Month: September 2020

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).

My heart was greatly cheered at the spontaneous laughter of 4-year-old children. My first day subbing this term was in a preschool class. The best part of the day was reading a funny book and hearing those giggles. They were the kind of giggles that kept on giggling. What fun!

I know my life has been lacking in the laughter department lately. The tears seem to come easier than the laughter. Certainly, there is plenty to weep over, but how the heart needs laughter! Today was my third day of subbing so far and I’m enjoying the company of children. I’m keeping the memory of the giggling preschoolers in mind. You might say I’m storing up the memory for the sorrowful times that will surely come.

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3: 4 there’s “a time to weep and a time to laugh”.  These past months have not been easy. Nearly everyone has had some part of their life interrupted. Schools closed, many businesses closed, and churches weren’t meeting in person. I’m sure many families used the time for having fun with each other, while other families were stressed to the limit with job losses and insufficient income. Now that things are opening and our lives are returning to something similar to what they used to be, I hope you’re finding more times to laugh. It’s also a time to look for ways to bring joy to another person who’s having a difficult time. Spread some joy.

When the giggles come to your house, giggle long and loud. Store up the memory for the gloomy days.

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy” (Job 8:21).

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

Note: In case you want to collect some giggles from a young child, the name of the funny book is The Pout Pout Fish, by Deborah Diesen.

I have chosen to read through some of Wayne’s sermons from the 1980s for my daily devotional time. He numbered and organized his sermons into notebooks and there are many. Each is labeled with when and where he preached it.  Wayne enjoyed the preaching part of the ministry more than anything else.  

The sermons I read last week were a three-part series. He titled it “Three Characteristics of the Real Christian” using as his text Philippians 1:20-26.

1. To live is Christ.
2. To die is gain.
3. To abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two; I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body” (Philippians 1:21-24).

The Apostle Paul was in prison because of the gospel when he wrote those words.  I doubt I could have the same perspective on life as he did in such a circumstance. I might have a complaint or two! If the apostle did, he didn’t record it. Instead he wholly focused on the Christ he served. He boldly lived his life as though Christ and the gospel were more important than anything or anyone else. He lived confidently knowing the reward that awaited him after death. And he knew what God wanted him to do while on earth.  He had trips to make and letters to write to encourage the churches.

As I read the Scripture and Wayne’s sermon notes, I think I would re-title the sermon, “Three Characteristics of a Mature Christian.” I certainly don’t put myself on the same level as the Apostle Paul as far as spiritual maturity, but I have chosen to follow Christ, and therefore am a Christian. A real Christian. (Knowing how Wayne preached in later years I think he would agree, if he were still here.)

Living for Christ is to live unselfishly and I’m not always successful, but with God’s help I’m becoming less selfish. I’m becoming more confident in my witness and work of the Kingdom.  Like the apostle all Christians have a place of service in the Kingdom of God. So as our lives continue, we must continue to be beneficial to others as we allow God to work through us.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” Colossians 3:23-24).

“Go into the city to a certain man . . .” Jesus spoke these words to his disciples when they asked where they should prepare the Passover meal. (Matthew 26:18) As I read that passage recently the words, “a certain man” caught my attention. Mark and Luke record this incident saying the man was carrying a jar of water. That certain man was serving his master and took time to lead the disciples to his master’s house where a room was prepared for them.  Jesus used “a certain man” to direct the disciples to the place where they would eat the Passover meal.

I thought about others in the Bible that Jesus used to fulfill His work. As Jesus chose his disciples, he finds them already engaged in work. Peter and Andrew were fishermen, as were James and John. Peter preached the gospel on the day of Pentecost when the Church began. He was also the “certain man” who received God’s message that Gentiles were to be accepted as Christ followers. (Acts 10) John wrote one of the gospels and three letters to Christians.  Matthew was collecting taxes. Matthew wrote one of the gospels recording more of Jesus’ sermon from the mountainside than the other gospel writers. Jesus stopped Saul (Paul) on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians. Paul was a Pharisee and zealous for God. He was “a certain man” who was to take the gospel to the Gentiles and Jews. He wrote a large portion of the New Testament.

I think, perhaps, we are all “a certain man or woman.” We may be the link between Jesus and someone who needs Jesus. We may think we’re unimportant in the grand scheme of things, but we may be that one for a particular task. Without the cooks and dish washers we could not enjoy the meal. Without the equipment operators and construction workers, the engineers could not build the highway.

God wants to use us for His glory. Are we willing to be used, to be the link? That “certain man” carrying the water jar was just a servant doing his job. I want to be “a certain man or woman” carrying the Living Water, sharing the good news of Jesus with everyone.

“Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14).

With today’s situations and events that show the evil side of humanity I am often discouraged. The writer of the book of Lamentations has an encouraging message and I’ve been reading and rereading it a lot lately.  In the middle of this weeping prophet’s message he reminds us of the goodness of the Lord!

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him’” (Lamentations 3:22-24).

Each day is another chance to do better. Another chance to change my attitude and look for how God is working. There are those who take a stand for righteousness and truth. God is using people to be the salt and light we need today. Even the President of our great country recognizes we must depend on God for our salvation and not the government!  God is faithful and I am encouraged.

“Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men” (Lamentations 3:32-33).

God is not the cause of our grief. Sin is. The problem lies in the hearts of people. The solution requires a change of heart. Only God can change hearts. Only God can bring peace out of chaos.

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven, and say: ‘We have sinned and rebelled and you have not forgiven’” (Lamentations 3:40-42).

God is compassionate, loving, faithful, and ready to forgive. (See 2 Chronicles 7:14) May we be prayerful, faithful, compassionate, loving, and repentant. The prophet trusted God to take up his cause against his enemies. We should, too. Pray for wisdom and courage to stand for truth. Ask God to search our hearts and purify us. Make us ready to be the light the world desperately needs.  Be encouraged by what God is doing.

“You came near when I called you, and you said, ‘Do not fear.’ O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life. You have seen, O Lord, the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause!” (Lamentations 3:57-59)

“Restore us to yourself, O Lord” (Lamentations 5:21a)