Droughts

"The days are coming," declares the Sovereign Lord, "when I will send a famine through the land-not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it." -Amos 8:11-12 (NIV)

It's barely summer and most of Tennessee is experiencing a severe drought. The next three days are supposed to result in temperatures above 100 degrees with absolutely no rain in sight. Plants and gardens are dying. People are suffering from heat exhaustion. Trying to make light of things, one pastor told me that it's so hot, he found the devil backstroking in the baptismal pool yesterday and birds are now using potholders just to pull worms out of the ground. It's a drought of terrible proportions.

I'm definitely concerned about the drought we're experiencing and I am certainly praying for rain. But after reading today's suggested scripture reading, I'm also concerned about the lack of faithful Jesus followers in our community. Over 50% of the people in the county where I live don't regularly go to church. Apparently they have no place where a body of believers helps quench their spiritual thirst, feed their hungry souls, and where spiritual growth occurs in Christian community.

How's you spiritual life? Is it being quenched? What about your spiritual growth? Is it being fed? If you didn't water your vegetable garden or your flower bed anymore than you do your spiritual life, would your vegetable garden or flower bed survive the drought we're experiencing?

You can't do a lot to change the severe drought that Tennessee (and most of the country) is facing. But aren't there things you could be doing to address the drought in your spiritual life? What might those things be?

May God grant you the grace to do them and may God meet you with life-giving water and manna from heaven to restore your soul today.

If you're interested in reading the Bible through in a year, here are the suggested readings for this weekend:

Saturday: Isaiah 1-3, Titus 3

Sunday: Isaiah 4-5, Psalm 115-116, and Jude

I'll be back on Monday with devotional from Isaiah 6-7, 2 Chronicles 26-27, and Philemon.

I Just Called To Say...

Hear me, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. -Psalm 86:1 (NIV)

As I read this morning's suggested psalm, I was reminded of something that I read a few weeks ago (the link is here): more phone calls are made on Mother's Day than on any other day of the year. Interestingly enough, Father's Day is the busiest day of the year for collect phone calls to be made, (that link is here). It seems that children have two thoughts on Father's Day: "Dad, I need to talk to you on your special day, but I need you to pay for it."

When are you most likely to talk to God? For many, the two times that people most often talk to God is at church on God's special day (Sabbath) and when we need or want something.

That appears to be the motivation for Psalm 86. David begins his prayer by expressing his need for God. He is in distress and being attacked by arrogant foes and ruthless people. He needs God's help to do what he can't do, sort of like children who want their fathers to pay for a phone call that they can't afford.

David expects God to help him not only because David has made God aware of his needs but also because it's just God's nature to help. God is forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call on Him. God answers distress calls. God's deeds can be compared to no other. God is faithful and God has previously delivered David from the depths of the dead.

There's nothing wrong with talking to mom, dad, or God on their special day. If you have a need, something that you can't do on your own, by all means ask God, mom, or dad for help. But don't just call when you need something or just on their special day. In fact, today would be a great day to talk to God, your parents (if possible), those who are like parents to you, your children, or your friends and simply say, "I just called to say that I love and appreciate you."

May God grant you the grace to tell someone how much they mean to you today.

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If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are Amos 7-9, Psalm 104, and Titus 2.

What Do You Want to Hear?

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. -2 Timothy 4:3 (NIV)

When my wife would go to the doctor with me after I was diagnosed with cancer, I never ceased to be amazed at how often she and I heard what the doctor said differently. Usually, I was the one who thought that what the doctor said was discouraging while Ivana would hear what the doctor said as encouraging. One of my coping mechanisms is to assume the worst and then pray for the best. My wife, on the other hand, assumes the best and prays that the worst doesn't happen. We both heard the exact same statements that the doctor made but it seems that we heard what we wanted to hear.

The verse I've chosen from today's suggested scripture readings has always frightened me a bit. I don't have any doubt that we live in a world that has turned away from sound doctrine to suit its own desires.

Do you struggle with this as much as I do? Do you watch a particular news channel because you know that they will report what's happening in the world through the lens of your ideological perspective? Do you surround yourself with friends who will say or tell you whatever it is that will make you feel better, even if it isn't true or shouldn't be said? When you read scripture, do you simply discount or dismiss the passages you don't like and focus instead on the passages you do like?

Maybe your ideology is fine. Maybe you need to be encouraged by friends. Maybe you can dismiss or discount a text with theological integrity. But maybe you're surrounding yourselves in these ways and doing these things because it's simply what your itching ears want to hear.

May God grant you the grace to hear what God wants you to hear today.

If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, here are the readings for tomorrow: Amos 4-6, Psalm 86, and Titus 1.

One Way or Another

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. -2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

In today's suggested scripture readings, Paul points out that being a Christian is not easy. In fact, it is quite difficult. Not only will people persecute you but they'll also try to twist your words and your beliefs in an effort to exploit and inflame. But Paul says that you cannot allow this reality to faze you. You must stick to what you have been taught. Every part of Scripture is "God-breathed" and is useful in one way or another. God's word will continue to shape and form you for every good work.

I have found this to be true in my time of daily scripture reading and reflection. There always seems to be at least one word that God has for me each day. I usually leave this time with God feeling closer to God and feeling better equipped for the ministry to which I have been called. The discipline of reading the scriptures and then writing about them has enriched my life and faith.

May God grant you the grace to continue reading and reflecting on God's word. And in one way or another, may you feel more equipped for every good task today.

If you're interested in reading the Bible through in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are Amos 1-3, Psalm 80, and 2 Timothy 4.

Grace

But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, "Isn't this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity..." -Jonah 4:1-2 (NIV)

In today's suggested scripture reading, I am reminded of how often we want God to give other people exactly what we think they deserve but we don't want God to give us what we deserve. You would think that we'd be so aware of our own need for grace that we'd be more inclined to extend (and want God to extend) God's grace to others.

The word of the Lord comes to Jonah and tells him to go to Nineveh and preach against the city because of its wickedness. But Jonah runs away from the Lord and boards a boat heading in the opposite direction. Then the Lord sends a great wind on the sea and the storm is so great that it almost breaks up the boat. The sailors on board determine that Jonah is running away from his God and therefore responsible for the storm threatening their lives. To stop the storm, the sailors pick up Jonah and throw him overboard. Suddenly the raging sea grows calm. Jonah realizes that he deserves death for disobeying God but God spares him. The Lord tells him a second time to go to Nineveh and this time Jonah goes.

When he arrives in Nineveh and tells the people that they will be overthrown in 40 days, they repent and believe in God. This makes Jonah angry. He confesses that the reason he didn't want to go to Nineveh in the first place is because he hated the Ninevites and he didn't want God to forgive them; instead he wants God to destroy them. Jonah has experienced the grace of God for himself but did not want God to extend that grace to his enemies.

Today, may God grant you the grace to be mindful of how different your own life would be if you had not received grace and may you be more willing to extend grace to others.

If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are 2 Kings 13-14, 2 Chronicles 25, and 2 Timothy 3.

Below the Surface

The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever. -1 Timothy 5:24 (NIV)

I don't have to tell you how destructive sin can be. Just turn on the television or log on to your preferred news website. You don't have to look very hard or very far to see sin against God and sin against society.

Equally concerning is the sin that lurks just beneath the surface. I'm sure all of us know of someone who, by all appearances was a person of great integrity and values...until they got caught cheating on an exam or being unfaithful to their spouse or embezzling from their boss. Sin that begins below the surface is as destructive as the sin easily seen around us. Sooner or later, sin below the surface erupts like a volcano and in its aftermath is one, hot mess.

But thanks be to God that there is still evidence of goodness in the world. I invite you to look around today and take note of this goodness. Maybe someone opens the door for you at the restaurant or treats you to lunch. Maybe someone pays you a compliment or wraps their arms around you in love. Maybe someone sends you flowers or makes your favorite dessert. And the good thing is that beyond the goodness that you can see with your own eyes is the goodness that is not yet obvious. This hidden goodness cannot and will not remain hidden forever. As you look around for signs of goodness today, take heart in knowing that there's more goodness there than you can currently see.

It's important to remember that there is sin and there is goodness lurking just beneath the surface. The sin beneath the surface is especially dangerous. May God grant you the grace to resist sin in whatever way it presents itself. And may the goodness bubbling beneath the surface be like a refreshing spring of water bringing new life and hope to your weekend.

If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, here are the suggested readings for the weekend: 2 Kings 11-12, 2 Chronicles 24, and 1 Timothy 6 (Saturday); Joel 1-3, 2 Timothy 1 (Sunday). I'll be back on Monday with a devotional thought from Jonah 1-4 and/or 2 Timothy 2.

How's Your Training Regiment?

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. -1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

I think I need a personal trainer. You see, I know that I need to exercise more. I know that going from the car to the mailbox doesn't qualify as a walk. Reaching down to pick up the pen that I just dropped doesn't count as an ab crunch. But my problem has always been that when I commit to going to the gym, it lasts for about a week. Since there's no one at the same pathetic level of weight training as I am, since seldom see immediate results, and since it hurts and isn't easy to do, I'm prone to just give up and go eat at the Chinese buffet.

Paul's words today make me feel a little better. He affirms that physical training is of some value, but that training of the spiritual kind has even more value. The spiritual thing I've got: I get up every morning, read scripture, ponder over it, pray, and then journal about it. Whereas I can't seem to stick to a regiment of physical exercise, somehow or another I've managed to faithfully stick to a regiment of spiritual exercise.

The truth of the matter is that we need both physical and spiritual exercise. The truth of the matter is that, in both, sometimes it's hard to chart progress, especially when you're just beginning the regiments. But if we stick with both the physical and spiritual exercise, we realize that it's easier to see the payoffs- not only in the present moment but in the future as well.

May God grant us the grace to devote time to both physical and spiritual training and the ability to see the value in both.

If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are 2 Kings 10, 2 Chronicles 22-23, and 1 Timothy 5.

You're Not Alone

And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. -2 Kings 6:17 (NIV)

In the suggested reading for today, Israel and Aram are at war. But Aram is not having any luck. Whenever the king of Aram makes a move against Israel, Israel anticipates it and is ready. After trying to figure out who is tipping off the Israelite army about his war strategy, the king of Aram learns that it's Elisha. Naturally, he dispatches an army to eliminate Elisha.

When Elisha and his servant realize that the city where they're staying is surrounded by the king of Aram's army, Elisha's servant is frightened. But Elisha tells the servant, "Do not be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those with them." Elisha then prays to God, asking God to open the eyes of the servant so he may see. Suddenly, the servant is able to see that they have their own army of horses and chariots of fire surrounding and protecting them.

Are you worried about something today? Do you feel as if you're being surrounded or that you're about to be attacked? Not sure you can withstand the pressure or the opposition?

May God grant you the grace to believe that you are not alone. The power available to you is far greater than the power available to that which would come against you. I hope you'll be able to sense and find strength in that power today.

If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are 2 Kings 8-9, 2 Chronicles 21, and 1 Timothy 4.

Part of the Solution

But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hands over the spot and cure me of my leprosy”…so he turned and went off in rage. 2 Kings 5:11-12 (NIV)

One of the first things I do on Monday mornings is write the first-time guests of our church from the previous day. Through the years, I’ve noticed something about first-timers. Some move in from other communities and are looking for a place to belong. Some of the first-timers have been involved in another church but for any number of reasons are looking for a new church home. But many of the first-timers have been in our community for a long time and are not coming from another church. Instead, I oftentimes find that these first-timers have had some “life-changing” event to occur: diagnosis of a terminal illness, loss of a job, infidelity of a spouse, or the like. They come seeking answered prayers and hope for their hurting hearts. These people usually want to make an appointment to see me shortly after they worship with us for the first time.

When I meet with them, I try to suggest that God’s answer to our prayers, while sometimes instantaneous and with little work expected of us, usually require the one praying to be a part of the solution. If your marriage is unhealthy, for instance, it’s possible that God could instantly make it healthy, I suppose, but most of the time it requires the couple to do the difficult and often painful work of counseling, learning new ways to relate, etc. The restoration of a marriage is possible but it is not magical and demands much of the couple.

The sad part is that you’d be surprised how quickly people stop coming to church when they realize that God is not going to magically and instantly fix all of their problems. You’d be surprised at how often people walk out of my office after learning that sometimes things get much worse before they get better and just say, “It’s not worth it.” They’re not willing to be part of the answer to their prayers.

In today’s suggested scripture readings, Naaman has leprosy. He’s a Syrian commander known for beating other nations in battle but who cannot seem to beat his disease. He learns that the prophet Elisha of Israel can likely cure him of his leprosy so he goes to see him. Elisha sends word that for Naaman to be healed, he must go wash himself seven times in the Jordan River.

Naaman is furious. He doesn’t want to be a part of the solution to the problem. He just wants Elisha to come stand in front of him, call on the name of Elisha’s God, wave his hand over Naaman’s leprosy, and heal him. Besides, the Jordan River is dirty. Naaman didn’t come all of this way to see Elisha only to bathe in a dirty river in Israel! Naaman goes away mad.

Fortunately, Naaman’s servants convince him to go wash himself seven times in the Jordan River and Naaman finds healing and restoration.

Is there an area in your life where you want healing to take place? Are there things that God might want you to see, to do, to be, or to change that could be part of the way God seeks to answer your prayer? Are you willing to do those things? Are you willing to be part of the solution to your problem? Oftentimes, healing won’t take place unless you are.

May God grant you the grace to see how you might play a part in the answer to your prayers.

If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are 2 Kings 6-7, 2 Chronicles 20, and 1 Timothy 3.

Believe, Receive, Change

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

-1 Timothy 1:15-16 (NIV)

Yesterday, after officiating a wedding in Murfreesboro, I decided to drive back through Bell Buckle, TN. It was my first trip to the metropolis and I decided to stop and have a late lunch at the Bell Buckle Cafe. I was by myself (my family is in Atlanta) so I planned to just surf the internet on my phone while enjoying a bite to eat. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a signal on my fancy smart phone in Bell Buckle, so I just ate in silence.

I wasn't trying to eavesdrop on the conversation next to me but I couldn't help it. One woman was telling another woman that a former friend (who had apparently hurt her feelings badly) had recently apologized in the hopes of restoring the relationship. Her dining partner listened intently and then offered the following advice, "Don't believe it! He'll never change!"

That may be true. The one who hurt this woman may in fact never change. But then again, he could change and maybe he did change.

Paul would know something about that kind of change. He considered himself to the worst of sinners. Before his conversion experience, Paul was a persecutor of Christians and played a role in at least one death of a Christian (Stephen) and no doubt many more. But after his encounter with Christ, Paul went from being intent on destroying the Christian church to intent on building the Christian church. No doubt many questioned whether someone like Paul could make such a radical change and Paul is quick to say that such a change was only possible because of Christ's great patience and mercy.

Maybe you've been hurt like the woman I overheard at the cafe yesterday. Maybe you're the one who has hurt someone else. Maybe someone you know needs to change but you doubt it's possible. Maybe you're the one who needs to make a few changes. The good news is that, regardless of who you are or what you've done, change is possible. Christ Jesus desires to change you, to show you patience and mercy, if only you will believe and receive.

May God grant you the grace to believe, receive, and experience whatever change is needed in your life today.

PS: As many of you noticed, last week I did not send out daily devotionals. I was at Tennessee Annual Conference and simply did not have (make) the time to write and post devotionals. I'm back in the saddle, as they say, and excited about continuing this journey of scripture reading and reflection with you.

If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are 2 Kings 4-5, Psalm 83, and 1 Timothy 2.

To Overflowing

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.-Philippians 2:4-5 (NRSV)

As Methodists in middle Tennessee celebrate our 200 years of ministry this week, it occurs to me that one of the reasons that God may have blessed our ministry is because, when we've done ministry well, it's been without selfish ambition or conceit. When we've faithfully lived out God's call on our lives, it's been when we have regarded others as better than ourselves and when we have placed the interests of others ahead of our own.

My prayer for this year's Annual Conference of middle Tennessee United Methodists is that the decisions made will be in the spirit of seeking to be of the same mind and having the same love as Jesus.

My prayer for you today is that God would grant you the grace to empty yourself in a way that would allow Christ to fill you to overflowing!

If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are 1 Kings 13-14; 1 Chronicles 12; Philippians 3.

Why Not Now?

Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. -Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NIV)

When I was just starting out as a pastor fifteen years ago, one of the older members of the congregation I was serving asked me where I would go on my dream vacation. As I recall, Hawaii was at the top of the list and maybe a few other places. She asked when I was going to go on this dream vacation and I said, "Probably when I retire." After all, I wouldn't have to miss time at church, find someone to fill in for me, and I could probably stay for a longer period of time and more likely afford the trip. She looked at me disapprovingly and said, "Don't wait for the perfect time to go on your dream vacation because it may never come. You may not live to retire or feel like going once you retire. Go on your dream vacation now!"

I find myself tempted to do that a lot: to wait for a better time. I'll start exercising at the beginning of the month. I'll begin to eat healthier after I order this Baconator Deluxe from Wendy's. I'll read my Bible after I finishing reading "The Hunger Games." There's always in my mind a better time to do something.

In our suggested scripture reading today, we are told that whoever is watching the wind and worried about whether it's going to rain won't plant or reap the harvest. To be sure, you don't want to be in the middle of reaping your harvest when it starts to rain but you don't want to be immobilized either while always waiting for a more perfect time.

What have you been putting off, waiting for a more perfect time to do? A trip to the dentist? Writing your will? Getting new tires? Beginning a daily discipline of Bible study? Spending more time with your family? Let me ask you another question: Why not now?

May God grant you the grace to stop putting off until tomorrow what you know you should really be doing today.

If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, here are this weekend's suggested readings: Song of Solomon 1-4 and Ephesians 6 on Saturday and Song of Solomon 5-8 and Philippians 1 on Sunday. I plan to be back on Monday with a devotional on 1 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10-11, and/or Philippians 2.

The Headline of Your Day

Speak truthfully...do not let the sun go down on your anger...anyone who is stealing must steal no longer, but work doing something useful so that you'll have something to share with those in need...don't let unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful in building up others..and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and slander... -Ephesians 4:25-31 (NIV)

My wife and son are out of town this week so I find myself living on the edge. For instance, last night I stayed up and watched the 10 o'clock news. I know. You're jealous, right?

Except for Demetria Kalodimos (one of my all-time favorite news anchors), I can't say that my late-nighter was worth it. Here's what I learned: a man was shot outside a Kroger, a meth lab was busted in a hotel room, a gas station was robbed, a wife was stabbed, and a girl was raped. The world is a full of lies, anger, laziness, profanity, abuse, and sadness.

Is there no good news in the word today? Should I email Demetria Kalodimos and (after telling her how awesome I think she is) tell her that I miss the good ole' days when people were more humble, gentle, meek, long-suffering, and loving? Aren't those people worth talking about?

The thing is: I'm not sure that things have ever been a lot better. If they were, why would Paul write what he writes in today's suggested scripture readings? And Paul's not just writing this letter to anyone; he's writing it to God's holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ. It's the Christian in the pews and not the criminal on the news that he's addressing in his letter. He's talking to me and to you.

What if we started there as well? There's obviously a lot of work to be done in the world to make it the place that God desires, but what if we began this transformation with me and you? What about Paul's statements wouldn't make the world better? Me better? You better?

Be truthful. Don't let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth unless it builds up others. In your anger, do not sin and don't let the sun go down on your anger. Don't steal. Get an honest job. Share what you have with the needy. Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God (I translate this as "Don't make God sad"). Get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and malice. Be kind. Compassionate. Forgiving. Follow Christ's example. Walk in the way of love.

Maybe you don't have a problem telling the truth, but does it build people up? Maybe you don't get angry, but isn't some anger justified (just don't let it fester)? Maybe you don't steal and maybe you have an honest job, but are there things that you do that make God sad? Paul says that these things must be banished from the Christian life. This will make the church better. This will make the world better.

May God grant you the grace to make Paul's words your headline today. Maybe Demetria Kalodimos would lead off tonight's newscast with a story about you.

If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are Ecclesiastes 10-12, Psalm 94, and Ephesians 5.

Immeasurably More

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory...forever and ever. -Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

Yesterday, a friend and I were talking about how battling cancer has affected my ministry. For the sake of this devotional, let me just say that it's not something that I ever want to go through again (not that I have a choice), but I am able to look back and see that God used my experience in ways that brought people together and brought glory to God.

In today's suggested reading, Paul is in prison. I'm guessing that if Paul had his preferences, he'd rather not be in jail. But Paul is able to see that despite being a prisoner, despite going through a very difficult time, God has used Paul's experience to bring people together and to bring glory to God.

Paul's faith in difficult circumstances is amazing. He is a prisoner of the Roman government, but in Paul's mind he is only a prisoner of Jesus Christ. He may be in a prison cell, but it's only because he was willing to share the good news of God's love and he's been able to continue doing that despite his incarceration. He may be a captive, but he is able to approach God with freedom and confidence (v 12). He is not discouraged because God has used his hardship in ways that furthered the kingdom.

I suspect that some reading this devotional today feel trapped or imprisoned. Maybe it's an illness or a dead-end job. You'd rather not be in that situation and I don't blame you. But my prayer today would be that God would grant you the grace to see, even in this unfortunate time in your life, that God is at work in redemptive ways. I'm praying that God will be able to do immeasurably more than you can could ask or imagine with His power that is in you.

If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are Ecclesiastes 7-9 and Ephesians 4.

What American Ninja Warrior and Jesus Can Do

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is not at work in those who are disobedient. -Ephesians 2:1-2 (NIV)

Last night I was trying to find something to watch on television, which seems to be increasingly more difficult (despite the fact that we have hundreds of channels to choose from). One of the choices was a show called American Ninja Warrior. The goal of this reality show is to beat the world's toughest obstacle course in the quickest amount of time without falling into the water below. Now that's quality entertainment!

The reason I paused on the show is because they were interviewing one of the contestants. He was a young man and was talking about how he had become an alcoholic in college. When he first began drinking, he knew that he probably shouldn't (he was underage and therefore breaking the law). But the more he drank, the less concerned he was about whether or not he should be drinking; he just wanted to drink and have a good time. Unfortunately, what began because he simply wanted to drink reached a point where he was drinking because he had to drink; he had become addicted.

In our suggested readings today, Paul reminds the Ephesians about how they were once dead in their sins and transgressions. William Barclay, a world-renowned New Testament scholar, once said that sin kills in three ways: it kills innocence, it kills ideals, and it kills the will. Once we sin (the Greek word here means "miss the mark"), you and I will never be the same again. Whatever innocence we may have had is lost forever. Sin kills ideals because when you first sin, there is usually some level of awareness that it's wrong, but the more you sin, the easier it becomes to do it. Finally, sin kills the will because you eventually continue sinning not because you want to, but because you have to; you've become enslaved to the sin.

That's what happened to the guy on American Ninja Warrior last night. He broke the law, worried about it at first, but the more he did it, the easier it became to break the law. Eventually, he became enslaved to the alcohol.

The good news is that this young man got hooked up with people training for the American Ninja Warrior TV show. They helped him to get clean and now he's in the best shape of his life and he had one of the best times in the obstacle course last night. The good news for the believer is that because of God's great love for you, you have been saved by grace. God desires to make you who are dead in sin alive with Christ. Through Christ, the guilt that comes from lost innocence can be taken away. Christ can reawaken His ideal for your heart and Christ can restore your lost will.

May God grant you the grace to confess how you've missed the mark and become dead in your sin. And may the awareness of God's great love bring you new life today: removing guilt, reawakening God's ideals, and restoring your lost will to love and live for God.

If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are Ecclesiastes 4-6, Psalm 18, and Ephesians 3.

That You'll Know God Better

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. -Ephesians 1:15-17 (NIV)

When I began writing these daily devotionals back at the beginning of the year, I pointed out that I am a much better speaker than a writer (which may not be saying much). I enjoy journaling and have found it to be an important spiritual discipline, but I've never really journaled knowing that other people were going to read it (at least while I was still alive). I have an idea of what good journaling looks like and when I read most of what I write, I don't see good journaling.

And yet God has seen fit to bless this Good Morning God ministry. Hundreds of people a day receive this daily devotional (which doesn't mean that they read it). And almost every single day, someone will either email, call, or approach me to express appreciation. Often, they'll share a little about their own faith journey or even their own struggles with faith. Then they'll usually thank me for playing a part in their faith development.

When I hear how God has used these devotionals in people's lives, I react the way Paul does when he thinks of the believers at Ephesus. He thanks God for them and he remembers them in prayer. He prays that God would grant them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, that they would know God better.

That's my prayer for you today. I am prayerful for your faith and for your love of all God's people. I give thanks for your faithful support of this ministry and I thank God that, for some reason, God has seen fit to use a broken vessel like me to bless others. And I pray that God would keep using these morning devotionals in such a way that you would come to know God better.

If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are Ecclesiastes 1-3, Psalm 45, and Ephesians 2.

For the Good of Others

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. -Romans 15:1-2 (NIV)

Spiritual formation is important to me. I love to begin each day reading God's word and seeking application for my own life. I take seriously the importance of prayer and I look forward to fellowship and worship with other believers. Spiritual formation is important.

But if I'm being honest with myself, much of why spiritual formation is important to me is because of the personal benefit it is to me. It gives me hope. It gives me peace. It gives me strength. Me. Me. Me.

In today's suggested scripture readings, Paul reminds that it's not just about me. The strength that I gain from praying, reading scripture, and worshiping should just as importantly be used to build up others. Christ came in power and strength not to please himself, but to serve.

May your faith be strengthened today and may God grant you the grace to use that strength to build up and serve others for their good.

If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, here are this weekend's readings: Proverbs 28-31, and Romans 16. I'll be back on Monday. Enjoy your weekend.