Tag Archives: joy

Listen to the Word, January 6, 2020

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.

The new year is here. We’ve had almost a week to figure out what we expect from it. So far it looks like the same old politics and news and violence between nations. We’ve already had mass murders in our country and others. We’ve had an attack in Iraq that killed an Iranian general. We’ve escalated tensions in the Middle East again. We’ve riled the public and politicians against each other as to the actions taken in retaliation of the assault on our embassy. Was it too harsh? Was it too late or too early? Should there have been more talk? What’s next?

Yes, this year has started out much like the last. Lots of words by lots of people and most of what is said is meaningless. The Teacher in Ecclesiastes had it right thinking about what goes on the world. “There is nothing new under the sun, and it’s all meaningless.”

We could be pretty pessimistic about the future if we chose. We could look at the new year the way I’ve described it above and give up on the world. It would be so easy to just let things go and not worry about anything because we know where everything will eventually end up. Armageddon will eventually become a reality and the world will end. Some will find salvation in believing in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Many will be eternally lost because they refuse to believe the evidence that he is God and came to save us.

But I don’t think that is what God expects us to do in 2020. I don’t think the year is as bleak as it appears in the news reports or as horrid as some want us to believe. We are bombarded by words that the world uses to create a picture of despair and hopelessness. However, 2000 years ago a man named John penned a description of one whom he identified as “the Word.” Not words to sway a crowd, but the originator of all there is. The one present at the beginning of creation. The one credited with giving us the ability today to put thoughts together to sway men and women. It is through his creative act that we have the ability to reason and think and communicate, unlike the rest of the animal kingdom.

John described “the Word,” the personification of truth and grace. He came from heaven, lived among us for some 33 years, taught us what God was like, died as a sacrifice for our sins, rose from the dead, and sits as our intercessor with the Father. As we listen to the deluge of words that come through the multimedia jungle, remember the real Word. The one who brings peace to troubled hearts. The one who heals broken relationships. The one who mends shattered lives. The one who forgives and frees from guilt. The one who welcomes the outcast and brings hope to the hopeless.

2020 will come with its share of good and bad events in life, just like every year before and after it. The question for each of us is whether we will face it with the hope that Jesus brings or try to move along without him. I can tell you from experience, the bad that comes is so much easier to handle when he is by your side. So, replace the words that the world sends your way with “the Word,” the truth, the light, the life, the way, the hope, the joy, all you could really want because he is God and knows you better than you know yourself. Give yourself to him fully and completely this year and you will find the world’s words cannot hurt you or put you in a state despair or keep you from the joy and peace he has to offer. It’s the legacy he leaves for those who follow him.

Welcome to 2020. A great year to listen to the Word.

You can find me at richardagee.com. I also invite you to join us at San Antonio First Church of the Nazarene on West Avenue in San Antonio to hear more Bible-based teaching. You can find out more about my church at SAF.church. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed it, tell a friend. If you didn’t, send me an email and let me know how better to reach out to those around you. Until next week, may God richly bless you as you venture into His story each day.

Remember What Christmas is About, December 9, 2019

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.

Another mass shooting happened again this week. We can’t seem to get along very well. It appears the gunman didn’t know any of the victims. He just fired into the crowd indiscriminately. I don’t understand that mentality. I have a hard time wrapping my head around shooting someone for no reason.

I’m not against guns. That’s not the problem. We’ve been killing each other for a long time. It started with Cain. It wasn’t long until Lamech bragged about killing a man for wounding him. Violence seems inherent in us. We don’t like something, and rage begins to build in us if we don’t learn to control our emotions. It’s just that guns do more damage faster than other weapons. But clubs and knives and fists can and have been just as deadly. It’s about what’s inside the perpetrator that makes the difference.

Why do I bring this up in this second week of Advent? Because it reminds us Jesus came to do something remarkable for and in us. He brought hope to a hopeless generation. Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome:

Everything that is in the holy writings was written to teach us. They give hope and strength when we have troubles. The holy writings comfort our hearts. God gives people power to take their troubles and he comforts their hearts. I ask him to help you to think the same way as Christ did. Then, together you will praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, accept one another, as Christ has accepted you. Then people will know that God is great…God gives hope. May he make you very happy. May he give you peace because you believe. Then the power of the Holy Spirit will give you much hope. (Romans 15:4-7, 13 (WE))

Instead of living with fear and hate and all the negative emotions that drive the actions we saw in that gunman, Jesus gives hope, peace, joy. He replaces what the world cannot provide with an abiding security that only comes from the presence of his spirit in us.

Advent usually brings just a touch of that spirit into the lives of more people as we walk the streets and see the bright lights, the glittering decorations, the smiles on faces expecting something special in the holidays. But why can’t we keep that spirit all year long? Why do we only find it when we approach Christmas? What causes us to lose that spirit once we tear the paper from the packages and finish the dinner on the table?

I think more and more; we lose sight of what the season really means. With the marketing starting so early, the Hallmark Christmas specials starting in July and continuing nonstop through Christmas, the bombardment of commercialism that strips away the story of that teenage mother-to-be making that journey to Bethlehem with her husband. We lose the story of the shepherds, the angels, the magi, the miracles that point to the incredible events that create this holiday season for us in the first place.

We have lost the wonder of Christmas because of our focus on money and material things. We have so much, yet every year we ask for more. We have to add one more thing to our collection of unused and discarded stuff that piles up in the closets and the garage. I write those words pointing at myself as I look at three keyboards on my desk, three monitors, two computers, and all the gadgets that make it all work.

Do I use all of it? At least some length of time during the week. Do I need all of it? Heavens no. When I travel, I get by just fine with my laptop and in fact, am using it to compile the podcast now. It holds the software to edit my audio. It links to all my files in the cloud. Do I need everything else? Nope, it’s all redundant — just more stuff.

I’m trying hard to get back to what is important, what is necessary. It’s not much, and the Christmas story helps us understand how little that might be. Mary and Joseph were outcasts. They offered the sacrifice of the poor for their firstborn son. They fled with what they could carry to escape Herod’s wrath. They returned to a bump in the road village called Nazareth, one of those towns you just didn’t want to live in if you could live anywhere else. It had one of those reputations.

It’s the story, though, of the King of kings. His story tells me he accepts the lowliest of men and women. We don’t have to wait until we have a certain level of respectability to come to him. He accepts us as we are. Jesus doesn’t care about riches or skills or talents. He cares about your heart. He wants your love and worship. Jesus wants you to embrace his teachings with all your whole being.

He summed up his teachings in two simple but not so easy commands. Love God and love others. That’s it. When we do, we won’t get trapped in the cycle the gunman did. We won’t harbor the rage that sends over the edge to do the unimaginable. Instead, we will extend God’s love to the unloveable. We will give generously to those in need. We will embrace a lost world in arms of forgiveness to show them there is hope and joy and peace waiting for them if they will give themselves to Christ.

In this second week of Advent, remember the hope that comes to us because of Jesus first coming. He brought peace and joy to the world. We continue our confidence in him because of his promise to return. Advent looks backward to what he did, and it looks forward to what is yet to come.

Enjoy this second week of Advent remembering him. Don’t lose the reason we celebrate. He is what Christmas is all about.

Scriptures marked WE are taken from THE JESUS BOOK – The Bible in Worldwide English (WE). Scriptures are taken from THE JESUS BOOK – The Bible in Worldwide English, Copyright © 1969, 1971, 1996, 1998 by SOON Educational Publications, Derby, DE65 6BN, UK. Used by permission.

The emotions of childbirth (John 16:19-22), April 12, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Childbirth is filled with emotion. It starts out painfully, but ends with great joy.
Scripture
1. John 16:19-22
2. Jesus: Are you trying to figure out what I mean when I say you will see Me in a little while? I tell you the truth, a time is approaching when you will weep and mourn while the world is celebrating. You will grieve, but that grief will give birth to great joy. In the same way that a woman labors in great pain during childbirth only to forget the intensity of the pain when she holds her child, when I return, your labored grief will also change into a joy that cannot be stolen.
Devotional
1. If you’ve never witnessed a childbirth first hand, I have to tell you, it’s an incredible event.
  1. My wife is a Registered Nurse and the first several years of her career worked in neonatal care
  2. Witnessed a lot of births
  3. Cried every time
  4. I saw my own children being born
  5. Words can’t describe the experience
2. But for my wife
  1. Both kids were a month late
  2. Don’t let mothers do that today
  3. Both were good sized kids over 8 and 10 pounds
  4. Pregnancy and especially labor with those two was not fun for her
  5. Neither labor was short 36 and 24 hours of intense pain; no C-section
  6. An emotional roller coaster, though
  7. Pain followed by indescribable joy
3. That’s what the disciples were about to go through
  1. Master arrested, tortured, and crucified
  2. Buried in a borrowed tomb
  3. But then comes Easter
  4. That joy cannot be stolen
4. Unlike those Jesus raised from the dead:
  1. Widow’s son died again
  2. Jairus’ daughter died again
  3. Lazarus died again
  4. Jesus rose never to die again
5. Easter is just around the corner, but we can celebrate every day
  1. He is still alive
  2. He lives in us
  3. We can celebrate Him when He lives in us
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

The peace God gives (Matthew 20:1-16) May 7, 2016

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – Luke 1-2

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Matthew 20:1-16
Jesus: The kingdom of heaven is like a wealthy landowner who got up early in the morning and went out, first thing, to hire workers to tend his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a day’s wage for the day’s work. The workers headed to the vineyard while the landowner headed home to deal with some paperwork. About three hours later, he went back to the marketplace. He saw some unemployed men standing around with nothing to do.
Landowner: Do you need some work? Go over to my vineyard and join the crew there. I’ll pay you well.
So off they went to join the crew at the vineyard. About three hours later, and then three hours after that, the landowner went back to the market and saw another crew of men and hired them, too, sending them off to his vineyard and promising to pay them well. Then finally late in the afternoon, at the cusp of night, the landowner walked again through the marketplace, and he saw other workers still standing around.
Landowner: Why have you been standing here all day, doing nothing?
Workers: Because no one has hired us.
Landowner: Well, you should go over to my vineyard and work.
And off the workers went. When quitting time arrived, the landowner called to his foreman.
Landowner: Pay the workers their day’s wages, beginning with the workers I hired most recently and ending with the workers who have been here all day.
So the workers who had been hired just a short while before came to the foreman, and he paid them each a day’s wage. Then other workers who had arrived during the day were paid, each of them a day’s wage. Finally, the workers who’d been toiling since early morning came thinking they’d be paid more, but the foreman paid each of them a day’s wage. As they received their pay, this last group of workers began to protest.
First Workers: We’ve been here since the crack of dawn! And you’re paying us the exact same wage you paid the crew that just showed up. We deserve more than they do. We’ve been slogging in the heat of the sun all day—these others haven’t worked nearly as long as we have!
The landowner heard these protests.
Landowner (to a worker): Friend, no one has been wronged here today. This isn’t about what you deserve. You agreed to work for a day’s wage, did you not? So take your money and go home. I can give my money to whomever I please, and it pleases me to pay everyone the same amount of money. Do you think I don’t have the right to dispose of my money as I wish? Or does my generosity somehow prick at you?
And that is your picture: The last will be first and the first will be last.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

Some of you might get a little perturbed at Jesus’ story. He’s talking about heaven being like this landowner and those that get in at the last minute getting the same reward as those that worked for the kingdom all their lives. Does that sound fair? Is that right? Is that justice? Do you want to shake your fist at God and shout at Him for His injustice? That’s what some of those around Jesus wanted to do. But God does what God wants to do. It’s His plan.

I’ve given this a little thought since I read Jesus’ words and began to think about what to put into this devotional. And one of the things these workers didn’t think about and what we don’t think about when we first look at this story is the privilege of being in the kingdom, working for God for longer periods of time, the earlier we come to Him. Sometimes we forget that we enjoy a little taste of heaven here on earth as soon as we invite Him into our heart and give Him lordship over our life.

That’s one of the points of Jesus’ message as He share with people. The kingdom of heaven is at hand. It’s here. You can enjoy it now. Remember His promise that His legacy is peace? It’s not the absence of war between nations Jesus talks about, but the absence of war between God and us. Peace in our heart because He has forgiven our sins and we are right with Him. What is that kind of peace worth? Isn’t living with peace in our heart every day in this life worth something? Isn’t that a just reward for giving our heart to God earlier in life and not living under the guilt and pressure of sin every day of our life until we final say yes to His will?

To live that extra 10 or 20 or 50 years without the guilt of sin, certainly has its own reward. To have the privilege of working in God’s vineyard and feel the joy of watching one more person come to know Him as their Lord carries a priceless value. To be part of building God’s kingdom for the years He allows us to labor for Him cannot be viewed as hard labor in a field with no reward, it has tremendous value in its own right. We just need to stop and remember what God gives us during those extra years He allows us to engage in the work of building His kingdom.

He created us to care for His creation. When we don’t do that, somehow I get the feeling we we just will never be content. But when we work in His fields, building His kingdom, doing the work He plans for us, I think we enjoy that peace only He can give. The internal reward of a job well done. Don’t worry about what the other guy gets. The peace God gives on the journey with Him pays every single moment we live in His presence.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

To be a kid again (Matthew 18:3-6) April 23, 2016

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – Mark 13-14

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Matthew 18:3-6
Jesus: This is the truth: unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. In that kingdom, the most humble who are most like this child are the greatest. And whoever welcomes a child, welcomes her in My name, welcomes Me. And do not lead astray one of the weak and friendless who believes in Me. If you do, it would be better for you to be dragged down with a millstone and drowned in the bottom of the sea.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

I used to watch my kids to understand what Jesus meant by His words, become like little children. They grew up, though. I had to start watching other people’s kids. Then my grandkids came along and I get to watch in house kids every once in a while again up close and personal. I think it always best to observe their behavior up close to really find out what Jesus meant as He talked to His disciples, those that wanted to become like Him.

So what can we learn from watching kids? First, they are happy. Watch a bunch of kids. They usually play well together until adults get involved. Then they learn how to bully and want to be first and how to trip up the other guy so they win. But until they are spoiled by the world’s definitions of success, kids just play and as they play, they are happy with themselves and with each other.

Second, they are trusting. Tell them almost anything and they will believe it. Why? Because they trust people. They believe you. They think no one would every lead them down the wrong path, so they trust people. They don’t think anyone would every do them anything but good. They believe in the good in everyone. That’s what trust is about. They give you the benefit of the doubt and trust that you have their best in mind with every action you take towards them.

I remember my kids jumping off the porch expecting me to catch them. They just knew I would. They trusted me. Of course, I did… every time. I wasn’t about to let them fall or lose their faith in me.

Third, they are inquisitive. Kids want to soak up information and knowledge and wisdom like a sponge. We cut them off because it’s inconvenient for us to answer all their questions sometimes. But it seems they never tire of asking those questions. I remember when my daughter was just putting sentences together she was sitting in her car seat in the back and must have asked a hundred “Why” questions non-stop. My wife was having a pretty stressful day as it was one of my Army absentee days and finally had enough. She blurted out, “If you ask me ”why“ one more time…” I don’t remember the punishment, but I’m sure it would not have been something my daughter looked forward to.

Without missing a beat she said, “Mommy, how come…” Children are inquisitive and God wants us to ask questions so He can answer them for us. He wants us to talk to Him and learn from Him. If we don’t ask questions, we can’t grow in wisdom and knowledge and understanding. He likes our curious nature.

Finally, children know where to go when they are hurt and broken hearted. They run to their parents. They want to be wrapped in their mother or father’s arms for consolation and comfort. They need the safety of knowing Mommy or Daddy will be there for them and love them no matter what is going on around them. If its an injury or illness or bullies or whatever the situation, they want the unconditional love only a parent can give. Jesus point us to our heavenly Father and says be like little children. Run to Daddy when we feel broken and alone with no one else to turn to.

Jesus looked around at the children playing in the village and in the fields around Him. He saw their behavior and their character. He saw their openness and joy. Jesus saw in them the trust and curiosity that comes with being a child and longs for us to scrap off the façade the world tries to get us to paint on our faces to make us think we’re all grown-up, self-sufficient, in need of nothing. But we’re not. We need Him. We need to humble ourselves. Become like little children with their joy, their trust, their curiosity, and their wisdom to know Who to turn to.

We can learn a lot from children if we will just stop and watch them carefully. Jesus had a lot to say about them. He said such as these will inherit the kingdom of heaven. I guess I really want to be like a kid again. How about you?

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Fasting, wear His joy (Matthew 6:16-18) January 22, 2016

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – Isaiah 18-22

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Matthew 6:16-18
Jesus: And when you fast, do not look miserable as the actors and hypocrites do when they are fasting—they walk around town putting on airs about their suffering and weakness, complaining about how hungry they are. So everyone will know they are fasting, they don’t wash or anoint themselves with oil, pink their cheeks, or wear comfortable shoes. Those who show off their piety, they have already received their reward. When you fast, wash your face and beautify yourself with oil, so no one who looks at you will know about your discipline. Only your Father, who is unseen, will see your fast. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

Jesus talked about the disciplines of giving and prayer earlier in His sermon. Now He talks about fasting. We don’t hear much about fasting anymore, but Jesus assumed those who followed Him observed the practice, His concern dealt with how they observed the discipline. As today, many will wear their piety on their shoulder. You can see how religious a person seems to be. Please don’t take what I’m about to say the wrong way. There is nothing right or wrong with the attire or hair style of any group.

But wearing ankle length skirts and long hair doesn’t make a woman more saintly than another. Wearing beards trimmed in a particular way and distinctive headgear in public doesn’t make a man holier than another. Neither does wearing shorts and flip-flops in the sanctuary make a person less holy than another. Jesus didn’t look at a person’s dress to determine their status before God. We are all sinners. Period. None of us meet God’s standard of holiness. We all fall short and clothes or special words or the style of our hair or jewelry or lack thereof really doesn’t matter to God.

God cares about what’s on the inside. He cares about our heart. Which means He cares about why we fast. No one knows the answer to that question but me and you, individually. Even if I fast in secret, only I know the answer as to why I fast. Do I fast to try to earn God’s favor? It probably won’t work. Do I fast as a payment for something I want from Him? I can’t pay enough for His blessings, so I might as well not fast. Do I fast to identify with Christ? Maybe I’m getting closer.

Fasting is about spending time with God to get to really know Him. Fasting in both Old and New Testament times mean sacrificing the time normally spent preparing and eating a meal and spending it in prayer and meditation. We kind of understand that, but not really. You see we forget what it means to prepare and eat a meal like they did in Old and New Testament times. Let’s take a look at preparing a meal for your family.

Start with a simple meal of roasted goat, potatoes, carrots, and bread. Sounds like a simple enough meal for an agrarian family with a small settlement, doesn’t it? How long does it take to prepare a goat? Ever kill one, slaughter it, then roast enough for a meal? In the military, I used to train veterinary units as they prepared for deployments and one of the tasks they performed was food inspection. On occasion, we would have the unit “prepare” a wild boar we captured within the training area and roast it as part of their training. The task usually started about seven in the morning and often the pig wasn’t done until the next morning.

Granted, the unit took it’s time and didn’t slaught animals very often. They weren’t exactly skilled at the task, so an experienced father and son, or a couple of neighbors could probably slaughter one faster. But the time to roast an animal until it’s done doesn’t change much over an open fire. It just takes time. Minimum time in the Old and New Testament from start to finish? Probably twelve to sixteen hours to prepare the meat. And if they bought the meat from the corner store (or open market in those days), it’s still four hours just to prepare and cook the meat until it’s done, whether in a stew, cut into strips and baked, roasted whole, or whatever. Time is spent either in preparation, in cooking, or a combination of the two.

The vegetables, that’s the short part. Like today, get the water boiling or roast the vegetables under the coals and veggies are done in about an hour. But how about the bread. Start to finish, five hours to mix, knead, rise, and bake. So there is the time spent in fasting just one meal. Five hours in prayer and meditation. Time given to God to get to know Him. Time to focus only on Him and build your relationship with Him.

So when is the last time you exercised the Christian discipline of fasting? When is the last time you spent that “meal preparation” time, four or five hours alone with God. See it’s not about skipping a meal. We can all afford to do that every once in a while just to keep a pound or two off our frame, but can you spend quality time, real time with your Father to really get to know Him? That’s what Jesus is asking us to do. When you spend that kind of time. I guarantee you won’t look sad and weak and forlorn. You will have been in the presence of God and you’ll wear His joy on your face.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Protection for God’s purpose (Psalm 124), November 18, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 124

Set – Psalms 124; 2 Corinthians 12

Go! – Psalms 124; 2 Corinthians 11-13

Psalms 124
¹ If the Eternal had not been with us—
sing, Israel, sing—
² If He had not been with us
when the villains came for us,
³ When their anger flamed around us,
they would have swallowed us up alive!
⁴ Their hatred was like a flood:
the waters were rising and would have engulfed us;
the streams were rushing past and would have overcome us.
⁵ The furious waters would have broken over us.
Battered and overwhelmed, we surely would have drowned!
⁶ Blessed be the Eternal
who did not leave us
to be torn by their fangs!
⁷ Our souls cry out: “We escaped with our lives like a bird
from the fowler’s snare!
The snare was broken,
and we escaped with our lives!”
⁸ Our help has come in the name of the Eternal,
the Maker of heaven and earth!

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Have you ever experienced one of those near escapes that David talks about in this psalm? Perhaps you avoided a collision by just inches. Maybe you missed something falling on you by seconds. Maybe you missed a flight that later crashed or a ferry that sank. Maybe you changed your travel plans and found that a tornado or hurricane ripped through the area you would have visited if you had not changed your plans.

Did you ever stop to think about those near misses and wonder how that happened? Have you ever stopped to think that I’m watching over you? Did you ever stop and wonder if there really are guardian angels that look out for you at times?

David understood that many of the escapes he experienced were because of My hand protecting him. He knew only My intervention could keep him safe in some of those narrow misses when he should have been captured or killed at the hands of his enemies. But I often protect My children from the mishaps of life and keep them safe from their enemies.

Do I always intervene? No. Sometimes I let the suffering that is part of being in this world happen because I promised that the world would hate you and that you would have trouble in this world. Sometimes you must identify with Me in the suffering I did as I walked with you in the flesh. It’s not because I like to see you in pain or sorrow, but because I don’t want you to think that this world is the place for you. This is only a testing ground.

The life you live now is only the beginning. It is the place you decide who you will serve for eternity. This life allows you to choose whether you will serve yourself or serve Me. Some of the decisions you make will entail some suffering in this world because the world does not want you to follow Me. It will hate you for it. The world will do everything it can to dissuade you from believing I even exist, much less following in the path I lay before you.

I just show you My creation, give you My love and let you choose. I’m not pushy. I don’t nag. I just let you see Me all around you and then let you make the choice between following Me or following your own way. I always hope you will choose to follow Me, though. I don’t want you to be lost forever with the rest of those who fail to heed My call and do what I ask them to do to complete My plans for this world.

I want you to understand, like David did, that I will never leave you and help you escape from the clutches of your enemies. I will help you to get through this life with honor and peace and joy. My joy. The kind that survives the troubles of this world. Joy that breaks through the sorrow this world dishes out and still fills the heart with the knowledge that I am with you until the end of time. The joy that makes you sing despite the circumstances of the day and brings peace to your troubled heart.

Know that I am always there to protect you to fulfill your part of My plan and all things work together for good for those who are called according to My purpose. But it’s My purpose, not yours.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Indescribable perfect peace (Isaiah 26:1-19), July 15, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Isaiah 26:1-19

Set – Isaiah 26; Hebrews 13

Go! – Isaiah 25-28; Hebrews 13

Isaiah 26:1-19
¹ When that time arrives, the people of this place called Judah will sing this song:
People: By the grace of God, our city is strong;
its structures and defenses He made secure.
² Now open the gates to welcome the righteous,
so that those who keep faith may enter in.
³ You will keep the peace, a perfect peace, for all who trust in You,
for those who dedicate their hearts and minds to You.
⁴ So trust in the Eternal One forever,
for He is like a great Rock—strong, stable, trustworthy, and lasting.
⁵ He humbles the high and mighty.
Even the indomitable city falls before His strength, reducing it to dust.
⁶ The feet of the poor, the weak, the infirm and forgotten
will trample the dust of the formerly great.
⁷ The path of those who do right is straight and smooth.
O God, You who are upright, You make the way of the righteous level.
⁸ When we act in justice and righteousness—following Your laws—we wait for You.
We are eager to hear Your holy name and remember Your ways.
⁹ At night I long for You with all that is in Me.
When morning comes, I seek You with all my heart.
For when Your justice is done on earth,
then everyone in the world will learn righteousness.
¹⁰ If grace is extended to those who do wrong,
the perpetrators never learn what is right.
Even when surrounded by upright people, they gravitate to evil
and never even notice the awesome beauty of the Eternal.
¹¹ O Eternal One, even when Your hand is raised against them, they do not see it.
When they finally do see how passionately
You act on the people’s behalf, they will be ashamed.
Ah, let the fire that consumes Your enemies consume them.
¹² Eternal One, You are preparing peace for us;
in fact, everything we have accomplished has come from You.
¹³ Others have tried to rule over us,
but You, Eternal One, are our God.
At the end of the day, when all is done,
we acknowledge only You.
¹⁴ But now these would-be rulers are dead, never to live again;
these shadowy spirits will never rise.
You have punished and utterly destroyed them—
You erased every memory of them.
¹⁵ By contrast You have made this people great, Eternal One—
made this nation vital and strong. To you be all glory!
You have expanded the borders of this land.
¹⁶ When You corrected their wrongdoing, Eternal One,
they could hardly even whisper a prayer.
Weak with distress, they looked to You for help.
¹⁷ You witnessed us twist and turn before You, O Eternal,
like a birthing woman in agony of labor.
¹⁸ We were that woman, laboring to deliver,
but we gave birth only to futility and emptiness.
We couldn’t deliver the earth, save it, renew it.
We couldn’t make it teem with life.
¹⁹ But Your dead will live; their lifeless bodies will rise up again!
You who sleep in the dust, get up and shout for joy!
The dew of a new day will wash you glistening fresh,
and the earth will push forth those who had passed before.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

This opening prayer from the book of Isaiah recognizes what I will do for those who trust Me. The people pray, “You will keep the peace, a perfect peace, for all who trust in You, for those who dedicate their hearts and minds to You. ” But what does this perfect peace mean? Certainly it doesn’t mean absence of war because My people have been at war since Cain killed Abel for My acceptace of Abel’s sacrifice and the rejection of Cain’s.

So what is this peace that Isaiah talks about? Every real Christian can tell you they have it, but few can describe it adequately. My peace doesn’t stop violence. Ask those giving their lives for My cause in places like Somalia, Lybia, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and other countries intolerant of Chritianity. Today there are more martyrs for the name of Christ than at any time in history. No, peace doesn’t mean the absence of violence.

Peace doesn’t mean freedom from financial catastrophe. Again, all you need to do is look at the world’s rich versus those who call on My name. Those with the most money seldom have the Chrisian character and faith you might expect I would want from My followers. So peace doesn’t come from worldly riches.

My followers, though, have an indescribable peace that lets them sleep soundly at night without fear. The peace I give lets My followers know I love them unconditionally and they can rest in Me. They know there is nothing between us that separates us because I have forgiven their sins and accepted them as My children. I am their God and can provide all they need.

The perfect peace I give brings an unrelenting joy no matter the circumstances surrounding My children. Peace prevails in the darkest hours of life, in the most hectic and difficult circumstances, in the times that disaster seems inescaspable. I am there and I bring My perfect peace. As many of My followers testify, My peace is indescribable, but it exists in the hearts of those who follow Me with their whole heart.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Real joy in life (2 Timothy 4), June 28, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 2 Timothy 4
Set – Psalms 80; 2 Timothy 4
Go! – Amos 1–3; Psalms 80; 2 Timothy 4

2 Timothy 4
¹And now I bring you this charge before God and Jesus the Anointed, the one destined to judge the living and the dead, at His glorious appearance and His kingdom: ² go out and preach the word! Go whether it’s an opportune time or not! Reprove, warn, and encourage; but do so with all the patience and instruction needed to fulfill your calling ³ because a time will come when some will no longer tolerate sound teaching. Instead, they will live by their own desires; they’ll scratch their itching ears by surrounding themselves with teachers who approve of their lifestyles and tell them what they want to hear. ⁴ They will turn away from the real truth you have to offer because they prefer the sound of fables and myths. ⁵ But you must stay focused and be alert at all times. Tolerate suffering. Accomplish the good work of an evangelist, and complete the ministry to which you have been called.

⁶ For I am already being poured out, and the last drops of this drink offering are all that remain; it’s almost time for me to leave. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have stayed on course and finished the race, and through it all, I have kept believing. ⁸ I look forward to what’s in store for me: a crown of righteousness that the Lord—the always right and just judge—will give me that day (but it is not only for me, but for all those who love and long for His appearing).
⁹ Come to me, Timothy, as soon as you can. ¹⁰ You see, Demas has fallen for this world, abandoned me, and headed off to Thessalonica. Crescens took off for Galatia. Titus has gone to Dalmatia. ¹¹ Luke is the only one left. Bring Mark with you because he is useful in this work and will help look after me. ¹² I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. ¹³ On your way here, pick up the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, and bring the scrolls—especially the parchments.
¹⁴ Keep your eye out for Alexander the coppersmith! He came against me with all sorts of evil—may the Lord pay him back accordingly— ¹⁵ so watch your back because he has gone overboard to oppose our message.
¹⁶ When it was time for my first defense, no one showed up to support me. Everyone abandoned me (may it not be held against them) ¹⁷ except the Lord. He stood by me, strengthened me, and backed the truth I proclaimed with power so it may be heard by all the non-Jews. He rescued me, pried open the lion’s jaw, and snatched me from its teeth. ¹⁸ And I know the Lord will continue to rescue me from every trip, trap, snare, and pitfall of evil and carry me safely to His heavenly kingdom. May He be glorified throughout eternity. Amen.
¹⁹ Give my regards to Prisca, Aquila, and everyone over at Onesiphorus’s house. ²⁰ Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus in Miletus because he was sick. ²¹ Try your best to come before winter blows in. Eubulus says hello and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters. ²² May the Lord be with your spirit, and may His grace be with you. [Amen.]

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

You can hear in Paul’s words at the end of his letter to Timothy that he knows his time is short. Soon he will hear the call from the executioner and will leave this life and join Me in eternity. He knows I will not save him from the executioners tools, it’s just a question of how he will die. He doesn’t know if his death will be quick and painless or a slow tortuous death on a cross.

Even knowing his death is coming soon, Paul’s words are not mournful. He leaves words of greeting to his friends and words of encouragement to Timothy. He wants his books, the scrolls and parchments that contain the scriptures so he can read them again and learn more from them. And even as he hears the executioner’s footsteps, he knows that I am able to deliver him if I choose.

I will soon let Paul die as a martyr, but not quite yet. Timothy’s letter will not be his last, but almost. Very soon Paul will suffer his “thorn in the flesh” no more. Soon he will join Me for eternity and will have preached his last sermon, written his last letter, counselled his last teacher. After all is said and done, Paul will continue to pronounce, “I have run a good race, I have fought a good fight, I have won the crown that awaits me.”

I encourage you to listen to Paul’s words carefully in his last paragraphs to Timothy. They are full of encouragement. Charged with a desire to go on. Yet they also show Paul knows his destiny and he accepts it willingly as a faithful servant. He is not discouraged. He is not complaining. He doesn’t sorrow. In fact, you’ll recall in other letters, he questions which is better to remain or to die and be with Me? He was torn between the two. Paul found contentment in whatever circumstance he found himself because I was always with him.

I will always be with you, too. Find contentment in Me and you will have real joy in living each moment whatever your circumstance.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.