Devotionals

Intro: In 2012, I went to Athens Greece with a group of fellow seminarians. While we were there, we toured the Acropolis hill: the citadel that contains the remains of the Parthenon Temple—dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena. Thinking about history and strolling the ancient ruins was fascinating, but what was even more awe-inspiring was standing on Areopagus Hill or Mars Hill. The view of the Acropolis from Mars Hill is absolutely incredible. Originally, Mars Hill was a place for worshiping three female goddesses of vengeance. Then, in around the 7th or 8th century, it became the location of the supreme court for homicide trials—a meeting of aristocrats who served a lifelong tenure debating cases.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul has reached Athens with his quest to spread the Gospel of Christ. He begins to talk about the death and resurrection of Jesus in the synagogues. He goes to Mars Hill where he is invited to deliver a sermon to this Areopagus council of stoics and philosophers. Paul is confused by the many altars erected to strange gods—idols—surrounding him. Essentially, these gods were not even being obeyed by the council; they just had the altars to ensure they did not make any of them angry. These aristocrats actually worshiped either temporal materialism or pantheism—the idea that the divine is the universe. The Apostle walks by an altar built “to an Unknown God” and he takes off on his message using this specific altar to point to Christ as being that God, but who actually wants to be know.

Even today, people may find it foolish to think it is possible to know a sovereign and supreme God of love and compassion—a God who made everything that exists and yet desires to be known through a personal relationship (John 1:1-3). This God is Jesus who serves as our high priest, sacrificial lamb, and the final altar or cross upon which he offers the sacrifice of himself for our sin, so we may know Father God. Never forget sin blinds us to the truth; so salvation brings revelation and opens our eyes to the things to which we have been ignorant. Never stand in spiritual ignorance, let Jesus open your eyes.

If you have never asked the Lord for salvation, please do so, today. If you do not have Christ as your Savior, you will pay the penalty for your own sin against Creator God because we all sin (Ro 6:23). Simply pray, “Jesus, have mercy on me and save me! Please forgive me for my selfish sin against your holy commands of love. Come and make your home in the core of my being, because I want to know you. Now, I realize I am your offspring and in you I live and move and exist. Fill me with the perfect presence of your Spirit and help me live obedient to your love.”

Acts 17:22-34 NLT 22 So Paul, standing before the council,[Mars Hill] addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23 for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.

24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. 26 From one man [one blood line] he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.

30 “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. 31 For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

32 When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” 33 That ended Paul’s discussion with them, 34 but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Prayer: Lord, as human beings we can be so very full of pride and arrogance. Please forgive us. As believers, we know your holy ways and divine thoughts are so much higher than ours. Thank you for Paul’s message today. The Truth helps us know that as we share the Gospel of Jesus, we can find common ground and then witness to the difference he makes in our lives each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: No matter what event I go to or attend, I am inclined to look for the circulating leader and how the rest of his or her team is working. I’m sure that is because for the better part of my life I have served as a leader of people and events. It is so important for every person to know not only the overall vision or plan, but the leader must also communicate the part each person will play and make sure he or she will be willing to perform the instructed task knowing every part matters to the success of the event. A leader should always be there for his or her team and willing to make the greatest sacrifice if necessary.

In our passage today, Jesus is the Leader Extraordinaire! He has chosen his twelve team members and has communicated the vision or plan. The disciples do not need to guess about what they are to do, because Jesus has instructed them well. They are to go to the Jews in various areas and tell them the Messiah is near; Jesus is talking about a spiritual Kingdom. Notice the message is for the Jews first—the lost sheep; the Jews are the ones waiting for their Messiah and he has come (Ro 1:16).

The disciples are to heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons (Mat 10:8). In the midst of sharing the message, Jesus tells the disciples they will need to pick up their individual crosses—deny themselves and anyone or anything that would hinder them—and follow Jesus, because he will be there for them. They are not to be surprised by opposition to the gospel. This experience will prepare the disciples to be passionate witnesses of the power and provision of Christ the Messiah. Christ prepares the disciples about making connections with other believers…even strangers. We must always remember Jesus provides for what we lack, so that we can proclaim blessings when his grace [divine favor] is manifest for our needs.

Jesus speaks to the hearts of people every day. We can certainly talk about the Savior with other Christians and be a blessing, but just remember unbelievers are also listening to what is said in public. The disciples were sent to give the message to the Jews, but when the non-Jews heard about the Messiah, they were also ready to receive the Good News. When it is clear a person wants to talk about the Lord, then bless him or her with your witness.

Matthew 10:5-15 NLT

5 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, 6 but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. 7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near [coming soon]. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!

9 “Don’t take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins. 10 Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.

11 “Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town. 12 When you enter the home, give it your blessing. 13 If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing. 14 If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. 15 I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for instructing us well. As your disciples, we know what we need to be and do in the Spirit. Open windows of opportunities for us to witness to others who so desperately need you and may not know you passionately want a relationship with them! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Some days it appears as if the devil is prevailing in this world, but it is precisely during these moments that we must stand strong in the power of God’s might and resist evil. Satan wants to defeat Christ’s Church through apostasy and deception, so being grounded in the Word of God provides protection and the ability to know the Truth. When we are determined to live a Spirit-controlled life, we will face spiritual warfare. Therefore, we need a defense for spiritual combat. Do you believe you need to protect yourself from the opposition of your spiritual Adversary?

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul wants the Ephesians to wake up and pay attention to the things they can do to cover themselves with the Lord’s protection in the midst of spiritual warfare. It is the Lord who helps us stand strong against the strategies of spiritual evil. Satan works through an evil world’s system. He is encompassed in every sin, immoral practice, false theology, false religion, and worldly temptation. Satan seeks to twist the Word of God, hinder God’s work and servants, hinder the gospel, and trap the righteous (Zech 3:1; Matt 4:6; 1 Thess 2:18; 2 Cor 4:4; 1 Tim 3:7). Because we have changed our allegiance from the realm of darkness and onto Christ the Light of the World, we have to accept those who rule the darkness will not let us leave their power without a fight. Therefore, if we are going to grow in godliness, we must put on the whole armor of God!

Righteousness is brought about by both the impartation of Christ, as well as the transformation the Holy Spirit works in us to bear spiritual fruit as we seek the Kingdom (Mat 6:33). Our faith must be lead by the Peace of God. This is a huge battle all by itself, because the things going on in the world strategically stir fear in people all the time. We must believe and use our faith to trust God to meet our needs even though the times are evil. Even when we are tempted to be afraid, we must use our shield of faith against the fiery darts of the enemy. May the salvation of Christ protect our minds as we stand on God’s Word and pray prompted by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 6:10-20 NLT The Whole Armor of God
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we [all Christ followers] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared [readiness to preach peace with God]. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil [evil one]. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike [all people made holy by Christ]. 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

Prayer: Lord, help me to put on your armor everyday and continue to walk by faith as I trust in you to protect me and my loved ones in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In Acts 26 Paul has been held in custody for two years and he has finally received an opportunity to plead his case before King Agrippa. So, with Governor Festus and other noblemen present, Paul chose not to plead his case, but to share the full story of his miraculous conversion to Christianity. So, instead of trying to save his own physical life, Paul shared his salvation story, with others, in hopes that they too would be saved for eternity.

Following Jesus’ visit to Paul on the road to Damascus, Paul was physically blinded for a period of time, but only so that he could open his spiritual eyes and then allow Jesus in to make the necessary changes that would impact eternity for his own life and for the lives of many as Jesus worked through Paul.

When given the opportunity, do you make things about yourself, or do you make things about Jesus? How often do you share your salvation story with others?

Paul was given an opportunity, and he made it all about Jesus instead of making it about himself. Paul said, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Cor 4:17) We see this very Truth through Paul in today’s passage. He didn’t think twice about his present troubles, rather he shared his heart for Jesus through his salvation story because he knew that vastly outweighed the trouble and eternity lasts forever.

Acts 26:19-29 NLT

19 “And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven. 20 I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do. 21 Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me. 22 But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God’s light to Jews and Gentiles alike.”

24 Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”

25 But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth. 26 And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak boldly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner! 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do—”

28 Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”

29 Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”

Prayer: Jesus, we thank You for the miracle of our salvation. Please help us to share our salvation story more and more. Guide us with Your wisdom to think less of ourselves and more of You. We want to share You with someone today. Please allow Your Holy Spirit to move through us to touch the hearts of others. We ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: Kingdom principles can be viewed by the world as being very “upside down.” In truth, God’s Kingdom is upside down from the world; righteousness calls for reversed values. In the world, leadership is about flesh-driven authority, elite dominance, and the misuse of power. In the spiritual family, leadership is about humble commitment, holy dependence, and selfless servanthood. Leaders, according to Jesus, are completely committed to him, dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit, and are driven to love God passionately by serving others (Mat 25:40). In between these two very different Kingdoms, we find a battle/opposition between the flesh, the Spirit, and Satan (Gal 5:17; Eph 6:10-12).

There are many places in the New Testament where our writers use warfare as a metaphor for the Christian life. Paul does the same in our passage today. A soldier for Christ is called to duty; he/she must look beyond the pleasures of this world and not let it distract him/her from fulfilling God’s command to be his witnesses. Paul encourages Timothy to be bold and productive—hardworking even to the point of exhaustion. He is not to allow the enemy to intimidate him; otherwise he will not be effective for Christ. Timothy is to give deep thought to these words from Paul.

Following Christ is not easy; it is the road less traveled that leads one to the narrow way of righteousness. We, too, should give deep thought to Paul’s words, because, we are soldiers of Christ Jesus and it is our duty to be witnesses for Christ in our culture. So, onward Christian soldiers! Have a blessed weekend…

2 Timothy 2:1-7 NLT A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus
1 Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. 2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.

3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. 5 And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. 6 And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. 7 Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this reminder from Paul to Timothy that we are soldiers in your spiritual army. We fight the good fight of faith and we claim every victory in the power of your name. Continue to make us courageous and bold in our witness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Times of transition [a process of change] can be difficult because it means we must adjust to a new way of seeing life or relating to new circumstances. Transition brings transformation [a marked change or end result]. God’s plan for our lives will always involve ongoing times of transition; we are being transformed from glory to glory into the image of Christ (2 Cor 3:18).

Jesus spoke of the difficult transition leading to a transformed life as his followers, “Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life [eternal], and few are those who find it (Mat 7:13-14). God transitions us by stripping off the old things we have held onto, so we will welcome the new things he intends to bring into our lives. Beyond the narrowing is abundant life. How we handle transition is important, because God is grooming us for his future Kingdom plans.

In our passage today, Paul is writing a letter to Timothy and letting him know he is coming into a time of transition—he is going to be facing a lot of pressure because he is stepping up in leadership. The pressure is not going to come because his responsibilities will be so different; rather the difficulty will come because Satan does not want Timothy to be empowered by God. The storms of persecution will come against him to stop his progress in the midst of the transition. Paul reminds Timothy that he has everything he needs to be successful in Christ—he has the resources of heaven that can always be appropriated by faith. The Holy Spirit will give Timothy the power he needs to be successful.

Many people are facing a storm induced transition, today. Maybe you are one of them. Your storm might be physical, emotional, or spiritual. If so, please make Christ your solid foundation and call on the power of the Holy Spirit to get you through it. On the other side of transition is a transformed life drawing nearer to the holiness of God.

2 Timothy 1:8-14 NLT
8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 11 And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.

12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.

13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. 14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving your children so much that you bring times of transition in order to develop us in your holy character. Please be our Helper and lead us in the paths of righteousness for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: On my desk at home I have a pair of Emmett Kelly, Jr. bookends that my mother bought for me years ago. Emmett Kelly Jr. was a legendary American clown; his character was Weary Willie. These bookends in some way touch my soul; in between my bookends rest my three favorite Bible translations. So, Weary Willie reminds me when I am tempted to feel weary, it is time to reach for the Word!

In our lesson today, Jesus has the Jewish nation on his mind. He uses two events like bookends to his lesson about judgment. The first piece or bookend of the event takes place when Jesus is walking toward Jerusalem with his disciples, realizes he is hungry, and walks to a fig tree in order to pick some fruit. But there is no fruit even though the leaves on the tree make it look healthy and promising. The leafy fig tree is a facade; looks visually inviting and hopeful, but void of fruit [the tree is an object lesson about the spiritual hypocrisy and fruitlessness of Israel]. So Jesus gets angry, curses [judges] the fig tree, and keeps walking to the temple.

When Jesus gets to the temple, he becomes aware that the priests have ignored God’s instruction about their duties to maintain a sacred place of worship for God’s dwelling. Instead, the priests, money-changers, and merchants are padding their pockets by taking advantage of the poor [extortion]. As well the priests are doing business in the Gentile courtyard which hinders the non-Jews from worshiping. Therefore, the temple is a facade; looks like it is busy with life, but it actually is a place where the practice of sin is allowed to hide and contains no prayer for the nations. Immediately, Jesus expresses the anger of God and drives them out of the temple [judgment has been put into action]. Note, the temple will be destroyed in 70AD when the judgment is complete.

Here’s the second piece or bookend of the event: The next day Jesus and his disciples are walking past the same fig tree [still an object lesson] and they notice it is dying from the roots up. Jesus wants his disciples to understand about the judgment coming. If the life of Christ is not in us, we will not only be fruitless, we will spiritually wither and die. We must dwell and abide in Christ.

Only the life of Christ can atone for our sin, but repentance and turning from sin is essential. Jesus is the Judge of sin and we must surrender to his righteous commands. This evening ends Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement. For the Jew, it is a time to ask God to forgive and cleanse his people from sin. For Christians, we know Jesus is the Messiah who atones for our sin and provides peace with God. So, today, may we spend time in prayer for the Jews to recognize their Messiah who offers peace, the salvation of the unbelieving world, and for our very own hearts to repent of all known sin. Judgment is inevitable, but forgiveness comes when we ask for the blood of Jesus to cleanse us.

Mark 11:12-14, 20-24 NLT Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
12 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.

20 The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. 21 Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!”

Prayer: Lord, according to your Word, I know your plan for redemption includes the salvation of the Jewish people. So on this Holy Day of Yom Kippur, I pray for the Jewish people to come to know you as their Prince of Peace and personal Savior. May they receive the perfect atonement you offer. Open their eyes, reveal yourself to their hearts, and help them confess, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” For non-Jews, we pray for them to hunger for your righteous justice, mercy, and forgiveness, Lord. And for all hearts, we pray the blood of Jesus to cleanse us and make us holy in your sight. We are a sin-prone people, but you are a holy God! Hear the cry of our hearts, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: It has been days now since hurricane Ian made landfall in southwestern coastal Florida. The photos and the news articles of the devastating details are hard to comprehend; the destructive power of the storm that left its mark on much of the state. Even believers have been struggling to figure out how God could have allowed this to happen. However, we must never forget the world is demonically influenced by the methods of Satan (John 10:10). As well, don’t miss the promise nestled within the destruction: God will always take what Satan means to rob, steal, and destroy, and use it for good [bringing the promise of redemption, the return of the Son to defeat evil, and the establishment of the heavenly Jerusalem on earth].

It is true God has the power to rebuke the wind and the surging waves and they are forced to obey him, but we must never forget this world is not as God created it or desires for it to function (Luke 23-25). This world and everything in it is going to face the judgment of God. Human beings gave power to sin, even though they were in God’s Garden paradise, and from that moment on the world was subjected to God’s curse against sin (Ro 8:19-22). So, according to Scripture, God’s anger against sin is even experienced in natural disasters (Luke 21:25). Natural disasters always shake our understanding of who is in control, but we are once more keenly aware that human lives are fragile and possessions are temporary. God is good and we must always hold onto that truth in our hearts. Our faith in the Son of God must rule our lives, because we cannot serve two masters and making a choice between earthly possessions or heavenly treasures will come (Mat 6:19-21, 25).

In our passage today, the Apostle John wants us to remember those who believe Jesus is the Messiah are spiritually born again as the children of God. We are now empowered by the Spirit of God to love him and love others around us as we place our faith in the Son who makes it possible for us to obey the Word of God with our choices. Believers have eternal life—Jesus—and have fellowship with him. We believe in the incarnation; so, now we must choose to be the heart and hands of Christ in the midst of this natural disaster. God’s children will be revealed by the love we proclaim with Abba, as well as the love we share with others because we live in fellowship with him. Jesus is the Truth—a person of divine love and integrity. Let him live through you, because we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word/Truth of our testimony (Rev 12:11).

1 John 5:1-5, 18-21 NLT Faith in the Son of God
1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

18 We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. 19 We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.

20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.

21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for providing a Way for believers to remain strong in faith even in the midst of every physical, emotional, or spiritual storm. It is through faith that we defeat Satan and every plan he has to rob, steal, or destroy us as your children. Please continue to give us wisdom and understanding, so we are not distracted or tossed to and fro by the work of evil. We will remain focused on you by holding onto your promise to love, care, and partner with us to be a source of restoration. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Last week someone asked, “why isn’t God stopping Hurricane Ian, or better yet, why did He even allow the storm to begin in the first place?”

If we are all being completely honest, at times along our faith journey we have found ourselves in difficult places and have asked questions like: “Why, God?”, “Where are You, God?”, or “Are You really good, God”? If we take our honesty to a place of Biblical humility, we can admit that in those times we were doubting God, we were not trusting in Him, and our doubt and lack of trust were directly connected to our lack of Biblical saving faith. That Truth might be a tough and ugly pill to swallow at times; but our actions and inactions are a direct indicator of our faith or lack of faith.

So, how are we as believers supposed to respond to the destruction of Hurricane Ian or to hard times? In today’s passage, James tells us that as believers we are to consider ourselves fortunate, or in other Biblical translations we are to consider it a sheer gift (GNT), consider it pure joy (NLT), or allow it to give us a reason to be very happy (ERV), because it will all be worth it in the long run (for eternity)!

Considering ourselves “fortunate” during a hard time might sound like a crazy idea. But James wants us to know that when we allow the Spirit of Christ, by our faith, to guide us during hard times that our faith succeeds (or grows) and as a result our ability to endure during hard times also grows. It is all about God seeking to grow us up in our faith, so that we trust in Him at all times, and ultimately, He can keep producing something worthwhile and eternal in each of us. The key to this happening is that we have to be fully willing to allow God to work within us.

James is not telling us to plaster on a fake smile in the midst of pain during a hard time. Remember, James was the younger son of Mary and Joseph, so he knows pain as he watched his own Brother be nailed to a cross and crucified. Rather, in today’s passage, James is guiding us towards praying to God in the midst of pain and calling out for His Godly wisdom. You and I need God’s wisdom to lead our faith in hard times. Otherwise, Satan will seek to weaken our faith with doubt. Doubt is not from God, and if you and I allow it within our souls (our minds, wills, and emotions) Satan will use it like Hurricane Ian to cause destruction of our faith. God’s wisdom within us stands against Satan and his tactics to destroy us and our faith…so we need to pray for God’s wisdom every single day!

James 1:2-8 (GNT)
Faith and Wisdom

2 My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, 3 for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. 4 Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all. 6 But when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind. 7-8 If you are like that, unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being the ultimate example of faith. Your faith never wavered on the cross, the most difficult of times, and so we call on that faith for our own lives. We seek Your wisdom, Lord, and we need Your help to cast out all doubt. Forgive us for our lack of faith and our lack of trust. Strengthen our faith, Jesus, by Your wisdom. We ask this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: We are all called to be a living expression of faith in God. I want us to think about that statement for a minute. How you and I live, move, and have our being is to be an expression of what we believe about Christ and his love (Acts 17:28). I pray you are home safely and you, like me, are praising God we were spared of greater destruction from hurricane Ian. As well, I am praying about ways we can be the expression of Christ to our Florida neighbors who faced the storm head on and are suffering.

In our passage today, Jesus is revealing God’s heart to his disciples and to the crowd that follows him. He is the Healer and he cares about the suffering of his children. Everything about Jesus is compassionate and full of mercy, so he reaches for the suffering around him. The two blind men—who cannot physically see Jesus—spiritually know he is the long-awaited Messiah; while, the religious leaders have no idea who Jesus is and how he is able to do such amazing miracles. It becomes so clear that we can have an idea about God, but offer no accurate expression with our lives. We must be followers of Christ to be a true expression of him. As we go back into our routine lives (following the storm) let’s remember to reflect his glory and praise the majesty of our Messiah! As well, let’s look to be a healing hand of hope and help.

Matthew 20:29-34 Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
29 As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind. 30 Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
31 “Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them.

But they only shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

32 When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, “What do you want me to do for you?”

33 “Lord,” they said, “we want to see!” 34 Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for keeping us safe through the storm. I pray for wisdom to know how to be an expression of your love to those who find themselves facing catastrophic loss and in need of help. Use your children, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.