Good Morning God Devotionals Have Moved

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Thanks for reading. I have never considered myself a writer (I'm a speaker who has to write). But you've been a constant source of encouragement and affirmation to me since beginning this daily discipline.

Spending Time With Jesus

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. -Luke 19: 5-6 (NIV)

Last November, my family went to Disney World with some dear friends. One of the things we were most looking forward to seeing was the Main Street Electrical Parade. Our son Nicolas loves anything that glows, spins, and glides and the parade promised floats that would do all of those things.

On the night we decided to watch the parade, we were certain that we'd allotted enough time to find a place to view the parade. Disney has handicap-accessible seating for people in wheelchairs so we made our way to those designated areas only to discover that they were already full. We kept racing ahead to the next observation point only to learn that those places were also full. Finally we found a place where, though not on the front row, Nicolas could perhaps see the very tops of the floats as they passed by us. Eventually someone invited Nicolas to join the front row of spectators but the person right next to Nicolas often blocked his view while trying to call out to the parade participants and trying to get the best angle to record the parade with her video camera.

For me, the best moment of the Main Street Electrical Parade was when the parade participants would come over and greet Nicolas, hardly acknowledging (if at all) the woman who was often blocking Nicolas' view. She was obviously not happy that Nicolas was getting the attention that she desired. After all, she was the one videoing it, right?

I couldn't help but recall that night at Disney as I read the suggested scripture reading for today. Like my son Nicolas, Zacchaeus was unable to see over the crowd. Like Nicolas, Zacchaeus ran (wheeled) ahead in search of an observation point. Like Nicolas, Zacchaeus didn't call out to those walking by but was instead singled out and approached by the One walking by him. Like the woman blocking Nicolas' view of the parade, the people around Zacchaeus didn't like the fact that he was getting the special attention of Jesus...attention that they desired.

Upon meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus clearly makes the case that either he already gives half of everything he makes to the poor or will do so from this point forward. If he has wronged anyone, Zacchaeus vows to go far beyond the biblical mandate for restitution because he wants to make things right. The story concludes with Jesus restoring Zacchaeus' standing in the community and assuring him that salvation has come to his house.

Have you been judged by the crowd to not be worthy? Or have you been like the crowd and passed judgment on someone else? Have you been searching for Jesus but have been unable to see him? The good news is that Jesus is seeking you too and he wants to come into your home and life.

May God grant you the grace to see Christ, hear his invitation to spend time together, and experience his salvation and restoration today.


Tomorrow's Reading: Luke 20

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

No Regrets

He answered, "Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers.  Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment." -Luke 16:27-28 (NIV)

In today's suggested scripture reading, Jesus is addressing a group of Pharisees who are lovers of money and he tells them a parable about two men. One of them is wealthy as evidenced by the purple robes and the abundant tables of food. The other man is poor, covered with sores, and sits by the gate of the rich man longing for scraps of food from the rich man's table.

Both men die. The rich man is buried and descends to Hades, defined most simply as the place where God is not. The poor man, Lazarus, is carried away by angels and takes his place beside Abraham.

The rich man is somehow able to see Lazarus alongside Abraham while he himself is in endless torment. The rich man asks Abraham for relief but there is none coming. He is told that the chasm exists because he had good things on earth while Lazarus did not. Some suggest that the chasm exists because the rich man refused to share his riches with poor Lazarus who begged outside his gate.

I want to live a life of "no regrets." I want to live in such a way that I lessen the likelihood of approaching death having wished that I had done something I did not. I want to so live that I approach death regretting that there were lots of things that I should not have done.

May God grant you the grace to assess what is really important today and to be a good steward of your time, talents, and treasures. May you see this day as a gift and may you live with no regrets.



Tomorrow's Reading:  Luke 17
Sunday's Reading: Luke 18
I'll be back on Monday with a devotional from Luke 19

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

Seek the Straying

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?" -Luke 15:4 (NIV)

On most Sunday mornings, I can look out into the congregation and quickly discern who's not at church. That's because most people typically sit in the same exact seats if not the same general area. Unless someone has informed me, I try to reach out to every regular attendee who has missed two weeks in a row. I want them to know that it's just not the same when they're not there.

When you get to worship on Sunday morning, I invite you to take note of the people that you don't see. Commit to calling or writing those people even if you don't think you know them well. You could say something like this: "I missed seeing you at church on Sunday. Perhaps you were under the weather. Perhaps you were traveling. Perhaps you had an ox in the ditch that needed to be rescued. Whatever the reason, I just want you to know that it's not the same worshiping without you."

When someone comes to church that hasn't been in a while, avoid saying things like, "I can't believe the roof didn't cave in when you walked into the sanctuary." Just smile, greet them warmly, and say that it's so good to see them. Invite them to sit with you. Contact them later in the week and say that their presence is important and a blessing.

Isn't that exactly what Jesus is modeling in the suggested scripture for today? He tells the parable of a shepherd who has one hundred sheep. One of them is missing so the shepherd seeks out the one that has wandered. Why would a shepherd do this? Is it really worth leaving the ninety-nine to go after one that has strayed? Apparently so. The shepherd realizes that if the wandering sheep is not found, it will likely be devoured by a predator.

Jesus knows that it's to the wandering sheep's benefit that it be brought back to the flock. Indeed, Jesus goes looking for wandering sheep. How would church attendance and even more importantly the heath and welfare of all God's sheep be different if you, as a faithful member of his flock, did the same?

May God grant you the grace to seek out straying sheep of the fold today.

NOTE: I'm back from my clergy retreat and back to the land of internet and cell service. I missed writing and sharing my devotionals.



Tomorrow's Reading:  Luke 16

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

Be On Guard

Then Jesus said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions. -Luke 12:15 (NIV)

Have you ever seen the 1979 movie, "The Jerk?" It's judged by many to be one of the funniest movies of all time although (as I recall) it has quite a bit of offensive and objectionable content. (Disclaimer: I'm not endorsing the movie but I am going to use it as an illustration in today's devotional).

In the movie, Navin Johnson (played by Steve Martin) is a simple-minded man who is on a quest to "find himself." Along the way, he invents the "Opti-Grab," a device that prevents eyeglasses from slipping off of a person's nose. Navin subsequently gets rich and it goes to his head. He becomes consumed with "stuff". Later, his wife confesses that she misses the way things were before they became wealthy. This infuriates Navin and he tells her that he doesn't need her or anything else. As he's storming out the door, he changes his mind and says that all he needs is an ashtray...and a paddle game...and a remote control...and matches...and a lamp...and a chair. (You can watch the entire scene here. Don't worry: it's clean.)

Navin thinks that "stuff" is all that he needs to make himself happy. We have a tendency to think this in our own lives too, don't we? "If I just had that house, or that car, or that job, or that shirt, then I'd be happier." The problem with this approach to life is that we always want something else. Our greed can prevent us from being content with what we have and make us unwilling to share what we have with others.

In today's suggested scripture reading, Jesus cautions his disciples to "be on guard against all kinds of greed" and tells them that "life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." He then uses a parable to communicate the danger of storing up things for ourselves instead of being rich in the things of God.

May God grant you the grace to be on guard against greed today, to find contentment with what you have, and to be willing to share what you have with others.


Note: I will be at a Clergy Spiritual Life Retreat through Wednesday of this week. I may not have time (or internet) to post devotionals. Thanks for understanding.


Tomorrow's Reading:  Luke 13

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

How the Kingdom Grows

And he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. -Luke 9:2 (NIV)

When someone visits our church for the first time (if they leave an email or snail mail address), we send them a survey that we call "First Impressions of First Church." We are constantly seeking to make people's experience at our church more meaningful and feedback from our guests is vitally important to that end.

One of the first questions on the survey is: how did you hear about our church? There are about ten choices to choose from, one of which is "other" (in which case a blank is provided so that they can be more specific). Would you believe that most people don't hear about our church through our local advertising efforts? Or the United Methodist Find-a-Church page? Or through these awesome morning devotionals? I know...shocking, right? No, of all the different ways that people possibly hear about our church, the most cited response is "from a friend." Word of mouth. One person sharing with another person.

In the suggested reading for this morning, Jesus calls the disciples together and sends them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. We're told that they then go from village to village proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and that they are agents of healing to the people with whom they come in contact. The early church is not unlike the church I serve today: its growth came from word of mouth. Friend to friend. Neighbor to neighbor. One person sharing with another person.

I believe that Jesus is still in the business of empowering people to share the good news and be agents of healing in the lives of others. I believe that Jesus empowers you! You don't need much for the journey. If people don't welcome you, just shake it off and move on to someone else. But your willingness to share the good news will result in lives being changed. Healing will take place. And maybe...just maybe...in addition to doing those two vitally important things, you'll get to celebrate your successes over a fish fry later (the feeding of the five thousand happens immediately after they return from their travels).

May God grant you the grace of empowerment to proclaim the good news and be an agent of healing today. That's how the kingdom grows.



Tomorrow's Reading:  Luke 10
Sunday's Reading: Luke 11
I'll be back on Monday with a devotional from Luke 12

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God.

Warning or Encouragement?

When he said this, he called out, "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear." -Luke 8:8 (NIV)

I teach a Wednesday night Bible study at the church I serve and it just so happens that we were studying Luke 8 last night. During the course of our conversation, the observation was made that the "Parable of the Sower" can either be read as both a warning and an encouragement.

Just in case you haven't read the parable yet, let me frame it. A farmer goes out to sow seed. Some of the seed falls on the path and is both trampled on and eaten by birds. Some of the seed falls on rocky ground and dies from lack of moisture. Other seed falls among thorns and the thorns choke out the good seed. Thankfully, some of the seed falls on good soil and produces a wonderful harvest.

If this parable is read as a warning, the message is this: what happens to the seed (which Luke says is the word of God) is dependent upon the ground, or heart, onto which it falls. Read in this way, you and I are to realize that, if our hearts aren't fertile ground, the word of God can be trampled, eaten, withered, or choked. You and I should therefore make sure that the word of God finds fertile soil in which to grow.

Another way of reading the parable is to see it as an encouragement. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law are already furious with Jesus for what he has said and done in the synagogue (6:11). They are looking for reasons to bring charges against him (6:7). Perhaps the disciples are growing discouraged because the seed that Jesus is planting isn't quite growing in the way that they want or hope. The parable could then be Jesus' way of reminding the disciples that farmers plant seed knowing full well that not all of the seed will grow...and yet that doesn't stop them from sowing. They simply trust that enough seed will grow and a good harvest produced. Similarly, the setbacks that Jesus and the disciples are experiencing will not stop the eventual fruition of God's word. That's an encouraging word if you're beginning to have some doubts about the harvest.

As you read the parable this morning, do you think God intends it to be a word of warning or a word of encouragement for you? Are you being urged to improve the soil quality of your heart in order that God's word might produce a bountiful harvest? Or are you a faithful sower who needs assurance that, despite no evidence of God's word taking root in the places where you're throwing seed, in the end the harvest will happen? Could it be that God intends the parable to be both a warning and an encouragement?

May God grant you the grace to hear this parable in the way that God desires for you to hear today.



Tomorrow's Reading:  Luke 9

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God.

How to Spot a Disciple

In those days he went away into a mountain to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he called his disciples and from them he chose twelve, whom he designated apostles. -Luke 6:12-13 (NIV)

"Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him 500 denarii and the other 50. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which one will love him more?" -Luke 7:41-42 (NIV)

Yesterday, I failed to send out a devotional. This morning, I'll briefly touch on yesterday's suggested scripture reading and then move on to this morning's suggested reading.

The thing that struck me about yesterday's reading is that Jesus took time to get away and pray before choosing the people that would become his apostles. If Jesus took time to get away for prayer and discernment, how much more should we?

Today's reading calls to mind a conversation that I had with someone yesterday. A friend was commenting that church folks often like to pick the people that they want responding to the Good News of Jesus. My friend's point is that the people we would be tempted to choose often look like us, sound like us, and believe like us.

In chapter 7, Jesus is in the home of a Pharisee. The word "Pharisee" itself means "separate." These are strict adherents to the law who have added layers of interpretation to it to make the law even stricter. A sinful woman enters, someone a Pharisee normally wouldn't be caught dead near, and anoints Jesus' feet with perfume. Simon the Pharisee is astounded that Jesus would associate with such a sinful woman like this, which prompts Jesus to tell a story about two people being forgiven of a debt. The one forgiven of the larger debt is said to love the gracious moneylender more.

In Simon's eye, this woman doesn't look the part of a faithful follower of God. And yet Jesus suggests that she is more grateful for the forgiveness that she has received because she has been forgiven of more. The woman's salvation and her peace is credited to the faith that she has.

So what might be said about these two stories from two chapters together in this one devotional? Perhaps the word that God speaks to Samuel back in 1 Samuel 16:7 says it best: do not consider a person's outward appearance. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

May God grant you the grace to, like Jesus, spend time in prayer considering what a disciple of Christ really looks like. As you pray, remember that the Lord looks at the heart and not at a person's outward appearance.



Tomorrow's Reading: Luke 8

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God.

Another Way

One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and the teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village...and the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. -Luke 5: 17-19 (NIV)

This has always been one of my favorite gospel stories because of my father. For much of my life, my father did not profess to be a follower of Christ. To be honest, I had almost given up hope that he ever would. But I had a group of friends who were committed to faithfully placing my father before Jesus in prayer...just like the friends in this story were faithful in placing the paralyzed man before Jesus.  When my father finally became a follower of Jesus, I am convinced that it was in part because of the faith of those who continually placed him before the Lord.

But as I reflect on this text for today's devotional, something else stands out to me. The reason why the friends had to resort to lowering the paralyzed man through the roof is because the "religious people" were in the way.

We are told that Pharisees and teachers of the law come from everywhere to hear Jesus teach. These are the so-called religious "experts". When the friends arrive to place the paralyzed man before Jesus, they cannot find a way to do it because of the religious folks who have gathered; these religious people are an obstacle for the paralyzed man who would be placed before Christ.

I wonder: how many times have you and I (as religious people) gotten in the way of others coming to Christ? How many times have we been an obstacle to someone because of our attitudes, our indifference, or or arrogance? How many times have we said or acted some way that does more harm than good for the cause of Christ?

My mind drifts back to my father in the days before he became a follower of Jesus. Preachers from denominations other than mine would visit my dad on a regular basis. They'd try to convince him that he needed Jesus or else he'd perish in hell. What I realize now is that, though perhaps well meaning, these preachers were actually obstacles to my father getting to Jesus. He simply wasn't going to respond to that kind of reasoning. But when a United Methodist colleague of mine went to visit my father, he never even mentioned God or faith in the first few visits. He met my father where he was and talked about the things that my father enjoyed talking about; only much later (after a relationship of trust had been developed) did the subject of faith get introduced. Like the friends in the story, this pastor found "another way" to help get my father before the feet of Jesus.

May God grant you the grace: to continually place others before Christ (like the friends), to not be an obstacle to others who might come to Jesus (like the "religious" crowd), and willing to find "another way" if obstacles are encountered that prevent people from coming to Christ.




Tomorrow's Reading: Luke 6

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God.

Bitter or Better?

There was a prophet, Anna...she was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after their marriage, and then was a widow until she was 84. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. -Luke 2:36-37 (NIV)

Of all the people of scripture that I'd like to meet, Anna would be at the top of the list. Here is a woman whose husband died seven years into their marriage; she is now 84. No doubt her husband's death dashed many of her dreams. I can only imagine the hardship that his death placed on her life and the sorrow that filled her heart.

You and I both know people who have known heartache like that...people whose spouses have died or left, people who seem to have a dark cloud always floating over their heads. I once heard a preacher say that people can respond to such affliction by either getting "bitter or better."

Anna does not choose bitterness. In fact, Luke tells us that she spends all of her time at church, worshiping God night and day. She practices the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting. Her misery does not push her farther away from God; it brings her closer to God. She is looking forward to the redemption of Israel and not backwards lamenting the past.

As we continue through the season of Lent, a time of confession, repentance, grace, and forgiveness, I'd like to extend the same invitation to you that I extended to our congregation on Ash Wednesday. Use this time to take a self-inventory of your life. Do you have any baggage that you're carrying around that is weighing you down or slowing you down? Are you holding on to something that is making you bitter instead of better? What would it take for you to lay those burdens down or, better yet, allow Christ to take that baggage upon himself? Isn't that exactly what his intentions were when he went to the cross?

May God grant you the grace to let go of that which would make you bitter or use those experiences to make you better.



Tomorrow's Reading: Luke 3
Sunday's Reading: Luke 4
I'll be back on Monday with a devotion on Luke 5

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God.

Write It Down

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you... -Luke 1:1-3 (NIV)

At yesterday's Noon Ash Wednesday service, when I placed the sign of the cross on worshipers' foreheads using the ashes from last year's palm branches, I handed out a laminated card. On the card was written basic information about why we observe Ash Wednesday as well a prayer of confession and an assurance of pardon. I encouraged those in attendance that, if they were asked why they had a big smudge on their foreheads as they went about the rest of their day, to share the laminated card as a way of explaining this meaningful act of confession and repentance.

Later that afternoon, two people stopped by my office to tell me that they had gone to the store following worship. A young woman approached them about the sign of the cross on their foreheads. Being good listeners, they handed the woman the laminated card and informed her that there was another Ash Wednesday service to be held later that evening at our church. The woman, new to our community, promised to be there... and she came, bringing her children with her to our third Ash Wednesday service of the day.

I'm so glad that I decided to print those cards with information about why we celebrate Ash Wednesday along with a prayer of confession and an assurance of pardon. It's important information. If you're like me, I write down important information because it's something that I don't want to forget. It's something that I want to be able to refer back to over and over again. It's something that I might want to share with others.

In this morning's scripture, Luke realizes the importance of writing down an orderly account of the teachings of Jesus. He claims that this account comes from the testimonies of eyewitnesses and servants. It's important information that he doesn't want people to forget. It's information that he wants people to be able to refer back to over and over again. It's information that he wants to share with others.

During the season of Lent, when we journey with Christ to the cross, many believers "take on" something in the same way that Jesus "took on" the cross for the salvation of the world. Let me suggest one thing that you and I might "take on" this Lent: writing "it" down. By that, I mean keeping a journal for the next 40 days. Write down the ways in which you see God at work or write down the things for which you're thankful. It doesn't have to be long. It doesn't have to be deep. But it is important. What a gift it would be to share with your children or your spouse! What a gift it would be to your family if you could all participate in "writing it down" together. I'm convinced that this discipline would not only draw you closer to God but to all those who read or hear your account of God's faithfulness. It may never win a
Pulitzer Prize but it may help draw someone closer to Christ...just like the laminated card of important information that two people passed out yesterday at the grocery store.

May God grant you the grace to "write it down" this Lent- an account of the things that have been fulfilled among you.



Tomorrow's Reading: Luke 2

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God.

In This Life and the Next

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.'" -Mark 16:6-8 (NIV)

I confess. You've probably read this devotional before. I originally wrote it last year at about this time. The truth is that I don't have time to journal this morning. I'm at Elk River Coffee Company placing the sign of the cross on anyone who desires it with some of my clergy colleagues. What's Ash Wednesday and what are we doing at the coffee shop? Read about it here. And keep reading the devotional. Even though I wrote it last year, I pray that it blesses you today.

Over the last several days many people for whom our church has been praying have received discouraging reports. I've found myself weeping on several different occasions because people I love have been rocked to the core with bad news.

Maybe that's why I needed Mark 16 today. It's a resurrection text, which seems rather odd to be reading at the beginning of the Lenten season. But it speaks of a great truth.

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome are on their way to the place where the crucified Christ has been buried. They're worried. They're worried that his decomposing body is beginning to smell. They're worried that a huge stone is blocking entrance into the tomb and that they won't be able to enter. But they're greeted by a messenger of God who proclaims that Christ has risen and has gone ahead of them into Galilee. This messenger promises the women that they will see Jesus again.

Like the women of the text, maybe you've recently witnessed or received some discouraging news. Maybe you're worried. Maybe you're afraid. Maybe what you need more than anything else this morning is a message from God: that Jesus has defeated death, that he goes before you with the promise of a better future, and that you will see him again.

Even with such a promise, perhaps you're still afraid (the women in the text are). But may God grant you the grace that, in the midst of worry, discouragement, and alarm, you be assured of God's great love for you. Christ is risen. And you will see him. This isn't just a promise that is fulfilled after you die. It's a promise that will be fulfilled both in this life and the next.



Tomorrow's Reading: Luke 1

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

Women of Faith

Some women were watching from a distance. Among them was Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee, these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. -Mark 15:40-41 (NIV) 

In today's suggested scripture reading, Jesus is dying on the cross. Peter, the rock on which Christ plans to build his church, has denied even knowing Jesus. Judas, the Chief Financial Officer of the disciples, has betrayed Jesus. The other disciples have all deserted Jesus and fled.

But Mark says that there were some women there watching from a distance. These women do not abandon Jesus. These women cannot abandon him. These women have followed Jesus throughout his ministry (if not his whole life) and care deeply for him.

As I read these words this morning, I find myself thinking about my own life and faith, recalling all of the women of the Way who have had such a huge impact on my life. The person who introduced me to faith so many years ago and helped create in me a hunger for God was my mother. The most influential Sunday School teachers in my life were women. When I think about the people who have cared for me, encouraged me, followed me, and been there for me in difficult times, it seems as if a majority of these people have also been women. When I consider the most gifted pastors and preachers, educators and administrators, it's not surprising to me that there are lots of faithful women at the top of that list.

Certainly, there have been many men who have been these things to me throughout the years. But today, I feel prompted to thank God for the women of the faith that have blessed my life.

May God grant you the grace to spend today recalling with a grateful heart the women who have followed Christ, modeled faith, and expressed love and care for you.



Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 16

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

What You Can

"She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial." -Mark 14:8 (NIV)

In today's suggested scripture reading, Jesus is reclining at a table in Bethany. A woman enters the room with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She breaks the jar open and pours the perfume on the head of Jesus. She is quickly reminded, as all of us often are, that you cannot please everybody.

Some of the guests around the table are immediately bent out of shape. "How could she be so wasteful? That's expensive stuff! She could have sold it, taken the money, and helped the poor." They reprimand her for her seeming stupidity.

But Jesus sees things differently (surprise). He praises the woman, saying, "She has done a beautiful thing. She has done what she could. And from this moment on, wherever the gospel is told, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."

Have you ever felt prompted by the Spirit to do something that others might think is wasteful, silly, or insignificant? Have you ever felt like your contribution to the kingdom has been undervalued, under-appreciated, or misunderstood?

Then perhaps you could stand to hear these words of Jesus today: "What you're doing is beautiful. Not everyone may understand or appreciate it. But I do. You're doing what you can and I appreciate it. And your story, your contribution to my story, will be remembered and celebrated long after you're gone."

May God grant you the grace to do what you can for Christ today. It's going to be beautiful.




Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 15

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

Start the Demolition

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. -Mark 11:11 (NIV)

Almost four years ago, I visited the Holy Land. It was truly one of the greatest experiences of my life. As I read Mark 11 this morning, I could picture myself standing on the Mount of Olives again, looking across the Kidron Valley toward the old city of Jerusalem.

Jesus was on the Mount of Olives when he ordered two disciples to go fetch a colt for him to ride into Jerusalem for the final time before his crucifixion. Jesus is believed to have entered the city through the East Gate.

Today, that gate is sealed. Our tour guide told us that Suleiman the Magnificent sealed it around 1541 (although there is disagreement about this claim). There are two prevailing theories behind the sealing of this gate. One theory is that Suleiman was aware that the Jewish people expected their Messiah to descend from the Mount of Olives and enter the holy city of Jerusalem through this gate (fulfilling Zechariah 14:4). Closing the gate, then, is seen as an effort to prevent the fulfillment of this messianic expectation. Another theory behind the sealing of the gate is that it was simply the fulfillment of Ezekiel 44:1-2 which says that after the Messiah enters through it, the gate was to be shut and remain shut. Once Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem on a colt, it was sealed, not because Suleiman wanted to prevent the Jewish Messiah from entering, but because God said that it would be sealed and used Suleiman to do it.

Today, the East Gate is visited by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. For the Jews, it is the gate through which their Messiah will enter Jerusalem. According to Muslim belief, Allah's final judgment will take place in front of the East Gate. For Christians, Christ will once again enter the Holy City of Jerusalem through this East Gate.

As I viewed that sealed gate during my Holy Land trip four years ago, I found myself asking: Jesus, how have I closed off the entrance of my heart to you? It's a question that I find myself asking again as we approach the season of Lent.

I've got a hunch. If the Messiah wants entrance into the city of Jerusalem, those bricks will come down. So why bother sealing it? That leads me to a question that I want to leave with you: why have you built a wall around your heart in an effort to keep Christ out? Don't you think that if Christ wants in, he'll find a way to get in?

May God grant you the grace to examine your heart today. If there's wall around it trying to keep Christ out, why not start the demolition and invite Christ in?




Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 12
Sunday's Reading: Mark 13
I'll be back on Monday with a devotional from Mark 14

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

Give What You Have

"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. -Mark 8:5 (NIV)

Through the years, I've heard financial planners say that people should purchase with cash rather than credit. I understand their rationale: many people purchase things on credit that they really cannot afford. But I'm on the other side of the fence. I think more before purchasing something when I use a credit card than I do with cash. If I have cash, I'll buy a candy bar here and a pack of gum there. Before you know it, I'm all out of cash. That's what happened last week.

I was making an unplanned purchase because I thought I had cash in my wallet. When it came time to pay, I realized that I didn't have enough cash to pay for my purchase. When I attempted to pay with a credit card, I was told that they were temporarily unable to take credit cards. I guess I had the "What Am I Going to Do Now" look on my face when I was asked, "How much cash do you have?" I told her, embarrassed at how little it was. "Well, just give me what you have and I'll take care of the rest," she said. I guess it pays to be a frequent customer.

In today's suggested scripture reading, another large crowd has gathered around Jesus. Perhaps people have heard about how Jesus healed the deaf and mute man from chapter 7. Jesus is worried about sending these people on the long journey home without something to eat. The disciples, on the other hand, are worried about where they're going to come up with enough food to feed four thousand people. McDonald's may serve billions, but not at all at one time...and besides there weren't any Golden Arches in Jesus' day.

Jesus responds by asking the disciples, "How many loaves do you have?" Implied in his question seems to be this thought: "Just give me what you have and I'll take care of the rest."

Don't you think that Jesus asks that same question and implies that same statement today? "What do you have that I can use to provide sustenance for the long journey of life, Tommy?" "What do you possess that I might use to satisfy others, Tommy?" "Would you be willing to give me what you have and let me take care of the rest?"

May God grant you the grace to offer what you have to God and let God take care of the rest.




Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 9

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

That Kind of Friend

There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. -Mark 7:32 (NIV)

When we are going through a rough time, we need good friends.

Make no mistake about it, despite being a pastor, there have been times in my life when my faith has wavered and waned. It's not something I'm proud of... but it's true. I can recall moments of disappointment and despair when I questioned whether God was there or whether or not God even cared. I can recall instances when a prayer would not form in my mind or would not escape from my lips. What I am most thankful for during those times is that I had friends, faithful followers of Jesus, who prayed when I didn't and who believed when I couldn't. Their faith and their faithfulness helped me to reclaim my own faith.

I wonder if that's what happening in today's suggested scripture reading. Some people bring a man was who is deaf and can hardly talk to Jesus. They beg Jesus to place his healing hands upon this man. There's no evidence or indication that the man himself has any faith. Maybe he has resigned himself to always being deaf and mute. Maybe he questions whether God cares or whether there even is a God.

But his friends? They have faith that this man is not destined to be deaf and mute. They have hope that if Jesus can just place his hands on their friend, he will be healed. Their faith and their faithfulness motivate them to place their friend before Jesus. And Jesus heals.

I love how Jesus takes the man aside. He's not interested in making this healing a public spectacle. This poor guy has been a public spectacle all of his life. I love how Jesus touches the man. If you've ever had a massage, you know the healing power of touch. As a self-described germ-a-phobe, the fact that saliva is involved in the healing (even Jesus' saliva) sort of freaks me out. But then I recall as a child when my mother would often clean my face or get my hair to lay down with her saliva and it didn't bother me at all...and I lived to tell about it and looked better for it.

I'm guessing that this man is glad that he has faithful and faith-filled friends. I'm guessing that he's glad that when he couldn't talk, his friends could and it was their talk with Jesus (and the faith that inspired it) that brought about his healing. I'm guessing that that he's glad that when he couldn't hear about the healing power of Jesus, his friends could hear and they believed what they heard. I'm guessing that this man is glad that his friends were willing to place him before Jesus that day and intercede with Jesus on his behalf. And judging by the fact that he can't stop talking about his healing (even when told not to), this man is thrilled that this friends brought him before Jesus.

May God grant you the grace to have that kind of friend and to be that kind of friend today.




Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 8

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

What You'll Get

"Consider carefully what you hear," Jesus continued. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you- and even more." -Mark 4:24 (NIV)

I once had two interesting conversations. One was with someone who was telling me why she enjoys teaching Sunday School. "When I'm teaching Sunday School, I always pray more, read more, and study more. I learn so much about the scripture or the subject that I wouldn't have known by simply reading the biblical text. Then I can't wait to get to my Sunday School class and share it." Interestingly enough, this Sunday School teacher is universally regarded by her classmates as one of the best Sunday School teachers that the class has ever had.

I was sharing this conversation with another person from another Sunday School class: how this teacher prepares so well and is so well regarded by the class. The person with whom I was speaking said, "Wow. I'm not even sure that some of our teachers have read the chapter before coming to church that morning. And I'm fairly certain that most people in the class haven't read it either."

In today's scripture, Jesus is saying (as one translation puts it), "What you get depends on what you give. What you give, you will get back, but only more so." To use the examples above, the more you pray, the more you study, and the more you prepare, the more that you'll get out of your Bible study. You'll learn things that you did not know. These new truths will lead you to other truths. You'll likely be more excited about these new discoveries and cannot wait to share them with others.

But if you wait until Sunday morning to read your lesson (or even worse don't read it at all), you won't get as much out of it. You won't be as invested. You won't be as interested. You won't be as excited. You'll get out of it what you put into it.

You'll never learn to swim if you don't venture off into deeper water. If you fall out of bed, it's more than likely because you slept too close to where you got in.

May God grant you the grace to realize that you'll get out of life what you put into it.



Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 5
Sunday's Reading: Mark 6
I'll be back on Monday with a devotional from Mark 7

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

Failure to Recognize

And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons." -Mark 3:22 (NIV)

I probably spent two hours looking for the form. I was sure that it was in this one particular folder in my filing cabinet because that's where it was supposed to be. I was certain that the form was green so that's the color paper that I was looking for in the folder. As it turns out, the form was yellow. I had been shuffling right past it the entire time but didn't recognize it because it wasn't the color for which I was searching.

In this morning's assigned scripture reading, Jesus enters a house that is so crowded with people that he's unable to eat. His family, presumably because he won't stop to eat, assumes that Jesus has lost his mind. The teachers of the law that have come from Jerusalem conclude that he is possessed by Satan. Jesus was right there in front of them, full of the Holy Spirit power, having taught with authority and healed the sick, and his family and the teachers of the law are unable to fully recognize it. What happened to me with the form appears to have happened to them. It's as if they were looking for Jesus to look and act one way and because Jesus looked and acted another way, they failed to get it.

The way Jesus comes, the way Jesus calls, and the things Jesus does may not be exactly what you've come to expect. There's a chance that you don't recognize Jesus because you're shuffling through life looking for Jesus in one way when he's trying to reveal himself in another.

May God grant you the grace to be open to whatever way Christ would come, be, and do in your life today.





Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 4

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

The First Step

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners." -Mark 2:17 (NIV)

Note: No school today resulted in a devotional delay. Sorry to just now be sending out today's devotional.

I have friends and family members who are recovering addicts of one kind or another. Most of them are in some sort of support group like Alcoholics Anonymous or Celebrate Recovery.  Groups like these are often built on the premise that the first step to recovery is acknowledging that one has a problem and that by her or himself  are powerless over that problem. These people reach out to a Higher Power and others with similar addictions for help.

In the suggested scripture reading for today, Jesus is having dinner with sinners and tax collectors. This is not acceptable behavior to the religious leaders of Jesus' day. They consider such sinners and tax collectors unclean and a "ritually clean" person risks becoming unclean when associating with such people. The religious leaders are upset that Jesus is associating with these unclean people.

Jesus responds to their questioning his choice of dinner guests by saying, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." One might interpret this statement as Jesus essentially saying, "Yes, these folks are sick with sin and they need The Great Physician in their life." True enough, I suppose. But I think Jesus is also saying, "Yes, these folks are sick with sin but so are you, religious leaders. These sick people need the healing touch and presence of The Great Physician, but so do you, religious leaders. If you'll acknowledge that you too are sick with sin, The Great Physician will make a house call and bring healing to you too. But if you don't realize that you're sick, you won't seek healing from a Great Physician like me."

I wonder how much healing (emotional, spiritual, and physical) you and I miss because we're not even cognizant of the fact that we're sick?

May God grant you the grace to see the need for the healing touch and presence of The Great Physician today. That's the first step.





Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 3

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

It's Time

"The time has come," Jesus said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news." -Mark 1:15 (NIV)

The year before I enrolled at Ole Miss, on an October afternoon in Oxford, the Rebels were playing host to the Vanderbilt Commodores. Vanderbilt had the ball and called the play: Slot Right 150 Up. At the very moment the ball reached Vandy receiver Brad Gaines, an Ole Miss nickel back named Chucky Mullins made the hit. Chucky immediately fell to the ground unable to move. The collision resulted in four broken vertebrae and the Ole Miss player was paralyzed from the neck down.

That year, the Ole Miss battle cry was "It's Time." Two months after the injury to Chucky, he was brought by ambulance to the Ole Miss locker room to address his teammates moments before they took the field to play Air Force in the Liberty Bowl. Chucky whispered something to Head Coach Billy Brewer. Brewer then repeated it to the team: "It's Time." It was time to go win the game. It was time to win it for Chucky. After Chucky said that, Air Force never had a chance. (If you want to watch a beautiful piece on how Chucky's injury changed the lives of countless people, click here- but have Kleenex handy).

When I read today's suggested scripture, the phrase "It's Time" comes to mind again. Jesus says, "The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news." It's time, not to win a game, but to return to God.

Let's begin today by examining our hearts and minds to see how we've wandered away from God. But let's not stop with simply acknowledging the ways that we have wandered. Jesus says that we must actually repent, which means to have a change of mind. It's more than just feeling sorry for the consequences of our sin; it's actually feeling sorry for the sin itself and turning away from that sin and turning back to God.

I haven't met a lot of people who really like to admit their sin. But it's necessary. It's also dangerous. Why? Well, when confessing sin, it's easy to get stuck dwelling on the sin, becoming overwhelmed by it. "How could I have done that?" "I am such an awful person." "God must really be upset with me." It's so tempting to beat ourselves up when confronting our sin.

Please don't beat yourself up. Jesus tells us to repent, to turn back to him, to heed his voice instead of the other seductive voices out there. He invites us to believe
and to trust him. But he doesn't want us to beat ourselves up over it. Repenting and believing is not meant to bring us down; it's meant to lift us up. Jesus wants us to repent and to believe because good news follows.

Today, may God grant you the grace to acknowledge the ways you've wandered from God. Confess these things to God. Turn away from these things and turn back to God. Believe in God. And receive the Good News that comes from being forgiven. It's Time!

Too Good to be True?

Then go quickly and tell his disciples : "He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.There you will see him." -Matthew 28:7 (NIV)

Last week, I received an email claiming to be from State Farm Insurance. The email said that I had been randomly chosen as a State Farm customer to conduct an online survey. As an incentive to participate, the email promised a $10 gift card from www.amazon.com.

My first thought was that the email was a scam. When Subway Restaurant asks you to complete an online survey, all they offer you is a free cookie. When Walmart asks you to complete an online survey, you waste twenty minutes of your life to be entered for a chance to win some money (I've never won). But a $10 gift card from Amazon? That's enough for a free book or CD download! It sounded too good to be true.

I emailed my State Farm agent to see if the email was legit. I later learned that it was legit and I am now checking the mail each day for the arrival of my free gift card for participating in the survey. Although it sounded too good to be true, it wasn't!

In today's suggested scripture reading, Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" return to the tomb where Jesus has been buried. An angel comes and rolls away the stone that has been blocking the entrance to the tomb. The guards witness this miraculous event and shake with fear. The angel informs the women that Jesus has been raised from the dead and that they are to go tell the disciples that Jesus will meet them in Galilee.

Perhaps God realizes that, when the women tell the other disciples what they have witnessed, the disciples will be tempted to doubt and conclude that the message is too good to be true. Perhaps that's why Jesus himself also graces the women with his post-resurrection presence. Yet after hearing the testimony of the women and even after the disciples themselves have a personal encounter with the risen Christ, the scriptures says they worship him...but some doubt (Matthew 28:16).

You too may have doubts about the resurrection or about faith. It may seem as if it's too good to be true. I would suggest to you that such doubts are not unusual. Even his closest disciples who walked alongside him everyday for three years had doubts. And yet it was to these doubting disciples that the Great Commission is entrusted: go and make disciples. Along with this Great Commission is a great promise: Jesus is with you always.

It may sound too good to be true...but it's not.

May God grant you the grace, even in the midst of doubt, to hear Christ's commission and Christ's promise for your life today.




Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 1

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

Are You Ready?

Therefore keep watch, because you don't know the day or the hour. -Matthew 25:13

You know what's better than my Ole Miss basketball Rebels beating the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville a few weeks ago? Beating the Tennessee Volunteers in Oxford last night! (Sorry, Vol fans) As the game ended, you could hear all the rowdy Rebels beginning their popular cheer with the words, "Are you ready?"

In today's suggested scripture reading, readiness is one of the central themes. Ten virgins want to take part in a wedding party. Unfortunately the bridegroom does not come back for the girls as quickly as they expect. Five of them have enough lamp oil for the delayed return; five of them do not.

This appears to be a story about the second coming of Christ. But it's not only just a reminder that we need to be ready for Christ's return or  that we need to be ready to meet Christ when we die. It's also a helpful reminder for the present moment.

You and I have no idea what today holds. We know not what we will face. Yet if we try to live each day fully in the presence of God, if we faithfully seek God in God's Word and in prayer, we will be better prepared for whatever we might face and better prepared to respond.

May God grant you the grace to do the things that will help you to be ready for today.





Tomorrow's suggested reading:  Matthew 26.
Sunday's suggested reading: Matthew 27.
I'll be back on Monday with a devotion from Matthew 28.


If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

Stay Warm

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. -Matthew 24:13-14 (NIV)

Someone walked up to me the other day and asked me how I liked my muffler. I thought that was a strange question, but I'm quick witted and so I said, "Like my day has been, it's exhausting!" (Get it? Mufflers are attached to the exhaust systems of automobiles) I know...you can thank me later for a joke you'll be telling all day. Okay, so absolutely no one reading this will ever tell or act like they've ever heard this joke.

Actually, this person wasn't talking about the muffler on my car. I didn't realize it at the time but a muffler is also another term for a scarf. And I had my scarf on that day.

Someone from the church gave me the scarf for Christmas. A quick Wikipedia search reveals that scarves are used for one or all of the following purposes: cleanliness, fashion, religious purposes, or warmth. I'm hoping that I didn't receive this scarf because someone thought I needed to keep my neck clean. But it is fashionable, I am religious, and it definitely keeps me warm. If I had known that scarves keep you so warm, I would have been wearing a scarf my entire life! I love my scarf!

In the suggested scripture reading for today, Jesus talks about growing cold. When we fail to love God with our whole heart, when we fail to love our neighbor as ourselves, and when we listen to voices other than the voice of God, wickedness (sin) inevitably follows...and our love for God and others grows colder and colder.

I love the scarf that I received for Christmas because I enjoy being warm in cold environments. And I want to stay warm when it comes to my love of God and my love of neighbor. I don’t want my love to grow cold in what can often appear to be a cold world. I want to stand firm to the end. I want to  avoid sinking further into wickedness and sin. To stay warm, to stand firm means continuing to grow in my love for God and others. Today I'll be intentional about finding ways to grow in that love.
 
May God grant you the grace to be warmed by His love and to love those around you warmly today.




Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 25

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

How's the Inside Looking?

You clean the outside of the cup and dish but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will also be clean. -Matthew 23:25-26 (NIV)

In this morning's suggested scripture reading, Jesus is speaking to religious leaders who on the outside appear to be devoted followers of God and God's word but who on the inside have not been cleansed.

I appreciate the fact that Jesus often addresses his remarks to church leaders like me. As a pastor, it's important to be authentic. I try to acknowledge where I struggle in faith and life. I try not to act as if I've got it all figured out or as if I have it all together. But there is a lot of pressure on a pastor to be something we're not- to keep up an outward appearance that suggests we never have doubts or fears, temptations or trials. I've known a lot of pastors through the years who were wrestling with some pretty big demons on the inside, while from all outward appearances they were fine. Unfortunately, when these demons aren't brought to the surface and exposed to the light, they usually win.

And this doesn't just happen to pastors either.

Many times, the outside of our cup and dish appear clean...but we know (and so does God) what the inside looks like. Sometimes we try to convince ourselves that if the outside appears clean to everyone else and if only God can see what the inside of our cup really looks like, then we don't have to clean it. But the reality is that the outside won't stay clean if the inside is so filthy; sooner or later the filth inside the cup will contaminate the outside of the cup.

Jesus suggests that we shouldn't be so concerned about keeping the outsides of our cups clean if the inside is so dirty. He says that we should clean the inside first and then the outside will be clean as well.

How's the inside of your cup looking? May God grant you the grace to focus on the inside of your cup today.





Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 24.

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

Have You Changed?

But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, "How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?" The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, "Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are invited but few are chosen." -Matthew 22:11-14 (NIV) 

As I watched the presidential inauguration yesterday, I remembered a story that Pastor Adam Hamilton shared in one of his sermons. Each Sunday before people arrive for worship, Pastor Adam walks around and prays in all the places where people will soon gather. Once, as he made his way to the balcony to pray, he discovered several Starbucks coffee cups strewn on the floor underneath a row of seats. Like the contemporary service at our church, people at his church often bring in their coffee or breakfast pastries into the worship space. But usually they throw their trash away when they leave. Pastor Adam found himself wondering, "If whoever left this trash had been invited to the White House to meet the president, would they have brought their Starbucks into the Oval Office with them? And if they did, would they have left it on the president's desk when they left?" Pastor Adam reasoned that if those who had left their trash had been invited to the White House, they likely would not have brought in Starbucks in the first place and they most certainly wouldn't have left it on the Oval Office desk when they left. After all, it's the President of the United States, right? You do things a little differently when you respond to a presidential invitation.

In our suggested scripture this morning, a king sends his servants out into the street to gather up anyone they could find to attend a wedding banquet. The invitation is extended to any who will come. The invitation has nothing to do with whether they are good enough or deserving enough when they are invited. But apparently once they respond to this invitation, a change is expected. People are not supposed to stay the way they are when they are first called. I reach this conclusion based on the fact that one of the people invited to the wedding banquet shows up not wearing wedding clothes; he hasn't changed and as a result he is dismissed.

To be sure, this parable is an allegory. It's not really about a wedding party or what a person wears to the party. It's not really about whether people should bring in drinks and pastries to worship. I don't think it's meant to be read so legalistically so I hope you won't. Instead, this parable is about the age to come, when we will stand before the One who has extended an open invitation to anyone who would respond. If we have accepted that invitation, there is the expectation that we will conform to the message of the One who offers it, that we will allow ourselves to be changed, to be different.

You (yes you) have been invited to Christ's banquet. If you have said yes to the invitation, have you allowed yourself to be changed by the One who calls? Or is there little difference since you said yes to the One who has said yes to you?

If you have not said yes to the invitation, I'd just like to invite you to do so. Banquets are always full of abundance and joy, especially when the one hosting the party is Jesus. Let me suggest that the way Christ can change you and the world, though often not easy, is well worth it.

May God grant you the grace today to say yes to Christ's invitation and to be changed.





Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 23.

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Actions Speak Louder

I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. -Matthew 21:31 

Last week was one of those weeks. I knew that I was going to be out of town on three different days which would make sermon preparation more difficult. I kept saying that I would be much more intentional about carving out time to work on the sermon but I never did. Consequently, I didn't feel as prepared or as polished when I stepped into the pulpit yesterday to preach. I said some things that I probably wouldn't have said if I had taken more time to prepare. At the very least, I would have said some things differently. There were other things that I should have said that I did not. Needless to say, as I left church yesterday, I was disappointed in myself for having said that I was going to protect sermon preparation time but then failed to do so.

In today's suggested scripture reading, Jesus tells a parable about two sons. One son is asked by his father to go to work in the vineyard. The first son says that he will not go but then goes anyway. The second son assures his father that he will go to the vineyard but then never does. Jesus asks the chief priests and elders present which son has done what the father wanted. The elders correctly reply that the first son is the one who did what the father wanted. Jesus responds by saying that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of chief priests and elders.

It appears that this parable is an indictment against the people of Jesus' day who say that they are people of God but whose actions do not match their words. Others who do not make such claims to be godly people nevertheless go and do what people of God are supposed to do.

This morning, I am reminded of the truth that actions speak louder than words. I want greater consistency in the words that I speak and the things that I do.

May God grant you and me the grace to do the things that God wants you and me to do. I think I'm going to get started on next week's sermon preparation right now.




Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 22.

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

A Shepherd's Love

If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. -Matthew 18:12-14 (NIV)

Today's suggested scripture reading is one of the more beautiful images in all the Bible to me. As long as there is one sheep that is not with the flock, the shepherd is not content. He does not wait on the wayward sheep to come to him; he goes searching for wayward sheep. There is not a single sheep that isn't important to the shepherd.

Why would you leave the ninety-nine obedient sheep to go after a wayward one? Isn't that irresponsible? (My guess is that there was more than one shepherd watching the sheep; when one shepherd left in search of wayward sheep, the other ninety-nine were being tended to and cared for by someone else). But I'm thankful for a Shepherd who loves enough that, when one of the sheep strays or has never yet been in the pen, He is not willing to let us perish and goes looking.

May God grant you the grace, If you've been faithful and haven't wandered off from the Shepherd, to love the wayward sheep as much as the Shepherd does. And if you've wandered away or have never been in the pen to begin with, may God grant you the grace to know just how much you matter and how much you are loved by the Shepherd.



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Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 19
Sunday's suggested reading: Matthew 20.
I'll be back on Monday with a devotional on Matthew 21.

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

Mountaintop Experiences

Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." -Matthew 17:4

When I went to seminary, I met a group of guys that to this day remain good friends. After we graduated, we made it a regular point to get together at least once a year for a reunion at a lake house. This was before all of us had children and/or big churches. When we'd get together, it was just like old times. We'd play darts. We'd listen to Shania Twain. We'd grill out huge steaks. We'd play NCAA football on the Sony Playstation. We'd tell funny stories. And yes, we'd even take time to study scripture and pray out by the lake. It was so much fun. I recall that on a number of occasions, I didn't want our time together to end. I didn't want to return to a world of church meetings and sermon preparation, a world of people suffering from cancer and job loss. I just wanted to stay there by that lake with those friends.

Peter had a similar experience in today's suggested scripture readings. What he encountered on the mountain was so special that he did not want it to end. Perhaps he knew what awaited him at the bottom of the mountain; perhaps he just wanted to stay and enjoy his mountaintop experience.

Jesus knew that we can't stay on the mountaintop forever (at least not on this side of eternity); we must return to the work that God has called us to do. We need mountaintop experiences, to be sure, because they breathe new life into our sails and renew us for the unfinished and important work to be done once we descend from our magical (not in a sorcery kind of way) moments on the mountain (or by the lake).

Today, I thank God for the mountaintop (lakeside) experiences that I have had, confessing that I'm ready for another one (I bet you are too), and praying that all such experiences would prepare and sustain me for the unfinished and important work ahead.

May God grant you the grace to have a mountaintop experience soon...and may it strengthen you for the important things that God has called you to do.





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Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 18

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

Let Christ Build

"And I  (Jesus) tell you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." -Matthew 16:18 (NIV)

When I went to the Holy Land in 2009, each member of my group took turns reading scripture associated with the different sites that we visited. I read today's suggested scripture reading when we went to Caesarea Philipi.

Not everyone reading this devotion wants a history lesson but this place was not always called Caesarea Philipi. It once served as a shrine to the Greek god Pan and was called Paneas or Banias. It was believed that Pan, along with many other gods, would go to Sheol (some might say the underworld, Hell, or Hades) during the winter months which resulted in the dry, barren season common to this part of the world. How did Pan travel to and from the underworld each year? Through the cave in front of which I read scripture, of course.

The people believed that the dry, barren season would end only when Pan returned from the underworld. In an effort to entice him to return and bring rain and fruitfulness back to the land, people would gather at the entrance of the cave and offer up rituals that involved sexual encounters with prostitutes and even animals. Because of the kind of activities that took place there and because the cave was viewed as the gate to the underworld, the entrance to the cave became known to many as the Gates of Hell (or Hades).

You can imagine, then, what the disciples must have been thinking when Jesus takes them to this place where these sorts of rituals were taking place, the very Gates of Hell. There, in the midst of the worshiping of other gods, Jesus asked, "Who do people say that I am?" He was inviting people to contrast how he was seen as opposed to how the other gods being worshiped were seen.

Peter piped up and said, "I say that you are the Messiah, the son of the living God." Jesus responded by saying, "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." It's as if he was saying, "We're standing in a place that worships and serves everyone and everything but me but you have been given the truth. I'm going to use you, my disciples, to build a church. And that cave over there, the very Gate of Hades, will not overcome that which I'm building."

That's why I follow Christ...because I live in a broken world that worships all of the wrong things. But the God that I serve is able to overcome all of that brokenness. The God I serve doesn't run away from all of the evil that exists, but stands in the middle of it, inviting us to consider who this God is and what this God longs to do for the world.

In the midst of your brokenness, may God grant you the grace to consider who God is and what God wants to do in your life today. Let Christ begin to build something in you and on you that cannot be overcome by the Gates of Hell.



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Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 17

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Context

Then Jesus said to her, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed at that moment. -Matthew 15:28 (NIV)

On Sunday, I preached a sermon on how all of us could use an use an upgrade in life. I tried to help people determine if they needed an upgrade by making statements like: If you think an apple is only a fruit and not a computer, you might need an upgrade. If you're trying to watch Netflix movies on your dial-up internet connection, you might need an upgrade. And then I did it...I went from preaching to meddling...I woke up the sleeping giants... and I said: If you're still a Tennessee Volunteer fan after the football and basketball season that they've had, you might need an upgrade. (Yep, saying that to a room full of Tennessee fans will likely mean that I'll need an upgrade in next week's offering).

Hopefully those of you who were there and heard my crack on the Vols know that I wasn't serious. I was smiling when I said it. I realize that The Big Orange Nation won't be down forever so I figured that I'd go ahead and make a jab while I could. Don't hold it against me Volunteer fans! I love the Tennessee Vo...nope, can't go that far.

All of this reminds me that context is important. If you didn't know the context of my sermon, that I was using an opening illustration to try and get people to think about the need for an upgrade in a humorous way, you might not have understood my comment. If you were not there to see the twinkle in my eye or the smile on my face when I said it, you might not have known that I was trying to be more funny than mean. Knowing the context is important.

In today's scripture reading, I'm not sure that the text tells us enough about the context in which Jesus and the Canaanite woman converse. She comes to him asking for mercy and help because her daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly. We're told that at first Jesus doesn't even answer her. When he finally does say something, it's not to the woman but instead to his disciples, saying in essence, "I was sent to the people of Israel, not to people like her." When he finally does speak to the woman, he implies that she's a dog. On the surface, it appears as if Jesus is being cruel and hurtful and arrogant.

But imagine Jesus saying these things with grace on his face, a twinkle in his eye, and a smile on his lips. Imagine that his facial expressions clearly communicate that he is not trying to shame or hurt this woman. Imagine when he initially doesn't answer her that he's looking at her and nodding his head as if to say, "Don't worry. It's going to be okay. I just want to use this as a teaching moment for these disciples." Imagine when he says that he came only for the lost sheep of Israel that he glances over at the Canaanite woman with a look that says, "I don't believe this at all, but unfortunately these disciples do." Imagine that when he says it's not right to take the children's bread and give it to dogs that he's being sarcastic, inviting her to stand up for herself and defend her dignity. Maybe in addition to her faith that it is some nonverbal communication cue from Jesus that motivates the Canaanite woman to be so persistent and so determined. Maybe she knows by his body language that he is not being ugly or hurtful but is instead inviting her to respond in faith.

I've asked you to imagine these things but the reality is that they're entirely possible: context is important and impacts the way things are heard and received.
   
Reading the Bible by yourself can be difficult because it was never really written to be read in isolation. It was written to be read in the context of community. If you're not involved in some kind of small group study of scripture, let me encourage you to find an existing one or start one of your own. Context is important when seeking to understand the words of God and you need that context!

May God grant you the grace to understand the importance of context today.




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Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 16

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Satisfied

And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. -Matthew 14:19-20 (NIV)

Several months ago, a friend of mine was coming to visit and wanted to go to Lynchburg, TN while he was here. If you know anything about Lynchburg, you know that they have some great places to visit: the Moore County Library, several United Methodist churches, and at least one other place full of the spirit. One of the places my friend definitely wanted to visit was Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House.

Despite growing up in this area, I'd never been to Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House. When we got there, they seated us at a large table with complete strangers. The food was delivered in communal bowls and placed on the table. We were instructed to take as much as we wanted from each bowl and then passed it to the person next to us. When a bowl was empty, they brought another to the table.

Being seated at the table with people I didn't know and having to share food with them forced me and my friend to talk with the strangers at our table (not that I really have to be forced to talk to strangers). Before the end of the meal, we knew where each other was from and we were laughing and joking together.

In the suggested scripture reading for today, Jesus encounters a large crowd of people, has compassion on them, and heals their sick. As evening approaches, the disciples encourage Jesus to send the people home so that they can eat. Jesus responds by telling them that the crowd doesn't have to be sent home to eat; they can eat right where they are. He then commands the disciples to give the huge crowd something to eat.

The only problem is that there doesn't appear to be enough food for everyone. The disciples only manage to scrape up five loaves of bread and two fish.  But Jesus directs the huge crowd to sit down nevertheless. He blesses what little food has been collected, instructs the disciples to distribute it to the crowd, and everyone eats and is satisfied.

If their dining experience was anything like my Miss Bobo's experience, everyone was satisfied with their meal but they were also connected to people in a way that they had not been before the meal. They knew more about where people were from. They enjoyed a joke and a laugh. They knew something about each other's story that they did not know before the meal began.

One of the reasons why I love our church's hot meal ministry to the hungry is because we sit down with people that I might not otherwise meet or know. We share food and we share our stories. We joke and we laugh. And the best part is that we leave the table satisfied..and it's not just because of the food either.

May God grant you the grace to be satisfied not just by the food you eat today but by the people with whom you eat it.





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Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 15

If you're new to this site, I try to write daily devotionals each Monday-Friday.

Need Some Assurance?

When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come? Or should we expect someone else?" -Matthew 11:2-3 (NIV)

 Back in chapter 3, we read that John's mission is to prepare the way of the Lord. John has his own idea about who the Lord is, how the Lord will act, and what the Lord will do. He expects the Lord to be powerful- cutting down trees that don't produce fruit- separating the wheat from the chaff. But then Jesus starts healing the sick. He says that the poor in spirit are blessed. He says that peacemakers are sons and daughters of God. He says that we should turn the other cheek when someone strikes us. John begins to wonder if this Jesus, acting so differently than he anticipated, is indeed the one to come.

 I have my own understandings and expectations of who Jesus is...and I believe- like John- that these expectations are grounded in scripture. But like John, I have moments where I have my doubts: "Is this what I'm supposed to believe about Jesus or is it something else?" Like John, I find myself seeking assurance that Jesus is who I think he is. Thankfully, Jesus offers assurance to John and through the years he has offered assurances to me.

 Do you have doubts this morning? So does Philip Yancey, one of my favorite Christian authors. Here's what he has to say about doubt:

"Doubt is something almost every person experiences at some point, yet something that the church does not always handle well.  I’m an advocate of doubt, because that’s why I became a Christian in the first place.  I started doubting some the crazy things my church taught me when I was growing up!  (This was a most unhealthy church, I must say.)
I’m also impressed that the Bible includes so many examples of doubt.  Evidently God has more tolerance of doubt than most churches.  I want to encourage those who doubt, and also encourage the church to be a place that rewards rather than punishes honesty.”

May God grant you a safe place to openly share your doubts and the great grace to find the assurance you seek today.



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Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 12. Sunday's suggested reading is Matthew 13. I'll be back on Monday with a devotional thought from Matthew 14.

If you're new to this site, I try to write daily devotionals each Monday-Friday