Heirs of Faith

March 9

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was

made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him

that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

Acts 3:16

Roger was a strong if not large man. He had a deep chest, strong back, and

bulging biceps from knowing the business end of a shovel and sledgehammer

most of his life. There wasn’t much he feared when it came to brute strength.

He had entered and won arm-wrestling contests across three states. 

His powerful shoulders had always given him an advantage over his opponent.

But right now Roger was on his knees before God. He was facing cancer,

and his physical strength could do nothing; he needed Someone else’s strength.

Roger was a God-fearing man. It wasn’t his strength he was relying on

today. He was petitioning the One Who had what he needed. He had seen

God heal before and believed that the same power that had raised Jesus from

the dead lived in him and had the power to bring healing when doctors said it

was impossible.

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Roger’s faith revealed Who he looked to when his own strength was insuf-

ficient. He was giving God his undivided attention. Peter had shared the Holy

Spirit’s power with the lame man in today’s text. God healed the man to dis-

play His mighty power left behind following Jesus’ ascension.

Peter, a man reaffirmed by this same Jesus, knew Whose power he called

upon. Roger also knew the Power Source and took his problem to Him

immediately.

The lame man was healed because it brought glory to God and revealed

the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Son of Man. As rightful heirs, we have

the ability to call on that power anytime, anywhere. God is sovereign, and we

don’t always get the answer we are looking for. But we can, by faith, come ask-

ing and trusting that God will always do what is best for us. Because of that,

we can come to the throne in confidence.

Prayer

“Power of God, we come seeking healing today for our lives

and the lives of those we love. May we sense Your presence

and power in our life today! In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Let's Say Thanks Already!

March 8

When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people...

Mark 8:6

Lindsay placed the grilled cheese sandwich in front of her eighteen-month-old daughter, Jozlyn, and turned back to get their drinks. Her mom, Nancy, was getting the rest of the food and condiments from the fridge.

Both heard 'jabbering' along with a slapping sound, and turned to find they were being beckoned. Ready to eat, Jozlyn was rapping on her highchair tray with her little hand, while trying to be understood in 'toddler-speak'.

Having gotten their attention, she held out her hands, looking with anticipation from her sandwich to her mom and grandma, and back to the sandwich.

Lindsay responded with a knowing smile. “Okay, Little J,” she said, as she and Nancy walked over, and took Jozlyn's hands so they could say grace.

As Lindsay said, “Amen,” Jozlyn pulled her hands away, picked up a wedge of her sandwich, and began eating; God had been thanked, her food had been blessed, and it was okay to eat!

Lindsay and Nancy smiled, delighted Jozlyn had waited to begin eating until thanks had been given.

†

The term 'Out of the mouths of babes' is apropos in this situation. Although complete understanding is years away, Jozlyn already knows the importance of bowing her head and thanking God for her food.

Having witnessed and been a part of prayer before every meal of her young life, Jozlyn, hungry as she was, knew she needed to say thanks for the food before she ate. Having her display basic understanding, and a willingness to adhere to her parent's teaching at such a tender age, was exciting.

We have many examples throughout scripture where Jesus and His Disciples showed gratitude for the things they received from the hand of God.

As Jozlyn's actions attests, we learn best by example, and God knows it. I think it quite probable that many in the crowd mentioned in today's text witnessed the value of giving thanks, and applied that simple yet powerful act of gratitude from that day forward.

Prayer

“Father, for all we receive from Your hand, we give You thanks! Amen.”

 Fearless Integrity

March 7

The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths

will be found out.

Proverbs 10:9

The roadside billboard asked, “Are you a person of integrity? God.”

Harold was troubled by the question. He had just left a business meeting and

had to admit he had hedged his bets. 

He hadn’t exactly lied, but he had not shared some important information that could have benefited the committee. He believed he might be able to benefit by withholding this information. The next two hundred miles were spent seeking God’s resolution to the issue.

Returning to his office, he called the committee via teleconference and advised them of the information. He went on to explain he would understand if they backed out on the deal due to his deceit. 

To his surprise, the group knew of the information themselves and had to admit to their own duplicity in the matter. Asking forgiveness, they committed to complete disclosure in the future. Their openness marked the beginning of tremendous growth for each of them, spiritually and in their business.

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God wants us to reflect His Son’s attributes. Deceit is inconsistent with integ-

rity. The handing over of integrity began in the garden, and the process con-

tinues today. Satan still whispers in our ear, “What they don’t know won’t hurt

them. You deserve an edge. Keep quiet.” His attempt to persuade us to listen

to his lies reveals that his character never changes. He only wants to steal and

kill and destroy us.

God’s character never changes either. Holiness won’t allow Him to lie or

hedge his bets. Only His kids have that ability. It remains our choice whether

we seek an edge in the world or choose to bring all temptation, and therefore

the outcome of our lives, to God’s care.

He commanded us to be honest and forthright. Whether we’ve been dis-

honest in the past or not, He asks us to become men and women of fearless

integrity.

Prayer

“You see everything we do, Lord. But because others don’t,

it’s easy to be less than honest in our dealings. Help us desire

to be men and women of integrity. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Roots

February 6

...consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Romans 11:18

As Josh dug a little deeper beside the crack in the driveway, he found multiple roots spreading out in every direction. He was getting tired of what he viewed as their destructive growth, forcing large parts of the asphalt to heave and split.

The tree causing the issue just happened to be the one he and his sons, Matt and Scott, had planted years ago when they were just boys.

At the time, he hadn't foreseen the potential problems from planting the sapling within fifteen feet of the driveway, he was focused more on it being time invested in his boys. It had always stood as a reminder of the labor they'd shared, and how the boys had nurtured the tree early on.

Now, twenty years later, he was regretting his inexperience as a horticulturist. Everywhere he dug the pesky roots showed up. The sapling had taken hold in fertile ground and flourished, becoming a large mossy oak!

In spite of his frustration he smiled, remembering how proud the boys were when the tree bloomed after its first winter. Looking into the hole, Josh made a decision; the sentiment and meaning found in the roots outweighed his irritation. To heck with the driveway. I'll just keep patching it!

†

Roots provide life-giving support for the tree. Digging deep, they do everything they can to find and provide what the tree needs, letting nothing stand as a barrier to their responsibility. As parents, we try to do the same for our children.

Throughout Country Recording Artist Parmalee's hit song, 'Roots', runs a powerful message of family, home, and heritage, but at the heart of the song is a telling lyric: “No, I can't outrun these roots, even if I wanted to. Thank God I can't, their tangled up in every part of who I am, without em I know I don't stand a chance!” Wow! To recognize and embrace their familial heritage shows wisdom and maturity.

Jesus is the Root of Jesse, and He is the support our spiritual lives need. His life and sacrifice provide us the ability to not only survive but, like the tree in today's story, flourish in the face of adversity. And just like Parmalee's assessment of their tangled roots, without Jesus, we don't stand a chance.

Prayer

“Thank You, Father God, for sending Jesus, our life-giving Root, Who provides nourishment and strength for this life, and the security of our eternal life. Amen!”

 Bullied

March 5

Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men of violence … they make their

tongues as sharp as a serpent’s.

Psalm 140:1, 2

Carl wet his pants in the third grade. The teacher wouldn’t let him out of class.

Her rule was, “You go before or after, not during classes.” Seated right behind

Carl that day was the class bully. Bully’s harassment of Carl began that day. He

never let up, always calling him derogatory names.

After years of Bully’s abuse, Carl became aware of two things: he was

afraid to stand up for himself, and nobody else was going to do it for him. He

lived in constant fear of his next encounter with Bully.

Carl never forgot those years and became an angry man because of those

unresolved wounds, venting his anger in ways that caused additional pain for

himself and those he loved. He developed a quick temper and frequently spoke

in clipped sentences to let people know they were an annoyance.

God tried to help Carl, but Carl was angry at God for allowing Bully to

do the things he had done. For all intents and purposes, Carl appeared to be an

upstanding, confident man. In silence, Carl’s private wound continued to ache;

he refused to talk about it.

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Carl isn’t alone. Many of us walk around with deep, secret wounds inflicted by

the bullies of the world, hoping no one will ever find out. Satan wants us, like

Carl, to remain silent, for in the silence there is no healing.

God wants those who have known bullies to come to Him for healing. He

alone can take away the pain. He alone can speak His truth into the wounds of

our heart. God is heartbroken over the bullies of the world because they abuse

free will.

Free will means that God could not stop Bully from doing what he did

anymore than He would stop us from committing the sin in our lives. To do so

would mean we had no free will. But God is there in our pain, asking us to let

Him heal our wounds. Free will is ours in this matter also.

Prayer

“Come and set me free from this pain, Lord. Speak Your truth

to my heart. Bring healing to my soul. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 Comfort Zone

March 4

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord

will be kept safe.

Proverbs 29:25

David received a call from a friend who was offering free tickets to the political

event of the year. His first impression was negative; he disliked political socials.

After a moment of discussion with his wife, they accepted the generous

offer. David and Gwen were determined to see what God would lead them

into at this event.

In black tie and evening gown, they walked into the ballroom. Finding a

table amidst the hundreds of people was uncomfortable for David. Surveying

the room, they found a relatively vacant table occupied only by a retired pastor

and his wife. The couple introduced themselves and was seated.

They were joined at the table by a county commissioner and his wife, as

well as one of the wealthiest men in town. As the evening progressed, David

and Gwen spoke openly with everyone at the table but had extended conversa-

tions with the wealthy businessman. David exchanged business cards with the

man as the evening ended, expecting this might be his last contact with the

man. David was surprised and delighted to receive a phone call from him the

next day. Over time, God built a strong relationship between these men, allow-

ing one to share his faith and the other to share his wisdom.

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God will never ask us to go somewhere and do something He’s not willing to

equip us for. Had this couple decided to yield to the negative inclination of

the initial contact, they would have missed out on a relationship that enriched

their lives. They were not looking for what this rich man’s wealth could do for

them. They were looking to see where God could use them to deepen this man’s

relationship with God.

Fear of power and even money can keep us from experiencing unique rela-

tionships with some of God’s most creative individuals. When we open up to

possibilities and expand our horizons mentally, God will expand them literally.

Prayer

“I’m uncomfortable in some situations, Lord. Help me

put that fear to rest. Teach me to bring my fear to You,

where it belongs, in Your hands. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 Not on Our Own

March 3

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to

all who believe.

Romans 3:22

As they reached the trendy restaurant, the couple noticed the scruffy-looking

teenager soliciting passersby on the corner. Panhandlers were a city staple. “Got

a couple bucks, mister?” came his routine greeting. “What are you doing out

here, young man? And where are your parents?” the woman asked, the mother

inside her rising up.

“Whadda ya care, lady?” came his defensive response. “I got no parents. I

take care a’ myself. You got any cash or not?”

“Have you eaten, son?” spoke the man, kindly. “We would be honored if

you would join us for dinner.”

Unsure why, he accepted their offer.

Having settled the matter, they headed into the restaurant with the young

man in tow. When the maitre d’ saw them, a quick, disapproving manner

assumed his countenance. It was his way of trying to discourage them from

bringing street trash into his establishment. This was an establishment they

frequented. So letting the maitre d’ know that the young man would be joining

them, they were grudgingly seated at their usual table. The young man couldn’t

believe what he’d just witnessed, someone taking a stand for him in the pres-

ence of resistance.

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There are those who frown on persons who are unable to pull themselves out of

the mire under their own power.

Where would we be if God had left us to pull ourselves out of our own

sin? Without Jesus going to the cross, we would be damned for eternity. We

could not, regardless of the length of time given, manage to do something we

are incapable of.

Sometimes people need help. Salvation seeks out the surrendered, those

who are aware of their inability to defend themselves before a righteous God.

The maitre d’ has as much right to it as the orphan. If we assign salvation to

those who look worthy, we will miss opportunities to show others the door to

salvation in Jesus Christ.

Prayer

“I really don’t know whose heart You’re working on at

any given moment, Lord. Help me understand that

none are worthy, but all may come. Lead me to someone

in need of Your love. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”