Christian Devotionals and Scripture Applied to Everyday Life

No one likes to have their words taken out of context. This happens a lot today and especially when someone is interviewed by the media. Because they cannot possibly publish all of the words that were spoken, an interviewer will often pick and choose which quotes he wants to publish. This can lead to misunderstandings of what was actually said. We all laugh at the time when Luke, John-Keith, and Nathan were interviewed about their 4-H animals during our county fair. They were so excited about the possibility of having their picture in the local paper. The next day when they unrolled the daily publication, all three were thrilled to find their faces smiling from the page . . . until they saw the caption underneath. All of us, except John-Keith, broke into laughter when we saw it read, "Luke Sheridan, Nathan Sheridan, and their friend John." Where did the reporter get that? Somewhere in the interpretation, the journalist misheard the names and relationships (sorry, John-Keith). There was no harm done with this funny mistake, but it is a different matter when we take God's words out of context. Every one of God's words, as recorded in the Scripture, were written by men who were under the control of the Holy Spirit.  They did not write down their own thoughts and feelings, but only what God told them to record.

God's promises never fail! Even when faced with the impossible this is a God-Fact you can rely on. Recently, while attending a real estate continuing education course, I listened to a lecture on contracts. In our business, we deal with contracts all the time. There are listing contracts, purchase contracts, and auction contracts, to name a few. In order for these contracts to be valid, both parties to the contract must agree to the terms and sign their names showing that they intend to uphold their side of the deal. These are called bilateral contracts. A unilateral contract is different. In this case, one party (the offeror) makes an express promise to do something in exchange for a specific action by another party (the offeree.) Once the action is completed by the offeree, then there is only one promise that needs to be kept.  Abraham comes to mind as I consider the unilateral contract. In Genesis 12 God called Abraham to leave his country, his people, and his father's household to go to a land that He would show him. God then made a promise to him that 1) He would make him into a great nation; 2) He would make his name great; 3) He would bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him, and 4) that through him all the peoples of the earth would be blessed.

How can you ensure that your prayers are answered? This is something most of us would love to know.  In today's verse, Jesus explains the answer. When you spend a lot of time with someone you begin to think alike. Have you ever finished a good friend's sentence for them? Nowadays some people play a game where when they say the same words at once they each yell, "Jinx!"  It's a fun way of acknowledging that they had the same thoughts at a given moment. This is more likely to happen the better you know the person. Jesus was giving final instructions to his disciples the night before He was to go to the cross. These men had spent three years in Jesus' company learning from Him and getting to know Him. They were now on the verge of going into the world to spread the Gospel message of His death and resurrection that would bring life to all who would believe. The power to accomplish this task would come from the Holy Spirit and through prayer. It was essential that the disciples understand how to go about this.

God, show me your muscles. This is a prayer that I have been praying lately. I mean, think about it, when we were children we sang songs with lyrics like "My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty. There's nothing my God cannot do." As we become adults we graduated to songs like, "A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing." We sing these songs about God's strength but do we really believe it? Living in a house of young men I have seen my share of muscle contests.  Every once in a while the guys have to strip off their shirts and flex for a family photo session. Each one tries to outdo the other as they position themselves to best display their muscle mass - even Dad gets in on the act. But what's the point of training hard if no one recognizes and utilizes your strength? How would a strong young man feel if I said, "Hey, Buddy, I see you've been working out and are really getting ripped. Show me what you've got. Please carry this jar of green beans from the pantry to the stove." He would probably be offended and respond, "Mama, I bench press 260 pounds. I can carry a whole crate of green beans!"

I have decided to hold my breath for the next week or so.  It takes a lot of effort to inhale and exhale 21,600 times a day and I just need a break.  What would you think if someone told you this? You would probably think she was a nut, and rightly so. It is obvious that if you decide not to breathe, you will not be around for very long. We all need oxygen in order to survive on this earth. Why then do so many who are Christ-followers choose to cut off their supply of spiritual oxygen? When we accept the gift of spiritual life that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead to give us, we receive the Holy Spirit Who comes and lives within us. This Spirit of Jesus is what gives us life and the power that is necessary for Godly living in this evil world. Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." 

While recently vacationing on the east coast, I got to do something that’s been on my bucket list for ten years—take a surf lesson. Forty-two degrees outdoors, water temp in the 50’s, wetsuit including boots and gloves . . . totally worth it. The only other one I saw in the ocean beside the instructor and me was a dolphin to greet us. Once my instructor gave me the Surfing 101 lesson on form and method, we stepped into the water with my board. Normally the “ocean rule” is to look at what’s coming your way, but not this time. That was my instructor’s job. If I were going to get on the surfboard, I had to maintain the singular focus of listening to my guide’s voice and doing what he said. He took me to just the right spot and began pushing me into the waves repeating two directives at just the right times: “Paddle. . . Stand up.” Over and over again, I tried to follow those instructions. When I fell, I went back to my guide to try again. There were a few times when I thought to myself, “What am I doing out here?” That thought usually came after a freezing wave would rush over my head or when I’d hit the hard sandy ocean floor after falling off the board. But, I knew that my guide knew what he was doing and if I listened to him and did what he said, I’d be better for it in the end.