Sow What?

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rom September of 1983 through June of 1984, I lived and studied in the city of Montpellier, located in southern France about three hours east of the Spanish border.  My college strongly encouraged its language majors to study abroad in order to master the language and to understand better the culture and the customs of the people in other countries.  

My time abroad provided many opportunities to see things I might not other wise have seen and to experience life in a completely different way.  I also learned many lessons from the people I encountered on a day-to-day basis in Montpellier.  I became well acquainted with several pastry shop owners as well as with the man who delivered the mail and the proprietors of several small cafes in the neighborhood.  All of these people played an integral role in my understanding of French culture and daily living.

However, one of the best experiences I had throughout the year was my weekly visit to the open air market.  Although France is a modern country, some customs still linger.  Visiting the market on a daily basis is one of them.  Due to my study schedule, I could only visit the market on Saturday mornings.  In order to have the best selection of items, I had to arrive early, just as the market opened.  The same vendors faithfully opened their booths and sold everything from fresh flowers to fresh spices.  Everywhere, you could hear merchants calling out prices and advertisements for their goods.  The marketplace filled with people shopping for the perfect ingredients to prepare a scrumptious meal.

In the middle of the market place, occupying a strategic corner, was a lady dressed completely in black.  Every day she came to market, and every day she stood in the same place.  Instead of a variety of items, this woman sold only one thing, garlic!  Each morning, she opened her stand and instantly began calling out to the crowd to come buy her garlic.  "My garlic is fresh and beautiful," she would cry out.  Her voice would carry over the entire place and could be heard by everyone.  It would not have been market without her.  Who knows how many people were touched by this woman's garlic?  How many meals was she part of?  Just how far did her influence go?  All she did was sell garlic, not very important by the world's standards but very important if you are preparing a French meal.

The book of Mark records a similar story.  In one of his most famous parables, Jesus talks about the importance of being faithful to our calling.  In Mark 4:3, Jesus says, “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow."  Most of us will recognize this as the opening line of the parable of the soils.  In this parable Jesus describes the different kinds of soil on which seed falls.  According to the kind of soil, the seed either survives, is carried away, starts to grow but withers, or never takes root.  Indeed, the thrust of the parable addresses the responsibility of the individual believer to prepare his or her heart to receive the seed of God's word.

But there is also something else in this parable, I believe, which merits attention.  Notice how Jesus begins his parable.  The sower went out to sow!  That is all he did.  His job was to sow the seed, to make sure it had every opportunity to take root and produce a crop.  This farmer would have broadcast the seed, throwing it by the handful in every direction to ensure a crop. He would sow a large amount of seed, knowing that some of it would never produce.  However, because he believed that a crop would be produced, he sowed his seed.

This farmer didn't have the latest technological marvel to ensure all his seed would yield a harvest.  He just sowed his seed.  He had no guarantee that any of the seed would mature; but he sowed his seed.  He did not count the number of seeds he had and calculate an exact amount of return for his labor.  He just sowed his seed.  This farmer had no assurance of financial gain from this crop.  He just sowed his seed.  Lastly, he could not know how many people, if any, would benefit from his actions that day.  Still, he sowed his seed.

Is there a better picture of faithfulness than this farmer?  Without exact figures, without an economic forecast, without any soil analysis, without any guarantee of success, this farmer just did what he knew to do, sow seed.  When Jesus calls us to work along side him, he calls us to sow seed.  Like this farmer, we are to sow the seed of God's word in every direction.  We are to use all our strength and industry to plant his word in the fields around us, trusting and believing it will produce a harvest, even though we may never see it. 

As Jesus told this parable, I believe he observed a farmer in the distance.  He used that example to teach a simple but all important truth to those listening to him.  The farmer is not responsible for making the seed grow, that is God's responsibility.  When the farmer does his job of sowing, there is every possibility the seed will take root and grow.  However, if the farmer shirks his responsibility, the chances of a successful crop are zero.  The only action required of the farmer in this process is to sow his seed, trusting God to produce the harvest.  Are you sowing your seed today?  Are you trusting God to produce a harvest? Are you being faithful in the place where God has called you?  

That Don't Make No Sense!

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hat don’t make no sense!”  Movie aficionados among you may recognize a quote from the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou?”  I must admit, the first time I saw it at my parents’ home I fell out in the floor laughing when I heard this line.  What could be more nonsensical than a band of three convicts, having escaped prison, searching for a buried treasure which doesn’t exist and in the process getting into more trouble than you can imagine?

Watching their exploits, I wondered what would happen next that could make the situation they were presently in seem harmless.  And, just about that time, I received my answer.  Something more fantastic, far beyond anything you can imagine occurred, and the boys found themselves in another fix, much worse, more complicated, and more serious than the preceding predicament.  In all honesty, the movie could be have been subtitled, “The Predicament du Jour!”

We are all familiar with this scenario, especially if we are living a life of faith.  Just about the time we have the next step figured out, just when we have the master blueprint all drawn, when every “T” is crossed and every “I” is dotted, that’s usually when the unforeseen happens and all our plans go up in smoke.  We look at the new situation life throws our way, we scratch our head, we may even shed a few tears, and we say, “God, that don’t make no sense!”  I’ll bet you didn’t know God spoke Southern, did you?

Well, lest we believe we are all alone when this happens, let us look at the life of a man who lived a long, long time ago; who understood that life “don’t make no sense” and that sometimes even our best and most noble attempts often fail.  The don’t fail because they are bad or wrong, they fail because God has something better for us, even though we can’t see or understand it from where we are now standing.

Genesis 41:1 gives us a very straightforward look at the life of Joseph.  The passage simply says, “When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream…” The whole of Joseph’s life can be summed up in this statement.  His was a life of waiting, of not understanding the difficult circumstances.  I am sure Joseph never understood why his brothers betrayed him, why Potipher’s wife tried to seduce him, why he was unfairly imprisoned, or why the cupbearer forgot him.  In fact, the Scriptures never tell us that Joseph ever received any of this information.

After trying to orchestrate his own exit from the prison by asking the cupbearer to speak to Pharaoh on his behalf, we find Joseph waiting two more years until Pharaoh had a dream.  But once Pharaoh had his dream, Joseph was positioned and ready for God’s use.  After all that had happened to him, after all the false accusations, after all the betrayal, and after all the long nights in a lonely prison wondering what had become of his world, Joseph found himself second only to Pharaoh in all the land of Egypt.

My fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to take great encouragement from this passage of scripture and from this man Joseph.  The last verse of Genesis 40 tells us the cupbearer forgot Joseph.  The cupbearer did; God didn’t.  For the next two years, he was with Joseph and he was already making preparations for Joseph’s promotion two years down the road, a promotion Joseph never dreamed of!

This is the way God works.  Whatever your present situation today, I pray you will know that God is not only above it; he is working beyond it!  It’s when life just “don’t’ make no sense” from our perspective that God does his greatest work in us and through us.  Stay the course! Hang in there! Trust God’s heart even when you can’t see his hand.  One day it will all make sense!  Who knows, that day just might be today!

And Now For The Retainer!

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ou can learn a lot in an orthodontist’s office.  I know from personal experience.  Like so many other teenagers, I wore braces on my teeth for almost three years.  I had a cross-bite that needed to be repaired and so I sat still while my orthodontist wrapped my pearly whites in tinsel and wire.  At first, they were a novelty but I soon understood why they told me to get something to eat as quickly as possible.  In just a matter of a few hours, my mouth was very sore; so sore that chewing bread was impossible.  What had I gotten myself into, I wondered.

For the next three years, I visited the orthodontist regularly and endured all the changes and adjustments he made to my teeth as we marched toward that elusive day when the braces would be removed and my teeth would at last be straight.  Finally, the long-awaited day came.  The braces were removed, my teeth were cleaned, and I was able to eat apples—not apple slices—once again.  I remember biting into a big Granny Smith apple, sinking my teeth in and pulling a huge chunk away from the core.  It felt great!!

But my ordeal wasn’t quite over. On my next visit to the orthodontist I was fitted with a retainero

I was I that I wore for the next two years.  As I understood it, the retainer’s job was to hold my teeth in the proper position, discouraging and preventing them from moving back toward the wayward condition in which we found them.  It all came down to my willingness and my faithfulness to wear that retainer.  The success of all the hard work done beforehand rested on that retainer and my decision to heed the instructions of my orthodontist.

It should come as no surprise to us that Jesus spoke about the importance of the retainer.  He knew the value of learning and retaining the truths of God’s word.  Without the retention of these truths, the Christian is tempted to move back toward the wayward condition of sin in which he existed before he accepted Jesus as savior and lord.  Jesus’ words concerning this truth are found in his parable about the farmer who sowed seed and the types of soil into which the seed fell.

This parable is found in Luke 8:1-15.  However, it is verse 15 which is the focus on today’s devotional.  In Luke 8:15, we read this explanation of believers who are considered to be good soil into which God’s word is planted, “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”  Please take a moment to read this verse in the context of the parable and then read it again by itself.  Don’t read through it too quickly but let the truth of Jesus’ words sink deep into your heart and soul.

Notice that Jesus says the good soil represents those who have a noble and good heart.  He continues by explaining just what those of a good and noble heart do.  They do three distinct things.  1) They hear the word.  Believers in this category listen to God’s word. When they pray, they focus on what God has to say to them rather than on what they to tell Him.  They enter into prayer and into their daily walk with the Lord eagerly anticipating all that He has for them both to learn and to do.  2)  Those in this group retain the word.  They don’t merely read God’s word to feel better about themselves.  They don’t memorize God’s word to impress others, quoting chapter and verse in any and every situation.  These individuals, internalize God’s word.  They meditate on it, the obey it, and they apply it to their lives.  It becomes a part of them so that instead of quoting it, they live it!  There is a vast difference in quoting the Word and in living the Word!!  3)  They produce a crop by persevering.  They trust God in all things, knowing that He is always faithful and that He is always in the process of conforming them to the image of Jesus Christ, even when life is at its most difficult and most challenging.

Of these three steps, the second, I believe, is the most important.  Many people hear God’s word but go no further.  They never make it an integral part of their lives.  They never internalize it or apply it.  They simply open their Bibles, read a passage, say a quick prayer, and go about their lives.  The seed falls on the ground but never enters into the soil!  In addition, unless the word is retained, believers have no incentive or desire to persevere and produce a crop.  It is God’s word in us, applied to our lives, that is the bedrock of our very existence. It causes us to persevere and produce a crop for Him.  But no crop will grow where no seed has been planted!!  It’s just that simple.

Yes, you can learn a lot in an orthodontist’s office.  The work and labor of the braces and the wires is all but lost if the patient refuses to wear the retainer to preserve all the work that has gone on before.  The same is true of the believer.  God has done all the work beforehand.    The question is: Are we now ready to submit to the discipline of the retainer?  The answer is either yes, or no!!

Sow What?

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rom September of 1983 through June of 1984, I lived and studied in the city of Montpellier, located in southern France about three hours east of the Spanish border.  My college strongly encouraged its language majors to study abroad in order to master the language and to understand better the culture and the customs of the people in other countries.  My time abroad provided many opportunities to see things I might not other wise have seen and to experience life in a completely different way.  I also learned many lessons from the people I encountered on a day-to-day basis in Montpellier.  I became well acquainted with several pastry shop owners as well as with the man who delivered the mail and the proprietors of several small cafes in the neighborhood.  All of these people play an integral role in my understanding of French culture and daily living.

However, one of the best experiences I had throughout the year was my weekly visit to the open air market.  Although France is a modern country, some customs still linger.  Visiting the market on a daily basis is one of them.  Due to my study schedule, I could only visit the market on Saturday mornings.  In order to have the best selection of items, I had to arrive early, just as the market opened.  The same vendors faithfully opened their booths and sold everything from fresh flowers to fresh spices.  Everywhere, you could hear merchants calling out prices and advertisements for their goods.  The marketplace filled with people shopping for the perfect ingredients to prepare a scrumptious meal.

In the middle of the market place, occupying a strategic corner, was a lady dressed completely in black.  Every day she came to market, and every day she stood in the same place.  Instead of a variety of items, this woman sold only one thing, garlic!  Each morning, she opened her stand and instantly began calling out to the crowd to come buy her garlic.  "My garlic is fresh and beautiful," she would cry out.  Her voice would carry over the entire place and could be heard by everyone.  It would not have been market without her.  Who knows how many people were touched by this woman's garlic?  How many meals was she part of?  Just how far did her influence go?  All she did was sell garlic, not very important by the world's standards but very important if you are preparing a French meal.

The book of Mark records a similar story.  In one of his most famous parables, Jesus talks about the importance of being faithful to our calling.  In Mark 4:3, Jesus says, “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow."  Most of us will recognize this as the opening line of the parable of the soils.  In this parable Jesus describes the different kinds of soil on which seed falls.  According to the kind of soil, the seed either survives, is carried away, starts to grow but withers, or never takes root.  Indeed, the thrust of the parable addresses the responsibility of the individual believer to prepare his or her heart to receive the seed of God's word.

But there is also something else in this parable, I believe, which merits attention.  Notice how Jesus begins his parable.  The sower went out to sow!  That is all he did.  His job was to sow the seed, to make sure it had every opportunity to take root and produce a crop.  This farmer would have broadcast the seed, throwing it by the handful in every direction to ensure a crop. He would sow a large amount of seed, knowing that some of it would never produce.  However, because he believed that a crop would be produced, he sowed his seed.

This farmer didn't have the latest technological marvel to ensure all his seed would yield a harvest.  He just sowed his seed.  He had no guarantee that any of the seed would mature.  But he sowed his seed.  He did not count the number of seeds he had and calculate an exact amount of return for his labor.  He just sowed his seed.  This farmer had no assurance of financial gain from this crop.  He just sowed his seed.  Lastly, he could not know how many people, if any, would benefit from his actions that day.  Still, he sowed his seed.

Is there a better picture of faithfulness than this farmer?  Without exact figures, without an economic forecast, without any soil analysis, without any guarantee of success, this farmer just did what he knew to do, sow seed.  When Jesus calls us to work along side him, he calls us to sow seed.  Like this farmer, we are to sow the seed of God's word in every direction.  We are to use all our strength and industry to plant his word in the fields around us, trusting and believing it will produce a harvest, even though we may never see it. 

As Jesus told this parable, I believe he observed a farmer in the distance.  He used that example to teach a simple but all important truth to those listening to him.  The farmer is not responsible for making the seed grow, that is God's responsibility.  When the farmer does his job of sowing, there is every possibility the seed will take root and grow.  However, if the farmer shirks his responsibility, the chances of a successful crop are zero.  The only action required of the farmer in this process is to sow his seed, trusting God to produce the harvest.  Are you sowing your seed today?  Are you trusting God to produce a harvest? Are you being faithful in the place where God has called you?  Have a wonderful day!

Can You Manage It?

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 grew up in a very small town in western North Carolina called Cherryville.  It is a small town with a population of approximately 5,000 people.  Life is slow there and good.  People know each other by their first names and some families, like mine, have been there for generations.  The town has very nice neighborhoods with large yards shaded by large trees and it is very common to see people taking long walks during the evening hours. It was here that I grew up, here that I learned about life, and here that I made good friends, many of whom still live in town.

Our neighborhood had several kids, several dogs, and a small store called Nell's where we would get snacks, candy, drinks, and bubble gum.  There was also a man who lived in the neighborhood who taught me the wonderful lesson of faithfulness that I learned to appreciate much later in life.  This is an attribute seriously lacking in society today, but back then, this man demonstrated faithfulness by his actions, his words, and his life.

The man's name was Emmitt Clark and every kid in the neighborhood knew him. We just called him Emmitt and he was always ready with a smile and a laugh.  He always called me his "old buddy" and every time I saw him, be it in the neighborhood or downtown, his voice would ring out, "There's my old buddy" and I knew right away it was Emmitt.  He had this neat little workshop behind his house full of all kinds of gadgets, tools, spare parts, oilcans, etc.  He opened this shop on a regular basis and we all took our bikes to him to have them inspected, oiled, repaired, or to have our tires filled with air.  Emmitt took it upon himself to ensure that every kid had a well-maintained bike and he would build bikes from spare parts for kids who didn't have them.  No matter what the time, Emmitt always had time for us kids.  He never complained, never hurried us away, but always took time for us and cared for us.  I know of no better picture of faithfulness than this.

In 1Corinthians 4:2, the Apostle Paul writes, "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful" Although this verse is short, it has far reaching implications.  The first thing we must understand is that we are all stewards.  This means we must manage those things God has put in our care.  These include our relationships with others, our relationship with God, our financial resources, our time, and our lives.  In addition to being stewards, we must be faithful to fulfill the responsibilities God has entrusted to us. We must conduct ourselves in a manner that is pleasing to God and we must manage the gifts he has given us in a way that will glorify him.  We must use our time to his glory, our relationships to his glory, our finances to his glory, and our lives to his glory. 

The requirement to be faithful also means we are accountable to God for our stewardship.  Every action we take, every thought we have, every dollar we spend, every moment we live, and every life we touch must be accounted for.  God calls us not only to profess faith in him; he calls us to be faithful. In one of his parables, Jesus described a faithful servant who labored in the absence of his master.  He described him with these words, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46“Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. “Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods." (Matthew 24:45-47). Will God find us so doing today?

The End Of The Line

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n the middle of a war, commanding a group of soldiers defending a strategic hill, is not where you would expect to find a college professor.  Flying bullets, exploding ordinance, and smoking cannons seem an unfit and poor substitute for chalk, books, and blackboards.  The safety and security of the classroom is the complete opposite of the danger and mayhem found on the front lines of a war and yet this is exactly the setting from which we draw our study from God’s word today.

The place was Gettysburg.  The date was July 2, 1863.  The man was Colonel Joshua Chamberlain from Maine.  His assignment was to defend a hill known as Little Round Top and to prevent the Rebel Army (the southern states) from capturing the hill.  Colonel Chamberlain was trained in the art of Rhetoric and also undertook seminary studies.  He chose to become a professor and this was his profession at the time of the Civil War.

 

His assignment at Little Round Top was simple.  He and his men were to stop the advancing Rebel army.  They were placed at the very end of the line, the extreme left flank of the Northern Army.  From this position there was no retreat.  From this position the enemy could break the line and inflict horrific casualties.  From this position, the entire Northern Army could be exposed if Colonel Chamberlain and his men failed in their assigned duty. Not a very inspiring place to be, is it?  But Chamberlain accepted the assignment with no questions and he performed his duty faithfully and admirably.

Ronald F. Maxwell captured this wonderful scene in his movie, Gettysburg, based on the book The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara.  The scenes of the battle show in vivid detail how the Southern Army tried several forward assaults only to be refused every time. Finally, with their ammunition spent and many of their number wounded, Chamberlain had a decision to make. He knew the enemy would advance one last time and he knew he had no ammunition with which to fight.  He knew he had to stand firm at all cost and hold that position.  He ordered his men to affix their bayonets and to charge forward in order to refuse the line.  His tactics worked perfectly and that day the battle for Little Round Top was won at the end of the line.

This scene is one with which the Apostle Paul would have been very familiar.  In fact, he was very familiar with it.  Paul knew that the Christian life is a battlefield where intense struggles and skirmishes are constantly being waged.  Paul also knew, as Chamberlain demonstrated much, much, later, that sometimes the best way to win a war is to stand firm, to hold our position, even if that means we are at the end of the line.

1 Corinthians 15:58 tells us, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  Notice Paul’s first two sentences in this passage.  They leave little room for doubt as to his intended meaning and purpose. No matter where we are in our walk with God, no matter what the circumstances are around us, no matter what sounds we hear sights we see, we are to hold our ground and not yield.  God is on our side.  He is doing battle for us.  When the orders come to hold our ground, that is what we must do.  We must not give the enemy so much as an inch of ground or he will cause trouble and difficulty among the ranks.  We are to thwart his advances and refuse the line simply by standing firm upon the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Even when we feel as if we’ve been place at the end of the line and no one knows we are there.  Even when it feels and seems we are all alone with no help, no guidance, and no support.  Even when we have no knowledge of how the overall battle is going and it appears we are at the point of defeat.  God’s word is clear—stand firm!  He will not let you fall.  He knows where you are.  Every place on the line is important and every position is carefully surveyed by our Lord.  He knows where you are, He knows what you are facing, and He knows what you need to be victorious.  Remain in formation, dig in your hills, and stand firm.  The outcome of the battle is sure—we win!!

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herever you are today in the thick of battle, know that God is with you.  He has not forgotten you and He will never forsake you.  It doesn’t matter if you are at the head of the conflict, in the middle of the battle, or at the end of the line.  Every place is important.  Every skirmish counts.  And every soldier is always supported and accounted for!  Stand firm in Him today!

Yard Of The Week

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he sign in our neighbors’ front yard said it all.  As people drove by they would slow down to read the wording on the sign staked clearly in the center of front yard.  As they read the caption, they almost came to a grinding halt, causing somewhat of a traffic hazard right there on Main Street.  For those of us who lived in the neighborhood, the sign only confirmed what we knew to be true about the people living next door. It came as no surprise to us; no one was shocked by the display.  In fact, we were all quite pleased to see that everyone in our community had taken notice of something that was just par for the course to all who knew both our neighbors, Mom and Pop Jenkins and Mr. and Mrs. Buzzby.

I will never forget that morning.  It was late spring, warm enough to wear shorts but not yet warm enough to go barefoot, at least that what mom said.  Since it was Saturday, I got an early start, not wanting to waste any of my precious free time from school staying inside.  I wanted to be outside so I got dressed, threw open the front door, and out I went.  As soon as I stepped down from our front porch I saw it, and from the number of cars riding slowly by, I wasn’t the only one taking notice.  Right there in Mom and Pop’s front yard was a big sign with the words, “Yard Of The Week” prominently emblazoned across it.

For several weeks, one of the local clubs had been sponsoring a contest.  Several citizens in our community boasted spectacular yards complete with burgeoning flowerbeds and manicured lawns.  A quick drive through several neighborhoods left you with the feeling of being in an extended botanical garden.  In order to show its appreciation to these fine folk and to encourage other to follow suit, a contest was suggested and begun.  Each week a group of judges would ride around town and select a home with a gorgeous yard. The committee would then send one of its number to place the coveted “Yard Of The Week” sign in the yard before people started stirring.  It became quite the talk about town as who would win the award next.

A few weeks earlier, Mr. & Mrs. Buzzby, our neighbors across the street, had also been honored with this recognition.  Like Mom and Pop, the Buzzby’s yard was always beautiful and their rose garden was breathtaking.  No one was shocked when their yard was chosen either because their dedication and love for plants and flowers was evident in all they did. Mom and Pop were the same way.  They were always working in their yard even when they were into their 70’s.  I never knew a weekend when either Mom and Pop or Mr. & Mrs. Buzzby weren’t in their respective yards, pulling weeds, tending to flowers, or mowing grass.  It was simply a way of life.  The dedication to their yards was only a mere reflection of the kind of people they were.  Recognition or no recognition, sign or no sign, these people were totally devoted to keeping their homes and their yards in immaculate condition.

The writer of the book of Proverbs understood and appreciated the character of a person totally committed to an endeavor.  In Proverbs 22:29, we read these words, “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.”  There is both a condition and a promise in this passage of scripture.  First, notice that the man described is a man who excels in his work.  The character of this individual is one of discipline.  He sees his work as a gift from the Lord and views his work as an expression of worship to God.  Therefore, he does his best to make sure his labor is done with integrity, with discipline, and with love.

The promise inherit in this passage speaks of the recognition he receives for a job well done.  The man does not work for recognition, and that is the key to his success.  He is content to do his work away from the limelight, with no attention drawn to him, without receiving any reward for doing his work.  This is indeed rare in today’s society but I was fortunate to grow up on Main Street where Mom and Pop and Mr. & Mrs. Buzzby taught me this lesson on a daily basis.

As Christians, we must be content do work for Christ in the place he has given us.  There can be only one Billy Graham, there can be only one Charles Spurgeon, and there can be only one Dwight L. Moody.  Following the train of thought then, there can only be one of you!  Are you performing your duty for God diligently?  Are you content to work for Him at your desk, in your home, ironing clothes, or raking leaves?  Do you realize there are so many people watching your life and they see your dedication and your faithfulness not only to your job but to God as well?  Our character and integrity in performing a task always reveal the type of people we are underneath.

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he sign that day posted in Mom and Pop’s yard gave proved that others recognized their hard work and dedication.  But what is most worthy of note is that their yard looked the same years before the contest and years after it.  Mr. & Mrs. Buzzby’s, dedication, like that of Mom and Pop, was genuine with no need of a sign to affirm it.  This leads us to ask one question of ourselves today.  How dedicated are we in doing the Lord’s work today?  Are we working in such a way that the King would take notice of us?  The truth is He notices, whether we are dedicated or not?  I think it’s time I got back to work.  How about you?  

Dimmer Switch Christianity

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ne of the most exciting events about refurbishing our home was turning on the lights!  We had worked for several months replacing all the old, tattered wiring with new copper wire placed safely in aluminum conduit.  Finally, when all the conduit was in place and most of the wire was threaded, we made the connections, took a long extension cord, and “plugged” the house into the temporary electrical service installed for this purpose.

I will never forget our excitement as three or four lights suddenly sprang to life.  Where once the house had been in total darkness, it was now bathed in bright spotlight.  This meant we could now work during the day or night finishing the restoration, transforming the house into a comfortable living space.

Later, when the house was completed and we put in all the light fixtures, we installed dimmer switches in the bedrooms.  This allowed me to adjust the amount of light in my bedroom according to my mood.  Reading a book, writing, or studying required all the available light the lamps could muster.  However, listening to soft music, taking a nap, or just relaxing, meant less light or no light was needed and I adjusted the lights accordingly. The dimmer switches worked wonderfully and allowed me to control the amount of power flowing so the room became as bright or as dark as I wanted.

Unfortunately, we often apply the principle of the dimmer switch to our walk with God.  We tailor our witness to reflect the mood of the person with whom we are sharing our faith or the circumstances in which we find ourselves.  Instead of sharing from our hearts, we step back and worry how we will be received and we adjust our witness so as not to offend or cause discomfort.  

Too often we water down our testimony or we refuse to speak about Jesus at all because we fear being rejected or ridiculed for our beliefs.  In essence, we dim the light of our witness, trying to control just how much of Jesus others can see in us.  At times we shine so brightly while at others, the light hovers just above a slight glow.  The result is an inconsistent witness, one that is different for different people and circumstances.  This simply must not be!  Jesus has not called us to take a dimmer switch approach to sharing the gospel.

In Matthew 5:15-16 we read, “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  This passage comes from the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7.  In this sermon, Jesus explains his ministry and brings new insights and understanding to the Law given through Moses and the way in which the believer is to conduct himself in his relationship to God.

The verse tells us very plainly that our witness is to be very bright, using the full power of Christ to share God’s love and salvation with all those around us.  Dimmer switch Christianity is not an option!  Jesus never selected his words or represented the power of God’s love in order to reflect a mood.  He spoke the truth to everyone he met and his witness was always the same no matter the person or situation.  This is what he has called us to do as his followers.  We must present the gospel at full power, never compromising its message regardless of the situation, person, or our mood at the time.

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re we shining examples of God’s love, mercy, and grace today?  Are we allowing our lights to shine full force in the darkness, drawing others to God and His son, Jesus Christ?  When we flip the switch to the “on” position, is it evident that the love of God burns brightly within us or do people have to search very hard to find it because we are using a dimmer switch?  Are we practicing dimmer switch Christianity today?

Take Your Vitamins!

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hen I was a little boy, my mom used to give me vitamins.  She bought vitamins made for kids that were shaped like animals or famous cartoon characters.  They came in a variety of colors and flavors and one of the hardest decisions I had to make was which shape and which flavor I wanted.  My brother also got in on the act and we made sure we had taken our vitamins before leaving the house.

As soon as I had taken my daily tablet, I felt stronger, had more energy, and could perform better in school.  To me the vitamin was the promise of instant strength and invincibility; but the vitamin didn’t work like that.  Instead, it slowly released its elements to support, strengthen, and protect my body.  Throughout the day and night, without my being aware of it, the vitamins continually worked, helping me stay healthy and grow up strong.

Spiritually speaking, we need vitamins in our daily walk with God.  The Christian life is full of twists and turns and without daily nourishment from God’s word, we grow tired and our spiritual walk with God is never what it should be.  God’s word is filled with the necessary elements we need in order to mature and grow spiritually strong. 

One of my favorite places to find daily spiritual vitamins is in the book of Psalms.  In moments of great stress, great trial, and great despair, many people have found the Psalms to be a constant source of strength and encouragement.  They provide the added strength we need when the road ahead is difficult and filled with the obstacles that life places in our path.

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salm 121 is a great source of encouragement and strength.  It reminds us that our strength does not come from within us but from God.  This psalm also ensures us that God is with us, that He is our protection, that He keeps us, and that He watches over us in ever situation of life.  Today, I would like to offer this psalm as today’s spiritual vitamin.  As we follow world events that change from moment to moment, let us grab hold of the one thing in life that never changes—God!  These words are as much for us today as they were for David several thousand years ago!  Read the entire Psalm online by clicking on the underlined words, Psalm 121, at the top of today’s Tidbit.

Psalm 121


A song of ascents.

¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills-
where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the LORD ,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip-
he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD watches over you-
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm-
he will watch over your life;
⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Constantly On The Move

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very evening when the lights are out and all is quiet, I lie in my bed listening to the sound of the ticking clock that hangs on the wall in my living room.  All through the day and night, this vigilant sentinel keeps watch over my home, faithfully marking the passing hours.  While the pendulum swings back and forth, the hands move around the clock, marching through the hours with a determined and steady cadence.  This dance of time occurs whether I am present or not.  The clock continually fulfills its purpose, no matter what!

Clocks have always been a part of my life.  Our house was filled with them because my dad loved, and still loves, listening to a ticking clock.  What continues to amaze me is the precision with which these wonderful instruments work.  The most important part of the clock is the pendulum because without its faithful back and forth motion, the clock would not function.  As the pendulum swings through space, it causes the hands of the clock to move around the dial at a steady pace.  Each swing of the pendulum results in the forward motion of the hands as they mark the passing seconds, minutes, and hours.

The real secret of the clock lies in the fact that its parts are constantly on the move.  The visible motion of the hands and pendulum belie the intricate dance of the clock’s wheels, springs, and gears.  Yet the very fact that the hands move with such devotion indicates that the steadfast march of time moves forward from one passing moment to the next.

The Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles reveals the importance of being constantly on the move in God’s service.  2 Chronicles 27:6 is a brief passage about a man named Jotham, King of Judah, who walked in a manner pleasing to God.  “Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God.”  But who was this Jotham and what do we know about him?

Jotham’s name appears 28 times in the Old Testament.  His father was King Uzziah who had leprosy.  Uzziah could not enter the Temple and he lived in a separate house, relieved of his responsibilities.  Jotham represented the people and ruled for his father.  When his father died, Jotham became King of Judah.  He rebuilt the Upper Gate of the Lord’s Temple.  He was 25 when he became king and he reigned for 16 years.  He conquered the Ammonites and they paid a tribute to him for 3 years.

But what we know historically about Jotham does not compare to our scripture passage today.  Notice that there is a direct correlation between Jotham’s power and his walk before God.  In the Old Testament, walking before the Lord meant to please Him on a consistent basis.  Like a clock’s pendulum swinging back and forth, walking also requires constant movement, placing one foot in front of the other. The goal of walking is to move forward, to go from one place to another in a methodical and determined pattern.  Walking before God is a commentary on a person’s life and Jotham’s life was pleasing to God.  We know this because the Scriptures also say that Jotham increased in power and that his walk was steadfast.

This is always true of a man or woman today who walks with God.  The word steadfastly means determined, continually, and consistently.  God wants us to walk with Him on a daily basis, always looking to Him for all our needs, always communicating with Him in every situation, and always walking forward with Him as we mature in our faith.  When we walk with God in this fashion, we find that our spiritual lives become more powerful, that our relationship with God grows ever deeper, and that our faith and trust in Him grow ever stronger.

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hat do the hands of your spiritual clock tell you about your walk with God today?  Is your pendulum swinging, marking out a constant rhythm, making the spiritual gears of your life turn?  Are the hands of your spiritual clock indicating that you are moving forward, growing and maturing in your walk with God?  Or do the pendulum and the hands show no movement, showing that your forward momentum and your walk with God have stopped?  If this is the case, don’t rest until you talk with God and have your clock rewound.  Remember, in order to please God, you must spend time with Him.  Are you constantly on the move today?

The Old Clock On The Wall

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y dad is fond of clocks.  Well, fond might be an understatement.  The fact is he’s crazy about them and he has them hanging and sitting all over his house.  As a small boy, I remember all the clocks we had in our home.  Every room in the house had at least one clock and some had two.  Believe me, it was some kind of noise when they all chimed together!!  The grandmother clock in our living room had Westminster chimes while the other clocks in the house sounded with gongs!  Although none of the chimes were in tune with the others, the sound was wonderful, assuring us that there was order in this life of chaos.

I can still see my dad as he made his appointed rounds through the house on his mission to wind all the clocks.  He would walk from room to room, pulling weights, inserting keys, stopping pendulums, winding springs, setting hands, and restarting the movements.  It was quite a production and one I loved to watch.  The clock hanging in my and my brother’s room got special attention because it also had a hand which displayed the appropriate date.  Daddy would come to wind the clock and he spent extra time making sure everything was in order before he moved on to the next room. 

There was, however, one clock that was extra special, one that no one touched except daddy.  It was a very old clock, very temperamental, needing constant attention, and a consistent touch.  None of us could make that clock work, but daddy could make it run perfectly.  That old clock used to hang in my parents’ bedroom and it now hangs in the guest room of their home.  It still runs, faithfully marking the hours and the minutes.  Its pendulum still swings back and forth as it has these many years and its movement is still going strong.

The greatest lesson the clock teaches us is that of faithfulness.  No matter the circumstances, no matter the weather, no matter the time of day, no matter the day of the week or the month of the year, the clock is dependable.  It counts out the hours and minutes with a steady rhythm, faithfully fulfilling the purpose for which it was made.

In Luke 12:42-44, Jesus underlines the importance of faithfulness in the life of the believer. “The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.”

In this passage of scripture, Jesus is teaching his disciples about the importance of faithfully performing an assigned duty.  Notice that Jesus describes the servant who carries out his master’s commands as wise and faithful.  The wise servant is faithful, performing his duties day in and day out in all types of situations and conditions.  His task is to take care of those put under his charge and to do so until his master comes. 

The servant, however, has no idea when the master will arrive but determines in his heart that his master will find him faithfully executing the task his master gave him to do, no matter how insignificant it may seem.  And notice what happens when the master comes and finds that servant faithfully working.  The master puts the servant in charge of all he has because this servant can be trusted.

Notice that Jesus says it will be good for the servant if his master finds him performing his task.  The opposite is also true, that it will not be good for that servant if the master finds him lax in his duties upon his return.  As Christians, we do not know when Jesus will return but we do know we are to be faithfully carrying out the responsibility of sharing the gospel message with others until he does.

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ike the old clock on the wall, God has called us to faithfulness.  We are to be sharing the truth of Jesus Christ at every waking moment of the day.  We are to demonstrate consistently the love of Jesus with all those around us, telling them by our words, our deeds, and our lives of God’s love and His desire to bring salvation to everyone.  When Jesus comes he will be looking for workers who are so doing.  Will you be in that group?  Do you hear the clock chiming?  What does the clock of your life say about your faithfulness to God?

Stay On Course!

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ne of the joys and privileges of owning a car is maintenance!  Every time I turn around it seems something needs to be done to my car.  I have the oil changed regularly, I have the engine tuned, I have all the belts and hoses checked, and I make sure the tires get rotated every 5,000 miles.  With all these things to maintain, it’s no wonder the thrill of driving sometimes loses its appeal.

One Saturday morning, I took my car in for a regular oil change.  While I was there, I also decided to purchase a new set of tires since the ones on my car were beginning to show the wear and tear of the road.  The salesman was very knowledgeable and extremely polite and helped me pick out the best tire for the car within my budget.  We went to the counter to complete the order and he suggested I have my car aligned.  This made perfect sense!  The new tires would soon wear out completely if the car’s wheels were not aligned to drive in a straight line.

They took my car, put it up on the rack, installed the new tires, changed the oil, and finally aligned the wheels.  I watched this entire process through a large window and drank some coffee while I waited for my car.  They put a set of instruments on the wheels of my car that were designed to demonstrate the degree to which the car was pulling and veering away from a straight line.  According to what those instruments showed, the mechanic knew in which direction to adjust my tires so they would all work in perfect unity.  This ensured that no one tire would carry more weight than any other and that all of the treads would wear evenly as I drove.

Throughout this entire process, I was most impressed with the instruments used to test the alignment of my car.  They were designed to show the variance between my car’s idea of a straight line and one that was truly straight.  The instruments are always right and serve as the standard against which my car is measured.  Any variance from that standard spells difficulty for my car and added cost for me somewhere down the road.

The Apostle Paul also understood the necessity for alignment.  Paul, however, wasn’t thinking about aligning the wheels of a chariot, a cart, and certainly not a car.  What he had in mind was the alignment of the heart and soul.  He knew that unless we get properly aligned in our relationship with God, we will have great difficulty down the road and it will be impossible for us to stay on course.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul pens a very familiar passage, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).  Although short, this verse carries a heavy punch!  Let’s look at what it tells us today.  First, all of us have sinned.  No one can claim that he or she is living a perfect life.  There was only one person who lived perfectly and that was Jesus.  He was and is the glory of God revealed in the flesh.  Jesus is, therefore, the standard against which our lives are measured to see just how far from the “straight and narrow” we are.  Guess what?  All of us fall woefully short of that standard.

If we ended here, we could well become dejected, depressed, and downcast.  But Jesus came in order to offer us the opportunity to realign our lives.  Without him, we drive down the broad road of life, headed for a breakdown, a blowout, or worse, a fatal accident.  If our hearts and souls are not aligned with his, we are driving with defective equipment that will surely lead to our ruin.  But when we accept him as our savior, when we let him put us up on the rack and examine our hearts, when we allow him to push and pull them into proper alignment, our lives get on the right track and we stay on course, following him in a straight path.

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hen was the last time you had you spiritual alignment checked?  Isn’t if funny how we will make sure that our cars are running properly, following a straight line but neglect to check in with our chief mechanic to maintain proper alignment?  Are you traveling in a straight line today?  Are you staying on course?

Just For Show

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 love fireplaces.  To me, there is nothing better on cold winter evening than curling up with a hot cup of tea, a good book, some soft music, and a glowing fire in the fireplace.  Like most of the houses on our street, our home had a fireplace.  It had a beautiful fire screen, a very nice set of tools for building and maintaining a fire, and it had a nice ceramic hearth—everything necessary to provide a wonderful evening for our family.

There was just one small problem with our fireplace—it was never used!  The fireplace was there just for show.  The previous owners never used it so they closed off the chimney, rendering the fireplace useless.  I often asked if we could build a fire.  My mom always told me that the fireplace was for show and not for use.  This puzzled me somewhat.  Why have a fireplace if it wasn’t going to be used?  It looked nice, all the elements were there for a fire, it even had some soot in the bottom giving the impression it had been used.  But the fireplace, for all of its furnishings, gave no warmth, no joy, and no comfort.  Its purpose was to give heat and light but in reality it was cold and dark!

After many years in this condition, my parents decided to investigate the possibility of opening the chimney and using the fireplace during the winter months.  Someone came and explored the inside of the chimney, made some interior adjustments, and removed the obstacle preventing us from building fires.  From that time on, we used that fireplace to build warm, cozy fires that our family enjoyed.  I can still see the glow from those fires my mom and dad built so many years ago and they still fill me with a wonderful sense of home, of happiness, of peace, and of security.

During his ministry, Jesus spoke out against those who lived religious lives “just for show.”  He directed most of these comments to the Pharisees, the leading religious leaders of his day, but his words carry a solemn warning for all of us who think religiously instead of thinking as a Christian must.  Matthew 6:5 records one of Jesus most condemning statements concerning the Pharisees, “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.”

In this passage, Jesus gives a solemn warning, one that we should all heed.  The Pharisees loved to be seen. They wore expensive clothes, they expected to be treated with the utmost respect, they performed their religious functions in the open, and when they prayed, they used big words and loud voices.  They fell in love with the “practice” of worship but cared nothing for the “substance” of worship.  Therefore, Jesus said they had already received their reward.  All they wanted was to be noticed and to be praised for their piety!  They gave no comfort, no peace, no assurance, and no warmth because they had no fire!

Let us not be too hasty to condemn the Pharisees, however.  We run the same risks as these men we read about.  We are so busy “doing church” that we fail “to be the church” to the lost and to those in the body of Christ. We constantly worry about numbers, we are concerned we will offend someone, and we attempt to make church “comfortable and acceptable” to everyone.  We are like the fireplace with soot in it, giving the appearance of providing warmth but in reality we are cold because there is no fire in us!

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oday, let us all take a look at our witness.  Are we worshiping God “in spirit and in truth” as Jesus commanded the Samaritan woman at that well, or are we using God in order to receive recognition from those around us?  This is a sobering question but one we must ask.  There is too much at stake.  Jesus reminds us that wherever our treasure is, that’s where our hearts will be.  Today, let us resolve to worship God truthfully and faithfully from our hearts.  Let us never profess to be a Christian “just for show!”  Instead, let the fire of the Holy Spirit burn in our hearts, providing light and warmth to a dark and cold world!

Getting Hitched

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he coffee table, the end tables, lamps, a sofa, bedroom furniture, kitchen utensils, pictures, books, books, and more books, when would it ever end?  Every time I turned around, my dad had placed something else outside the trailer which carried my things from North Carolina to Texas.  He and my brother had packed all of my things into a sixteen-foot trailer and my parents had moved the entire lot halfway across the country.  I was amazed at how much that trailer held and just when it seemed there could be nothing else to move, out came something else that needed to go into the apartment.

One week later, my dad connected that empty trailer to his truck, and he, along with my mom and sister, pulled away from the curb and started the long journey home.  I watched them as they gingerly guided that trailer over the speed bumps used to keep people from driving excessively fast in our parking area.  The trailer mirrored every move the truck made.  When the truck turned left, so did the trailer, when the truck sped up, the trailer followed suit, and when dad came to a halt, the trailer came to rest as well.

As I stood there, watching them leave, God impressed upon me a great truth about following Him.  As Christians we all know the importance of following God and obeying His commandments.  But as I watched that trailer, I began to understand that the manner in which we follow God makes all the difference in the world.  Following God means this:  we go where He goes, when He goes, without asking why, without resisting His direction.  When He stops, we stop, when He turns, we turn, and when He slows down, we had best follow suit.

In Deuteronomy 13:4, Moses records these words, “You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.”  A careful reading of this verse reveals the actions the Israelites were to perform in order to follow the Lord. They were to follow, to fear, to keep His commandments, to listen, to serve, and to cling.  These words are still used today by professing Christians.  We use the words follow, serve, listen, and keep when we speak about our walk with the Lord.  But there is one word that doesn’t enter into our vocabulary very often, if it enters at all.

The last action in this series tells us that we are to cling to God.  What, exactly, does that mean?  Simply this, we are to be so close to our God that whenever He makes a move, we move with Him immediately.  Our relationship to God must be such that we trust Him completely; hitching ourselves to Him, allowing Him to lead us and pull us wherever He wills, and we must have no will except His.  This is what it means to cling.  We become totally dependent on God and trust Him completely without worry, fear, or question.

The picture of my dad’s trailer is right on target.  Although it was loaded with wonderful things and although my parents had good intentions of bringing my things to me and helping me set up my apartment, unless my dad hitched the trailer to the truck, none of those intentions or the work they had done would have done any good.  The trailer, although filled with wonderful things was useless without the truck.  It is the same with us.  Our actions, our good intentions, our motives, our work, our willingness, while good, are worthless unless we follow God and hitch ourselves to Him.  We can do nothing without Him because He is the only one who knows where we are going and He is the only one who can get us there.

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oday, are you hitched to God?  Are you following Him without reserve?  Do you trust Him completely to provide all your needs and to get you to the place to which He has called you?  The next time you see a trailer on the road, remember that God wants us not only to follow Him, but He wants us to cling to Him as well.  Are you hitched today?

Follow The Recipe

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ne evening, I invited a couple over for dinner.  It is so much fun now that I have a kitchen where I can cook and bake and make my own mess!  Being domestic is great and I am enjoying it very much!  At any rate, I was wondering what to prepare.  I have very few cookbooks and the recipes that I use frequently I have memorized.  So, naturally, when I needed an idea for something new I went to the best resource I know for recipes, mom!

I called her up and told her what I was planning to prepare. I wanted to know if she could send me a few recipes via email (I just love technology) and she happily agreed.  In just a few minutes, the recipes I asked for were sitting in my mailbox, ready for the making.  I perused the list of ingredients and re-familiarized myself with the procedures.  My first reaction with one of the recipes was one of doubt.  It appeared as if there were too much of a particular ingredient and not enough of another.  But that is what the recipe called for and mom always said, follow the recipe!

I made my list, went to the grocery store, bought all the required items, then came back home to begin assembling my meal.  I put all the groceries away, leaving out all the ingredients I would need to make my salad, my main dish, and my dessert.  I got the recipes from the computer and began making the meal ahead of time so it would be less stressful when it came time to set the table and entertain my guests.

I followed the recipes exactly.  Mixing where it said to mix, stirring where it said to stir, and cooking when it said to cook. I added the ingredients in the exact proportions the recipe called for.  Even when I felt that the measurements might not be quite right, I went against what I felt and followed the instructions.  The result was amazing!  Everything turned out just as it was supposed to and all the food tasted just right.  Now, it wasn’t as good as mom’s, but things never are.  However, her recipe gave me the correct measurements and the proper instructions for making all the things I needed for my meal.  I had to trust the recipe and its author despite my feelings or questions.

Would it surprise you to discover that God has given us the exact recipe for a happy and fulfilling life?  Would you be shocked to know that if you follow His recipe, you will find your life becomes a wonderful blessing to others and a source of praise and glory to God?  To the Christian, none of this should be new; yet, our lives and our relationships with God are not always what we want or what they should be.

In Deuteronomy 6:5, we have God’s recipe for living the kind of life he wants all his children to enjoy.  “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”  As with all recipes, the measurements of the ingredients are all important.  Too little of this or not enough of that leaves the dish incomplete and unsatisfying.  God’s ingredients are heart, soul, and strength.  But pay careful attention to their measurements. God does not ask for a pinch of heart or a dash of soul.  No!  He asks for all of it.  Essentially God says to us, “Empty the cupboard.  I want and require everything you’ve got.  Hold nothing back!  Do not skimp on the ingredients!”

When asked to give the greatest commandment, Jesus, himself, quoted this very scripture.  God’s recipe always calls for us to give our all.  Even when we don’t feel like it, even when we think that all our heart is too risky, even when we think all our strength is too much, and even when we think that all our soul is just too high a price.  Despite all these “feelings” of ours, God’s command rings clear:  “Follow the recipe!” 

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ow long has it been since you spent time with God in your kitchen?  How long has it been since you asked Him to give you his recipe for living a life pleasing to him?  You have the ingredients but are you measuring them out correctly? Are you following the recipe?