Time Out! Devotions

(devotional by Neil Anderson from Christianity.com)

Philippians 4:11 (NIV)

¹¹I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Some of us tend to assume that it is God’s will if the circumstances are favorable and it isn’t God’s will if the circumstances are unfavorable. Next to the Bible, I would guess that more Christians are “guided” by this means than any other. Yet of all the possible means of guidance, this is the least authoritative and trustworthy.

I had the privilege of pastoring a church that purchased new property and went through a building program. Through most of the process the circumstances didn’t seem favorable. Twice I sat with the mayor, who was also a local real estate agent, and asked him if he thought our plans were feasible. He advised us not to make the land trade, and he didn’t think the city would allow us to build. He knew the real estate and the political climate better than anyone in the city. But the land swap increased our assets by millions and the city planning commission voted 7-0 in favor of our building plans.

You may have to set sail by the tide, but you’d better be guided by the stars or you’re going to end up on the wrong shore. Circumstances may have their effect on your plans, but you have a far greater accountability to God. Make sure you follow Him, not the tide of circumstances.

I heard a motivational speaker say, “I don’t like to recruit Christians because when the going gets tough they quit, concluding that it must not be God’s will.” Generally speaking, I believe that Christians should live above life’s circumstances and not be guided by them.

Also be careful about applying too much significance to unusual circumstances or coincidences. “It must be God’s will. Why else would that book by lying there!” It could be God’s will, but I would never take that kind of a sign on its own merit. I have helped many people in occultic bondage who have made bizarre associations or attached far too much significance to irrelevant events.

Prayer: Lord, I determine to test all guidance by Your Word and not to be swayed away from Your will by circumstances or popular opinion.

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(devotional written by Max Lucado from MaxLucado.com)

The sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. — John 10:3

WHEN I SEE a flock of sheep I see exactly that, a flock. A rabble of wool. A herd of hooves. I don’t see a sheep. I see sheep. All alike. None different. That’s what I see.

But not so with the shepherd. To him every sheep is different. Every face is special. Every face has a story. And every sheep has a name. The one with the sad eyes, that’s Droopy. And the fellow with one ear up and the other down, I call him Oscar. And the small one with the black patch on his leg, he’s an orphan with no brothers. I call him Joseph.

The shepherd knows his sheep. He calls them by name.

When we see a crowd, we see exactly that, a crowd. Filling a stadium or flooding a mall. When we see a crowd, we see people, not persons, but people. A herd of humans. A flock of faces. That’s what we see.

But not so with the Shepherd. To him every face is different. Every face is a story. Every face is a child. Every child has a name. The one with the sad eyes, that’s Sally. The old fellow with one eyebrow up and the other down, Harry’s his name. And the young one with the limp? He’s an orphan with no brothers. I call him Joey.

The Shepherd knows his sheep. He knows each one by name. The Shepherd knows you. He knows your name. And he will never forget it. “I have written your name on my hand“ (Isaiah 49:16).

Quite a thought, isn’t it? Your name on God’s hand. Your name on God’s lips. Maybe you’ve seen your name in some special places. On an award or diploma or walnut door. Or maybe you’ve heard your name from some important people—a coach, a celebrity, a teacher. But to think that your name is on God’s hand and on God’s lips . . . my, could it be?

Or perhaps you’ve never seen your name honored. And you can’t remember when you heard it spoken with kindness. If so, it may be more difficult for you to believe that God knows your name.

But he does. Written on his hand. Spoken by his mouth. Whispered by his lips. Your name. And not only the name you now have, but the name he has in store for you. A new name he will give you . . .

When God Whispers Your Name is a book of hope. A book whose sole aim is to encourage. I’ve harvested thoughts from a landscape of fields. And though their size and flavors are varied, their purpose is singular: to provide you, the reader, with a word of hope. I thought you could use it.

You’ve been on my mind as I’ve been writing. I’ve thought of you often. I honestly have. Over the years I’ve gotten to know some of you folks well. I’ve read your letters, shaken your hands, and watched your eyes. I think I know you.

You’re busy. Time passes before your tasks are finished. And if you get a chance to read, it’s a slim chance indeed.

You’re anxious. Bad news outpaces the good. Problems outnumber solutions. And you are concerned. What future do your children have on this earth? What future do you have?

You’re cautious. You don’t trust as easily as you once did.

Politicians lied. The system failed. The minister compromised. Your spouse cheated. It’s not easy to trust. It’s not that you don’t want to. It’s just that you want to be careful.

There is one other thing. You’ve made some mistakes. I met one of you at a bookstore in Michigan. A businessman, you seldom came out of your office at all and never to meet an author. But then you did. You were regretting the many hours at work and the few hours at home and wanted to talk.

And the single mom in Chicago. One kid was tugging, the other crying, but juggling them both, you made your point. “I made mistakes,” you explained, “but I really want to try again.”

And there was that night in Fresno. The musician sang and I spoke and you came. You almost didn’t. You almost stayed home. Just that day you’d found the note from your wife. She was leaving you. But you came anyway. Hoping I’d have something for the pain. Hoping I’d have an answer. Where is God at a time like this?

And so as I wrote, I thought about you. All of you. You aren’t malicious. You aren’t evil. You aren’t hardhearted, (hardheaded occasionally, but not hardhearted). You really want to do what is right. But sometimes life turns south. Occasionally we need a reminder.

Not a sermon.

A reminder.

A reminder that God knows your name.

From When God Whispers Your Name
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1999) Max Lucado

2 Timothy 4:6-18 (NCV)

⁶ My life is being given as an offering to God, and the time has come for me to leave this life.⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now, a crown is being held for me—a crown for being right with God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly, will give the crown to me on that day—not only to me but to all those who have waited with love for him to come again.

⁹ Do your best to come to me as soon as you can,¹⁰ because Demas, who loved this world, left me and went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia, and Titus went to Dalmatia.¹¹ Luke is the only one still with me. Get Mark and bring him with you when you come, because he can help me in my work here.¹² I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. ¹³ When I was in Troas, I left my coat there with Carpus. So when you come, bring it to me, along with my books, particularly the ones written on parchment.

¹⁴ Alexander the metalworker did many harmful things against me. The Lord will punish him for what he did. ¹⁵ You also should be careful that he does not hurt you, because he fought strongly against our teaching.

¹⁶ The first time I defended myself, no one helped me; everyone left me. May they be forgiven.¹⁷ But the Lord stayed with me and gave me strength so I could fully tell the Good News to all those who are not Jews. So I was saved from the lion’s mouth.¹⁸ The Lord will save me when anyone tries to hurt me, and he will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Glory forever and ever be the Lord’s. Amen.

Today’s passage captures a painful time in the life of Paul the apostle. As he sat in a prison cell, he knew that death was imminent. He had devoted the last years to teaching, training, and winning souls for Christ, but he now stood alone, unsupported during his trial and time in jail. Loneliness must have felt overwhelming.

Paul felt abandoned, yet he didn’t blame anyone or pity himself. Instead, he met the suffering with courage. What motivated him to stand with strength during this trying time?

For the apostle, an awareness of Christ’s presence gave comfort and motivated him to persevere. Having a copy of Scripture in his cell no doubt encouraged him in this way (2 Timothy 4:13). And he not only knew God was right there with him in the current moment; he also recalled earlier times when the Lord had intervened. For instance, years before, Paul had had a vision telling him not to fear during a storm on the sea. And though the ship ran aground, all of the men survived (Acts 27:22-24).

For those of us who know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, strength is readily available in His intimate presence. Our heavenly Father promises that He will never abandon His children—even when everyone else has left.

Have your circumstances left you feeling lonely? Remember times when God was evident to you—when He clearly revealed His hand in your life. And read His Word so that the truth of His presence can comfort and encourage you. As a believer, you are truly never alone.

(devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley from the June 2010

issue of In Touch magazine)

Psalm 1 (NCV)

¹ Happy are those who don’t listen to the wicked, who don’t go where sinners go, who don’t do what evil people do.
² They love the Lord’s teachings, and they think about those teachings day and night.
³ They are strong, like a tree planted by a river. The tree produces fruit in season, and its leaves don’t die. Everything they do will succeed.
⁴ But wicked people are not like that. They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
⁵ So the wicked will not escape God’s punishment. Sinners will not worship with God’s people.
⁶ This is because the Lord takes care of his people, but the wicked will be destroyed.

The writer began his psalm extolling the joys of being a godly person – one who obeys God and refuses to listen to those who discredit or ridicule Him. Our friends and associates can have profound influence on us, often in very subtle ways. If we insist on friendships with those who scoff at what God considers important, we may be drawn into sin and become indifferent to God’s will. This attitude is the same as scoffing. Do your friends build up your faith or do they tear it down? The influence of true friends should draw you closer to God.

The psalmist focused on the age-old question of joy & happiness. He tells us what to avoid (verse 1) – the company of scoffing sinners. In the next verse he tells us what not to avoid – the company of the God of all joy and His Word. The shadowy influence of scoffing sinners separates us from the radiance of God’s joyful presence, as a dark cloud separates us from the morning sun.

You can learn how to follow God by meditating on His laws. “Meditating” means spending time reading and thinking about God’s Word and how you should change so you are living as God wants. Knowing and meditating on God’s Word are the first steps towards applying it to your everyday life. If you want to follow God more closely, you must know what He says.

These “laws” on which we are to meditate include all of Scripture: the first five books of Moses, the prophets, and the other writings (the entire Bible). The more we know of the whole scope of God’s Word, the more resources we will have for our daily decisions.

When Scripture promises, “everything you do will succeed,” it does not mean immunity from failure or difficulties. Nor is it a guarantee of health, wealth, and happiness. What Scripture means by success is this: when God’s wisdom is applied to our lives, the fruit it bears in us will be good and receive God’s approval. As a tree soaks up water and bears fruit, we also are to soak up God’s Word, producing actions and attitudes that honor God. True prosperity is found by knowing the true value of God’s Word.

Although evil people may get the upper hand at times, God assures us that a day is coming when their sins will be punished (Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 6:16-17; Revelation 20:11-15).

My son said he was ready to leave home and join the Army.

But how could I be sure?

By Ruth McVeigh, Battle Creek, Michigan

His room was tidy. He had packed away his stamp collection and the souvenirs from Scout camp. His brothers could wear his clothes, he said, for they probably wouldn’t fit him when he got back. I ran the vacuum over the faded rug.

A son departing for the armed forces is not a new experience. Our eldest has completed his obligation. Two others are still in the service. Now it is Tommy’s turn. Each time the questions smolder in my mind: Is he ready? What will sustain him in times of stress? Have we given him enough?

I shut off the vacuum and began to straighten Tommy’s books. As I picked up one, a folded paper fell out, and I read this short composition he had written for English class a couple of years before:

“A few weeks ago it was Easter, and our family colored eggs. The older kids hid candy, eggs and chocolate rabbits for the younger ones to hunt for the next morning. Then it was Easter, and we all went to church together. At church I was thinking how wonderful it is to have a big family like ours, all the fun we have together, all the places we go, and the things we do together. I thought how wonderful it is that all of us went to Communion as one body at this time. I felt close to God. Not just close, but close-close—like He was sitting right next to me.”

The heavy load slipped from my heart. Tommy was ready.

(from Mysterious Ways at Guideposts.com)