Wednesday Morning Devotional

The Seeds of Salvation

Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. – Matthew 13:5-6

Six students received Christ yesterday on a Tuesday morning! I was preaching from Luke 16:19 about the rich man and Lazarus. The Holy Spirit just took over my words and I knew He was speaking to hearts. Therefore, the invitation was given to receive Christ.

Seed was scattered yesterday morning. Some fell by the wayside, some on rocky places, some among weeds and thorns, but only time will tell if some landed on good soil. I can’t help but wonder what will be produced in the lives of these kids. I wonder what kind of soil the seed landed on.

Looking back, I had a pretty rocky place in my heart as a sixteen year old. I got saved many times. Many times I would “live for God” for about a week or two, then my shallow soil would allow no further growth. Eventually, I would graduate to growing among thorns and thistles. I was growing, I just never produced any fruit for others to see and enjoy. Hence, I was useless.

How cluttered up are the hearts of teenagers today? How hard is the ground? Can the seed even penetrate the surface? I’m so glad I’m not a teenager today. I only had a few things seeking to be the idol that took God’s rightful place in my heart. Today’s teens have many, many things vying for their attention and affection.

The bottom line is that something incredible was planted inside of six teenagers yesterday. The world will probably see no immediate results. The Holy Spirit has planted a seed in the ground of their hearts. In just a few weeks, if they protect it (hold fast to their salvation), water it (pray, read The Word and seek God), and cultivate the soil around it (remove all unnecessary weeds and distractions), new life will spring forth. It may be just a little small green sprout. But that, my friend, is new life! It looks something like this:

“I used to not mind cussing at all, now I get this sinking feeling in my stomach when I use those words.”

“I have never felt convicted about sleeping with my girlfriend, but I’m thinking God wants me to stop.”

“I used to not mind partying and underage drinking with my friends, but now I just feel like God has something so much more for me.”

“I used to ignore the preacher and draw on the bulletins or play on my phone in church, but he said something the other day that has just stuck with me.”

“I used to not mind blowing off my education, but I’m thinking God has placed me here for a reason. I’m going to work at this like I’m working for Him. He knows where He’ll lead me and what He wants me to do. I’ll start by honoring Him right where I am.”

“I’ve been listening to this group for years, now their music just doesn’t do for me what it once did. I want to fill my mind with things that honor The Living God.”

If you experience anything similar to this within the first few weeks of your salvation, welcome to the new life! Obey God’s voice and hold on tight. You have just begun the ride of your life.

If you haven’t experienced anything like this and absolutely nothing has changed. Get on your knees immediately and ask Him out loud to give you an experience like this. Ask Him to give you some sign that He has entered in to your heart, soul, and mind. Plead with the living God for signs of new life!

Chase Him. Pursue Him. Obey Him. Go after Him with all of your heart, soul, and mind. There is no one like Jesus!   There will never be anyone like Him. There is nothing like knowing Him, really knowing Him.

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop–a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. – Matthew 13:8

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Later

Adam

Knowing the Holy Scriptures

And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. — 2 Timothy 3:15

In the Christian life, there is no substitute for one-on-one, personal time with God. Reading, learning, and knowing the Holy Scriptures found in the Bible is absolutely essential if you are going to live for Him. If we simply made reading our Bibles regularly essential to our daily lives, we would become much more likely to be “wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

I believe this generation is the laziest generation that has ever existed. There is nobody that has done less with more. This generation can access apps that will read the Bible to them for free, and people still won’t listen to it. We have an abundance of Bibles, just not an abundance of readers. God is constantly speaking; most just don’t have ears to hear. It takes time to get alone with God, yet we have convinced ourselves that we don’t have any time. It takes effort to study His Word, yet we are convinced that we are too busy. It takes energy to do His will, yet we have convinced ourselves that we are too tired. It seems like everybody wants maximum reward for minimum effort.

We are the “quick-fix” generation. I remember early on in my Christian walk that I would listen to a sermon on tape, but not read the Word. I didn’t mind warming my soul by the fires of other men. They had the fire of God. They spent time with Him. It was obvious that God was speaking to them and through them. Why wasn’t He speaking to and through me? The truth is that I wasn’t willing to do the work. I was more like Eve. Remember the temptation?

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. – Genesis 3:6

Did you see it? She wanted to be wise. She thought she could achieve it by a single, temporary act. Isn’t this still the temptation? The overwhelming majority of people who say they are Christians want the rewards of an intimate walk with Christ, but do not want to lift a finger to actually walk with Him. Let me go to church for an hour a week. Let me listen to a podcast. Let me turn on Christian radio. But, don’t ask me to get alone with God. A close, intimate walk with Him will change you. We aren’t really interested in that kind of change. We would rather listen to men preach entertaining messages and then argue about who is preaching right and who is preaching wrong. It is much easier to enter a “my church is better than your church” or “my pastor is better than your pastor” argument on Facebook than it is to dig into the Word and pray.

I want to be wise for salvation. This kind of wisdom is only found in the Holy Bible. I wish I had started studying the World of God immediately after I got saved. I had no excuse. I had a Bible. I had time. I was just lazy. That laziness led to some dumb decisions and a terrible theology. Instead of being wise and fleeing sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18), I engaged in it repeatedly and asked for forgiveness repeatedly. I opted for sin cycles over spending time with Him and allowing Him to change my heart. I knew 1 John 1:9 and figured that all I had to do was confess my sins and I was “good to go.” It seemed like a pretty good plan at the time, I could remain in my sin and be free from the consequences.

How foolish I was.

How foolish many are today.

Wisdom is grown over time. It is only found in the Holy Scriptures, for they tell us about Jesus Christ, who is the only one who can pick us up, turn us around, and place our feet on a firm foundation.

Evaluate your plan for spending time in the Word of God.

There are no substitutes.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105

Later

Adam

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. – James 5:15

I am constantly asked to pray for people. Most of the time, I choose to pray for the need out loud, right then and there. Too often, I have said I would pray, and then completely forgot to actually do it. I hate when I do that.  Sometimes there are people who need prayer that I absolutely can’t ever get off of my mind. I remember one time there was a lady who had to go get a biopsy of a lump out of her breast at the same time my wife did. After much pleading with the Lord, my wife’s came back fine. Hers didn’t. Very easily, the results could have been reversed.

Though I was relieved that my wife’s came back fine, I could not get this other lady off of my mind. I made it my goal to pray for her as if she had been my wife. I didn’t want to just say some quick prayer like “help her Lord,” I wanted to keep her on the forefront of my mind as much as possible and lift her up constantly to the Lord. Almost every time I saw my wife, I saw her and prayed for her.

Today, she is cancer free.

I say all that to say this: I really want you guys to pray for a situation that came up this week. Logan Miller, a little 4-year-old boy has been diagnosed with cancer. Ever since I heard it, I have been connected with him almost like the woman with cancer. Every time I look at my little boy, I just think, “It could have very easily been him.” The very sight of my little boy reminds me to offer up a prayer for Logan.

Please pray for this little guy as well as his family. They have quite a journey ahead of them.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” — Isaiah 41:10

Later

Adam

The Blessed Man

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. – Psalm 1:1

How does one go from being a struggling Christian to a blessed, thriving Christian? I have had many conversations with struggling Christians. I believe the majority of their struggle comes from simply being unwilling to actually do the things God has called them to do. When I think of my own struggles as a young Christian, I was no different. Nearly all of my dissatisfaction was a direct result of not surrendering all my life to Him. There was always an element of control that I refused to give up.

If you want to be blessed, this verse says the first step you must take is away from the ungodly. One of the reasons I never won anybody to the Lord early on was because I walked in the counsel of the ungodly. My ways were exactly like the world’s ways. The only difference was I called myself a Christian. Why would anyone want what you or I have if we use the same curse words they do, fornicate just like they do, look at pornography just like they do, and whine and complain about work just like they do? The truth is that many are not blessed because they still walk in the counsel of the ungodly.

If you want to be blessed, don’t stand in the way of sinners. If you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, there are places that you don’t go. I used to love to go to concerts back in the day. My friend and I burned a trail to what used to be the Greenville Memorial Auditorium. There, as a person who said I was a Christian, I would raise my fist and rock and roll with musicians who cared nothing about the God I claimed to know and love. In fact, I saw many bands that were flat out directly opposed to Him. There I was, standing in the way of sinners, not a bit blessed because I wasn’t a bit different.

If you want to be blessed, don’t sit in the seat of the scornful. If you have walked just like the ungodly, and you are standing in the same places they are, do not take a seat. We call these people “set in their ways” and it isn’t always a good thing. People who sit in the seat of the scornful hold contempt in their heart for those who choose to live Godly. I remember a man sitting me down and having a conversation about the sinful stuff I was allowing into my ears and heart. Today, I am thankful for the conversation. But back then; I held contempt in my heart for him. I was scornful towards him. In my mind, I had formulated my own god of tolerance who would allow me to have Him and my favorite pet sins. I took a seat with the scornful. I dismissed this guy’s words quickly, though I could not get them out of my mind.

I had a difficult decision to make. Am I going to stay in my seat here? Am I going to live my life the way I want to? Or, am I going to remain a foul mouth, immoral “Christian” who does what he wants instead of what God wants? Am I to remain scornful to those who are simply trying to get me to walk on the correct path?

One of the loneliest walks a person will ever make is the walk from the wide road of destruction to the narrow path that leads to life. You will have to pass by a lot of people you once walked and stood with. Leaving the ways of your old, sinful life is mandatory if you want to truly experience the genuine presence of God.

When Moses left Egypt, he experienced the burning bush. When Jacob fled his old, deceitful life, he experienced the presence of God. When Peter obeyed Jesus and threw out the nets, he experienced the pure presence of God for the first time.

It took a while because I still wavered back and forth between what I thought was the good life and what I know now as the God life. However, the day I left far enough to experience His Presence, I knew He was the greatest thing this world offered.

If you want to be blessed, get up and go after Him like you are escaping for your life and refuse to look back!

“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto to life, and few there be that find it.” – Matthew 7:14

Later

Adam

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not in your own understanding. — Proverbs 3:5

So my family and I go to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee just before Christmas. I love going to look at all those Christmas lights, watching the Christmas shows, and basically just enjoying the atmosphere in the Smoky Mountains. Of course we had built it up with our kids and they were super excited.

Usually, as soon as we get to the park, my little girl and I turn left and go ride the coasters in Timber Canyon. But this time, my little boy was quick to make sure he got dibs on Daddy’s attention, “Will you ride The Sky Rider with me first, Daddy?” I told him I would and this of course started a sibling war. At any rate, I was going to keep my word and as soon as we got to Dollywood, my little man and I turned right and headed toward “The Country Fair.”

As we were walking, my little man immediately started doubting me.

Him: This is the wrong way, Daddy!”

Me: “No it isn’t, I can go straight there, trust me.”

Him: “Are you sure this is the right way?”

Me: “Yes!”

Him: “I think this is the wrong way.”

Now, I know my way around Dollywood. I have been there enough times now where I can navigate the place quite well. A few minutes later, we were in line for the “Sky Rider.” My little guy was the happiest dude in the park.

Why do I tell you all of this?

My little boy had trouble trusting his dad. When he got to his intended destination, he was happy, content, and thankful that he trusted his daddy.

How many times have I questioned my Heavenly Father? How many times have I flat out refused Him? I am embarrassed to count. So many times God was trying to lead me to one place or another and I just flat out refused because I didn’t trust Him. Every single time I didn’t listen to Him, I ended up far from where I wanted to be.

As I sit here and ponder 2015, I think about how far He has brought me in the 23 years I have been a Christian. Yes, I used to be a very young Christian questioning God’s direction and motives all along the way. Thank God I never let go of His hand. He has always brought me to a place that I could not get to by myself.

Today, I am a young adult Christian. This year, I want to put my hand in His and trust Him. Whatever He asks me to do, I don’t want to evaluate it, I don’t want to question it, I just want to do it. Wherever He asks me to go, I don’t want to doubt or ask Him if He is sure (as if God second guesses Himself) . . . I just want to go.

Up until this point in my life, He has not one time ever let me down.

He is not going to start now.

This year, read the Word. The Word teaches us how to live. The way God asks us to live is in stark contrast to the way the world tells us to live. When you know that God has told you where to go, then go. When you know that God has told you to start working for Him, then go to work for Him. When you know that God has told you to drop that sinful relationship, drop it. When you know that God has told you to regularly spend time with Him, then carve out some quiet time and do it.

My little boy got to his intended destination by holding on to my hand and trusting that I knew what I was doing and knew where I was going.

Let’s you and I do the same with our Heavenly Father in 2015.

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight.” – Proverbs 3:6

Later

Adam

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. – Revelation 3:20

I sometimes wonder if I would have struggled as much as I did as a young Christian if I had simply read this verse over and over. I mean, for at least a decade I would have sworn to you that the invitation Jesus offered had nothing to do with dining. In my mind, Jesus stood at the door and knocked, but if you didn’t answer, well the flames of Hell were waiting to swallow you up at any moment. Thus, my prayers were ALWAYS repetitive and always for forgiveness.

I enjoy dinnertime at our house. We do have one rule: NO electronics at the table! Tonya and I know that we would be constantly fighting for our kids’ attention if we allowed them. Once we thank God for the food, we simply talk about the day we had. For a while, I prompted them. I would ask, “What was the worst part of your day?” Then, I would follow that with “What was the best part of your day?” Just yesterday, my little girl went ahead and answered both of these questions without being asked. Dinnertime has become a time to really get to know what is going on in the lives of our children.

When I think about my family’s physical eating arrangements, I believe it almost perfectly reflects the invitation Jesus offers in Revelation 3:20. He stands at the door and knocks simply because He wants to come into my life. He wants me, as His kid, to turn off all distractions. He wants to sit at my spiritual dinner table and listen to the best and worst part of my day. He wants to whisper to me as I read His Word.

This is a very intimate request, especially when I think about my relationship with the one I dine with the most. There is no conversation like that of my wife and I when just the two of us go out to eat together.   It is vastly different than those occasions when I eat with other friends or coworkers. There is a level of intimacy with my wife that no other has. I let her in on things that nobody else will ever know.

Jesus knocks at the door of my heart seeking an even greater level.

Over the years, I have learned to bring everything to my Heavenly Father. I love the early morning hours. No noises. No distractions. I can talk to Him about every facet of my life. Sometimes, I don’t even have to talk. I just sit and read His Word and wait for Him to speak. Sometimes I just sit and type WMD’s or work on sermons keeping in mind He is right here speaking to me and through me. Lately, I’ve been reading the words of songs from an old Baptist Hymnal. He really does come and dine with me.

When is the last time you dined with Him? Get to the quietest place you can, focus on Him, talk to Him. The more you get to know Him, the more you will fall in love with Him.

You can dine with Him!

You’re invited.

Later

Adam

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. – Luke 2:12

Isn’t it so cool that the greatest gift this world has ever known came wrapped? Into this dark, sinful world the Son of God came to seek and save that which was lost. He came to save you. He came to save me.

I love to give my children gifts. I have a little girl whose love language is definitely “gift giving.” If my kids know a present is for them, the first thing they will do is tear into it by ripping that paper to shreds. They can’t wait to find out what is inside. Sometimes there are instructions. Sometimes they need Daddy’s help. Regardless, they do whatever is necessary to play with and enjoy what is inside.

It is interesting that the vast majority of Christians do not do the same thing with the Lord Jesus Christ. Christians will tell you He is the greatest gift to mankind. I think I knew this after I got saved, at least I was told. Unfortunately, I received this gift, and then proceeded to do absolutely nothing with that gift for years. I had the gift of salvation, but not once did I open it for myself and find out what salvation was really all about.

All the time in spiritual conversations people tell me they need to “do better.” People honestly believe that God is simply after their behavior. They say they need to be more patient, more forgiving, need to control their tempers, and this list goes on and on. Christians feel like they know what they “need” to do. Most of these men and women are very frustrated. They can’t figure out why they can’t seem to do what it is they know they need to do. Worst of all, they feel God is unhappy and disappointed with them.

Meanwhile, the gift that they received from God remains unwrapped. It sits there in the box waiting to be opened.

I have come to realize that there is only one thing that I can truly “do” for God. There is only one gift I can give back to Him. Thank God it is not simply to behave. The only thing I can do is carve out some time each day and simply spend it with Him. Sometimes, I open the gift right up, His presence fills my soul and it is joyous. Sometimes, I have to spend a few weeks or months reading the Instructions and figuring out the next piece I need to put together in my life. Sometimes, I simply have to pray and ask for Daddy’s help because I realize I can’t put it all together without Him. No matter what the next step is and no matter how long the next step takes, it brings me closer and closer to putting my life together and always brings me to a point where I enjoy His Presence even more.

This Christmas season, don’t just see Jesus as another ornament on display. See Him as the one who was wounded for our transgressions and pierced for our iniquities. Remember that God allowed him to be opened up and poured out so that we might be healed and filled.

Tear off the paper.

Open the box.

Fall in love with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It may be for the first time. It may be for the thousandth time. Either way . . .

Merry Christmas

Adam

Exodus 38:8

He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.  – Exodus 38:8

When God was having His people get everything in place to build the Tabernacle, He asked people to give up their possessions.  It says here in this verse that the serving women gave up their mirrors.

I sit here wondering why God would let us in on such a detail.  What is the significance?  These women at the time would not have been far removed from their old positions as slaves.  I imagine that these women would have watched the Egyptian women use their mirrors to make themselves beautiful.  What goes on in a slave woman’s heart when she sees these women?  Does she wish she could be beautiful like that?  Does she wish she had the means to afford all that they have?  Does she begin to hate her own life and wish to live the life of another?

I remember the days when I thought that if I could hit the lottery, if I were just a famous guitar player playing in a famous band, if I just had their talent, if I just had their intelligence, if I just had their lot in life, and this list just goes on and on.  It makes me sad to see today’s kids, teenagers, and even adults covet the same things.  They want to be the next American Idol.  They want to be the next Bill Gates.  They want to look into the mirror and feel what it is like to have “arrived.”

But these women gave up their mirrors.  Maybe it got tiring pretending to be someone else.  Maybe they got tired of wishing all the time.  Then again, maybe they figured out the one thing every person has to figure out in this life . . .

The Presence of God is ten thousand times better than anything this life has to offer!

You see, those mirrors got melted and turned into a laver, a place of washing and cleansing.  Just before the priest went into the Holy of Holies, he must wash in the laver.  The priest must be clean before entering the presence of Almighty God.  These women were more than happy to have a new position in life.  No longer would they serve and wish for the life of the Egyptian women.  They would serve at the door of the tabernacle and wait for the fire of God to fall.

They figured it out.

God is better.

Give Him the mirror and let Him do with your life what He wants.

It is far better than what you could come up with anyway.

Later

Adam

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is already here again. I just want to take the time to write a little bit about the power of giving thanks.

I have been under a spiritual attack. I have had 2 this year. Many of you recognized this last one from my last post. Many of you discovered that you were under one as well. As an educator and a minister, I am seeing God’s kingdom advance. I am watching people turn their hearts turn towards Him. I realize that our old enemy, Satan, does not like this. He manipulates what he can to make me tired mentally and physically. Honestly, I don’t really care that much if I am exhausted and don’t “feel” like praying or studying. I have learned that feelings can’t be trusted. I am just going to keep looking dead ahead at the prize and never ever quit moving forward no matter what.

Under attack, you hear voices that you know aren’t from you or from God. They discourage you. They tell you that you aren’t making a difference. They tell you that you might as well give up. They tell you that you should have never stepped on that narrow path in the first place. I was hearing these voices and diligently ignoring them, pleading the blood, rebuking them in Jesus name . . . all the weapons I know about.

Last week, our guidance counselor had the students at my school write notes to service men and women. She also gave them the option to write to teachers if they wished. This morning, I read over 25 notes written to me telling me what a difference I was making or had made in their lives. Satan had only been pointing out the ones in my mind who I felt like I was “losing” or had “lost.” It seems that I see one of my former students in the arrest reports at least once a month. That discouraging voice doesn’t waste a moment. But, here I had in my hand written evidence that what I do matters. Their thankfulness broke through and annihilated those demonic voices in my mind. I type this with a very thankful heart for the thankful students at my school.

I want to take this time to thank all of you who actually read my WMD’s. It blows my mind how far this reaches and how many actually read these things. All I really do is post my walk with Jesus. You guys know exactly what I’m studying, exactly what I’m struggling with, or exactly what God is laying on my heart. Somebody out there always lets me know that what I have written was not only for me, but for him or her as well. We are all on this journey together.

For that . . . I am thankful.

Keep your eyes on the prize.

He is worth it!

Happy Thanksgiving

Adam