Time Out! Devotions

(Bible study from the May 2010 issue of In Touch magazine)

Philippians 2:1-4 (NIV)

¹If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

As far back as creation, God declared that “it is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). We were created for relationship with the Lord and each other. Although the rugged individualist has been promoted as an American hero, such self-sufficiency leads to relational poverty. Scripture offers insightful glimpses into the benefits of having a faithful friend in a time of need.

Examples of Rich Friendships:

• Despite threats by his own father—King Saul—Jonathan remained a loyal friend to David (1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19:1-7; 20:1-42).
• Nathan was willing to deliver a difficult reproof to David when he needed correction (2 Samuel 12:1-13).
• Daniel and his three friends came together in a time of danger to seek God’s deliverance (Daniel 2:12-19).
• The paralytic’s friends carried him and persevered in bringing him to Jesus for help (Luke 5:17-20).
• Paul’s friends sought to protect him from harm and cared for him when he was imprisoned (Acts 19:31; 24:23; 27:3).

Because the church has been called to interdependence, being a friend in the time of a person’s need is exactly what Christians are commanded to do. Consider the similarities between these Old Testament descriptions of a faithful friend and the New Testament’s instructions for believers.

Characteristics of a Good Friend:

• Loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
  
• Sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24; Ephesians 4:1-3)
  
• Shows compassion in times of suffering (Psalms 35:13-14; Romans 12:15)
  
• Offers wise counsel (Proverbs 27:9; Colossians 3:16)
  
• Does not slander or tear down but speaks gracious words that edify (Psalms 15:3; Ephesians 4:29)
  
• Shows kindness that encourages faithfulness to God (Job 6:14; Colossians 3:12-14)
  
• Intercedes in prayer (Job 42:10; Ephesians 6:18)
  
• Can be trusted, even when speaking hard truths (Proverbs 27:6; Galatians 6:1-2)

Psalm 25:15-21 (NIV)

¹⁵ My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.¹⁷ The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish.¹⁸ Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.¹⁹ See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me!²⁰ Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.²¹ May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.

I know the pain of loneliness. I was the only child of a single mother who had to work long hours to support us. My adult life has been marked by periods of emotional isolation as well. However, God has never abandoned me to these feelings.

The Lord desires that all people feel connected to Him and to each other. And in fact, we can be quickly comforted when we respond wisely to loneliness.

The first step is to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Believing He exists is not enough. The Lord created mankind for fellowship, which is why a relationship with Him gives people a sense of oneness. The love of Christ squeezes loneliness out of the lives of God’s children.

Second, we must admit that we’re lonely. Some Christians incorrectly think they shouldn’t be susceptible to normal human feelings. But nothing in the Bible says we won’t endure emotional isolation. Not only men like David and Paul, but even the Lord Himself knew the ache of feeling deserted (Psalm 25:16, 2 Timothy 4:16; Matthew 26:40; 27:46).

Finally, we ought to develop godly friends. These are the Christian brothers and sisters who will laugh, cry, and empathize with us. Above all, believers need friends who will continually point them to God and pray over them.

We can’t deny feelings of loneliness, nor can we run from them. A person who seeks ways to escape those feelings only broadens the gap between the Lord and himself. There is just one way to close the chasm and conquer loneliness—by drawing near to the Lord.

(devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley from the May 2010 issue of In Touch magazine)

Psalm 26 (NCV)

¹ Lord, defend me because I have lived an innocent life.
I have trusted the Lord and never doubted.
² Lord, try me and test me;
look closely into my heart and mind.
³ I see your love,
and I live by your truth.

David was not claiming to be sinless – that is impossible for any human being! But he was consistently in fellowship with God, clearing his record when he sinned by asking for forgiveness. And he pleaded with God to clear his name of the false charges laid against him by his enemies. We also can ask God to cross-examine us so we stay in close fellowship with Him, trusting Him to forgive our sins according to His mercy.

⁴ I do not spend time with liars,
nor do I make friends with those who hide their sin.
⁵ I hate the company of evil people,
and I won’t sit with the wicked.
⁶ I wash my hands to show I am innocent,
and I come to your altar, Lord.
⁷ I raise my voice in praise
and tell of all the miracles you have done.

Should we stay away from unbelievers? No. Although there are some places Christians should avoid, Jesus demonstrated that we must go among unbelievers to help them. But there is a difference between being with them and being one of them. Trying to be one of them harms our witness for God. Ask about the places you enjoy, “If I come here often, will I become less obedient to God in outlook or action?” If the answer is yes, carefully monitor how often you go there and what effect it has on you.

⁸ Lord, I love the Temple where you live,
where your glory is.
⁹ Do not kill me with those sinners
or take my life with those murderers.
¹⁰ Evil is in their hands,
and they do wrong for money.
¹¹ But I have lived an innocent life,
so save me and have mercy on me.
¹² I stand in a safe place.
Lord, I praise you in the great meeting.

This last verse can also be translated, “My feet stand on level ground.” David was not saying that God always prevents us from slipping or falling into sin (although often He does). Instead, David was saying that as long as He trusted in God, He could stand on the firm foundation of God’s Word and have a godly perspective on life.

Too often we complain about our problems publicly and only praise God in private. How much better it would be to complain privately and praise God publicly!

Psalm 25:1-7 (NCV)

¹ Lord, I give myself to you; ² my God, I trust you. Do not let me be disgraced; do not let my enemies laugh at me. ³ No one who trusts you will be disgraced, but those who sin without excuse will be disgraced.

⁴ Lord, tell me your ways. Show me how to live. ⁵ Guide me in your truth, and teach me, my God, my Savior. I trust you all day long.⁶ Lord, remember your mercy and love that you have shown since long ago. ⁷ Do not remember the sins and wrong things I did when I was young. But remember to love me always because you are good, Lord.

Enemies are those who not only oppose us, but also oppose God’s way of living. Enemies can also be temptations – money, success, prestige, lust. And our greatest enemy is Satan. David asked God to keep his enemies from overcoming him because they opposed what God stood for. If his enemies succeeded, David feared that many would think that living for God was futile. David knew that God would triumph, but he didn’t want his enemies’ success to be an obstacle to the faith of others.

David expressed his desire for guidance. How do we receive God’s guidance? The first step is to want to be guided and to realize that God’s guidance is found mainly in His Word, the Bible. Psalm 119 tells of the endless knowledge found in God’s Word. By reading it and constantly learning from it, we will gain the wisdom to perceive God’s direction for our lives (Hebrews 5:14).

God is unlimited, all-conquering, and has unrestrained authority over all of creation and over each individual. Therefore, He is the only source of salvation, hope, and true peace through the forgiveness of sins.

Psalm 25:8-11 (NCV)

⁸ The Lord is good and right; He points sinners to the right way. ⁹ He shows those who are humble how to do right, and He teaches them His ways.¹⁰ All the Lord’s ways are loving and true for those who follow the demands of His agreement.¹¹ For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my many sins.

We are bombarded today with unlimited appeals to “go my way.” TV advertising alone places hundreds of options before us, in addition to appeals made by political parties, cults, false religions, and dozens of other groups. Numerous organizations including Christian organizations seek to motivate us to “support the cause.” Add to that the dozens of decisions we must make concerning our jobs, our families, our money, our society, and we become desperate for someone to show us the right way.

If you find yourself pulled in several directions, remember that the Lord “shows those who are humble how to do right, and He teaches them his ways.“

Psalm 25:15-20 (NCV)

¹⁵ My eyes are always looking to the Lord for help. He will keep me from any traps. ¹⁶ Turn to me and have mercy on me, because I am lonely and hurting. ¹⁷ My troubles have grown larger; free me from my problems. ¹⁸ Look at my suffering and troubles, and take away all my sins. ¹⁹ Look at how many enemies I have! See how much they hate me! ²⁰ Protect me and save me. I trust you, so do not let me be disgraced.

Life’s problems always seem to go from bad to worse. God is the only one who can reverse this downward spiral. He can take our problems and turn them into glorious victories. There is one necessary requirement – we, like the psalmist (David), must cry out, “Come, Lord, and show me your mercy.” When you are willing to do that, the worst can become something wonderful. But the next step is yours, for God has already made His offer.

Psalm 17 (NCV)

¹ Lord, hear me begging for fairness; listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer, because I speak the truth. ² You will judge that I am right; your eyes can see what is true. ³ You have examined my heart; you have tested me all night. You questioned me without finding anything wrong; I have not sinned with my mouth. ⁴ I have obeyed your commands, so I have not done what evil people do. ⁵ I have done what you told me; I have not failed.

⁶ I call to you, God, and you answer me. Listen to me now, and hear what I say. ⁷ Your love is wonderful. By your power you save those who trust you from their enemies. ⁸ Protect me as you would protect your own eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings. ⁹ Keep me from the wicked who attack me, from my enemies who surround me. ¹⁰ They are selfish and brag about themselves. ¹¹ They have chased me until they have surrounded me. They plan to throw me to the ground. ¹² They are like lions ready to kill; like lions, they sit in hiding.

¹³ Lord, rise up, face the enemy, and throw them down. Save me from the wicked with your sword. ¹⁴ Lord, save me by your power from those whose reward is in this life. They have plenty of food. They have many sons and leave much money to their children.

¹⁵ Because I have lived right, I will see your face. When I wake up in heaven, I will see your likeness and be satisfied.

Was David saying that he was sinless? David’s claim was not a proud assumption of purity. It was an understanding of his relationship with God. In Psalm 14:3, David said, “All are rotten with sin.” He realized that he had indeed committed sin, as all people do, but his relationship with God was one of close fellowship and constant repentance and forgiveness. His goodness, therefore, came from seeking to know God intimately. By contrast, the fools (Psalm 14:1-3) are wicked because they have rejected God and thus have not repented or received God’s forgiveness.

David called on God to value him as much as one would value his eyes, and to let that measure of value also be a measure of protection. We must not conclude that we have somehow missed God’s protection if we experience troubles. God’s protection has far greater purposes than avoiding pain; it is to make us better servants for him. God protects us by seeing us through circumstances, not by helping us escape them.

We deceive ourselves when we measure our happiness or contentment in life by the amount of wealth we possess. When we put riches at the top of our value system, the comforts of today overshadow the eternal value of our relationship with God. We think we will be happy or content when we get riches, only to discover that they bring nothing but transient pleasure. The true measurement of happiness or contentment is an eternal one. You will find true happiness if you put eternal riches above earthly riches.