LifeLink Devotions

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Tuesday, November 2, 2021

As time goes by and most things change, it is wise for us to realize that some things must not change. New technology and improved methods of production do not necessitate a change of purpose in most cases. Automobiles are certainly produced differently today than they were 75 years ago, but the basic purpose of the automobile has stayed the same. There may be more comfort and convenience in them today, but they still provide simple, basic transportation from point A to point B. 

The same must be true in the church. Society has changed, and methods of ministry have certainly changed, but the primary purpose for church must not change. REAL church exists to glorify God by reproducing disciple-making disciples. The church is the Body of Christ, chosen and called out from the world to be people of God’s possession who are zealous for doing the good work of the Gospel. The fundamental activities of church people should be the same as when the church was established. 

Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Our Scripture passage for today tells us the four things that are foundational to the REAL church:

1.      A devotion to the teaching of God’s Word

2.      A devotion to the fellowship of God’s people

3.      A devotion to the cross of Jesus Christ

4.      A devotion to prayer

Notice first of all that “they devoted themselves” to these things. Who were “they”? The context begins during the Jewish feast of Pentecost. The 125 faithful believers in the resurrected Christ were together in a prayer meeting. The Holy Spirit came upon them in fulfillment of Jesus’ promise, and Peter began to preach. As a result of his sermon, 3,000 people were saved, baptized, and added to the fellowship of the first REAL church. A total of 3,125 people now devoted themselves to the foundational principles of the church. 

Notice that they devoted themselves. They were not asked to sign a document that stated their specific doctrinal position on any topic nor were they forced to obey a set of rules and regulations to conform their behavior. They simply responded to the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives to produce the character of Christ in them and they devoted themselves to the things that produce that character. 

My friends, in response to an ever-changing world system, the church has been tempted to change its foundational principles to seemingly add more security. For some reason we feel safer surrounded by more rules and stricter control, but that is a deception of Satan to keep us from a walk of faith. Everything about the new church in Acts was about faith in Christ, and everything built on the foundation of faith will stand. There is nothing we can add to the four fundamentals of Acts 2:42 that will make the church more productive or more holy.

In the devotion to God’s Word comes an honest surrender to its teachings, producing holiness of lifestyle. In devotion to the fellowship of God’s people comes accountability for spiritual growth and production. In devotion to the breaking of bread comes a constant reminder of the death of Jesus Christ for our sins, which produces the humble spirit of unity. In devotion to prayer comes surrender to the authority of Jesus Christ over the church and a serving spirit of accomplishing His purpose.

Every aspect of church life is covered in these four fundamentals of the REAL church. Twenty-five years ago our church chose to make these four fundamentals our CORE values.

Committed to truth

One in the Spirit

Rejoicing in redemption

Energized by prayer

But for core values to work, we must devote ourselves to them. We must not be satisfied to just be able to state them, but rather we must live them. Let’s evaluate our lives today in light of these four principles, and set a course of devotion to them, so we can truly have REAL church.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Monday, November 1, 2021

The one consistent theme of the REAL church in the book of Acts is prayer. The early believers in Jesus Christ understood the need for constant communication with Him. They were devoted to intimacy with Christ. They praised the Father in all things. The most important ministries of the church were prayer and the teaching of Scripture. They knew that prayer was essential because it was the only way to see life from God’s perspective.

Acts 1:12-14. “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Acts 4:24 “When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.”

Acts 4:31 “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

Acts 6:3-4 “Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

There are 29 more references to prayer in the book of Acts that reveal its importance as a foundation to the spiritual vitality of our church. Stephen prayed while he was being stoned. Paul and Silas prayed while in prison. Peter prayed and was directed to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. The church earnestly prayed while Peter was in prison, and he was set free. The church prayed about sending out missionaries. Paul and Barnabas knew that prayer had to be the foundational activity of every church they planted. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

It is very obvious that in a REAL church there is a priority activity that needs to captivate our involvement, and it is prayer. May I suggest a way for you to get started?

1. Choose a minimum of 5 minute time every day that you will commit to pray for the ministry of Calvary (or your own church if you do not attend here).
2. Every day at that time, pray for the following things:
   • That every person who attends the church would be living out the Great Commandment in every part of their lives, loving God above all else, and loving each other with His love.
   • That every person who attends the church would in some way fulfill the Great Commission by being a Holy Spirit empowered witness of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.
   • That every ministry of the church would accomplish two purposes: equipping each person to fulfill the first two objectives just mentioned, and providing an entrance point for unsaved people to meet Jesus.

Are you ready? I am! In prayer we surrender to the purpose of God, we are strengthened by the power of God, and we are supplied with the provision of God. The Holy Spirit has been given the church as His temple of residence, and when the foundation of our ministry is to fulfill that spiritual purpose, then God will provide all the rest that we need to do His work. 

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Friday, October 29, 2021

Yesterday in our discussion of the REAL church we talked about the passion to accomplish the purpose of Christ – witnessing to the resurrection power of Jesus to bring eternal life to those who are dead in their sin. We read a passage of Scripture from Hebrews 11 that describes people who passionately pursued God’s purpose at the risk of severe persecution and death. What motivated them to go to the limits of human endurance and beyond? The answer to that question is found in the next chapter of Hebrews. It says:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  (Hebrews 12:1-2)

We have an example to follow; a model to mimic, a person to personify. He is Jesus. He endured the shame and the pain of accomplishing God’s purpose because He knew the joy of the promise He had been given. Jesus did not falter in the time of fatigue because He had his heart fixed on the future, where God would restore Him and reward Him.

That is what the angels were saying to the apostles when they watched Jesus ascend into heaven to His place of reward.

Acts 1:9-11  “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Instead of fixing our eyes on the circumstances of the present, we fix our hearts on the certainty of the promise. Jesus is coming back, and when He does we will experience the fullness of joy and the perfection of life.

No matter how hard I try today, I will not be able to make life perfect. I will not be able to fix all of my own problems, and certainly not any of yours. So if problems are a fact of life, why not let the cause of those problems be honoring to God? What on earth could I mean by that? Well, most of the problems that exist in my life are caused by my pursuit of my own agenda. That does not honor God. What honors God is the pursuit of His agenda. We have been told in Scripture that the pursuit of God’s purpose will separate us from the world and bring us trouble. Jesus said in John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

If the problems that are in my life are primarily caused by my selfish pursuits, then what promise do I have for relief from those problems? But if the problems in my life are being caused by a world that is rejecting the stand I take for Jesus Christ, then the promises I have for relief from those problems are many:

1. sufficient grace for each day to endure anything; (2 Corinthians 9:8 and 12:9)
2. Jesus has already overcome the world; (John 16:33)
3. with Jesus in us we are already overcomers of the world; (1 John 4:4)
4. the glory and joy we will experience at the return of Jesus Christ cannot be compared to any of the suffering we are enduring today. (Romans 8:18)

Take some time and look up those verses, and discover the incredible freedom to live out the purpose of Jesus Christ when we have our eyes fixed on the right finish line. We are not running the race of the world, so do not look at the world’s finish lines. We are running the race that has been marked out for us by God, so let’s fix our eyes on the glory of God’s finish line. Jesus is waiting there to greet us.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

As we continue our study of the characteristics of a REAL church, we move from an emphasis on intake to outflow. For the last two days we have rejoiced in the presence and the power of Jesus Christ. Today the focus changes to the activity that is produced because of His presence and power. That activity is called witnessing.

Scary stuff isn’t it – to think that we are the witnesses to the reality of the presence and power of Jesus Christ to a world that in general does not accept Him. But that is the purpose for which God has left us on this earth following our redemption.

Let’s define what a witness is. The Greek word used here is martus, pronounced mar’-toos, and has a legal, historical, and ethical sense to it. Let me explain.

From a legal and historical position, a witness is one who has first-hand knowledge of an event by having been a spectator of it, and is able to relate accurately what he knows to be true. In the book of Acts, when it came time to choose a twelfth Apostle to replace Judas, the requirements were that it had to be someone who had been a witness to the resurrection of Jesus. (Acts 1:21-22) This is the basis for not only our qualification as a witness but also for the subject matter of our witnessing – it’s all about the resurrection of Jesus.

When we witness to another person who does not know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, the conversation should center on the defining distinction of the Christian faith – the resurrection of Jesus. What a liberating concept. We are set free to passionately pursue the purpose of God to be a powerful witness because all we have to talk about is the presence of Jesus. He is the risen Lord, and He lives within us. We are the witnesses to His resurrection. We don’t need to debate theology with people; we simply relate the resurrection power of His presence in us. Witnessing is not winning an argument, or displaying superior knowledge. Witnessing is the outflow of the presence of Jesus Christ in us.

There is also an ethical sense to the word martus. This means that there is a consistency and integrity to the witness, so that what is said holds true in the visible activity of life. In Thayer’s Greek Definitions of the New Testament he states that a witness is one who “after Christ’s example has proved the strength and genuineness of his faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death.” The word martus is the word from which we get the concept of a martyr – a person who is willing to die for what they believe.

This is challenging. Are we willing to go to death to be a consistent witness to the resurrection presence and power of Jesus Christ in our lives? Are we willing to suffer any loss for the sake of gaining the glory of Christ’s physical presence because we are already living out the reality of His spiritual presence?

Here’s how Hebrews 11 describes it – “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.

Please notice a life changing statement in that passage – none of them received what had been promised. None of them had the resurrection presence and power of Jesus dwelling in them, and yet they stood the ethical test of what they believed. Yet we who are now the recipients of the promise, with the resurrection power of Jesus Christ living in us, seem to be avoiding any pain and suffering by avoiding being a witness. Something is wrong. Something needs to change.

We must consider this truth – to be a witness is to be a martyr: maybe not in physical death, but certainly in worldly dependence. We have the presence and the power of the resurrected Christ abiding in us. Let us shout aloud, “Death to self. Death to the world. Christ is Alive! I am alive in Him!”

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

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For many people knowledge is power. See if any of these statements ring especially true to you.

1.      The more we can know the more we can control. 

2.      The more we know the more we can predetermine outcomes. 

3.      Planning requires knowledge, and life requires planning. 

4.      Uncertainty is the characteristic of an unprepared person, and preparedness requires knowledge.

5.      I have a need to know.

6.      Knowledge brings security, and security brings peace.

These statements all have elements of truth in them, but they do not represent the kind of faith Jesus desires for us. If we are going to have REAL church filled with REAL people, then knowledge must take a back seat to faith. This priority is illustrated in a conversation between Jesus and the Apostles when they ask Him a question based on their need for knowledge.  

Acts 1:6-8  So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus refused to give the Apostles the knowledge they desired.Instead He told them they were about to receive enough power to live without that knowledge while at the same time fulfilling an eternal purpose.

We must apply this instruction to both our personal lives and the life of our church. We have become far too concerned with knowing the outcome of every situation in our lives and in our churches. We refuse to takes steps of faith because we have been trained by the world to walk by sight. What’s even worse is that we don’t even take the time to hear the voice of God telling us which steps of faith to take because we are so busy trying to figure everything out in our own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5-6) 

When asked the question about the timing of His plan to restore the kingdom, Jesus simply responded with “You don’t have a need to know, you only need the power to be my witnesses.” This power is promised and we will receive it. It is so complete that when it comes upon us, it fully accomplishes its purpose in us. We will be witnesses. It is so fulfilling in us that we never need to question our lack of knowledge about when God’s plan will be completed. We just keep doing the work the power has equipped us to do.

In the REAL church, knowledge does not produce power; the presence of God produces power. As individuals and as a church we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the fullness of God abides in us. We experience the presence of God, and we are equipped with the power of God to accomplish His eternal purpose of being witnesses to the resurrected Christ. We do not know the answer to how long we have to wait for His return, but we do have the power to do His work until He does. By faith, let’s step out boldly to accomplish God’s purpose.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

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Life is very busy right now. I have too many things on my plate, some by choice and others placed there by others. Projects, people, upcoming events, family needs, and the pursuit of personal time have been added to the time demands of full time pastoral ministry. Priorities must be examined or frustration sets in.

As Denise and I sat and talked about the heavy schedule we have right now, and as we made plans for the rest of the week, I realized something – all I really ever want is her presence, and that’s all she ever wants from me. In the midst of all the busyness and demands of life, the most meaningful and most memorable times are spent in her presence.

Just like it should be with our Lord.

When we get up every morning and plan our day, do we spend some time in the presence of the Lord, or do we need something tragic, difficult, or special to happen during the day to look for God’s presence?

When we make our plans to go to church on Sunday, what are we really looking for? Special music? A special guest speaker? A special time of worship? A special attraction within the service like a drama or testimony? Or is the awe of the presence of God sufficient?

In Colossians 1:27 and in 1 Corinthians 3:16 Paul makes a wonderful point about the Body of Christ. Wherever you are, God is present.

Colossians 1:27 To the saints God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

Wherever you go, God is present. But He’s not just present, He lives there. He is active and moving and working.  And when two Christians come together for any purpose, God has an eternal investment in that moment.

WOW! That should change our perspective on fellowship and the church. It should change how we feel about meeting people and about going to church. It certainly should change our attitudes of me-ism: those attitudes that demand something special for ourselves for the event to have had any lasting impact or significance. What has happened to our relationship with God when we demand something bigger and better to prove its significance? What happened to the true test of maturity and security in a relationship – presence?

As Denise and I sat and talked, we confirmed one very important point – what we want most out of our relationship is to be together. Take away all of the trips, the projects, the pursuits, and even the people, but do not take away your presence from me. 

Can we say that about our relationship with God? As people of His church, can we honestly say to Jesus, “Take away all the music, all the preaching, all the ministries, and all the special events, but do not take away Your presence from me?”

REAL church is first and foremost defined by the Presence of Jesus Christ. Let this be true of us in our spiritual lives – there is nothing more special than God’s presence. That alone is what sustains us.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions 

Monday, October 25, 2021

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“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Twenty-five years ago as my ministry was beginning at Calvary, I did an in-depth study of the book of Acts called “Let’s Have REAL Church.” The principles we learned became the solid foundation of truth upon which the church still stands.

The book of Acts in the Bible is the story of the continuing work of Jesus Christ on the earth through His Holy Spirit. In the past centuries, the book was called The Acts of the Apostles, but this is not an accurate title, and should be called The Continuing Acts of Jesus Christ. In Acts 1:1-5 we read this:

“In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to  them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Notice how Luke, the author, states clearly that in his previous book, the Gospel of Luke, he wrote about what Jesus “began to do.” The book of Acts is Luke’s description of what Jesus continues to do, even though now He does His work through His Spirit in us while He himself sits on the throne in heaven. 

I want to share a summary statement of Acts chapter 1 with you, and then break it down into its individual parts over the next few days. Here is the summary: 

A REAL church is one that is focused on the presence of Jesus Christ, is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, is passionate about fulfilling God’s purpose of proclaiming Jesus Christ to the world, is expecting the promised return of Jesus Christ to establish His kingdom, and is constantly in prayer.

For today, read that statement as many times as is necessary to get the following points firmly planted in your memory bank. 

1.      Presence of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:1-5)

2.      Power of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)

3.      Passion to serve Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8)

4.      Purpose of proclaiming Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8)

5.      Promised return of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:11)

6.      Praying intimately with Jesus Christ (Acts 1:14, 24)

The church will only be as real as each individual in the church, and that makes each one of us significant. We must evaluate our lives with these six characteristics and be willing to become REAL people so we can have REAL church.

Beginning tomorrow we will look at each of these characteristic of a REAL church in detail. For today, reflect on the total package and ask God to prepare your heart for the cultivating work of the Holy Spirit.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Friday, October 22, 2021

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Social media has made it convenient for us to spout off anything we feel like saying. We feel enabled to speak our minds on any subject without fear of hurting anyone’s feelings because we don’t have to face them. We can even delete their comments when the argument gets too heated. Unfortunately, many people don’t delete the arguments, and they get rather embarrassing. But what hurts the most is when followers of Christ engage in such arguments and bring dishonor to the Gospel of grace. Such behavior is foolish. It is a direct contradiction to God’s wisdom.

Carefully read these sacred words from Scripture.

James 3:13  “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

James tells us that the proof of wisdom in action is by our good conduct. But how do we define good conduct. Thankfully the context of this verse tells us. The previous twelve verses all speak about control of the tongue. The tongue is described as a blazing fire of conflict and confrontation. It reveals the foolishness and imperfections of our lives. Those who can control their tongues have good conduct and are determined to be wise.

The conduct of unwise people is further defined in the next few verses.

James 3:14-16  “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵  This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”

Far too many of the words we speak and social media posts we make are rooted in bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, and all such speech and posts have no relationship with the wisdom of God. In fact, it is all rooted in the spirit world of demons. I speak boldly and bluntly on purpose because it has to stop. We must be wise, and we are most unwise in how we talk.

James encourages us that our tongues can reveal the wisdom of God.

James 3:17-18  “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Wise people have pure motives that honor Jesus. Wise people don’t contradict themselves. Wise people are peaceable and gentle. Wise people embrace reasonable debate. Wise people are merciful, impartial, and sincere. Wise people produce the good fruit of righteousness. Wise people use their words to do all of these things.

As we bring to a conclusion our study of wisdom, let me leave you with this one thought. Many times we have heard it said, “Show me your love by what you do not by what you say.” That is true. I think it’s also true to say, “Show me your wisdom by what you say and by what you choose not to say.”  Let’s all prove that the wisdom of God is in us by controlling our tongues.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Thursday, October 21, 2021

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I get afraid when I’m up high in an unsteady position. I don’t like to fall. I’m sure none of us enjoys the thought of falling from any height. But for me, it’s more than just a fear. I get unnerved. I doubt my ability to make good decisions. I go into a mild panic attack. My heart races: I really am afraid. I’m afraid that the ladder I am about to climb will fall over. I am convinced before I even get part way up that if I go any higher it will tip over and I will fall. I get down and I look at the ladder. I check its stability. I know it is solid. I know the ladder has held me before, and that if I remain inside its boundaries it will hold me again. If I use it correctly it can be trusted. When I focus on the trustworthiness of the ladder my fears are somewhat relieved and I can do the job. So I climb again.

One of the scariest Bible stories for me as a child was the story of Jacob’s dream of the ladder going up into heaven with all the angels on it. Now you know why it scared me so much. I thought my journey to heaven had to be like that, and I couldn’t stand to think about going up that high on a ladder. But at the top of the ladder stands Jesus, and when my eyes are focused on Him and how trustworthy and faithful He is, my fears are relieved. My fear has increased my trust.

Solomon ends his discourse to his son in the same way he started it – with a challenge to fear God.

Proverbs 24:21 “Fear the LORD and the king, my son…” 

Let’s go back and review how this study on wisdom started:

Proverbs 22:17-21 “Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you. Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, teaching you true and reliable words, so that you can give sound answers to him who sent you?”

The purpose for Solomon’s teaching was to develop trust in the Lord, which is based on a healthy fear of the Lord. 

Solomon says at the beginning, “So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today.” Solomon says at the end, “Fear the LORD.” Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; trust in God is the application of wisdom. In between we discovered many practical ways to grow in wisdom. Now at the end we are put to the test – how well will we trust in God’s wisdom? Before you answer that, think carefully about the rest of today’s wisdom verse.

“Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials,” Proverbs 24:21

Trust in God is measured against our complacency to and complicity with rebellious people. We may not participate in rebellious actions, but what about our attitudes and conversations? Do our minds still conform to the rebellious world’s system in the ways we think? How influenced are we by our political and social environments? How have we, as the Apostle John puts it, “taken the mark of the beast” by becoming dependent upon the world’s system and not on God alone?

Fear God. Trust God. It is the circle of wisdom, and it goes on. Biblical wisdom takes us from fear to trust to fear to trust. Let the circle grow, but keep it intact. Stay within the boundaries of wisdom. It is far better to fear the LORD in a trusting relationship than to fear the destruction of the LORD based on our rebellion. 

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

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Today’s wisdom passage is hard for me, because my human nature does the opposite of what it says.

Proverbs 24:17-18  “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.”

I tend to rejoice when people who have done wrong get their just rewards. You must know what I mean and have felt the same way about certain people. For example, as you’re driving down the interstate, a sports car races past you doing 85 mph. What’s the first thought in your head? “I hope there’s a highway patrol up ahead and he gets stopped.” Two miles up the road we see the flashing lights and we think another thought – “I hope it’s that sports car guy.” We drive by, and when we see that it is, we smile and think – “good, you got caught.”

If our thoughts at such a time go beyond just being thankful that we have police to keep our roads safe, and they move to rejoicing over someone else’s misfortune (even though they made the choice to speed and deserved the consequences), then we are not acting in God’s wisdom. God’s wisdom is defined in James 3:17, which says, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”  I cannot in any way justify my feelings of revenge or rejoicing over someone else’s misfortune when I read this description of wisdom.

What is my heart thinking when I wish harm on another person? What kind of spiritual dysfunction exists in my mind when I am happy to see a sinner suffer? How carnal have my attitudes become when I devise ways to see justice enforced upon other people? How un-like Christ do I appear when I love conflict more than peace; self more than surrender;  justice more than mercy? How self-centered am I when I desire consequences for the actions of others but seek to avoid consequences for my own choices? Oh that the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ toward enemies and sinners would overwhelm us with sincere compassion for those who need to be shown the path of wisdom and righteousness.

Dale Carnegie, who wrote the book How To Win Friends and Influence People, says “You attract more flies with honey than with vinegar.” The simple point I would like to make today is this – We will attract more people to Christ by showing them the right and the good way they could live rather than by constantly pointing out to them the wrong and the bad way they are living. When we focus on sharing the good news, we become merciful. When we focus on voicing the bad news, we become judgmental.

Wisdom is merciful and loving. Let’s “Be wise in the way we act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let our conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that we may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:5-6)

Pastor John