"Unpopular"

DAILY DEVOTIONAL, MARCH 19TH

Posted to Matthew 5:11 on Mar 8, 2010 at 12:47 PM

Matthew 5:11 ESV NASB

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

“Unpopular”

Have you ever noticed how people tend to like firefighters more than police officers? Every day, these brave souls are willing to face the flames and put their lives on the line for us—and they don’t issue speeding tickets or take us to jail.

Police officers in Joseph Wambaugh’s novels often say something like this to each other: “Well, if you really wanted people to like you, you should have been a fireman.” While we definitely want the police to be present if someone’s threatening our well-being, we don’t always appreciate seeing their flashing lights in our rearview mirror.

In a similar way, following Jesus doesn’t always draw the admiration of others. While He doesn’t call us to be the world’s moral police force, part of the path that Jesus summons us to walk will cause others to dislike us.

The New Testament warns us, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). As His followers, we will suffer for advancing His kingdom. In fact, some of the very people we are trying to rescue from the kingdom of darkness and invite into the kingdom of light will despise us.

If you find yourself taking a lot of grief for your Christian beliefs, you’re in good company. Jesus emphasized to His disciples, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated Me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. . . . Since they persecuted Me, naturally they will persecute you” (John 15:18-20).

Following Jesus may not make you popular, but suffering for His sake is a part of the blessing of becoming more like Him (Philippians 3:10). —Jeff Olson, Our Daily Journey

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“Too worried to wed”

DAILY DEVOTIONAL, MARCH 18TH

Posted to 1 Peter 3:8 on Mar 8, 2010 at 12:42 PM

1 Peter 3:8 ESV NASB

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;

“Too worried to wed”

Wang Guiying is 107 years old and looking for love. Born in the southern Guizhou province of China, she steered clear of marriage until this point because she grew up watching her uncles criticize and abuse their wives. According to the centenarian, “All the married people . . . lived like that. Getting married was too frightening.”

Like this woman, the idea of commitment is enough to make many of us cower. God’s ideas about marriage, however, make us brave when we hear wedding bells.

A big part of this courage comes from remembering that God is our ultimate source of love, provision, and protection—even within marriage. Due to our humanness, we will inevitably disappoint our spouse and our spouse will disappoint us, but God will never let us down. Maybe that’s why Peter praised women who “trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands” (1 Peter 3:5).

If you’re a woman, that “male authority” thing might have you running scared. Fortunately, God’s plan for marriage includes mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21). Building on that foundation, Paul tells wives to submit to their husbands “as to the Lord” (v.22). Guys are supposed to honor their wives, to love them (vv.28-29), and “never treat them harshly” (Colossians 3:19). And all believers in Jesus are supposed to “be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude” (1 Peter 3:8).

Still, many of us have witnessed just the opposite within marriage. Bad marital behavior, however, carries consequences.

God takes marriage seriously. With His help, we can fight the fear that makes us too worried to wed. —Jennifer Benson Schuldt, Our Daily Journey

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Longing for a guiding voice

DAILY DEVOTIONAL, MARCH 16TH

Posted to John 10:27 on Mar 8, 2010 at 12:34 PM

John 10:27 ESV NASB

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

“Longing for a guiding voice”

My wife told me about a single colleague of hers who went to consult with the local fortuneteller one weekend. She was looking for guidance. Where’s my life heading? Will I always be lonely?

So many people continue to look for guidance in wrong and hazardous places. For instance, this year over 65,000 women like her will visit the five Australian Mind Body Spirit festivals held here. One of the most popular features of the event is the Reading Room, where 60 psychics give attendees all kinds of guidance on love, money, and happiness. Last year, 20 million people around the world took part in the online course Oprah hosted with popular new age author Eckhart Tolle. A year or so back, I stood with 5,000 others who braved pouring rain to hear what the Dalai Lama had to say. (He needs Jesus too!) Millions are searching for spiritual guidance, but I believe there is one Voice they’re searching for.

“I am the Good Shepherd,” we hear this Voice say (John 10:11)—this Shepherd who is gathering a flock from all nations (v.16). “I sacrifice My life for the sheep,” this Voice says (v.15)—this Shepherd who protects when others run and hide (v.12). “My sheep listen to My voice,” we hear Him declare (v.27)—He knows them and guides them to the richest of lives (Psalm 23).

“I give them eternal life,” we hear Him promise (v.28)—He offers a destiny to those willing to follow. Thousands of years ago God promised that He would personally come and shepherd His “sheep”—those who had fallen into enemy captivity (Ezekiel 34:11-16). In Jesus, God did that, and today He calls us out of our captivity of confused spiritual searching.

This Voice holds life, love, and the future in His hands. Listen. Follow. —Sheridan Voysey, Our Daily Journey

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Anger danger

DAILY DEVOTIONAL, MARCH 15TH

Posted to Jonah 4:1 on Mar 8, 2010 at 12:24 PM

Jonah 4:1 ESV NASB

But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry.

“Anger danger”

You can keep your overnight bag!” Frustrated that she had missed her flight, the irate woman tossed the proffered package at the customer service agent and marched away. The rest of us who were in line watched the employee shrug his shoulders and shake his head with disinterest. Left to appease customers for decisions that had not been his, he had obviously seen many like her. Detachment had become his way of handling the anger and insults.

Though rarely a productive option, the opportunity to get mad presents itself daily—misunderstandings, unrealized goals, hurt feelings. The temptation to get angry can come from something as superficial as another car cutting us off as we drive down the road or to the deep wounding of someone walking out of our lives. But we were not created to walk in wrath. While we know that Jesus experienced anger (Mark 3:5, 10:14), Ephesians 4:26-27 tells us, “Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” Most often, the wrath we experience is not a righteous indignation but an overflow of our self-centered sin nature.

While Jonah was angry that he had lost his shade, he was also mad that God didn’t destroy the people of Nineveh. Rather than being concerned for this nation that would be lost if they didn’t hear and receive God’s message, Jonah chose to be bitter over His compassion for them.

Jesus taught us to live in such a way that others would see the light of truth (Matthew 5:16). People have difficulty seeing the love of Jesus in us, however, when they’re too busy picking shrapnel from our angry explosions out of their eyes (James 1:19-20). —Regina Franklin, Our Daily Journey

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Uncertainties

DAILY DEVOTIONAL, MARCH 12TH

Posted to Philippians 4:7 on Mar 8, 2010 at 12:20 PM

Philippians 4:7 ESV NASB

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

“Uncertainties”

Due to the recent economic downturn, the university my brother-in-law attends will no longer provide any paid academic teaching or research opportunities for students who have been in the program for more than 5 years. This change has affected him big-time. He was set to graduate with his doctorate degree next year. But now new plans have to be made.

My sister referenced Romans 8:28 as she wrote in an e-mail: “Though these are uncertainties, we have peace in our hearts as we know that God works for the good of those who love Him.” It’s evident that believers in Jesus can have peace in the midst of uncertainties. But how? In Philippians 4:6, Paul tells the believers in Philippi not to worry about anything but to pray about everything. Why? The heavenly Father loves His children and cares for their needs (Matthew 6:25-34). We can bring all our concerns to Him with an attitude of thankfulness—trusting Him to meet our needs.

To say the peace of God surpasses all understanding reveals that we can’t explain it, but we can experience it as He guards our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7). The word guard means to set up a sentinel or “to watch over.” God not only guards our hearts from anxiety, He also guards our minds from spiraling downward.

In verses 8 and 9, Paul gives us 10 things to focus on and do that replace worry. We are told to “fix our thoughts” on them, and to “keep putting [them] into practice.”

Our peace comes from being confident that God is in control. He alone provides the peace that settles our nerves, fills our minds with hope, and allows us to relax even in the midst of changes and challenges. —Poh Fang Chia, Our Daily Journey

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Numero uno

DAILY DEVOTIONAL, MARCH 10TH

Posted to Luke 22:26 on Mar 8, 2010 at 11:50 AM

Luke 22:26 ESV NASB

“But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.

“Numero uno”

Consider this scenario. You’ve invited the 10 most important people from church to dine with Jesus, people whom you would consider VIPs—your pastor, elders, deacons, or lay leaders, for example. As host, you’re in charge of the seating arrangement. Assuming you have a round table that seats 12 people, where will Jesus sit? And since Jesus’ left- and right-hand sides are places of highest honor, whom would you assign to sit next to Him?

As the disciples entered the upper room to eat the Passover meal, they were all intent on sitting in the places of honor. This was not the first time they had fought over who was numero uno (Matthew 20:20-24; Mark 9:33- 35,10:35-37; Luke 9:46). And the jostling surfaced yet again in the midst of the Passover meal (Luke 22:20,24), barely hours before Jesus was crucified.

It was not uncommon for Jesus’ disciples to vie with one another over who would sit at His right and left. But as Christ’s followers, we’re to be different. Those who are truly great Christian examples take the lowest rank and become like a servant (v.26). Jesus Himself “got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him” (John 13:4-5). Paul later commented, “Though He was God . . . He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave” (Philippians 2:6-7). Jesus showed us what it takes to be truly great.

When people look at you, do they see a leader in high position exerting authority? Or do they see a servant serving in humility? —K.T. Sim, Our Daily Journey

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1 Corinthians 1:18 - For the Message of the cross is the power of God

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