Daily Devotions

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Current Study: First Peter

Today’s Topic:  Get Real!

Scripture Reading:  1 Peter 3:10   For,     “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech…” 

I’m back. Only for five days, but I am back. It is getting increasingly difficult to cram everything we want to do with family and friends into one summer. We had a great trip. I really relaxed. I played 54 holes of golf in two days; drove my nephew’s boat for him while he and his son water-skied and rode the tube; did projects around Denise’s mom’s house; played games; and spent time visiting friends and family. Then yesterday, on the way home, we attended the funeral of a 94-year-old friend who was the founder and president of the Midwest Evangelistic Association, a mission work that supports over 350 churches in the tribal regions of the southern Philippines.

Every time I go on a trip, I ask the Lord to show me something I need to learn. There were several things this time, but one stands out above the rest.

Deceitful speech, referred to by Peter in today’s Scripture, is more common than we want to admit. It starts with what we think are simple embellishments of the truth in an effort to improve the story’s impact or gain greater recognition. Fact is, they’re lies!

So how big was that fish you caught, and what was your real golf score without mulligans?

The biggest embellishment of all is when we claim to be one thing, but in our hearts we know we are something else. We do this for a variety of reasons, not the least being that we are attempting to live up to what we perceive as other’s expectations of us. We may be seeking the approval of people. We may be trying to measure up to some standard we are convinced gives us greater value. Whatever the reason, Jesus called it hypocrisy. It is deceitful speech.

When we claim to be followers of Jesus in public, but in private we pursue the gratification of the flesh, we are liars. When we unite with a local church and worship with people so that we may appear spiritual, we are using the church as a means of deceiving others so they won’t see who we really are. When we claim to be in fellowship with God, but we seek to impress others and earn the approval of those living in sin, we are guilty of deceitful speech. When we appear to be looking to connect to others and find intimacy, but don’t include Christ in our fellowship, we are lying to ourselves, to others, and most of all to God about who we really are.

So what is the purpose of Facebook, and how could it be used to share the truth of who you are in Christ?

Lord, forgive us for living deceitful lives that seek to connect to You and the world at the same time. Let our connection to the world be only so that we may connect the people of the world to you. Let every avenue of connection we have (Facebook, etc.) be used to connect others to Christ. Let others see the truth of Jesus in us every day. AMEN!

Pastor John