When the Master Speaks

To call people … to the obedience that comes from faith.
Romans 1:5

Steve and Becky love their dog, Dakota. Steve is the disciplinarian; Becky is the softie. Steve demands Dakota’s obedience; Becky spoils and dotes on him.
One day, Becky called Steve at work to tell him that Dakota refused to get into the bathtub for his weekly bath. He refused to move from his comfy pillow bed. Steve told Becky, “Put the dog on the phone.”
“What?” Becky said incredulously.
“Put the dog on the phone,” Steve reiterated. “I want to talk to him.”
So Becky took the wireless phone to where Dakota was defiantly lounging, and holding his floppy ear out of the way, she held the receiver close enough for the dog to listen.
Steve gave one simple command, “Dakota, go get in the tub now!” And with that, he rose from his bed and went straight to the bathroom. He hopped into the tub and waited for Becky to bathe him.
Astonished, Becky asked, “How did you do that?”
“Simple,” Steve answered. “Dakota knows who his master is. He knows I mean him no harm and would not tell him to do something unless it was important. When he heard me speak, he knew he could either obey and things would go well, or he could disobey, where there would be a consequence. He remembers the rewards he has received for his obedience and the consequences he’s paid for disobeying. He simply made an informed choice.”

†

What a perfect example of unquestioning obedience! Steve, in his authority, asked Dakota for obedience. Dakota, wanting to please his master, chose to obey—a perfect metaphor of what God wants for His children.
But generally we are not as quick to respond. We demand explanations for why we should obey. We question God’s motives instead of immediately submitting to His request.
Only through faith can we come to a place in our relationship with God where we trust Him enough to respond immediately, regardless of His command. And only through experience will we discover that He will never harm us or ask us to do anything without a divine purpose.

Prayer

“Show me the way to unquestioning obedience, Lord. Help me put my trust where it needs to be—in You. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Class Is in Session!

How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?
Matthew 17:17

“Do you remember the twelfth grade?” the comedian asked. “I’d finally arrived. I was a senior!” He said it with such reverence, with the knowing smile of one who had received revelatory understanding. “Man, I loved the twelfth grade! I especially loved the science experiments.” He grinned. “Blew up the lab once! I accidentally knocked a bottle of chemicals into the sink. Smelled pretty bad, so I flushed it down with water! How was I to know that the chemicals and water created a toxic mixture? Man, you shoulda seen the girls faces when those sinks exploded!”
He paused as if reminiscing. “Of course, Mr. Fullen didn’t think it was so funny. He glared at me from across the room and then slowly made his way over. With each step, my pulse beat harder and faster. When he got close enough, he put the Fullen Clutch on me!” Demonstrating the clutch, he made a claw with his right hand, reached across his chest, and latched onto his left shoulder, wincing as if he were experiencing tremendous pain. “We walked the whole way to the principal’s office like that.” He moved as if under Mr. Fullen’s control. The audience was in stitches. Then he dropped the punch line. “Yep, I loved the twelfth grade. It was the best three years of my life!”

†

How many of us continually fail the spiritual twelfth grade because of a nonchalant attitude toward learning?
In today’s text, the disciples had been with Jesus for almost three years, yet had failed to grasp a complete understanding of Who He was, Who he represented, and what power and authority was available to them. They were failing their twelfth grade proficiency test, so to speak.
We, like the disciples, fail to learn certain spiritual lessons. Many times it’s because we just don’t pay attention. We fail to grasp the importance of our part in perpetuating the gospel. As Christians, it is our responsibility to pay attention when class is in session. Folks, class is always in session.

Prayer

“Place in my heart a great desire to learn kingdom lessons, Lord. Help me grasp each concept as You present it in ways I can understand. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

God’s Word and the Water Softener

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 (kjv)

One or two power flashes a month weren’t unusual at the Parsons’ family home. The electric company had explained that they were just switching over, a process that allowed them to do routine maintenance on transformers and outlying power grids.
The flash from two days ago had sent the water softener into error mode again, suspending the softening process. When this occurred, the water returned to its normally hard state within forty-eight hours.
They usually just reset the timing unit and digital clock and then initiated a regeneration cycle, resolving the hardness issue. It really wasn’t much of an inconvenience. After all, they’d done without a softener for the first twenty-six years they’d lived here, filling jugs with drinking water from a spring two miles away. The softener had resolved that issue, relieving them of the constant transporting of eight one-gallon jugs every other day. So a short delay every once in a while didn’t amount to much.
Mr. Parson headed for the basement, reset the unit, and tripped the regeneration button. Three hours later, the pH and iron levels had returned to their normal settings, and the water issues in the Parsons’ household returned to normal.

†

It’s amazing how something so simple can have such a negative impact on our lives.
Like the Parsons’ water, our spiritual condition can become hard without continual and proper treatment. And just like the need the water softener was created to resolve, God gave us His Word to condition our lives. It instructs us in daily living and shows us how to handle the issues we face each day.
We need a constant inflow of His life-giving Word. If we miss a single day, we might not notice any impact. But if we continually fail to nourish ourselves by reading God’s Word and fellowshipping with other Christians, we will suffer setbacks and become susceptible and prone to making mistakes.
In order to assure ourselves the strength we need when we need it, we must constantly remain plugged in to the power supply.

Prayer

“Help me discipline myself to read Your Word and stay in constant contact with Your people, Lord. Keep me charged up and ready for action. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Where Are We Leading?

An example, that you should follow …
1 Peter 2:21

As early as age three, Erica could be found trying to pull Daddy’s tools from his work belt as it hung from a wall peg in the mudroom. She piled detergent boxes like steps to reach her goal. And several times she attained that goal only to be scolded for playing with Daddy’s tools.
So Erica was beside herself with delight when on her fifth birthday she received her very own tool belt! Daddy explained to her that, like his own tools, her tools could be used to work on and repair broken things. Wanting to know the application of each tool, she asked Daddy to show her. As he removed each tool from his belt, Erica took its equivalent and did her best to imitate his actions. For weeks she went around the house fixing things.
One evening as Daddy was reading the paper, he noticed Erica playing with her hammer. He watched as she intentionally struck her thumb and hollered, “Stupid hammer!” then turned to seek her Daddy’s approval.
What an eye-opener! She had apparently observed him earlier that day when he had done what she had just mimicked. With startling clarity, he understood the implications of his actions on his little girl. In that moment, he determined to be the best example he could.

†

Every step we take is an invitation for someone to follow. And living an upright life is not always easy. But we are responsible for the impact our actions have on those who watch us. And make no mistake—someone is always watching.
Many of us live as if there are no consequences for our actions. We think that because God has not judged us swiftly, His judgment is not coming. If we are insensitive to the truth that no act, good or evil, will go unnoticed or unpunished, the fallout of an unrighteous life can have disastrous consequences, on us and those who look to us for guidance.
Jesus left us an example to follow, one that requires commitment and discipline, one that shows others the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

Prayer

“Help me remain aware of my influence on others. May my life lead people to You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Carved by the Master

Your works are wonderful.
Psalm 139:14

Bob Birney had plied his trade for more than a few decades, turning out works of art unparalleled by his peers. Such was his gift that his works were sought by other woodcarvers from around the globe.
The tools of his trade were intricate and razor sharp. He knew how to use each one. As he made each cut, removing what didn’t belong, a masterpiece began to emerge.
On this occasion, he was carving the bark of a cottonwood tree. It was the perfect media for small carvings. Two and a half inches thick, its heavily lined structure required great imagination and steady hands to reveal the beauty hidden within. Bob was equal to the task. As he carved, he whispered to himself, “This piece does not fit. It must give way,” and, “You cannot hide. I have seen you for what you are.”
Some found his manor a bit quirky; others understood. The master was at work. He could see things others could not. He was revealing hidden splendor.
As Bob proceeded, the distinct outline of a cabin with steep, sloping roof began to take shape. Over the next several hours, the cabin took on life. Windows carved in relief with shutters to each side were so realistic you could imagine the firelight flickering inside. The stone chimney broke through the rough exterior of the bark at just the right height with smoke curling up as on a cold winter’s day.
Yes, Bob had a gift. In his experienced hands, wood came to life.

†

I marvel at the intricacy of such delicate work. It is sharing God’s gift with the world.

The One Who created us knows why He did so. In His hands, we become purposed. He alone sees the masterpiece hidden within, waiting to be revealed. And only by His hands can what He sees be revealed. He alone knows how to remove the things that mar the true beauty of what is hidden inside. Yet, He can only do this if we yield our lives to Him. And in the yielding, the Master Carver can create in us the likeness of His Son.

Prayer

“Lord, reveal in me the best I have to offer. Cut away anything that stands as a deterrent to that purpose. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

What’s Algegra?

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her.
Proverbs 3:18

Matt raised his hand and asked, “What’s algegra? I heard my sister talkin’ ‘bout it last night, an’ she said she hates it! Is it like spinach or somethin’?”
Ms. Dennis pursed her lips tightly until her laughter was under control. “I believe your sister was speaking of algebra, Matt,” she enunciated. “It is a form of mathematics,” she said, writing the word on the blackboard so they could see the correct spelling.
Taking advantage of this teachable moment, she explained that algebra is the use of numbers in sets. She made the lesson comprehensive to first graders, finishing with, “And yes, Matt, some people hate it as much as spinach. But math, like spinach, is good for you, even if it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.”
Arriving home, Matt told his sister, “You need to do your algegra.” (He hadn’t taken notes.) “I hate spinach. But Ms. Dennis said I should eat my spinach, and you should do your algegra ‘cause it’s good for us,” he concluded.
Looking at him through squinted eyes, she asked, “What in the world are you talking about?”
“I heard you say last night you hate algegra,” he said innocently. “So I asked Ms. Dennis ‘bout it.”
Amused by her little brother, she ruffled his hair and said, “Okay, you eat the spinach; I’ll do the algegra.”

†

God wants to reveal to us the intricacies of life. As babies we have beginner-level comprehension. As we mature, we are able to assimilate more complicated matters. The more mature, the deeper our understanding.
Nowhere in Scripture is retirement mentioned. The reasoning behind our self-imposed work stoppage is flawed; it creates a stop-learning mentality.
No, I am not suggesting you never retire. But …
Knowledge is the accumulation of experience. Wisdom is the ability to apply that knowledge. When we cease to learn, our brains begin to deteriorate for lack of stimuli.
God’s desire is that we embrace learning until the day we die. And although to some it’s like eating spinach, we should always strive to learn. Because, in Matt’s words, “It’s good for us.”

Prayer

“Lord, may I never stop learning the things You have set before me. Stimulate my mind to be sharp and sensible. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Words

The tongue has the power of life and death.

Proverbs 18:20

The man sat on the sidewalk, soliciting passersby. The cardboard sign in front of him read, ‘I’m Blind’. He had a coffee can into which people dropped various denominations of coinage. With each donation the man uttered a quiet and timid, ‘thank you’.

A young woman happened along, and walked as if to pass by. Then, as if struck by a second thought, she turned and picked up his sign. As she crouched before the man writing with magic marker, he felt her shoes, cataloging their style for possible future reference. She neither told the man what she was doing nor why.

No sooner had the woman left than a stream of people began tossing money in front of the man. Never had he experienced such an outpouring of compassion! What had the woman done to make such a difference?

Finished with her workday, the woman approached the man once again. She noticed the coffee can brimming with money. She walked over to speak to the man but was cut off when his hands once again felt her shoes.

“What did you write on my sign?!” he asked.

She bent to his ear and whispered, “The same thing you said. I just used different words.” As she walked away she smiled, rereading her handiwork: ‘It’s a beautiful day and I can’t see it.’

†

Given the power to effect people’s lives in a positive manner, why is it we so casually do the opposite? Words are powerful. With them we can bless or curse. And as today’s text says, we can speak life or death to someone’s soul.

But for the most part we put no faith in this simple truth. We offhandedly condemn people to hell or damn them and their situation to failure, never really thinking about the power of our words.

With the understanding that what we say matters, comes the responsibility for choosing and using our words carefully and wisely. By speaking blessings and life-giving words over those we come in contact with each day we are edifying their lives, not helping destroy them.

Prayer

“Lord of love, help me choose my words wisely, with a compassionate heart and other’s best interest in mind. May I be Your instrument of blessing and life. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”