October 1, 2008

Making a Commitment

Read the Bible through:
AM – Jeremiah 1 : PM – Ephesians 1

AND REMEMBERING IT
Joshua 24:23-28

27 "Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God."

Our children were making plans for a family event, and one of them feared my wife might forget it. Another said, “If Mom notes it in her planner she’ll do it!” Writing events down impresses them upon our minds and helps us keep commitments.

Joshua used a stone as a reminder to the people of God’s words to them and their commitment to Him. God had told His people to write His words upon their foreheads so they would never forget them. Memorized Scriptures tucked in our thoughts remind us how to respond to given situations. They come forward when we need guidance and remind us what God said we should do. The ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper remind us of God’s great sacrifice and reassure us of His love.

The commitment we make in response to God’s offer of salvation needs a mark of memory, too. It takes us back to when He called us, and we said yes.

Lord, thank You for hiding Your Words in my heart so I will not forget them.

September 30, 2008

Making A Commitment

Read the Bible through:
AM – Isaiah 64-66 : PM – Galatians 6

INVOLVES PERSONAL CHOICE
Joshua 24:19-22

22 “Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD for yourselves, to serve Him." And they said, "We are witnesses!”

Several years ago those attending a writers’ workshop met in small groups and were asked to write for 10 minutes on a given topic. When the timer rang at the end of the session, they read to their group what they had written. The instructor said that if they just wrote and didn’t read aloud to someone else, the writing would fester inside of them; and eventually it would die. To share it with another was to make it live.

Sharing our lives with God’s people and witnessing of His love affirms us in His kingdom. At once we are the tellers and listeners, contributors and recipients.

Thank You, Lord, for the people who allow me to share my life with them.

September 29, 2008

Making A Commitment

Read the Bible through:
AM – Isaiah 61-63 : PM – Galatians 5

INVOLVES PERSONAL CHOICE
Joshua 24:14-18

15 “If it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

One of the most frequent statements I hear teachers, parents, and pastors tell a student, “It’s your choice.” This advice usually follows a meeting concerning a child not doing the expected work and is in danger of failing. The decision to succeed ultimately remains with the student.

Accepting Christ as our Savior is a personal choice. Using our gifts to serve Him and witnessing to others of His great gift of love are personal choices. Students who choose to behave in class and do the work usually pass the course. More than once I have heard one say: “I’m glad I made the right choice. It turned my life around.” People who commit their lives to the Lord are able to say the same thing.

Lord, I freely and gladly choose to commit my life to serving You.

September 28, 2008

Making A Commitment

Read the Bible through:
AM – Isaiah 58-60 : PM – Galatians 4

TO GOD ALONE
Joshua 23:14-16

16 “When you have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land which He has given you.”

My brother-in-law asked me to lead a teenagers’ Bible Class when I was in college. However, only one family in church had a teenager. Since the key word was class, I couldn’t see how one teenager composed a group. So I told my brother-in-law I simply could not teach the Bible class.

“If you make a commitment to one person and keep it,” he said, “you can handle a group.”

During the week, I remembered his words. The following Sunday I proceeded as though several teenagers were in attendance, but I focused on my one learner. This continued for several months, and then gradually the class began to grow. Each week I made my vow to one person, believing the group would benefit. The person I made the commitment to was God.

Lord, help me to always focus on You.

September 27, 2008

Making A Commitment

Read the Bible through:
AM – Isaiah 54-57 : PM – Galatians 3

BASED ON GOD’S ACTIONS
Joshua 23:1-3

3 “You have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the LORD your God is He who has fought for you.”

One evening, years ago, a woman gave her testimony about motherhood. I expected her to say her children were all successful, but her testimony took a different turn.

“I raised my children as the Bible instructed,” she began. “Now my youngest son is drifting down a path that terrifies me.”

I thought of my two toddlers and tried to push down the fear that raised its head like a coiling snake.

“But I cling to God’s promise that if I raise my child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart from it (Pro. 22:6),” she said.

As my children grew up, I often thought of her. Through her tearful testimony, she gave me wise advice. God will fight for us and won’t go back on His word. His promise gave strength and courage to her and to me.

Thank You, Lord, for keeping Your promise to fight my battles

September 26, 2008

Obeying Totally

Read the Bible through:
AM – Isaiah 51-53 : PM – Galatians 2

AS SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Romans 6:15-18

17 “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

Two boys were arguing at breakfast over the cereal. Their wise mother seized this opportunity to turn it into a teachable moment. She asked her boys, “What would Jesus do in this situation?” Quietly one of the boys said Jesus would let the other person have the cereal first. Feeling she had taught her boys a valuable life lesson, imagine her surprise as she walked away from the table and heard the oldest boy say. “OK, Billy, you be Jesus!”

The boys knew the right thing to do, but they had not been freed from selfishness. As servants of sin we are selfish; we rationalize and scheme in order to get our ways. Being servants of righteousness frees us to obey and experience the indescribable blessing of our loving Father. And as servants we answer to our Master, Christ, the one who modeled righteousness.

Dear Lord, help me to walk by faith and obey the gentle nudges I receive from Your Holy Spirit.

September 25, 2008

Obeying Totally

Read the Bible through:
AM – Isaiah 48-50 : PM – Galatians 1

AND EXPERIENCING SECURITY
Proverbs 1:29-33

33 “But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

Camping in Northeastern Oklahoma is always exciting. One evening our group set up camp, ate dinner, visited, and then bedded down for what we hoped would be a good night’s sleep. Just as we got situated in our sleeping bags, it began to rain. The rain soon turned into a violent thunderstorm. As I lay in my sleeping bag, I began to worry about the safety of the campers. What if a tree falls? Is everyone staying dry? The more concerned I got, I realized I was worrying about things that were totally under God’s control.

After a few moments of prayer and turning my fears over to God, I settled down into my sleeping bag. From that point on I listened to the thunder as though it were God’s voice. I snuggled down in my sleeping bag and experienced real security in the midst of a pounding thunderstorm. When we acknowledge His presence and His power, we can rest in His grace.

Thank You, Father, for calming my fears.