Saturday, May 30, 2020
A God of Laughter
Psalm 126: 1-3, When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad.
Far too often, Jesus is portrayed as a stoic man who seemed to not smile often or at all. That seems so contrary to what I read in my Bible about a God who brings joy and causes us to laugh and praise Him. We are created in His image and I cannot imagine that a God who created us with the ability to feel joy, to smile, and to laugh, does not do so Himself. Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” It seems to me that we have a God who smiles and laughs when He rejoices. At the same time, the Bible also tells us that He laughs at the wicked. In Psalm 37:12-13 we read, “The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. 13 The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming.” During these times when it can be so easy to worry and fret, we need to stop, refocus our attention on the One who is in control. We need to get into His Word and pray without ceasing. We need to spend more time doing what we are told in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” The bottom line is that we have a God who is a just God who hates sin, and will judge it one day in a way not yet seen, outside of what was witnessed on Calvary’s Cross. God’s wrath will one day be poured out on this earth, but until that day comes, for those of us who know Jesus as our Savior, and have life eternal, let us not forget that just as He created us with emotions and the ability to smile and laugh, we have a Lord and Savior who smiles and laughs with us. I read this from Max Lucado this morning, which inspired me to write this devotional today. He wrote:
A Smiling God
“I’m not one who easily envisions a smiling God. A weeping God, yes. An angry God, okay. A might God, you bet. But a chuckling God? It seems too unlike what God should do – and be. As my vision improves and I’m able to read without my stained glasses, I’m seeing that a sense of humor is perhaps the only way God has put up with us for so long. Is that God with a smile as Moses does a double take at the burning bush that speaks? Is that a twinkle in His eye as He watches the disciples feed thousands with one boy’s lunch? Can you honestly imagine a somber Jesus bouncing children on his knee? No, I think Jesus smiled a bit at people and a lot with people. I think He was the type of Guy that people wanted to be near”
One day, Jesus is coming back to get us, His church. I cannot imagine that our reunion with the One who laid down His life for us is going to be nothing less than a grand celebration with smiles, laughter, rejoicing and singing praises! Proverbs 17:22 clearly tells us, “A merry heart does good, like medicine…” Some of us need to remind ourselves, and our faces, that it is okay to smile and laugh, even in the midst of hard times. I can say with all confidence that God will not mind, and most likely is smiling and laughing with us, as it demonstrate our faith in His ability to take care of us, our needs, and our concerns.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Just Go
Verse of the day: 1 Samuel 30:9-10, So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor.
We can learn a lot from David’s actions following the tragedy he faced due to his own backsliding. Let us not forget that David was running from Saul, was rejected by the people he chose to dwell amongst (the Philistines, chapter 29), came back to his dwelling place to find that his family and the families of his men had been taken, their homes burned, and the men now wanted to stone him (v. 1-6). What did he have left? From a human perspective, David had nothing left and no one to turn to. From a spiritual perspective he still had everything because He still had God. David’s response in this time of trouble to was to find strength in the LORD (v. 6). In verse 7 and 8 we are told, “Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, ‘Please bring the ephod here to me.’ And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, ‘Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?’ And He answered him, ‘Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.’” It is no great secret that we are all having to deal with the world’s current situation and the panic and fear that has paralyzed many. However, this is a time rich with opportunity. It is a time when we need to do as David did and strengthen ourselves in the Lord our God! Note what David did once he turned to the Lord. He did not sit around whining and complaining. He did not panic or allow fear to stress him out. He did not sit idly, but took to prayer, seeking God’s guidance in what he should do next. Once he received instruction from the Lord, he moved to action. He did not sit around waiting for further confirmation. He did not make excuses about not being able to go do what God was instructing him to do, once he inquired of Him. He simply went. Obedience is the one things we can do that will demonstrate how much we trust the LORD. If David had failed to obey the Lord in pursuing the Amalekites, he would have never recovered his family and it would have been a great failure of his faith. There are far too many Christians today that have allowed fear and panic overwhelm them to the point of being disobedient to God’s commands. We have been commanded to preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). Some of us have been convicted to use this time to start a study or reach out and encourage others, but have instead focused on what is happening in the world and have paid more attention to news media than to the Word of God. It’s time to take our eyes off the world and its foolishness and put our eyes back where they belong, on God and His Word. The things that are unfolding around us, and before our eyes, have already been spelled out for us the pages of our Bibles. The time of the Lord’s return, to get His church, is drawing nearer and nearer! It is imminent! It will come as a thief in the night! Why are we being idle? Why are we standing around paralyzed by the enemies’ greatest weapons fear and isolation? Like David obediently went…we too have to just go! Go where? Go find a person to tell about Jesus, what He has done and that He is coming back. Go find a brother or sister in Christ to encourage in the Lord. Go find a study to start or participate in, so that we can encourage one another. Our inability to gather together, and the attempts to silence our message is not an excuse to become silent and hide. God has blessed us with the ability to meet by way of other methods and platforms. The church is not the building we meet in. WE are the church. Every single born again believer that is indwelt by the Spirit is the church. We are all in Christ Jesus and He in us. Let us obediently behave and serve like we really believe that! JUST GO!
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Sunday, April 12, 2020
It Is Not Over
Verses of the Day: John 20:3-7, Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.
Happy Resurrection Sunday! This is the day we celebrate the fact that our Lord and Savior Jesus is not dead! Today, just as it was on that day, the tomb is empty! For the disciples, that would be a day when their joy would return. The sorrow of seeing their Teacher, their Lord, beaten, tortured, crucified, and put in a tomb would be dwarfed by the joy of seeing the tomb empty, and our God and Savior Jesus alive! Today we celebrate the fact that we have a Risen Savior, a Living Hope. 1 Peter 1:3-5 tells us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Death could not defeat Him and the grave could not hold Him. Acts 2:24 declares, “Whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.” But the Good News does not end there! There was something very significant that was put in these verses for us. Verse 7 says, “And the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.” A minor detail that in and of itself seems meaningless, yet it has great significance. The linen that wrapped His body remained, signifying that His body was not taken; it was not stolen. The handkerchief was left behind, as one to be used to wipe their tears, and this was a moment of celebration, and not of sorrow, for Jesus was alive! But even greater than that, as was and is the custom of one leaving their meal for a moment and leaving ones napkin folded as a symbol of our return to the meal and fellowship, the handkerchief was neatly folded as a reminder and symbol that this same Jesus who the grave could not hold is the same Jesus that will someday return to take us to be with Him forevermore! So today, let us not only celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, but let us also be watchful for the return of our Lord, Savior and King!
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Saturday, April 11, 2020
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