LifeLink Devotional

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

It’s not too late to make a change. Dads sometimes feel like they have wasted too many years of training their children and it’s too late to change. Human psychology tells us that the thought patterns that dictate a child’s behavior may be ingrained by the time they are four years old. Correction and change become a battle rather than a blessing. Many times we give up and stop trying.

The writer of the 78^th Psalm, Asaph, gives us hope to keep investing in the lives of our children. The Psalm begins this way –

Psalm 78:1-4  Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

The first principle of good child-rearing is to lay in them the foundation of being in awe of God. We do that by modeling to them that we are in awe of God’s glory, His power, and His wondrous deeds on our behalf.

The second principle of raising great kids is found in the next few verses. It is that we should teach our children to be obedient to God.

Psalm 78:5-7 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;

Then, in a sudden burst of reality, Asaph recognizes that the behaviors of the past were not healthy and need to be changed. The fathers were not modeling to their children a humble spirit of obedience to God. They were, in fact, being rebellious against God by doing things their own way.

Psalm 78:8  …that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Principle number three is this – be the model of self-sacrifice for the sake of God’s glory and the benefit of others.

I challenge you to read the rest of this lengthy Psalm as Asaph describes the types of rebellion that will happen when these three principles are ignored. The consequences are severe. But find hope in this – God is at work to accomplish change in rebellious people. He has provided a Shepherd who loves us, forgives us, and restores us.  (see the end of the Psalm)

Be the representative of the Good Shepherd to your family.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotional

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

When I take time to reflect on my skills as a father I can become somewhat discouraged. Why is it that our minds are filled with memories of mistakes rather than successes? Every one of my three children is a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, and is faithfully raising their children to follow Jesus. I am more convinced than ever of the faithfulness of God to accomplish His purpose in the midst of human weakness. His greatness shines best when our weakness is exposed.

One major area of weakness I still seek to correct is that I failed to listen before demanding to be heard. It is this issue that the Apostle Paul address in Colossians 3:21 when he writes,

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Let’s take a look at the word “provoke.” In the original Greek, it means “to stir up, excite, stimulate.” It is used twice in Scripture, once in a positive way and once in a negative way. In the positive, Paul tells the people in Corinth that their zeal for giving resources to help needy people has stirred up others to also give.  In the negative, the verse above states that fathers are capable of provoking (stimulating) their children to anger.

There are many possible ways to stimulate our children, both positively and negatively. On the positive side, we can encourage them, affirm them, and train them. On the negative side, we break their spirits when we shame them with words that belittle them or criticize them. But I think the worst way we provoke them is by not honoring their feelings and viewpoint before we enforce our viewpoint upon them. People of all ages, but especially children, get discouraged when they don’t believe they are being heard. It invalidates not only their viewpoint but attacks their belief in their value. They begin to believe that they must not be important or valued because their viewpoint is not even worthy to be heard.

Dads, this is critical. Seek to understand before you seek to be understood. Seek to discover how your child reached the conclusion that caused them to choose that behavior before you condemn the behavior. Seek to know the child rather than dictate the behavior of the child.

When we focus on correcting behavior without understanding the person, we provoke children to anger. We stimulate rebellion. We motivate them to not communicate, and worse, to lie about it when they do speak. We instill fear of rejection when we don’t listen first with a sincere desire to understand.

Emotional responses to the stresses of life that are directed at a child’s behavior will cause them to be discouraged. I know it’s hard, but we must set aside our feelings and embrace the Holy Spirit’s fruit of self-control, and put the condition of the child’s heart ahead of our desire to conform their behavior. That’s being a father like our Heavenly Father.

Pastor John

LIFELINK Devotional
Monday, June 15, 2020

We will get back to our study of the Gospel of John next week, but for this week, as we lead up to Father’s Day on Sunday, let’s focus on dads.

Let’s start with the word “honor.” When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, this was number five:

Exodus 20:12. “Honor your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

Jesus uses this commandment to answer a question the Pharisees asked Him in an attempt to discredit His disciples for not obeying the law. Jesus said, “Why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your traditions? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother.”

So what were the religious leaders doing that was considered breaking the commandment? Jesus explains. “You say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.”

Think about this. In the name of religious tradition, the Pharisees were claiming the right to break the law of God. If they declared their resources to be committed to God, they thought they were excluded from honoring their parents by caring for their financial needs. The problem is that these were religious leaders, and they knew they would personally benefit from committing their resources to God. In essence they were giving to themselves and not providing for their parents. Jesus shouts at them. “You hypocrites.” The very people who should be trusted to uphold the law were looking for loopholes in it so they could advance themselves over others. That is not what it means to honor someone.

Honoring others means to place their welfare ahead of your own, and to consider their needs ahead of your own. When you honor someone, you exalt them ahead of yourself. God’s command is to treat our parents that way.

But pastor, you don’t know what my father did. He’s is not worthy of honor. Well let me ask you, your Heavenly Father knows everything you have done, so should he stop honoring you as His son? I don’t see in God’s command, or in Christ’s affirmation of the command, or in the Apostle Paul’s application of the command in Ephesians 6:2, a loophole for dad’s who aren’t worthy of honor. Instead, I see the love of Jesus filling us with the ability to honor those who have acted dishonorably.

If your dad is still alive, honor him, even if he has been dishonorable. Treat him with respect, even if he is disrespectful. Love him, even if he acts unlovingly. That’s how our Heavenly Father treats us.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotional

June 12, 2020

When I was much younger there was a series of movies that came out starring an also much younger Clint Eastwood. These movies pushed the violence limits of that era. The plot was centered around a detective named Harry Callahan, otherwise known as Dirty Harry.

Each movie featured a one line statement from the detective that became the trademark of the movie. One of the movie’s statements was, “A man’s got to know his limitations.”

Praise God that does not apply to the presence of the Holy Spirit within those who are born-again in Jesus Christ!

John 3:34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

There are two understandings here to assist us in our growth of faith.

1. The words of Jesus can be trusted because they are the fullness of the infinite mind of God through the power of the infinite Spirit of God who fills Jesus without limit.
2. Jesus gives the Holy Spirit without measure to all who believe in Him and are born again.

Practically speaking, Jesus has no limitations in knowing the will of the Father, and the Holy Spirit in us has no limitations to reveal to us the will of the Father for our lives. Our flesh may limit Him, but He has been given to us without measure.

Let that sink in this weekend. The knowledge of God’s truth, and the understanding of His will and purpose for our lives, has not been limited by God, but is only limited by our choices to pursue the flesh rather than the Spirit. We must know our own limitations, but we must never blame them on God. He has given us the infinite, limitless, indwelling, and all-empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotional

Thursday, June 11, 2020

How is your study of John 3 going so far this week? Have you spent time meditating on the challenges presented yesterday? Are they accomplishing the Holy Spirit’s work in your heart?

I spent some time yesterday morning focused on the first point – We seek Jesus because He is sovereign, so we can trust Him to be in control.

John 3:31  He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.

As I thought about the fact that Jesus is above all, I was confronted with the connection between my personal understanding of God’s sovereignty and the level of my trust that results in peace. The Holy Spirit directed me to a passage of Scripture that has really helped me.

Isaiah 26:3-4 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

These verses took on greater significance for me when I read them in the context of the next two verses.

Isaiah 26:5-6 For he has humbled the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust. The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy.”

We are living in a time when I believe God is working to lay low the high and mighty. That’s certainly true for every individual in their spiritual life, but it appears to also be true nationally. We struggle to stay balanced in the ever-shifting sands of human wisdom. Yet our belief in the sovereignty of God, that He is above all, will bring us stability and peace because we know He is in control.

I am not in control. Politicians are not in control. Social movements do not have the solutions to injustice. The cause of injustice is unrighteousness, and there is only One who is righteous – Jesus Christ. He is above all. When we fix our hearts and minds on Him, and trust the everlasting rock of our salvation, He promises to keep us in perfect peace.

The world wants peace without God. We must show them the peace of God that comes from peace with God. We must seek Jesus because we believe He is sovereign. We must trust Him because He is in control.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotional

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

SPOILER ALERT!

How many times have you had that happen? I did it recently on Facebook, after a pastor won the Voice competition. I posted congratulations right away, not thinking that some people hadn’t watched the television show live. SORRY!

I’ve had it happen to me with football games that I intend to watch later, and well-meaning people call me to congratulate my team on their win.

SPOILER ALERT!

You are about to receive the outline for Sunday’s sermon on John 3:31-36. I pray that it does not keep you from coming or watching. I pray the Holy Spirit uses it to challenge your thinking this week. Here are the verses we will cover.

He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. ³²  He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. ³³  Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. ³⁴  For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. ³⁵  The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. ³⁶  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

The title of the sermon will be STAY ON TRACK! It will focus on John the Baptizer pointing everyone to Jesus. As he does that, he gives us several reasons that we should seek Jesus above all else.

1. We seek Jesus because He is sovereign, so we can trust Him to be in control. (verse 31)
2. We seek Jesus because He speaks eternal truth, so we can trust what He says. (verse 32-33)
3. We seek Jesus because He supplies us with the Spirit without measure, so we can trust the fullness of God’s presence at all times. (verse 34)
4. We seek Jesus because He supervises all things, so we can trust the outcomes to be good and glorious. (verse 35)
5. We seek Jesus because He is the source of eternal life, so we can trust Him with everything in this life. (verse 36)

Spend some time each day for the rest of the week on one of these points, (two on Saturday)and see how the Holy Spirit transforms your heart so that you are constantly seeking Jesus.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotional

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

When I was a young boy I loved playing with our model train set. We had a locomotive that actually blew smoke. My brothers and I would play for hours setting up the track and all the accessories, and then running the train as fast as we could without it derailing. As I recall, we had a lot of fun, so long as the train stayed on the tracks.

Consider that concept of staying on track in the context of world events right now. It may appear like a major derailment. Yet if we were to poll each other, we might discover that very few of us feel that we are a part of the train wreck. In fact, most of us believe that if our ideas were implemented the problems would be solved. We tend to believe that we have the answers, and everything would stay on track if people would just listen to us.

In our Scripture passage from the Gospel of John this week, there was an attempt made to get John the Baptist off track. A debate was started about who’s ideas about baptism were more important. John the Baptist was confronted with an idea that he should begin to boost his own following because people were starting to follow Jesus. He probably felt tempted to get off track. But rather than give in to the temptation to protect his own position or popularity, he surrendered his following to the only One worthy of being followed.

John 3:28-30  “You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Read these words again – Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

WOW! True joy comes from pointing people to Jesus, not from getting things done our way. We tend to believe that real joy is ours when people listen to us and follow us. We seek joy in self-affirmation by bringing other people into agreement with us. We think we will validate our value by building a following of our ideas. But John the Baptizer reveals to us that true joy is found only in fulfilling the purpose of Christ.

So many followers of Christ are off track today because we prioritize our political positions or agenda over the Gospel mission of redemption. The church of Jesus Christ is being derailed in the name of social conscience. We must get back on track and realize that only by pointing people to Jesus will any social reform take place. Anything less is nothing more than a band aid destined to fall off and reveal an ugly wound.

We, the followers of Jesus, must decrease in our need for personal recognition or validation, and we must point people to Jesus. He is the only source of healing for our land.

Pastor John

LIFELINK Devotional
Monday, June 8, 2020

Have you ever heard of competitive baptisms? It is quite possible that some of you have strong opinions about baptism, and take some level of pride in yours based on what church did it and what person baptized you. There was the potential for a three-way competition in this week’s Scripture passage in John 3:22-36. Let’s look at the first few verses.

John‬ ‭3:22-24 “After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).”
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After Jesus met with Nicodemus and explained the fundamentals of entrance into the Kingdom of God, He and the disciples took a road trip out to the Judean countryside. When they arrive at their destination, Jesus begins baptizing people. Meanwhile, in another location, John the Baptizer is also baptizing people. Some Jews, who also practiced baptism, got into a debate with followers of John the Baptist. They asked John to settle the debate. But rather than debate the fundamental theology of baptism, John simply declares that all of the attention of spiritual life needs to be on Jesus. Finding value in religious rituals no longer mattered. Taking pride in one’s particular theological perspective no longer mattered. Defending one’s denominational organization was a waste of energy and breath. All that matters is Jesus.

In one of the most profound statements ever made by any human being, John the Baptizer settles the argument over the purpose of baptism with one statement: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

No matter what the size of his following, or the personal acclaim he was receiving, or the influence he was having, John withdrew so that Jesus could be glorified.

Are you seeking to be noticed, or even honored, for your great theology or religious activity? Do you take pride in your participation in your church’s sacraments? Do you spiritually place yourself above others because of what you believe? Take note. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, let everything go and got out of the way so only Jesus could be seen. Please consider the consequences of not doing the same.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotional

Friday, June 5, 2020

Last weekend I went camping for the first time this summer. My whole family was there, along with ten other families from Calvary. During one of the campfire discussions, the conversation turned to sleep schedules. The debate between morning people and night owls was interesting. But the conversation shut down when the motives for each position were compared to spiritual life. It is a fact that we all have a preferred body clock. However, self-evaluation is healthy for us to determine if either position is motivated by a sinful desire to either appear more spiritual or to enjoy things that aren’t spiritual.

Here’s what Jesus said about that.

John 3:19-21  “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

The contrast between darkness and light has existed since time began. God’s very first creative words were, “Let there be light.”  In the heart and mind of God, darkness has always represented everything opposed to life. Light is the source of life. As it was before light came into existence, everything without light is void and without form.

It is apparent from the words of Jesus that darkness is appealing. Here’s why I think that’s true. Sin is appealing. Self-gratification is appealing. Yet the consequence of sin is guilt and shame. So how can we have our cake and eat it too? How can we enjoy what we believe gratifies us and not feel the shame that goes with it?

WE CAN’T! That’s the message of the Gospel. We can be delivered from the desires of the flesh so that there is no shame that comes from exposure of our sin. In Christ, the consequences of sin are gone, and the constant Light of the Holy Spirit shines in us to purify us from the desires to go back to sin. It is the Light that conquers the darkness.

Take a moment and read this passage from the Apostle Paul. Let it sink in. Let it encourage you with the power of the Light in you.

2 Corinthians 4:4-18  …the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵  For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ⁷  But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. ⁸  We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰  always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. ¹¹  For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹²  So death is at work in us, but life in you. ¹³  Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, ¹⁴  knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. ¹⁵  For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. ¹⁶  So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotional

Thursday, June 4, 2020

A fundamental principle of our judicial system is that people are presumed innocent until there is proof of guilt. Unfortunately, that principle of law is far too often overlooked. Law enforcement does it. Lawyers do it. Citizens do it. Almost everyone on Facebook or Twitter does it. We assign guilt before due process has had a chance to function as it should.

The legal principle of presumed innocence stands in stark contrast to the spiritual principle of proven guilt. Read what Jesus said in John 3:17-18.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

In a court of law, the accused is considered innocent until proof of guilt has been offered and the judge or jury declares the accused guilty. That is not the case for every human being in the context of their spiritual life. Every one of us stands condemned before God, declared guilty by the Righteous Judge based on the inherent nature of sin within us. But the same Judge who declares us guilty based on our indwelling sin will declare us not guilty based on our belief in Jesus Christ. Our sin nature was fully punished by God in Jesus Christ when He died on the cross, so that we who believe could be declared innocent.

In the court system, the accused begins as innocent and based on evidence is declared guilty. In the Spiritual world, the guilty prove their guilt by the evidence of their thoughts and actions, and yet can be declared innocent by confessing their guilt to the One who paid the penalty for their sin. Faith in Jesus Christ removes all condemnation.

What is it that condemns you? Thoughts of your past. Words of other people? Knowledge of the evil that resides in your heart and mind? All of this and more are proof of our common condemnation. Jesus did not come to condemn us. We are already condemned. Jesus came to save us, and he makes freedom possible through His death on the cross. Jesus was condemned for us, so that we might be forgiven and given eternal freedom.

What is keeping you from faith in Christ? Is it fear of admitting your guilt? Your guilt was carried to the cross by Jesus. Is it fear of the penalties that will be imposed upon confession of your guilt? Jesus paid the total penalty for your guilt when He died for you. Maybe you are afraid that your sin is too great and you must make restitution before you are worthy to be forgiven. Jesus died as the worst sinner and paid for the worst sin, and God declared His satisfaction with His payment by raising Him from the dead.

You have nothing to fear. By faith alone you can be forgiven and accepted into the eternal family of God.  Today is the day you can go from guilty sinner to saved saint. Turn from your sin. Turn to Jesus. Believe He died for you, and be saved.

Pastor John