Luke 22:42: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
On April 3, 1968, (the evening before his assassination), Martin Luther King, Jr. in a speech in Birmingham, Alabama, said, "I just want to do Gods will. And He has allowed me to go to the mountain. And Ive looked over, and Ive seen the Promised Land . . . so I am happy tonight. Im not worried about anything. Im not fearing any man." No matter what your thoughts about Martin Luther King, Jr., the above shows that he was content and resting in whatever God would will. Unfortunately, most of our troubles relationally, and with God, come because it is our will against His. "Ill do it my way." I guess I can personally understand it a little in the world system, but not in Christs church.
Meditate On This!
Is your true hearts expression, "Your will be done, God"? Even if it means walking into a furnace? Even if it means not bowing down to an ungodly authority? Even if it means standing up for righteousness, although your pay may be cut? Even though it might mean being given millions of dollars - not to keep, but to pass on? Or it may mean dying to self?
In the end, it is an easy statement to say, "Thy will be done," and so much harder to accept it. But that is where God wants us. Please take time to meditate on whether that is the true intention of your life. We are but a vapor - it is going to go quickly. What is going to count? And who else would you rather have in control of your life than God.
Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Coach Johnny Hunton recently retired from 30 years of coaching at the Division I level in baseball. He spent time at Maryland, University of South Carolina, and finally at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Johnny has gone on a number of missions trips with us and is our "tract man". Hes always handing out the Word of God. On one of our nights of devotions, he talked about the letter "I". It is right in the center of the word "sIn". Its in the middle of the word "prIde". He went on to share about ten other words that are not God-honoring in which "I" is the center.
Meditate On This!
Are you really "crucified with Christ and you no longer live?" Let me give you a drill for this week. I challenge you to listen for the crucified life. How many times are your friends using the word "I" in directing attention to self? In your conversation, are you representing Christ and that you are crucified, or is there a self-indulgence in your looking at yourself? This week, think "others" more important than yourself. Try to drop the "I" out of as many sentences as you can and show people that you no longer live.
Matthew 23:1l: "The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
A truly humbled man is hard to find. Yet God smiles upon such selfless people. It is reported that Booker T. Washington, the famous black educator, was a shining example of this truth. Shortly after he took charge of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he was walking in an exclusive section of town when he was stopped by a wealthy white woman. Not knowing the famous Mr. Washington by site, she asked if he would like to earn a few dollars by chopping wood for her. Because he had no pressing business at the moment, Professor Washington smiled, took off his coat, and proceeded to do the humble chore she had requested. When he was finished, he obediently carried the logs into the kitchen. A servant girl recognized him, and later revealed to her mistress his true identity.
The next morning the embarrassed woman went to his office at the Institute and apologized profusely, saying, "I didn,t know it was you I put to work." "It is perfectly alright, madam," he replied. "Occasionally I enjoy a little manual labor. Besides, it is always a delight to do something for a friend." She shook his hand warmly and assured him his meek and gracious attitude had endeared him and his work to her heart. Not long afterwards, she showed admiration by pursuing her wealthy acquaintances to join her in giving thousands of dollars to the Tuskegee Institute.
Meditate On This!
What would your response have been had you been in the place of Booker T. Washington? Would you have smirked, laughed, or even rebuked the lady? Also, when you read this story, did you look to the end and figure the end result was worth the work? What if she had not given any money at all to him?
Meditate on this. The greatest in the kingdom is the servant of all. We all can look for better ways to serve our Lord through one another. What would God have you do this week beyond the call of normal duty?
John 11:35: "Jesus wept."
Have you ever run into an individual who seems to have the entire New Testament memorized? Well, maybe that is exaggerating, but we probably have all met people who really have an understanding of Gods Word. One of the reasons is that they have memorized Scripture. They have "hidden the Word of God in their heart."
We were taught the lesson even as a young person, werent we? In school, we memorized addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division tables. In chemistry, there was memorization involved. Why? So when we needed systems, we could recall them at a moments notice. They were tools that would be used throughout our entire lives. Isnt Scripture much more needed?
I am not talented at memorizing Scripture. I really have to struggle to get the exact wording down. To keep it in my "brain computer" is hard work. However, it is needed. As your heart yearns to be a man of God, I encourage you to begin memorizing Scripture. And, I would ask you to memorize first the above verse. Not only will it be an easy one for you, but it will keep your perspective right as you think of other verses you will learn. Dont get "puffed up" by knowledge, but realize that Jesus wept. He was our God who came to earth and had great compassion on men. He was not a cold-hearted authoritative figure - even though He could have been. He was not a hard taskmaster - even though He could have been. He was our Savior - and He had great compassion on the world.
Meditate On This!
In Ephesians 6, we understand that the "sword" in our spiritual warfare is the Word of God. How much Scripture have your memorized? Why not take a few moments right now and count the verses you know? How about categorizing them so that you will know which scriptures to recall for the spiritual battles that you are, or will be, involved in. If you are having a spiritual struggle now, why not write down six or seven and memorize them this week. God uses His Word to overcome those trials in our lives.
If you are on the other end of the spectrum, continue to memorize, but don't become puffed up in your knowledge. Humbly, before God, thank Him that He has given you victory in so many areas. This is not an academic venture. Remember, our God and Savior had compassion and wept.
Philemon 1:9-10: ". . . yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paulan old man and now also a prisoner of Christ JesusI appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains."
Appeals are part of our court system. Not only can the defendant appeal in a case, but often character references are called to make a point and a plea. The relationship of the individuals, as well as the integrity of their life, go a long way in determining an outcome. Here we see a close bond of Christ between Paul and Onesimus. Paul could have ordered Philemon to release Onesimus. However, the grace of Christ transformed this and all relationships, and consequently Paul appeals to Philemon in Christian love. The idea of this is to approach someone, have an intimate and friendly conversation, and plead with them.
Meditate On This!
Each of you receiving this have some position of authority in your chosen field. There are certain things you can demand of people. Sometimes you may need to pull that trigger, but what a great example here in the book of Philemon. Even the Word of God talks to us in Romans 12 when it mentions in verse 1, "I beg of you." Sometimes the best approach to conflict or getting things done is to make an appeal. Maybe today there is some person or situation that seems immovable. May the Holy Spirit give you insight this week as you try to be godly in the way you handle your affairs.
James 1:9: "The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position."
You kidding me? The lowest position should be the happiest? Should teams strive to finish last? Should businesses strive to go bankrupt? I dont think so!
We need to look at the context of this verse in James 1. God has been talking about wisdom, perseverance, and tests of faith prior to this verse. It goes on to say in verse 10 that " . . . the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower." Reality is that the proud, because of possessions, forget to look upward. The brother in low circumstances has only one way to look.
Meditate On This!
How do you see failure? Do you see it as punishment? How do you see riches? Do you see those riches as the highest standard to attain? If so, you may need to revisit the economy of Jesus. No, it is not wrong to be wealthy, however, it is wrong to trust in your wealth. True wisdom comes when we are able to speak to our Father and acknowledge that all has come from Him, and belongs to Him.
Maybe as you read this, you realize you are getting pretty excited about who you are and what you have. You are putting your faith in the things you have or the position you hold. How would you respond if Y2K really did happen and your wealth was erased?
Try living this week with the attitude of a humble poor man on the street corner. Approach people looking up to them, not down at them. Approach circumstances as a responsibility rather than a privilege. When someone helps you or serves you, be grateful.
Isaiah 9:6: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. . . "
Being involved in ministry has me around young people quite a bit. At our camps we will have kids ages 8-18 for the most part, but when visiting the homes of various individuals, I love being with the young kids. Although I am now a grandpa, I remember the days when Amy and Lindsay used to love to have me put them on my shoulders and take them around the house. I guess it is a different perspective from way up there for the little folks!
In the above scripture, we realize that although Jesus was born as a child, the governments of the world are on His shoulders. That means He lifted them up, and is much more powerful than they.
Meditate On This!
How about the "governments" in your life? How are you responding to those governments that Jesus has lifted up? The United States? The person who oversees your job? The responsibility you have in your family?
This is not a guilt meditation, but rather one to realize that wherever you are in life, God has lifted you to that point. Each of us needs to be in submission to those in authority over us. The bottom line is that we need to meditate on how powerful God is and how sovereignly He handles the affairs of the world.
Meditate on this, and thank Him for His big shoulders!
James 1:2-4: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
In 1966, the high school basketball team of which I was a member made it to the Final Four. It was exciting as a high school junior to play at the Field House in Madison, Wisconsin. The memories still linger! The following year, I was a returning starter from that team, and we had all the pressure to prove we could do it again. About the second week into practice I was getting frustrated. Why was the coach always yelling at me? Hadnt I given him everything, and yet he never seemed to be satisfied? I was wearing thin. Finally, I did something I never thought I would do. After one practice I asked to meet with my coach. He was a huge man whom I respected deeply. However, as I entered his room, I told him I was quitting. I just could not handle him getting on my case every practice about minute details. . .I had had it! I will never forget as he looked at me and said, "Tom, when I stop yelling at you, thats when you need to be concerned." It was only then that I realized that he did things in my basketball life for the purpose of making me better, not worse.
Meditate On This!
Trials, tribulations and testings that are coming into your life are not there because God dislikes you. It is because you are one of His children, and He wants only the best for you and His family. Could it be the adversity you are going through is Gods preparation for a bigger game.
