Posts tagged Marriage and Family

40 Days of Preparation Day 23

Mar18
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today, Sun March 18, 2012, is the twenty-third day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” words of trash and “put on” words of treasure. Many Americans have been watching the NCAA basketball tournament over the past several days.  No sport lends itself to trash talking as easily as does basketball and many hall of fame basketball players could also be inducted into the trash talking hall of fame also, should such an institution exist. While few of us are able to dunk a basketball, many of us could possibly mount a strong challenge to be inducted in my imaginary trash talking hall of fame.  Jesus points out that such an honor would be counter productive.

36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36–37 (ESV)

I want to “put off” words of trash and “put on” words of treasure.  You and I routinely underestimate the power which the words we speak have for others. Imagine if instead of speaking critically, or sarcastically we began to purposefully and intentionally speak encouragingly to those with whom we routinely communicate.

The apostle James teaches us how powerful and dangerous is our speech.

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. James 3:1–12 (ESV)

One who can handle his tongue without stumbling is perfect. James tells us that our tongues are small but makes great claims. When not properly bridled our speech has the power to set the entire course of our lives on fire, with hell fire. The problem is that James says our tongues cannot be bridled or tamed because it is poison.  Words of trash are poison not only for those who hear our speech but more importantly to the speaker of such words.

You and I are capable of blessing or cursing others who are made in God’s image with our tongues.  James plainly teaches that such duplicity in our speech should not exist.  For this reason I need to “put off” words of trash and “put on” words of treasure. Here the wisdom of Proverbs concerning our speaking words of treasure.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, . . . . 13 On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found, . . . 19 When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise. 20 The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, . . . . 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, . . . Proverbs 10:11a, 13a, 19, 20a, 21a (NASB)

As we prepare for Easter lets “put off” words of trash and “put on” words of treasure!

Posted in Daily Devotions - Tagged , , , , ,

40 Days of Preparation Day 19

Mar14
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today, Wednesday March 14, 2012, is the nineteenth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” worry and “put on” trust. To quote my cousin Mike:

“Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles; it takes away today’s peace!”

Whenever you are I worry we are practicing negative meditation. The Hebrew word which conveys the concept of meditation is based on the idea of rumination. Cattle are ruminants. That means cattle chew the cud. When a cow swallows a mouthful of grass it will later regurgitate it and chew it again. It will repeat this process again and again until it gets the most nutrients possible from the blades of grass it consumes.

Christian meditation is a spiritual process whereby we mentally remember a Bible verse over and over so that we may maximize the truth which we may obtain from it.  Worry is negative meditation where we focus and refocus on all that might possibly go wrong.  Christian meditation brings us peace worry brings us fear.

As we prepare ourselves today I ask you to “put off” worry and “put on” trust. Jesus clearly teaches us that worry has no place in our Christian character.

25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. Matthew 6:25–32 (NASB)

The basic idea Jesus is communicating is that we have no power to change any of the circumstances of our lives through worry. His Father already knows what we need and we should trust Him and not waste our lives worrying about those things over which we have no control. In this Bible passage Jesus is clearly teaching us that the focus of our thinking should be on trusting our Heavenly Father rather than worrying.

In fact Jesus’ teaching is much stronger than to simply suggest we not worry about food, the length of our lives, or clothing.  He tells us not even to worry about how we will answer those who prosecute us when we are on trial for our lives because of our faith in Him.

19 “But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. Matthew 10:19 (NASB)

In another parable Jesus teaches us that worrying about the things of this life actually choke God’s Word making it ineffective and unfruitful in our lives.

22 “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Matthew 13:22 (NASB)

Could it be that those who claim that they cannot understand God’s Word, or that it does not work for them have missed this basic point. Perhaps such individuals worry reveals their lack of trust. The apostle Peter also tells us that we should cast our cares, or anxieties, or worries upon God because we can trust Him.  Why? He cares for us!

7 casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)

The apostle Paul clarifies the teaching about worry. Paul tells us that instead of worrying we should instead petition God through prayer while thanking Him all the while for the requests we make.

6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)

To thank God in advance of receiving that for which we have asked should not be misunderstood as the false teaching “name it, claim it.”  Instead, Paul is telling us that we should trust God so much, and worry so little. Whenever we ask God to supply our needs in prayer we should be so confident that God cares for us, and will supply our needs (as Jesus has taught us) that from this confidence in God springs our natural thanksgiving, even before we have received anything we have asked for in prayer.

Join me please today in “putting off” worry and “putting on” trust in God. Because God knows what we need before we ask. He is also completely reliable and worthy not only of our thanks, but also of our praise!

Posted in Daily Devotions - Tagged , , , , , , ,

40 Days of Preparation Day 18

Mar13
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today, Tuesday March 13, 2012, is the eighteenth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” laziness and “put on” diligence. Many of us, as children, were scolded by our parents with the admonition to not “be lazy.” The Bible makes similar admonitions.

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy one to those who send him. Proverbs 10:26 (NASB)

Sending someone who is lazy to do something for you is irritating. Yet, if you think about it, much of our American economy is built on our desire to do less and have more time for leisure. Our technologically advanced society has been so successful in giving us this extra leisure that today we have an epidemic of obesity in America. Our desire to make it more easy and efficient to do calculations led us to so fully embrace the use of calculators that today some of our children are not capable of adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing. We would all do well to realize that laziness or a lack of diligence has a definite downside.

15 Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger. Proverbs 19:15 (NAS)

Today I need to “put off” laziness and “put on” diligence. According to the Bible diligence has its own reward.

27 A lazy man does not roast his prey, But the precious possession of a man is diligence. Proverbs 12:27 (NASB)

To make certain that we don’t miss the important lesson concerning laziness and diligence the writer of Proverbs gives us a wonderful object lesson.

6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! 7 Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, 8 they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. 9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? 10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. Proverbs 6:6–11 (NLT)

There’s an important lesson which each of us can learn from the ant.  Sheer diligence provides ants with all they need to survive winter. Unfortunately our desire to do less, which serves as an important catalyst for our advances in technology, when left unchecked can have negative consequences. This proverb compares this risk which our own laziness places in our lives to that of a bandit attacking us.

The apostle Paul also warns the church at Thessalonica of the danger of being lazy.

14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NLT)

The greatest laziness in America today is not expressed in our desire to do fewer household chores, or to increase our leisure time, however. Our greatest laziness is found instead in the lack of diligence we take in caring for our own souls, and those of our children.

9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children— Deuteronomy 4:9 (ESV)

All too often adults trust the care of their own souls, the reading of Scripture, and seeking God’s will in prayer to their pastors, TV evangelists, or other spiritual leaders. As a result biblical illiteracy increases exponentially in our society. Parents are also guilty of leaving the responsibility for the teaching of biblical truth to their children to others. This lack of diligence, or laziness, with regard to our own souls and those of our children has led us to a society that increasingly chooses not to go to church each Sunday and seldom reads their Bible.

How do I know this? The latest research which is available to me reveals that in the county where I live 82% of the population chooses not to attend church on any given Sunday. As you and I prepare for Easter let us “put off” laziness and “put on” diligence, especially diligence with regard to caring for our own soul, and the souls of our children.

Posted in Daily Devotions - Tagged , , ,

40 Days of Preparation Day 11

Mar06
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today, Tuesday March 6, 2012, is the eleventh day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” discontentment and “put on” contentment. One means to help you and I recognize the seriousness with which we must deal with putting off discontentment is to ask ourselves “for what purpose do I do work?” If the answer is to provide for my family’s needs then I must ask a further question. “How much is enough?” According to my Economics 101 instructor the basic needs of a human are “food, clothing, and shelter.”

I believe that too many of us in America today suffer with an incessant need for “more!”  It really doesn’t matter what we are discussing we want “more” of it. At the root of this desire for “more” is the basic problem of a lack of contentment or discontentment. As we prepare ourselves today I ask you to consider the areas of your life with which you are discontented. You may discover that those are the same areas over which Jesus may not have complete control.  You and I need to ask God to take these aspects of our life and have His way in the whole of our lives.

The children of Israel became discontented after waiting 40 days for Moses to return from meeting with God on Mount Sinai.  Their discontentment led them to grievous sin!  While the sin of the nation of America does not take this particular form, we are guilty of our own types of idolatry. According to this passage from The Message Bible the root cause of Israel’s sin was discontentment.

6 The same thing could happen to us. We must be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way as they did. 7 And we must not turn our religion into a circus as they did—“First the people partied, then they threw a dance.” 8 We must not be sexually promiscuous—they paid for that, remember, with 23,000 deaths in one day! 9 We must never try to get Christ to serve us instead of us serving him; they tried it, and God launched an epidemic of poisonous snakes. 10 We must be careful not to stir up discontent; discontent destroyed them. 1 Corinthians 10:6–10 (MSG)

I believe that discontentment is destroying our nation today and many Christian families along with it.  The danger of discontentment is further illustrated in The Message Bible in the following text.

14 Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. 15 Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. 16 Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. 17 You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears. Hebrews 12:14–17 (MSG)

That discontentment has led many in our nation to be guilty of this “Esau syndrome” is evidenced each day as our politicians haggle over how to cut spending from this year’s federal budget all the while acknowledging that a failure to do so will burden our children and grandchildren with crippling debt.

You and I are also guilty of this “Esau syndrome” each time we borrow from the future to pay for pleasures and conveniences in the present.  It is discontentment which fuels our debtor economy and has led America to become a debtor nation made up of debtor citizens. You and I need to put off “discontentment” and put on “contentment.”

You say you are debt free and therefore have no problem with being discontented. Perhaps the following verse will enlighten you. Are you guilty of grumbling or complaining? If so the root of these expressions is being discontented. Jude warns us that there are individuals within our churches who are discontented and grumble because deep down they are really seeking their own way and not God’s.

16 These people are discontented grumblers, walking according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage. Jude 16 (HCSB)

I have come to understand that many times in my life when I have prayed that phrase in the Lord’s Prayer “thy will be done on Earth, as it is in heaven” that I really did not mean it.  Instead, had I been more honest I would have prayed “my will be done in heaven as it is also done on Earth.”

When I truly learn and except that God’s will is best for me, for you and for everyone, then and only then, can I become truly contented.  It is in this state of contentment that I can trust God to meet my needs and can cease attempting to serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). The Hebrew writer explains it this way;

5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” Hebrews 13:5 (NASB)

Indeed the apostle Paul says it very well when he states;

6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 1 Timothy 6:6 (ESV)

Yet, for you or I to experience this great gain in godliness we must learn to be content with what we have and quit seeking to constantly gain more and more for our own selfish purposes.

8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 1 Timothy 6:8 (NASB)

Perhaps the greatest New Testament passage which deals with learning to be content with what one has is contained in the letter which Paul wrote to the church at Philippi while he was imprisoned in Rome. Paul writes;

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of [being content] whether facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:10–13 (ESV)

How as Paul learned this great secret of being content?  He tells us in 2 Corinthians.

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (ESV)

Scholars have written many pages trying to convince one another of what exactly was Paul’s “thorn in the flesh.” I do not intend to add my voice to theirs. Instead, I want to focus your attention upon the effects which Paul says this “thorn in the flesh” wrought in his character.

Paul says that this “thorn in the flesh” taught him to be “content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.” It is precisely weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities which you and I seek to insure ourselves against by every means possible in our daily lives.  Our society is built upon the “pursuit of happiness”  precisely by preventing such troubling personal experiences to befall any one of our citizens. Yet, Paul teaches us that whenever he was experiencing these things we naturally seek to avoid he discovered that during those times he was strong with the Lord.

I need to put off “discontentment” and put on “contentment!”  As I do so I must learn to strive for less of this worlds goods and for more, much much more of God and the things of God.

Posted in Daily Devotions - Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

40 Days of Preparation Day 7

Mar02
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today, Friday March 2, 2012, is the seventh day of our preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to accept that if I truly desire to serve Jesus as He demands then I need to “put off” selfishness and “put on” selflessness.

Most people do not think of themselves as selfish.  We rationalize about how much we love our spouse, kids or families.  We think about how hard we work at our job and what conscientious employees we are.  Then we think that we would “bend over backwards” to help one of our friends who was in need.

We need to examine our motives in light of Jesus’ example.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43–48 (NASB)

When I only love those who love me I am serving my own needs.  When I work hard for myself or my employer I am the one who receives the benefit.  When I help my friend and ignore your friend once more I am serving my own interests.  In each case I am acting selfishly and not behaving selflessly.  According to Jesus this is not how those who follow Him are to live.  In order to serve Jesus as He demands I need to “put off” selfishness and “put on” selflessness.

Jesus teaches us that for Christians the motivation for whom and what we choose to serve or care about is to be different from those who are lost (referred to in the preceding text as “tax collectors” and “Gentiles”).

The fact is that when you or I only love those who love us or help those who have helped us we are behaving from our flesh natures and are no different from the lost. When we live according to our better natures (our spiritual nature) then and only then are we behaving and loving as citizens of Jesus’ kingdom who allow God’s Spirit to live in and through us.

Selfishness occurs whenever I am “concerned chiefly with my own personal profit or pleasure at the expense of consideration for others.”  When I want my way and do not care how getting my way affects you, I am being selfish. Whenever I feel as though my needs are not being meet and that in order for me to get more you need to receive less, then I am being selfish. As a follower of Jesus Christ my motivation for living is to give Him glory!

Imagine what a different world it would be if we all lived “selflessly” by the following two verses.

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; Philippians 2:3 (NASB)

[Love] does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NASB)

If living in such a world sounds appealing to you then consider that for the fruit of selflessness to become abundant on this planet then living selflessly must first take root in me and in you.

Today I need to “put off’ selfishness and “put off” selflessness, and my guess is that so do you!

 

Posted in Daily Devotions - Tagged , , , , , ,
← Older Entries Newer Entries →