Unveiled Hope

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:13

Mary Jane Phillips lay in a bed in her daughter’s kitchen, in the final stages of what appeared to be cancer. As her daughter cared for her, she sat up in bed and said, “Oh, my! There’s Mrs. Leonard!”

Everyone present was amazed as she named off several dead relatives and long-gone friends. It appeared as if Mary Jane was being given a view through the portals of Heaven. She continued to name people who were long-forgotten, even people who had passed away recently. And then, she said, “And Mrs. Sader, too!” at which point the family figured she must be hallucinating, because Mrs. Sader was very much alive. They had just spoken to her that morning.

Just then, the telephone rang and one of the girls answered it. A startled look crossed her face. As she hung up the phone, she announced in an astonished voice, “Mrs. Sader passed away just a little while ago!”

Only minutes later, Mary Jane Phillips joined Mrs. Sader as she met Jesus face-to-face.

†

This event changed my mother’s life, for having listened to her Grandmother speak so candidly about Heaven brought the certainty of its truth to her heart and spirit. She has never known a fear of dying because Grandma Phillips had unveiled the mystery of death to a six-year-old that day.

In this same way Paul wants us to know the hope he professes; that on the day God calls us home we will be greeted by our loved-ones and friends as we enter Heaven to be with Jesus.

Prayer

“Give me the certainty of my true home, Lord, and take away any vestiges of fear of death. Speak to my spirit of the reality of Heaven. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Why Bother, LORD?

I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. John 15:16

Lost in thought, I didn't hear my cell phone buzz. I was pondering the reason I was even finishing the second volume in my devotional series. Volume one: Snapshots: A Spiritual Look At Daily Life, released in 2009, had yet to break the one thousand book sales barrier. So why did it matter that I complete the second volume?

The phone’s second buzz registered, letting me know there was a message. “Hi Craig!” came Molly’s familiar voice. “I wanted to let you know God is still using you! I just spoke with a man that’s going through some tough times, and he had a copy of Snapshots! He said someone gave it to him after he shared about his struggles! I told him, ‘I know the author, and God has been using him and that book to change people’s lives!’”

As I listened, Molly’s voice was drowned out by God’s, “What you do for Me is more important than you can conceive. I weave your fruit through other’s lives, drawing them closer to Me. Numbers are arbitrary in light of eternity. Your faithfulness, in spite of the doubt, allows Me to nourish others, and give them hope.”

I wept. God had orchestrated events so my doubts would be put to rest. I opened my laptop and wrote this devotion.

†

In our humanity, attaching expectations to our spiritual service isn't unusual. We want God to do wonderful and meaningful things with our service. When we don’t readily see results we can begin to doubt that what we do matters. We wonder, “Why do I bother, Lord?” As a result, our service to the Lord can lose the enthusiasm and devotion it was begun with which, in turn, negatively influences our relationship with God and others.

In today’s text, John tells us God has chosen and purposed us to not only work on His behalf, but that our work will affect future generations.

When your doubt whispers, why bother?, don’t give up. Stand in faith, trusting God’s promise that what we do matters more than we can ever imagine.

Prayer

“LORD, continue using what You purpose me to do and leave the results of that service to You, expectation free. In Jesus’ Name, amen!”  

Worth a Second Glance

The LORD does not look at the things man looks at…the outward appearance…the LORD looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

Corey came into our lives much the way of the lost puppy. Our sixteen year old daughter, Lindsay, who’d never dated before he showed up, came home one afternoon from school and told us about the ‘new boy’ in her class. “He seems really nice, Mom, but he doesn’t talk much, and keeps to himself.”

“Be nice to him, Linds,” Nancy said. “He probably needs a friend.”

So Lindsay set out to be Corey’s friend, even inviting him to dinner. When she brought him to the house for the first time, Corey looked like a lost pup, weighing about a buck and a quarter; a skinny kid who’d seen more than his share of life. But beyond the baggy pants and lone wolf disguise there was something about Corey that made you take a second glance.

Corey and Lindsay have been married for nine years now, and Nancy and I couldn’t have asked for a better mate for our daughter. Over the past fourteen years we've witnessed Corey’s commitment to God, our daughter, life, and now his daughter, grow into what God intended. In that time he has grown and matured both physically and spiritually. He is a godly man who works with youth, and seeks to do God’s will. That he adores our daughter and dotes on her is proof that she chose well. Watching him with our granddaughter only validates it more.

I guess Nancy and I saw what Lindsay saw that made us each take that second glance; a good heart awaiting maturity.

†

Every parent wants their children to marry well. Fathers especially want their beautiful little girl to find someone who will not only treat her right, but will never give him reason to regret transferring responsibility and care to another man.

I can say I have never had a single regret. That is in part to allowing God to show me Corey’s heart instead of assuming the young man with an attitude wasn’t the right man for my daughter.

If we, as parents, want our children to chose wisely we must teach them how to look past all the outward appearance and discern, with the Holy Spirit's help, what is in someone else’s heart.

Prayer

“Help me see what You see, Lord. Help me listen for Your recommendation or disapproval instead of judging someone on my own. In Jesus’ Name, amen,”

Coincidence or Divine Intervention?

For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Philippians 2:13

Elsie headed to the kitchen to pour a cup of tea, but continued listening as the TV host introduced her next guest, “Please welcome Jan Johnson to the show.”

That’s strange, Elsie thought. Someone else named Jan Johnson.

Jan had been one of Elsie’s dearest friends, but she hadn't spoken to her in awhile.

Finished fixing her tea she returned to the living room and almost dropped the cup and saucer as she saw it was her Jan Johnson on the Cooking Channel! Wow! I guess a lot has happened since I last talked with Jan! I think I’ll call her, she thought, reaching for the phone.

Elsie and Jan had grown up together, attended the same college, they’d even gotten married the same year before Jan’s husband’s job had taken them from rural New Jersey, to New York City, resulting in infrequent correspondence.

Jan picked up on the second ring. “Hello?” came the familiar voice.

“Jan!” Elsie exclaimed. “I just saw you on TV.”

Oh, Elsie!” Jan squealed in delight. “I was just thinking about you the other day! I told Ken I needed to call you! I miss you so much.” Elsie could hear a quiver in her friend’s concluding remark.

“What’s the matter, Jan?” Elsie asked, dispensing with pretense.

“Oh, Elsie,” Jan confided. “I've been having such a crappy day…and here you are, calling me! You've always known when I needed you!”

†

The God Who spoke the Universe into motion certainly has the capacity to whisper our name when we need Him to. Yet, if we are to believe that God works in our lives through divine intervention, rather than believe such events are only a matter of coincidence, we must first believe that God cares for us, and wants us in an intimate relationship with Him.

With that revelation comes an understanding that He can, and does, work in and through us to achieve His purposes. He is eager for us to recognize these are not coincidences but divine appointments.

Prayer

“Help us to see Your hand at work in our lives, Lord. Teach us to be discerning so we don’t miss those intimate moments You orchestrate for our behalf. Amen. ”

Moved By The Spirit

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.

Luke 2:27

Gabriel had felt a loneliness that wouldn't disappear, no matter what he tried to fill the void with. He'd felt God speak to his spirit, telling him the answer was to begin meeting again with other like-minded people; in other words...get back to attending church. Still he resisted what he knew to be the truth.

Over the next few months, Gabriel desired to walk back into the church he had regularly attended with his family, but since they no longer attended either, he was hesitant to put himself through what he figured would be the discomfort of judgment. With a fondness he wanted his memories of church to be the ones of family. So the battle raged within.

Finally, he called his sister to get her take on the matter. She listened and told him if he felt God's urging to return to church, he should go.

Gabriel decided he would go the following Sunday. But that morning he found himself in a battle. He couldn't force himself to get off the couch. Services began at 10:00am, and here it was 11:00. Finally, gaining the courage to get moving, Gabriel got in the car and headed for church. Stopping along the way, he once again called his sister. She urged him on, and assured him no one would judge him, they would welcome him.

Arriving at the church, he stopped, laying his hand on the door. Hesitant, he finally opened the door. Instantly a gentle breeze washed over him, and in that moment he knew he'd done the right thing. And instead of frowns and judgment, there were smiles and waves of welcome; he had come home!

†

In today's text, Simeon, a servant of the LORD, was moved by the Spirit of God to go to the Temple of God. When he got there, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to be presented. Had Simeon refused to listen to the Spirit of God he would have missed the privilege of seeing the Messiah, and presiding over His consecration.

Had Gabriel continued to resist, who knows what he would have missed.

When we isolate ourselves from the body of Christ, we cut off a critical lifeline. And although we can maintain a relationship with Jesus Christ on our own, we miss out on His corporate blessings and the fellowship that nurtures us in a way we cannot otherwise receive.

When the Spirit urges we need to move.

Prayer

“Help me to always follow the Spirit's urging, Father God. Amen.”   

Chosen For Worship

When the angels had left them…the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go…see this thing that has happened…So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby...

Luke 2:15, 16

Tommy was used to being the last one chosen, so when Greg called his name first he wasn’t certain he’d heard correctly; neither were the rest of the kids. “Are you nuts?!” Marty cried. “Yah, what’s wrong with you?!” Stevie chimed in. Dickey added, “I think he bumped his head, guys!”

But Greg just looked at Tommy and winked, “I think Tommy is gonna be my most valuable player!”

Tommy, in awe of Greg’s confidence in him, displayed a huge smile. “Thanks, Greg! I won’t let you down!” he promised.

“I know you won’t Buddy!” Greg responded.

Tommy’s eyes lit up even brighter. He’d never had anyone count on him before. Why, he wasn’t even nervous! But he was excited! This was a sensation he’d never experienced before…it felt good…and he liked it!

†

It made no sense to the Jews that God would send the shepherds to bear witness to the birth of their Savior. The Jewish Talmud says, “Give no help to either a heathen or shepherd.” Shepherds were forbidden to attend temple services or keep Jewish rituals. So, to the Jews, shepherds were the lowest of the low…the very scum of society.

Yet, God gave them the privilege of worshiping His newborn Son!

As dirty on the outside as the stable the King of Creation lay in, the shepherd's character was just as offensive…they were distasteful in every way. Still God loved them, giving them the honor of being the very first to set eyes on His Son, and sing the praises of Heaven to all who would listen.

There are many who, like Tommy and those shepherds, have been rejected and scorned. Yet, God wants us to know that He sent Jesus to each of us! We have been chosen by God to join Him in eternity, and to begin to experience a relationship with Him now. There is an innate sense within that attests to the truth that we are created for worship. The choice is ours.

Prayer

“Thank You, Father, for the invitation to worship Your Son, Jesus! Bring me into the closest of relationships so I can bring Him the glory and honor He deserves. Amen.”  

The Antidote

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:17

There once was a King who loved his subjects, and those who loved him lived within the walls of his kingdom. Those who did not return the King’s sentiment chose to live outside the kingdom walls, yet even those the King treated with respect and kindness.

One day the King’s only son came to him and said, “Father, there is an epidemic that is killing untold numbers of people outside the kingdom walls.”

“And you believe we should help them,” he said rhetorically.

“Yes, Father. I do,” he said nodding.

“Do we have an antidote?” the King asked.

“We do,” the son replied.

Knowing his son well, the King knew there was something his son wasn’t telling him, “I sense there is a catch?”

“Yes, Father,” said his son. “The antidote must be delivered to doctors outside the kingdom gate. They say that whoever delivers it must not reenter the kingdom for fear of infecting those inside.” The king waited, knowing his son wasn’t finished. “I cannot ask anyone else to make that sacrifice. I will take it myself.”

A mixture of pain and pride swept over the King, “And you are willing to sacrifice yourself for those who hate us?”

The father knew his son’s great love could never allow the answer to be no, “It is the right thing to do.”

“Then go, my son,” the King proclaimed. “And may the antidote bring healing to all who are sick!”

†

Those who live outside God’s Kingdom have a terminal disease and they, like the people in today’s story, have no cure.

Those who live inside the Kingdom know what they need, because God, in His great mercy and love, has provided the Antidote.

When you’re lost you don’t know it. But if someone lovingly presents God’s plan to those who will listen, telling them about the power of Jesus to set lost souls free, they might be saved.

And the King speaks, “I’m looking for volunteers to take them the Antidote.”

Prayer

“Thank You, Father, for sending Jesus as the Antidote for our sin. Lead me to the ones who are lost that will listen. In Jesus’ Name, amen!”