April 11 – Envy Rots

“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”(Proverbs 14:30)

IN WORD:
Envy is a subtle enemy. We think we’re free from it, but it is often the silent root of our sins. We can make ungodly decisions because we want the quality of our lives to match that of our neighbors. We can make unwarranted judgements because we are compelled to mentally reduce other people in order to mentally enlarge ourselves. And we can avoid God’s plan for our lives because we want too strongly to fit into our culture. Our constant tendency is to compare ourselves to others, and comparison leads to envy. It affects the way we spend our money, our time, and our talents. It affects the careers we choose and the relationships we cultivate. Deep within us all is a drive to “make it,” to succeed well beyond the average person. We want success because we’ve seen others have it.
This envy-rooted drive for success-by-comparison carries many physical symptoms with it. It sucks us into a consuming “rat race,” a treadmill that undermines good health. It keeps us spending more than we have to spend, impressing more than we need to impress, and controlling more than is ours to control. It tells us that we’re never quite good enough and that there is always more to be done. It stresses us out.

IN DEED:
How do we get beyond such a corrosive attitude? There can be no room for envy when we measure ourselves by how God sees us rather than by how others see us. If we are all abject sinners saved by extravagant mercy, who is there to envy? Only those who have taken hold of God’s unfathomable grace, which is available in equal measure to all who will take hold of it.
If you are eaten away by the stress of the rat race, first recognize the envy that underlies it. Then try this: Perform one act per day that defies “success” as you once defined it. Choose not to impress someone; refuse to invest in an image; compliment someone you once judged. By all means, let your heart be at peace.

“Envy is a denial of providence.” -Stephen Charnock-

April 10 – A Heart At Peace

“A heart at peace gives life to the body.”(Proverbs 14:30)

IN WORD:
The relationship between the spirit and the body is deeper than we might think. Not all physical infirmity is a product of spiritual turmoil, but much of it is. When God is on the periphery of our lives, our bodies can’t stand the void. Ask anyone who has heart trouble. Stress is often a big part of it. And stress is the result of a too-distant God.
Peace has prerequisites. One of them is a surrender of all the self’s attempts to earn God’s approval. Instead, we are to understand that God approves of Jesus and we are related to Jesus by faith. Another is an inspired ability to trust God, even when circumstances seem to dictate against trust. But there is one often assumed prerequisite to peace that is a decidedly misguided assumption. Peace is not dependent on circumstances. Not real peace, anyway. The real peace that comes from God is available in spite of circumstances. And it is often revealed only in the difficult times. We never know the truth of our relationship with God until it is burned in the fire. Does it remain? Then it is gold; it is true. Or does it collapse? Then it was combustible from the very beginning, worth nothing at all. Peace from God must be tested. If it isn’t, we never know whether it’s genuine or not.

IN DEED:
We human beings are a strange mixture of mind, body, and spirit. We like to think of these as separable entities, but they are not. They interrelate at levels we can scarcely understand. Sin has physical effects. Mental stress has physical effects. And a heart at peace gives life.
Whatever you are going through — and it is a safe assumption that we are always going through something — it is not to affect your peace. God is above your circumstances, and He is greater than your sin. Bring it all to Him — your sin, your trials, your everything. Bind yourself to the things that really matter and the One who can govern them. And rest. Be at peace and be well.

“Peace rules the day when Christ rules the mind.”
-Anonymous-

April 9 – How To Honor God

“He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”
(Proverbs 14:31)

IN WORD:
For most of us, caring for the poor is an afterthought. We’re not unconcerned; we’re just not very intentional about our efforts. For God, caring for the poor is essential. It is an emphatic theme in His Word. It is written into His Law, it is expressed in His wisdom, it is measured by the prophets, it is characteristic of Jesus, and it is a substantial ministry in the New Testament church. From cover to cover, the Bible tells us of God’s concern for the poor.
Modern Christianity maintains ministries for the poor, but they are often peripheral ministries. For most Christians, our efforts include donating things we no longer value or need and urging our churches to help the needy. But our God is a hands-on God, and we are to be hands-on people.
The message of Proverbs 14:31 is that our view of the needy reflects our view of God. Do we see in the destitute the image of God? Perhaps it is veiled, but it is there. Though the image is fallen, it is God’s nonetheless. Don’t let its obscurity fool you; all humanity was created in His image, and our attitude toward toward other people is symptomatic of our attitude toward God. Or, to put it another way, our love of God will determine how we treat other people — even the very least of them. If we can easily let His creation suffer, we probably don’t think much of God.

IN DEED:
Why is it so important to God that we be kind to the needy? Because if we aren’t, we’ve forgotten who we are. We were needy. He was kind. Did we learn anything from His example? Do we consider His love valuable only because it was applied to us? Did mercy really sink in?
The poor remain because God wants to know: How much do you value His ways? Give Him a demonstration today. Show kindness to those who need it most.

“World poverty is a hundred million mothers weeping because they cannot feed their children.” -Ronald J. Sider-

April 8 – Eternal Returns

“The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good man rewarded for his.”(Proverbs 14:14)

IN WORD:
Can you imagine being one of the first stockholders in the automobile industry, where the horseless carriage was seen as a foolishly impossible endeavor? How much would your stock be worth today, over a century later? Wise and early investments, given time, become amazingly profitable. In fact, almost every economic investment, given enough time, produces exponential returns far overshadowing its initial cost. A few dollars invested wisely hundreds of years ago could be worth millions of dollars now.
The principle of “investment plus time equals profit” not only applies in the world’s economy, but also in God’s. Faithfulness, given time, has profitable results. And in God’s economy, the time is not measured in years but in eons. Our investments are eternal. Their profits never stop coming in.
The same principle also applies in the negative. Faithlessness bears a burdensome interest, and it never stops accruing without divine intervention and a repentant reversal. Or, as Paul says hundreds of years after Solomon: “A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7). It is foolish to expect otherwise, as so many do, thinking that recklessness will have no negative outcome. It is just as foolish to think that faithfulness may never be rewarded, even though it may be long in coming. God does not operate that way. Wisdom recognizes His character and knows that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

IN DEED:
Learn to see your actions today as eternal investments. They may not bear immediately visible profits or losses, but the profits and losses are given an eternity to work themselves out. Their scale can be massive. A wise word, a timely gift, or a simple act of service can compound daily for all eternity. God. Already knows their future value. When we’ve been there ten thousand years, how much will today’s investment be worth? More than we can ever imagine!

“God has given us a short time here upon earth, and yet upon this short time eternity depends.” -Jeremy Taylor-

April 7 – Deepen Your Shine (Daniel 12:1-4)

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”(Daniel 12:3)

IN WORD:
People spend thousands of dollars to last longer. Exercise, cosmetics, plastic surgery, self-help advice, nutrition plans — in other words, the entire self-preservation industry — is huge business. We like life, and we want it to last, not just in some ethereal, non-descript expectation of a life hereafter, but in a real, fulfilling, purposeful eternity. We don’t just want “forever.” We want to know we will enjoy it.

Daniel is told what makes or breaks eternity in the resurrection: righteousness. Loving it, drinking it in, leading others to it, investing in it. Righteousness is the key. The quality of our righteousness on earth has everything to do with the quality of our eternity. And those who are wise know it.
Those who are wise also know that there’s a problem. We are inherently unrighteous. An eternity based on earthly righteousness is a devastating predicament for people who are, in their very genetics, infected with corruption. Are there any who can really lead others to righteousness? Will any shine like the brightness of the heavens? Or is the promise empty?
We who know Jesus know the answer, of course. Righteousness is a gift from a holy heaven to an infected race. It comes from outside of ourselves, available only through faith in its Giver. Those who are wise will tell others about this gift. Those who want to shine will know the Source of light and will be completely preoccupied with Him.

IN DEED:
You probably know of the Bible’s imperatives about evangelism: We are commanded to spread the gospel of salvation throughout the world. Have you known also of this promise in Daniel? Evangelism is one way to make an investment that never, ever ceases to bring abundant returns. God promises that sharing the Light with others will forever deepen your own shine.

“Eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset.”
-Thomas Watson-

April 6 – An Enemy’s Hunger (Proverbs 25:21-22)

“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.”(Proverbs 25:21)

IN WORD:

If we ever needed any evidence that God’s character is not instinctual for us, this is it. Giving our enemies food to eat and water to drink goes against every principle of justice we’ve cultivated from the early days of sibling rivalries and onward. The self-promoting impulses of fallen humanity do not allow us to look out for our enemies and bless them with favor. If we wanted to do that for them, they wouldn’t be our enemies.
It take a lot of faith to act in such a way. The Holy Spirit must radically renew our minds, and then our minds must trust that God will honor our behavior. It feels like going out on a limb, doesn’t it? To treat an enemy well risks the possibility of his taking advantage of us, of his getting the upper hand, of our accounts being so out of balance that we’re even more vulnerable than when we first felt offended. Treating an enemy with favor means tat we have decided, in faith, that God is the keeper of our enemy’s account as well as our own. We cannot do it unless we trust that He will work justice out in the end, and that we’re actually improving the welfare of our rival. Human logic does not lead us to such conclusions. Only faith can do that.

IN DEED:
How do you treat your enemies? Maybe you claim you have none; congratulations. But there are certainly people who rub you the wrong way. How do you deal with them? Do you hold grudges? Do you look for ways to avoid them? Do you secretly hope that God will humble them and vindicate you?
Perhaps He will. If you really believe in His goodness, you are free to let Him handle justice on your behalf. You are free to behave in extraordinarily unexpected and godly ways by blessing those who curse you, giving to those who have cheated you, or complimenting those who have insulted you. Trying to make their lives uncomfortable, though natural, tells God we don’t believe in His justice. Treating an enemy well honors His merciful will.

“In Jesus and for Him, enemies and friends alike are to be loved.” -Thomas A’ Kempis-

April 5 – A Pageantry of Need (Psalm 65)

“Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house.”
(Psalm 65:4)

IN WORD:
Imagine a homeless man pushing his grocery cart on the sidewalk in front of an open-air buffet restaurant. Hungry for a meal — just one good meal — he stumbles back and forth. People sit at sidewalk tables, feasting on a lavish spread of the finest foods. Imagine a sign in front of the restaurant reading: “Free buffet. All you can eat. Everyone welcome.” Still, the man wanders on the sidewalk. Everything he needs for the moment is offered, but he won’t sit down. Perhaps he doesn’t understand the sign, or doesn’t believe it applies to him, or feels like he’s too dirty to fit in. Perhaps he just doesn’t want to leave his empty bottles outside in his cart. Regardless of the reason, he hungers while others eat.
That’s how many Christians approach God’s promises. We loiter in front of His Word, but we don’t understand it, don’t believe it applies to us, or think we’re too dirty to fit in. Often, we won’t let go of the trash we’re hoarding. Regardless of the reason, we hunger while others eat. The banquet of God waits for us, but we can’t relate to it, so we don’t even ask. We won’t go sit down. We take some sort of perverse pride in our homelessness, mistaking our poverty for true spirituality. We think we’re much less pretentious than those who are feasting. We just don’t get it. The buffet is for us. God’s promises are lavished upon us with His own Son as the guarantee.

IN DEED:
Blessed are those who accept God’s promises like children, who are too innocent to ask questions or to be suspicious of His extravagance. While homeless people parade in front of His storehouse, clutching their carts, those who simply take Him at His Word, avoid the absurdity of the picture. They understand: We have a God of enormous abundance, and we are a people of enormous need. It’s a simple relationship. He invites us to display our poverties before Him so He can show the world His mercies. What prevents us from receiving His bounty with open arms?

“You never pray with greater power than when you plead the promises of God.” -William C. White-

April 4 – Watch Your Diet (Philippians 4:8-9)

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

IN WORD:
What would we expect of someone who feeds only on fast food and unhealthy snacks filled with sugar and fats? A healthy body? Long life? No, we would expect physical health to be largely the product of physical intake. Is it any different in the spirit?
Modern culture is saturated with unhealthy spiritual food — from the lusts of the flesh and the eyes, to the human pride of the self-life, to elaborate and deceptive world views and philosophies. Hundreds of television channels, dozens of newspapers and magazines, unlimited cyberspace images, and a number of other media compete for our attention. We let many of them actually win our attention. And much of what we feed on is unhealthy. In our pursuit of wisdom, our minds often hunger for genuine nutrition.
It is unreasonable to think that hours of digesting unhealthy material will result in healthy minds and spirits. “You are what you eat” applies not only in the physical world, but also in the spiritual. Consuming all the wrong things will have all the wrong results. It’s a natural law. There’s no way to take in junk without becoming junky!

IN DEED:
God calls us to watch our diets. It pleases Him when we care for His temple, our bodies. But it pleases Him much more when we care for our minds. Our thought life is where His Spirit most prefers to work, shaping uncluttered hearts and imparting wisdom to uncluttered minds. Even so, we do not make a smooth highway for Him into our souls. Through our entertainment, we let ourselves be bombarded by a relentless PR campaign for the ways of the world. Find a balance. Watch what goes into your mind. Without hindrance, let His thoughts nourish you.

“No one would allow garbage at his table, but many allow it served into their minds.” -Bishop Fulton Sheen-

April 3 – Flexible Obedience (Numbers 9:15-23)

“At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out.” (Numbers 9:23)

IN WORD:
We serve an unpredictable God. He is not unreasonable, and He is not inconsistent, but He is unpredictable. No human has ever fathomed His ways. As much as we try to make the spiritual life of discipleship a formula — and check out the shelves of your local Christian bookstore if you don’t believe we have done that — God will change directions on us. Why is that? Does He enjoy being elusive? Does He like to taunt us by always staying out of our reach?
No, God does not tease. But anyone who follows Him must quickly learn: He is not a formula. He does not repeat the same methods over & over again. He does not let us get into a habit of obedience-by-memory that does not engage the spirit. There is a great mercy in that. He is a God of relationship, and He only allows us to relate to Him. We cannot memorize Him, we cannot learn His principles apart from His person, and we cannot substitute His Law in place of His Spirit. He desires to be known, and while His past deeds help us know who He is, His present direction can only be found in a vital relationship with His person.

IN DEED:
God is looking for those who have the flexibility to pick up and go when He says to pick up and go, and to sit down and stay when He says to sit down and stay. Sometimes He will have us camp for several days, sometimes only for several minutes. Sometimes He will lead us for miles, sometimes for a few feet. The disciple who says, “The God who led me five miles yesterday will lead me five miles every day,” does not know the God he serves. He’s into religion, not faith. There’s a huge difference.
In your discipleship, are you depending on principles, or are you looking for God? You must be available to do what He commands today, not what He commanded you last time. Know the difference. Know your God.

“The evidence of knowing God is obeying God.”
-Eric Alexander-

April 2 – Avoiding Wastelands (Galatians 5:16-26; 6:7-8)

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Galatians 6:7)

IN WORD:
What would you say if someone offered to sell you a piece of beach property at a seemingly affordable price? Sounds good, doesn’t it? But what if the property was a wasteland — the site of toxic dumping, the end of a sewage line, or used for some other objectionable purpose? The prospect of owning it would be unappealing to say the least. Why? Because there is no value in such a investment.
That image is an accurate picture of a choice we must all make. We can either live in the Spirit or live in the flesh. If we sow the seeds of the flesh, we are investing in worthless land. It won’t last. It can’t be developed. It will leave us with nothing in the end; the sinful nature is destined for destruction.
When we think of sowing to please our sinful nature, as Paul says (v. 8), we immediately think of overt, fleshly sins: sexual immorality, substance abuse, greed, etc. But we rarely consider the more subtle seeds of our sinful nature. If we sow seeds of self-effort, we will reap its rewards: a few accolades, perhaps, but nothing lasting. If we sow seeds of self-righteousness, we end up with self-righteousness which cannot stand before God. If we sow seeds of self-sufficiency, we reap only what we can provide for ourselves; and it is never enough. Living in the power of the flesh is perpetual futility. It accomplishes nothing eternal.

IN DEED:
One of the great mysteries of sin and self is why we invest in them. Like the beachfront, the investment may have natural appeal. But a self-directed life is deceitful. It promises us success but delivers nothing that lasts. Even its noblest works are corrupt. What a disastrous investment! When we buy bad merchandise, we get — well, bad merchandise. When we cultivate the flesh, we get the flesh.
Sow eternal seeds. Live by the power of the Spirit. Be forever joined to the plan, the purposes, and the Person of the incorruptible God. And enjoy reaping what you’ve sown.

“We share in the divine nature through our sharing of the Spirit.” -Athanasius-