My Name is Written in the Book of Life

Posted on August 21, 2024 by wednesdaymorningdevotional

Rejoice in the Lord Always: and again I say, Rejoice.  — Philippians 4:4

This has been a rough couple of weeks.  I’m not going to act like a lot of it hasn’t been self-induced, but it has been rough.  I’m also more than aware that, what I call rough, another could probably call a cakewalk.  My mind keeps going back to Philippians 4:4 . . . I want to rejoice.  The words at the end of the previous verse say, “whose names are written in the book of life.”  I know that my name is there.  I’m holding onto that more than ever right now.

I looked back at 2 Samuel 12 when the worst happened to King David.  He lost his child.  He was fasting and praying like he probably never had before for his and Bathsheba’s child to live.  When the child died, what helped him more than anything?  Simply knowing where he was going at the end of his life.  “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:23). I hope and pray that I, nor any of you, have to endure anything like this.  But it is pretty amazing that we are told what to do:  keep our minds on the eternal, and not the temporary. 

Philippians 2:14 says that we should do everything without grumbling or complaining.  I haven’t been too great at this lately.  The verses do go on to tell me why I should get good, though.  God wants me to be blameless and pure.  He wants me to shine like the stars.  He wants this because other people are watching me live.  Why would anybody want the eternal life and the peace that I say I have if it obviously makes little difference in me when life happens?

Verse 16 says that the Day of Christ is coming.  We will all stand before Him one day.  It is appointed unto man once to die; and after this to face judgement. (Hebrews 9:27).  It just feels like life is on an accelerated pace right now.  It feels like we are racing towards the end.  I remember hearing in church all the time when I was younger that the Lord would soon return.  I thought of Christ’s return all the time, especially when I was somewhere I didn’t belong doing something I shouldn’t be doing.  I haven’t thought for a while that He could really return in my lifetime. 

I’m sure thinking it now.

Lord, it is not for us to know the day or the hour of your return.  It is for us to live this Christian life with joy.  You found me at my most sinful and wicked.  You knew the path of destruction that I was on.  You picked me up, cleaned me up, forgave me of all my sins, and to this day You are teaching me how to live.  Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me, Lord.  Bless me, keep me, and make Thy face to shine upon me . . . be gracious to me.  Help me to truly be a light that so shines before men.  Help me truly be prepared for the day that I stand before You.  Help me truly help others be prepared as well.  There is and never will be another like You, Lord!  Amen.

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A Foundation of Rock

Posted on August 14, 2024 by wednesdaymorningdevotional

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  – Matthew 7:25

This week has been quite a week . . . and it isn’t even half over yet.  It started off Sunday by absolutely feeling the glory of God in such a tangible way.  I couldn’t have asked for a better start.  By Tuesday afternoon, I saw just how destructive Satan and his demons can be in the lives of young people and families that don’t know God.  Sometimes things happen to me, and I cry “Why me?”  I can throw the quickest pity party.  Then I see things happen to others and quickly think, “man, things could be so much worse.” 

I am so glad that I have God as my foundation.  Recently, I saw a young woman who had just lost her boyfriend.  She was so crushed and felt such genuine despair that I could feel it too.  I felt so badly for her because I remember what that felt like . . . a couple of times.  The difference was that I always had Jesus and church to fall back on.  Thinking about it now, I hate that I used Him as a fallback, but I think that is the point of the story.  No matter what has happened in my life that crushed my spirit, I’ve always known that God was working in my life and had Romans 8:28 to keep things in ultimate perspective.  My will and God’s will so often just isn’t the same.  I felt for the young lady because I could tell she had no such foundation.  Her hopes and dreams were in this young man.  He was her foundation.  I thought, “a teenaged boy makes for a terrible foundation.”  In fact, any noun, other than Jesus, is a foundation made of sand.  Everything else is temporary . . . He is eternal.

The other day, I just wasn’t feeling the most spiritual.  I opened the “guided prayer” on the Bible app.  I just followed the prompts.  It did its job . . . it led me to the throne room of God.  But at the end, it asked me a question.  It asked, “What are you going to do to keep Jesus close throughout the day?”  I thought of how I haven’t been very close to Him throughout the past several days.  So, I made a plan.  I picked a couple of sermons to listen to, and I picked an old hymn along with a newer praise and worship song to listen to.  Instead of turning anything else on the tv or radio, I simply followed my plan. 

It worked!  By the end of the day, I was thanking and praising God because He had been ever so near to me for the entire day.

How awesome is the Rock of our foundation?

Lord, I’m thinking of a kid sitting in a Columbia prison right now who simply doesn’t have a clue about your transforming power.  He doesn’t know that you transform lives and give peace in the midst of storms.  I sure pray that You will send the right person to tell him about You, and I sure pray that he will listen.  Where would I be if You hadn’t come into my life at the exact same age?  Please do for him what you did for me!  Show him that there is a God in heaven who cares and grants eternal life.  Keep giving me peace amid my own storms.  I know it takes me longer than it should, but I always realize that on Christ the solid rock I stand, and that all other ground is sinking sand.  I pray for my own family, may the shield of faith block and extinguish all the flaming arrows that the enemy releases towards us.  I pray for the families of every person who took the time to read this little devotion this morning.  May You bless them, keep them, and make Your face to shine upon them.  Be gracious to them, Lord.  May Your countenance turn towards them . . . and give them peace.  Amen.

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Trying to Tell

Posted on August 7, 2024 by wednesdaymorningdevotional

How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? – Romans 10:14

I experienced something new in trying to tell someone about the Lord recently.  I heard the word “holy” being used wrongly, so I took the opening to say that “holy” simply meant “set apart” and “consecrated to God.”  I was met with being the “word police.”  I pointed out that I had simply given a definition and that the word “holy” meant something to me.

I was then told that I was “virtue signaling.”  Of course, I had to look this up.  Basically, I was accused of trying to puff myself up and flaunt my own morality through our conversation.  I said that this was not my intent and that I’ve come to know the Lord, love the Lord, and appreciate that He has changed me.  This, I said, is why I came in to defend the word “holy”.  Some words are reserved for God and God alone.

At this point, in his mind, I was still virtue signaling through false humility.  I ended the conversation by saying that I was simply trying to ultimately point the conversation to Jesus because we all need Him to go to heaven. 

Most of the time, I have wonderful conversations with people about the Lord, even with non-believers.  I love when I can visibly see the Holy Spirit at work.  This conversation made me wonder just how many people out there are truly turning an intentional deaf ear towards Christianity.  I don’t know, but it can’t stop me from trying.  Even now, I like to think that my new friend is laying down at night and thinking “I wonder why he said I need Jesus to go to heaven.” 

I’m sure praying for him.

Lord how can people believe in You if they haven’t heard about You.  The older generation of today was pretty much brought up in church.  They know the stories and know that the wages of sin is death.  So many in the younger generation know nothing about the things of God.  They simply don’t know.  Help us to tell them in a way that allows You to work on their hearts.  I don’t want to be the Holy Spirit, but sure am asking Him to be ever so present when I open the conversation about Jesus.  I can’t thank You enough for coming into my life.  Come into the lives of many, many more before it is too late.  Amen.

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The Difference a Day Can Make

Posted on July 31, 2024 by wednesdaymorningdevotional

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.  When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness.  He came to a broom bush, sat down under it, and prayed that he might die.  “I have had enough, Lord,” he said.  “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”  Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.  – 1 Kings 19:3-5

Reading this little passage right after Elijah called down fire from heaven and won the day over the prophets of Baal is just astounding.  God had just done an amazing work and the people had pledged their allegiance to God over Baal.  However, as soon as Queen Jezebel made a threat towards Elijah’s life, he became afraid and ran for his life.  Wasn’t God powerful over her, too?  What had happened in Elijah’s heart, mind, and soul?

The more I live, the more I know what happened.

This past Sunday was quite possibly the best park service I’ve been a part of.  The Spirit of the Lord was ever so present, and it was all I could do to not cry the whole time.  I felt “Victory in Jesus” to the max!  We prayed for each other, people prayed for me and my family, and we just lingered for the longest time we have ever lingered at the park.  I just didn’t want to leave.

Within 24 hours of that service, I was exhausted.  It was a tiredness that I wasn’t used to.  Then, a very familiar attack on my family . . . an attack that I can without a doubt hit my knees and hand it all over to God 99.9% of the time came.  It was like I had no spiritual fervor.  Darkness just surrounded me.  I felt like it couldn’t get inside of me, but it was all over my skin and felt like it went around the entire world.  I was in despair.  I was, very similar to Elijah, under spiritual attack.  How in this world did this minor (in the grand scheme of things) thing bring me so low?

All it took to break free was a great night’s sleep and to spend some slow and methodic time with the Lord the next morning.  He showed me how I was relying on my own efforts too much and too often.  He showed me that, in my heart, I was thinking that I had some sort of spiritual power in and of myself.  After I repented, I immediately saw how it was and is He, and He alone, who guides our steps.  It is He, and He alone, who keeps the darkness at bay.  I am nothing, and do nothing, but keep my trust in Him. 

Come, every soul by sin oppressed

There’s mercy with the Lord

And He will surely give you rest

By trusting in His Word

Only trust Him, only trust Him

Only trust Him Now

He will save you, He will save you

He will save you now.

Lord, I can’t thank You enough for hitting a big reset on my faith.  It’s almost like I got saved for the first time.  More than anything, help me to simply keep my faith in You and You alone.  There is and never will be another like You.  You’ve been the best thing ever to happen to me.  Thank You for keeping me.  Thank You for blessing me like You do.  And thank You for keeping the darkness where it belongs.  Without You, I’d have no chance of keeping it from consuming me.  I love You, Lord.  With a thankful and full heart, I begin this day.  Amen!

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Faith No One Can Take

Posted on July 24, 2024 by wednesdaymorningdevotional

When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh Lord, please leave me – I’m such a sinful man.”  — Luke 5:8

Peter and his crew had fished all night and caught nothing.  After preaching a sermon from Peter’s boat, Jesus asked him to put the nets out one more time.  Peter didn’t want to but did only because Jesus asked him to do so.  They caught so many fish their nets began to break.  Peter had to summon another boat to help bring in the haul.  It was at this very moment that Peter says the words that I have chosen for the main verse . . . Luke 5:8.

Peter knew at this moment Jesus was the Messiah.  He knew that things like this didn’t just happen.  He knew that Jesus must have been the one who created the sea and commanded the fish.  He knew that he was witnessing God in the flesh.  Other people saw the same miracle, but it didn’t do for them what it dd for Peter.  At this moment, nobody could take Peter’s faith away from him.

I remember when I started to take God’s Word seriously.  My friend had given me a Bible with my name printed on the cover.  I started making little marks next to each book that I read in the table of contents.  At first, I was marking off Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus.  But those were 50 chapters, 40 chapters, and 27 chapters respectively.  They took a while for me to read.  I found myself skipping around and reading Jude along with other smaller books to feel like I was making better progress.

I had probably marked off half of the books when I lost my Bible.  I looked everywhere.  After a few days, I just bought me another Bible.  I didn’t enjoy reading the new Bible.  I hit my knees next to my bed: “Lord, I’m sorry I didn’t take care of my first Bible.  Would You please find a way to get it back to me?” Mid prayer, the phone rang.  It was my grandma, “Adam, I found a Bible while I was walking.  It was on the side of the road, and it has your name on it.”  I hung up the phone and ran as fast as I could to her house.  Within 60 seconds of saying that prayer, I had my Bible back.  I walked ever so slowly back to my house praising and thanking God.  At this moment, nobody could take my faith away from me.  People could call it a coincidence all they want, but God had come through for me in a personal and tangible way.

I want to know some of your stories.  What has God done for you that has solidified your faith?

If you would like to read another similar testimony, click on this link:

The Story Behind: Revive Us Again

Lord, I see the next generation coming up and they haven’t been raised in church.  They weren’t raised by praying mama’s and praying grandmas.  They don’t know the stories of the Bible.  I’m asking You to find a way to make Yourself real to them.  Do for them things like You did for Peter and for me.  Personalize their experience so they will believe in You, and nothing will ever be able to shake them.  Help me do my part to live out my Christianity for all to see.  Help me to shine this little light of mine.  Help me to lead others to a personal and saving relationship with You.  Amen.

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The Cayman Islands

Posted on July 17, 2024 by wednesdaymorningdevotional

To the angel of the church in Sardis write:  These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.  I know your deeds, you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.  – Revelation 3:1

I often wonder what would be said “To the angel of the church in America.”  I hate to be so hard on American Christianity, but if we asked a hundred random people across the country what they thought about the church in America, what would be the consensus?  Right now, do we even have the reputation of being alive? 

This past week, I got to visit the Cayman Islands.  I knew before I got there that I wanted to send some postcards from the post office in Hell (just look it up if you don’t know) and go to Seven Mile Beach.  If you ever get to cruise to the Caymans, never accept a ride from the Taxi pushers rushing you to accept a ride for $12 a person.  If you simply walk one block, you can catch one of the Public Busses for $2.50. 

Our driver was the coolest.  I talked to him, and he answered so many of my questions.  I steered the conversation towards the Lord.  I led with, “Back home, we can’t drive more than a couple of miles without seeing a church, are there a lot around here?”  He said, “Oh sure, lots of churches!”  He then proceeded to point out every church we passed.  We passed quite a few churches on our way to Hell.  I thought of how many churches most individuals passed by over the course of his or her life on their way to Hell. 

I went ahead and went for it: “So do you go to church?”  I got the same response that I get here an awful lot: “I used to.”  He said he used to go to a little Pentecostal church that he enjoyed.  When I asked him why he didn’t still go, he simply said, “They used to be about helping the community, now they just keep money for themselves.”  All I knew to do was say, “Well, you keep serving the Lord, just because His people aren’t that great doesn’t mean that He isn’t.  I know He is the best thing ever happen to me.”  He kind of assured me that He still thought well of God.

Our time together quickly came to an end.  I paid him twice as much as he asked for and told him that I really enjoyed talking to him.  He was such a good dude.

What in the world would Jesus say to His church today?

Lord, more importantly, what would You say to me?  Sometimes I feel like I have the reputation of being alive and I know I’m dead inside.  Other times, I feel so alive, and others would consider me dead.  All I know is that You are the best thing this life offers.  You’ve done so much for my heart, mind, and life these 33 years that I have been saved.  Help me be truly alive in You!  Help me lead people to be truly alive!  I know I can stumble so easily and fall so quickly.  My hope is not in myself and my own efforts . . . my hope is in You.  May Your church find it’s true hope in You once again.  Revive us again!  Fill each heart with Thy love!  May each soul be rekindled with fire from above!  Hallelujah, Thine the glory!  Hallelujah, Amen!  Hallelujah, Thine the glory, revive us again!

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We’ve Got to Get This Right

Posted on July 5, 2024 by wednesdaymorningdevotional

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.  – Hebrews 12:14

I have written an entire book on how God can and will absolutely make us holy.  Holiness is simply real deal consecration to the one true God represented in the Holy Bible.  A person who is holy acts, talks, and behaves differently than the world.  There is a lifelong process that a true Christian undergoes that makes us more and more like Jesus.  If and only if you are in this process will you see the Lord.  If and only if you are in this process, will others see the Lord in your life. 

As it stands, America has a whole bunch of people who say they know the Lord, but their actions prove otherwise.  I am here to judge no man, but I can simply write what the Bible says.  I will admit that right now, at this point in my life, I feel far away from God.  I feel super mechanical when I read His Word.  I feel like I’m selecting from 100 sets of prayers that I’ve said my whole life when I pray.  I feel like He isn’t answering my prayers fast enough.  I could go on and on about what I feel like, but that matters not one bit.  What matters is what “thus saith the Lord.”  Jesus Christ is my rock and my refuge!  Regardless of my religious activity, I place myself in His righteousness each day.  Because He is righteous, I try to act righteous.  I’m also very aware when I don’t.

Let me ask a question before I move on:  Are you really and honestly trying to live for Jesus?

I ask this because I know when I am, and when I’m not.  I also ask this because I want you to know that it is okay to answer this question with a “no,” and still be a Christian.  If I ever say “no, I’m not” I follow it up with, “Jesus, I want to live for You.  It will not happen unless You help me. Please cover me with the power of the cross and the blood that You shed for me.  Please fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I’m capable of at least looking an ounce like I’m different from this world!”  I felt a wonderful shift in my spirit by simply writing that out, because I mean it in my heart as I write it.  God is the author and finisher of my faith.  If He isn’t . . . then I’m hopeless.  I can’t save myself, and even if I could, I know that I would fail if He truly left me on my own. 

Let me ask another question before I move on:  Do you really and honestly care if someone else dies and goes to hell?

Did you know that there are a LOT of Christians who don’t believe in hell?  I know that I should have put “Christians” in quotations because if you don’t believe in hell, then you have not put your trust in the real Christ.  You have not put your trust in Christ because you don’t believe John 3:16:  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.  The word “perish” is in there.  I don’t like it being in there, but it doesn’t matter what I like . . . it matters the way things are. 

Revelation 21:8 says “the fearful, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters, and all liars – they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”  Once again, I don’t like that, but it doesn’t matter what I like.  I’ve been just about all those horrible things mentioned, but I’ve begged on my face for the Lord to make me the opposite of those things.  I gave my life to Jesus when I was 16 just because I read the “all liars” part.  I know some people may read and say, “well I don’t believe any of that.”  The verse literally includes you . . . you’re the second one on the list.  If I recognized that in me, I’d cry out to the Lord, “Help me believe, Lord . . . Please.  I want to believe.” 

As it stands right now, out of 100 people in my circle of influence, maybe 5 or 6 make the attempt to live for the Lord.  The problem with that is probably 50 or 60 think they are living for the Lord.  Yet, they are blatantly sexually immoral, blatantly dishonest in business dealings, and blatantly vile in their speech and conduct.  If you think I’m judging . . . you are wrong.  I have my own set of sins that constantly rise up in me, but I don’t openly flaunt them and say, “This is the way that God made me so He must be okay with it.”   I don’t just keep living in the sin and hope for the best.  I cry out to Him, “I’m sorry, Lord . . . make me different, make me holy!” 

America is not in a good place right now.  This is the first year of my existence that I did not want to go and watch fireworks last night.  It just wasn’t in me.  Some of my most patriotic and best feelings I’ve ever had about our country has come from being in Salem, SC watching the fireworks display and listening to Lee Greenwood.  This year, I sat and watched Gone in Sixty Seconds on television . . .probably one of the dumbest movies I’ve ever seen, not to mention a colossal waste of time.  I sit here this morning and wonder why I felt this way.  I think it is because, for the first time in my 49 years of living, all I see is polarization.  There is this side, that side, my side, your side.  We are all over the place.  We should change the pledge of allegiance to at least end with, “One Nation, with liberty and justice for all.”  Why should we do this?  Because we are certainly not a nation “under God,” and we are the opposite of “indivisible.”  I can only imagine the uproar if they took those words out of the pledge, but it doesn’t matter what we feel like . . . it matters the way things are. 

The bottom line is Christians have got to start acting like followers of Christ. 

Yes, I’m including myself!

We’ve got to get this right.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.  – Hebrews 12:14

Lord, as I feel like I just oozed pessimism, I’m not pessimistic.  I just know that Your word says that “this world will pass away, but the word of the Lord will stand forever.”  I know that one day my little vapor that I call a lifetime will evaporate, and I’ll be with You forever.  What a day of rejoicing that will be!  I guess I just never thought I’d see the accelerated process of this world passing away with my own eyes.  Yet, I know that You can save us.  You are still in control.  You can send revival.  I know that You can do all things.  But I also feel like there are just so few workers . . . where are Your followers truly out here living for you? I can think of a handful.  Who is being the light shining in the dark world?  I can think of so few.  I also know that it doesn’t matter what I feel like, it matters what You say and what You have written for us in Your word.  I just read about Elijah feeling like I do now.  You reassured him that there were thousands who hadn’t bowed the knee to Baal.  You simply wanted him to go and pour into Elisha, the next generation, before You took him.  Help me to pour into the right people before You take me, Lord.  I certainly pray that there are tens of thousands upon tens of thousands who still think Your name is great.  I pray there are millions who would rather die than dishonor the great and the true God.  Change me, Lord.  Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.  Do this for all who have placed their trust in You.  In a word . . . “Help!”  Amen.

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Starting Sunday

Posted on June 26, 2024 by wednesdaymorningdevotional

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is set on Earthly things.  Philippians 3:19

Part of the reason Paul wrote to the church at Philippians was to commend them for how generous they were.  They shared and they suffered right along with Paul.  Paul truly felt like the Philippian church was in this whole “following Christ” thing with him.  In chapter 3, Paul tells them that he is treating Christianity like a race that he is trying to win. He encourages them to do the same.

Paul goes on to tell them that there is a group of people making Christianity look terrible.  These people honestly thought that they were better than others because they had a simple surgery performed on their private parts when they were eight days old.  They preached to new converts that they had to have the same surgery in order to be saved.  It is these people that Paul is referencing in the above verse that I have used for today.  People who above all else, wanted to be in control . . . the very thing we give up when we give our lives to Christ.  In most (not all) American churches, the people who give the most money have the most control.  In many of those cases, their goal in giving money is control.  I kind of wish I didn’t know this.

Today, we have a lot of people who claim to be Christians making Christ look super unappealing.  I’ve gotten in a decent bit of trouble before because I complained about “church people.”  Of course, I know that not all church people are bad, but here is what I do know for sure:  At this moment right now, to the overwhelming majority of food workers who work on Sunday, church people look bad.  Waiters and waitresses simply hate working when the church crowd rolls in.  In a nutshell, church people are entitled, and they are cheap.  Gives a bit of credit to “their god is their stomach,” and “their mind is set on Earthly things,” doesn’t it?

I’m not saying that I can’t forget as easily as the next Christian, but Christ is the greatest thing that has ever happened to any of us.  Don’t we want others to know how appreciative we are for what He has done for us?  Don’t we want to be as generous to others as He has been to us?  Shouldn’t Sunday workers be absolutely amazed at how much more pleasant and more generous the church crowd is than any other crowd?  After all, we just got finished worshipping the One who changed our hearts, changed our minds, and changed our lives!

One time I was with two of my pastor friends.  We ran up probably a $50 tab.  The waitress was not very good.  She was totally preoccupied and distracted . . . we could tell something was wrong.  We talked about how sometimes we didn’t give God good service and how well He tips us anyway.  We threw in $20 a piece and left her $60.  She ran out to catch us, apologized to us, and told us all that was going on in her life.  We told her why we did what we did, and all prayed for her right there in the parking lot.  I will never forget that, and I doubt she will either. 

Starting Sunday, can we just start being generous when we go out to eat after church?  Can we at least start showing love, being patient, being kind, and all the other fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5?  Leave a big tip along with a note that says something like, “I appreciate you coming in to work for us today,” or “God has been good to me, I want to be good to you.” 

I don’t know what you need to write, but thing of something . . . we have a lot of ground to make up. 

Lord, where would we be if you hadn’t been generous?  You gave Your life for us, but we won’t do the same for others.  You give so freely, yet we withhold so stingily.  You show kindness while we show entitlement.  Help us to be like You.  If You went into a restaurant today, the workers would be glad you went to their place.  Help us to fix this, Lord . . . starting Sunday.  Amen.

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What is Happening in American Churches?

Posted on June 19, 2024 by wednesdaymorningdevotional

So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach.  He must be faithful to his wife.  He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation.  He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach.  – 1 Timothy 3:2 (NLT)

A quick Google search has told me that there are approximately 380,000 church congregations in America.  At first, that seems hard to believe, but when I drive just a few miles in any direction, I pass several churches.  Here is a question that I’ve often posed to my Christian friends:  Are there enough real deal Christian men, men who truly choose God’s way over the world’s way, men who truly serve God with all their hearts, men who meet the above requirements in 1 Timothy 3:2, to put ONE in each of the churches in America?

If there are 330 million people in the US, 165 million of which are men, and we need at least 380,000 men to put ONE in each church, we need almost .25% of the population’s men to be true God-fearing men.  Consider at least one associate pastor, one youth pastor, and one care pastor (not that every church has one of each), but we get close to needing 1%, one out of every 100 men, to be solid followers of Jesus.

Another quick Google search estimates that Sodom and Gomorrah had around 1,000 people.  Of course, we can’t truly know because that place got utterly destroyed.  Abraham had asked God not to destroy the place if it simply had 10 righteous people (see Genesis 18).  10/1000 is 1%.  Abraham had started with the number of 50 righteous people, that would have been 5% of the population.

Are we at a place in America where we don’t have one out of every hundred people loving God with all their hearts, with all their minds, and with all their strength?

The people I have asked have all said, “Yes, we are at that place.”  I’ve asked students over the years if there is one student in their school that truly loves God and chooses Him over vaping, sex, cussing, social media drama, partying, and whatever else teens so naturally and quickly gravitate to.  Most cannot think of ONE!  In fact, over the years of my teaching at least a thousand students . . . I can think of 4.  One, I will never forget.  Two girls were berating him because he hadn’t had sex outside of marriage yet.  He looked at them and said, “I can become like you anytime I want, but you can’t ever become like me again.”  I never forgot that answer.

I’ve been in a lot of churches in my lifetime.  If you simply can play an instrument, and it proves beneficial to the worship team, most will let you play during a church service regardless of your character.  If you simply make Bible study a priority in your life, most church people will assume you are destined to preach.  Do a quick search on how many Christians read their Bibles, it is dismal.  I would, from my own experience, say that most of the church leaders, elders, and deacons do not make Bible reading, Bible study, and Bible application a priority.  I think they make church attendance a priority, but not spending alone time with God.

I really hope that I’m wrong here.  But the sad reality is that there are absolute giants of the Christian faith falling hard right now.  Preachers that I would swear would have been above reproach are causing some serious damage.  I know my faith is in Jesus and not in man, but I am beyond concerned. 

I remember the first church where I really grew up spiritually for a few years.  The church was decimated by adultery amongst the leaders.  I remember thinking, “Does anybody actually live this stuff out?”  I remember the church I went to after that, some 50/50 vote caused possibly the best church I’ve ever attended to split.  To this day, I still don’t know what it was about.  I remember the church I went to after that, there was this business meeting.  They had borrowed some money from the bank.  The pastor had negotiated a lower interest rate than they thought they were going to get.  He SAVED the church money!  Someone there quickly let him know that he should have NEVER accepted that offer without bringing it before the church.  They told him not to make a decision like that again.  I thought I was in the Twilight Zone.  But I’ll always remember how humble and gracious that pastor accepted the rebuke.  He was one of the real deals. 

Maybe I’m being too brutally honest.  Like I said, I really want to be wrong on this.  I hope it is a case like Elijah when he was depressed in the cave.  He was overestimating his own importance and God let him know that He had thousands who had never knelt before Baal (See 1 Kings 19).

What I think has happened is that we have taken the last part of that verse, “able to teach,” and made that the only requirement.  We have chosen good communication over good character.  We have also learned that a great communicator can build a church empire.  Unfortunately, when that communicator proves to be NOT above reproach, we see the devastation we are seeing now. 

Lord, I pray for a spiritual awakening in America.  Would You please send revival?  Would You set the stage for the hearts of men to truly be turned towards You again?  Strengthen the churches that exist right now, Lord.  May they turn from obvious sin.  May You reignite in the spirit of the congregations a love for Your Word and a passion for Your Name.  I’m not claiming to be anyone here, so will You keep my heart, mind, and soul inclined towards You.  Thank You for being the author and finisher of my faith!  Let us, Your people, see a true revival take place before Your soon return.  Amen.

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Only Trust Him

Posted on June 12, 2024 by wednesdaymorningdevotional

You are my God, save your servant who trusts in you. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. – Psalm 86:1

I have come to realize that there have been two phases in my walk with The Lord. Early in my walk, I thought God was always out to get me. In my mind, He was watching me all the time and just waiting for me to do wrong so He could punish. I sure gave Him a lot of fuel to work with. It felt like I just gravitated towards wrong. I wondered why He didn’t change me. I wondered why He didn’t wave His magical hand and make me not want to sin anymore. Like the Adam in the Bible, I blamed Him for as much as I could. Like the Adam in the Bible, I found myself avoiding God. I would say at that point in my life, I trusted in the fact that I had said “the sinner’s prayer,” and that at least I felt rotten when I sinned. Trust in those things didn’t provide much security.

A great shift happened when I began to read His Word and take it seriously. Every believer must have a handle on God’s Word. I find that so few Christians actually read their Bible and spend time in it. It is a private discipline that reaps public rewards. It was five years after becoming a Christian that I began to read it for myself. Looking back, no wonder the above paragraph was true for me. I had no grasp on the Word of God. I had not hidden any of it in my heart that I might not sin (See Psalm 119:11).

Yesterday was a pretty bad day. I needed to go to my Heavenly Father. My first thought was, “I don’t need to bombard heaven right now since I haven’t really been seeking hard after Him.” You see, for a moment, I was trusting in my own goodness . . . my own righteousness. Isaiah 64:6 tells us what to think of our own righteousness. The truth is, as days, weeks, months, and years go by, one of our three enemies will draw us away from God. We have the devil, the world, and our own flesh that wars constantly against intimacy with God. No matter what the reason is that we’ve strayed from God’s real and tangible presence, we can always return to Him.

It doesn’t matter what we feel like . . . it matters what His Word says!

Just like the psalmist in Psalm 86:1, my trust is in Him! Not my own righteousness, nor my own goodness. Most people, even Christians, think they are going to heaven because they are a good person. If you stand before God’s throne with that answer on the day of judgement . . . it will not go well for you (see Matthew 7:21-23). No matter how long it has been since you’ve felt God’s presence, no matter what you’ve done, and no matter how badly you need Him now, you can privately draw near to Him! You have full and immediate access to the God of this Universe!

Come every soul by sin oppressed

There’s mercy with the Lord

And He will surely give you rest

By trusting in His Word

Only Trust Him!

You are my God, save your servant who trusts in you. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. When I read that line, Lord, the truth is that I don’t call to you all day long. I am so prone to leave and forget about the God that I love. Help me, your servant to stay more in tune with you, and to be more constantly aware of just how near you are to me. Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. May all who read this call to you today. Amen!

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