my life had finally been cast down and He had won first place in my heart, mind, and life. I can’t believe how our relationship has grown. In the 26 years I have been a Christian, there is just no relationship like it. I had no idea it was possible to really love God. Like, for real love Him.

I am recognizing with astonishing intensity today that this is the one and only relationship that I will ever have that will last for all eternity. I can absolutely never be separated from Him. The Lord of my life will never ever hurt me. He is my one and only friend that death has no power over. Death only makes my faith become sight. When I take my last breath here on Earth, I will be with Him there. I can rest in the most secure relationship I will ever experience.

Thank you Lord that you love me, and nothing, nothing can ever separate me from your love.

Later

Adam

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others more significant than yourselves.  – Philippians 2:3 (ESV)

Last night, I got to make something right.  For the past several years, a few churches in Oconee County have joined together to produce what we call Men’s United.  It is a four-night event spread out over a couple of months.  The leaders of these churches simply want the hearts of men to line up with the heart of God.  We try to come together simply as Christians.  We aren’t really representing churches or denominations . . . just God.  I just joined in last year.  Lifeline has hosted the event two times.  The first thing I have learned from this group is Philippians 2:3.

The first MU meeting I went to was solid.  The praise and worship band was simple, but they absolutely rocked out while they worshipped.  I loved it.  There weren’t very many people there, but the ones who were just exuded a love for God.  I liked just being there around other men who didn’t mind professing a love for Jesus.  I knew I wanted to buy in to being a part of this.

The second meeting I attended was even better.  The praise and worship band was absolutely killer.  It might have been one of the most professional sounding praise and worship bands I’ve ever heard.  I just stood there and soaked it all in.  I was the preacher for the night, so I preached my heart out, men responded, and it was another great night.

Lifeline Community Church was to host the next Men’s United.  We were also to lead praise and worship for the night.  God had been seriously impressing upon my heart to go really simple for worship.  I really felt in my spirit that I was to just play simple, familiar songs on my acoustic and just allow the men’s voices to be heard.  Well, I did the exact opposite.  Something in me just wanted to “compete” with the other bands.  I wanted to show how big we could go too.  I ended up putting a complete band together and going big.  Philippians 2:3 absolutely sums up what I did.  As if to put an exclamation point on my disobedience, the speaker for the night at the end of the service asked, “Can someone come up here and just play Amazing Grace?”

Well, last night MU came once again to Lifeline.  I was not going to get it wrong twice.  I took my acoustic and played “Sweet Hour of Prayer.”  After each section, men would come grab the microphone and pour out their hearts in prayer.  I thought my heart was going to burst.  I was so full of the Holy Spirit that I just did not ever want to let go.  The night was absolutely wonderful.  There was probably double the number of men as the previous year.  God really moved and I just loved all of it.

I hate to think that my heart can still be so arrogant.  Keeping the old nature in check can be quite difficult.  I will give an account for what I did last year when I stand before the Lord.  It will be made of wood, hay, or straw, and it will burn up on His holy altar.  I shudder to think of how many things I have done for Him out of vain conceit.  But, this whole ordeal has taught me a great lesson that I hope you can learn from as well.  I have learned that for the rest of my days I want to serve Him because I love Him, not because I want others to look at me, and what I can do.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men.  – Colossians 3:23

Later

Adam

If you are interested, come to our next Men’s United meeting at Whitestone Freedom Fellowship on Sunday, September 24, at 6:00.

4271 SC-11

Westminster, SC 29693