The Tale of Two Stories

Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

Proverbs 26:17

“How do you know if you should or shouldn't intervene in someone else’s affairs?” Brennan asked.

“God used two events to teach me this lesson," Dillon laughed… the memory of the first event as clear as the day it happened. "I lived beside three brothers. Their cousins lived up the street. One afternoon one of the cousins made a derogatory remark to one of the brothers…it led to blows. As everyone else stood by, letting them pound on each other, I decided to step between them and break up the fight. They kept swinging at each other, and I took a major beating. They, on the other hand, had relieved their frustration and were content to let bygones be bygones.”

“The other occasion was something much different.” Dillon’s face turned serious… “I was sitting beside a couple in a restaurant, when all of a sudden the man began cussing at his wife and drew back his fist, meaning to hit her. I instinctively reached out and grabbed his wrist, stopping him mid-swing.”

A light came on in Brennan’s eyes as Dillon continued, “Holding his wrist, I quietly explained that men do not hit women…nor disrespect them in such a manner. Suffice it to say, he didn't share my philosophy. I later learned that he had done this before and no one had ever confronted him. I guess he must have figured that if no one was going to stop him he would continue using fear and abuse to control his wife.”

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It is ingrained in men to ‘save the day’. God created us to protect the weak and those less-able. Yet, it is foolish to assume that every quarrel requires our personal intervention or involvement.

In one of today’s examples there is no question as to whether intervention was advisable. In the other it appeared to be the right thing to do, and resulted in an unnecessary beating.

When faced with this dilemma, godly wisdom is required to achieve a beneficial outcome. So, whenever it’s possible, don’t assume that your action is required. Inquire of the Lord before taking action.

Prayer

“Lord, in times like these, give me the wisdom to know whether to walk away or take action. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Fostering the LORD’s Delight

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

Over the years, Renee and Scot have opened their home to over twenty foster children, most of them babies born to crack-addicted mothers.

Two years ago, God brought them Angelina. “Long before we received the call,” Renee shared, “God gave me a vision of a fair-haired daughter of my own…not just another foster child, but a daughter who would never leave.”

However, born with flaming red hair, Angelina didn't fit the vision God had given Renee. But there was something special about Angelina—and though all her children were precious to her, Angelina touched a place deep in Renee’s heart none of the others had.

Deciding hair color didn't matter, the Welschs began the process of adopting Angelina. In the twenty-two months it took for the adoption to become final, Angelina’s hair color changed from red to blond. Here was their fair-haired daughter after all!

At that time, the Welschs felt led to take a sabbatical from the fostering program, and were taken off the ‘Call List’ by their caseworker.

Inexplicably, during that time, God gave Renee a desire to adopt Angelina’s biological sister; strange, since she didn't know where Angelina’s birth-mother was…or if she was even still alive. But the God-given desire grew…and would not be assuaged.

The day their sabbatical ended, Renee received a call from their caseworker, “Angelina’s mother is pregnant. Would you consider fostering the baby?”

In July of 2009, Marissa was born. At the writing of this devotion, her adoption has begun…

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There is desperate need for foster parenting and the adoption of parent-less children around the world. From orphans and crack babies to gangbanger wannabes, our world is teeming with what society calls the ‘unwanted and undesirable’. Yet, in Psalm 139:16, we are told that not one of them is a mistake by a God who didn't see them coming.

Not all are called to foster or adopt. But if you are called to this ministry, don’t be afraid. God will foster, as He did in Renee and Scot, a desire to welcome your new child home!

Prayer

“Father God, I don’t know if fostering or adoption is something I’m called to. Give me discernment for Your will in my life where meeting this vital need is concerned. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Teach Them the What and Why

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds…Teach them to your children…when you sit at home and when you walk…when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 11:18, 19

“Time for bed, Kiddo,” Mom advised.

“Awe, Momma…” Megan responded.

“Awe, nothing. It’s bedtime,” she said. “Go brush your teeth. I’ll be up in a minute to tuck you in and hear your prayers.”

Ten minutes later, with the covers up to her chin, five-year-old Megan prayed:

“Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep,

if I should die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen”

“Night, Kiddo.” Mom kissed her forehead as she arose from kneeling, and headed for the bedroom door.

“Momma?” Turning she saw that Megan was sitting up once again.

“What is it, Sweetheart?”

“What’s a soul?” came the innocent query.

Stifling a laugh, she said, “Why, it’s your spirit, Baby Girl... It’s the part of you where Jesus lives!”

After a short pause Megan said, “Ooh…now it makes sense!”

“What does, Honey?”

“Well…I always wondered what God wanted with part of my shoe!”

Mom was struck with a mixture of amusement and guilt as the truth of Megan’s dilemma was made known. She had always assumed Megan knew what the words meant. She felt a stab of remorse realizing Megan must have been so confused, yet had for some reason remained silent.

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Passing along the family tradition of prayer to the next generation is important. But just as vital is their understanding what they are being taught.

We are to teach, not just pass information along, because if there is no understanding…there is no power.

In John’s eighth chapter, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." There is no assumption on Jesus’ part. He leaves no room for misunderstanding, or worse yet, no understanding at all.

As we instruct the next generation we must be sure, and not assume, they understand the information given them.

Prayer

“Give me the wisdom, patience, and skill to be the teacher my children, and/or grandchildren deserve, Lord. Guide their hearts and minds as I give them knowledge to see them set free. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”  

Stocking the Shelves

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.
Malachi 3:10

Grace didn’t understand this “tithing thing,” as she put it. Yesterday’s sermon had been titled, “Stocking God’s Shelves.” The pastor had spoken about giving God the first fruits of our labor as an act of love and obedience. He spoke of God’s instruction to the Israelites on this matter, referencing Old and New Testament Scripture. He said, “In reality, everything we have is God’s. But because He loves us so much, He doesn’t force us to tithe.” He spoke about reciprocity and how we can’t outgive God, reading from Malachi where God says, “Test me in this.”
Grace and her husband, Reggie, were new Christians. All this stuff was foreign to them, but they wanted to do the right thing. So, out of obedience, Reggie and Grace began giving fifteen percent of their income—ten percent for tithe, five percent of offering—to help stock God’s shelves. It was difficult at first, sitting down each payday and writing that first check to God. But they did it. And within the first two months, things began to happen. Reggie received a pre-evaluation raise, and Grace received an insurance settlement she knew nothing about. God was responding to their obedience to keep His storehouses full.

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The subject of tithing makes many people uncomfortable, and many get offended every time the collection plate is passed.
Taking into consideration that there are those in ministry who pollute what God has ordained, Scripture is clear on our financial responsibility to God’s church. Building the kingdom requires finances. Whether we make a contribution or not is up to us.
When Jesus said, “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil,” He was saying that we either trust in Him for what we need or we trust in ourselves.
When we hoard our money, we are stealing our own blessings because God cannot and will not bless those who do not sow into His kingdom. “Bring” is a command with both a choice and a promise attached.

Prayer

“Lord, teach me to trust You and believe. Help money to become a tool for the kingdom and not a vice that seduces my heart. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Stop Getting Saved

For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
Romans 7:18b

Evan sensed movement and looked up to see Kenny, his twelve-year-old son, heading for the altar. Concluding a powerful message, the pastor had given an altar call. “If you need Jesus, then I want you to get up out of your chair and come stand at the altar and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. Come right now while we wait.” That’s what Kenny was doing—for the third time this month.
Following the service, Evan asked him, “Why’d you go to the altar today, buddy?”
Kenny timidly answered, “I called a girl a bad name at school the other day and needed Jesus to save me again.” Evan sought the right words to reach his son’s tender heart. He opened his Bible and read Romans 7:14–25 to Kenny. He read it in its entirety, then reread each verse, explaining, “Kenny, Paul, a mighty man of God, struggled with sin all his life. It did not make him unsaved each time he sinned.”
He finished by explaining that when we sin, it does not negate our salvation; it means we made a mistake we need to repent of and then do our best not to repeat it.

T

Kenny is not alone in his Christian walk. Many Christians walk around without a true understanding of sin versus salvation, thinking that God is this mean bully keeping track of each offense in order that He might hold them against us.
God knows what is in the heart of man, yet chose to forgive us. He does not expect Jesus to be crucified over and over again, nor does He need to be.
When we truly give our lives and hearts to Jesus, our salvation is complete at that moment; no one can take it away.
Understanding that we will sin and when we do, it’s not resaving we need, but a heart of repentance. This is a picture of reshaping and renewing our mind, not our salvation.

Prayer

“Lord, help me understand that once I’m Yours, I only need to turn away from the sin and not be saved again. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Another Man’s Revelation

Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?

Acts 19:15

Jake had just returned to St. Paul’s from a pastor’s conference in Minneapolis and was on fire! Back in the pulpit, he preached a powerful, life-changing message. People were healed of diseases and set free of demonic oppression. It was awesome!

The next week saw a reduction in power. By the third week following the conference, God’s power was almost nonexistent; things had returned to ‘normal’.

Jake didn’t understand it. He couldn’t count how many times in the past eight years of ministry he’d returned from a conference to witness the miraculous for a brief time, only to see God’s power slip away. In frustration, he asked, “What’s going on, LORD?! Why can’t we hang on to the miraculous? Why can’t we maintain Your power and presence?”

God’s response came as quite a shock to Jake…. “The message you preach is a ‘right on’ message, Jake. It’s just not yours. You hear it from someone who knows My word…and you are temporarily inspired. But you are preaching another man’s revelation. Until you plant My word in your heart there is no personal seed of revelation. Only an intimate relationship can produce that kind of fruit. And then, only if you continue to plant the seeds.”

†

We love the miraculous but fail to understand, or refuse to admit, that walking in power comes from continually planting God’s word in our heart. We cannot occasionally or indiscriminately pick up God’s Word, read a passage, and expect supernatural results. Living a power-filled life comes from hiding God’s word on the inside.

In Mark’s parable of the sower, chapter 4, verses 16-17, we see how Jake’s cycle of power to powerlessness comes to pass. We hear a ‘right word’ and are encouraged by someone else…and because it is fresh, when we speak it, others respond in positive ways. But, since the revelation didn’t originate in our heart, we have nothing to draw on as the newness wares off.

God’s work is of a personal nature. If we intend to have an impact on the world around us we must first have a personal relationship from which to draw.

Prayer

“Draw me close, LORD. Make me hungry to know You and Your Word so that my heart burns with revelation. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Love Deeply

Love … always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:7

Adrian and Jennifer devised a unique wedding gift for their young friends. Instead of something traditional, they decided to pass along one of their favorite books. Hidden within its pages were three restaurant gift certificates and a handwritten note encouraging them to love deeply. The book, written by a Christian author, gave practical ways in which to enrich our relationships and fend off complacency in marriage.
There was a catch though; this couple might not read the book immediately and may not find the certificates for years. In truth, that was exactly how they envisioned their plan working out. Hopefully, when in times of struggle, they would remember the book, pull it off the shelf to gain some inspiration, and there find wisdom, the note, and the gift certificates.
In the note was a simple message: “When it feels like love is ebbing, press on! Remember the hope you shared in courtship. Use one of the gift certificates today. Learn to listen to each other; never give in; always persevere, dare to love deeply!”
Thirty years of marriage had provided Adrian and Jennifer with a measure of wisdom.

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God has provided this same wedding gift for us, His bride. Not that we would only open His Word in times of trouble, but that especially during those times we would press on and seek to find the wisdom He has buried deep within the pages of Scripture.
Wisdom comes through experience. Seldom do we learn lessons by hearing about them. Most of the time, events must first happen to us before they have any meaning in our lives. In those times, we can benefit from the experience of others, but only if we ask for help. God loves us so deeply that He has hidden timeless and pertinent treasures in His Word. Just for us, just for now.

Prayer

“In those times when we need a boost, Lord, lead us to the correct passage in Your Word. And please send us a messenger of love who has been where we are now. Give us courage to love deeply. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”