Spin Cycle

SPIN CYCLE
John 8:42-47
Vv. 42-44: “Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me. Why is My language not clear to you? Because you are not able to hear what I say…44B[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

It’s time to jump out of the spin cycle, don’t you think? Politicians are famous for “spinning” the details of stories to advance their own agendas. Adults and kids also manipulate tales when altering events to make things “sound” better. Casting ourselves in a more positive light than what’s true is our own spin. Sometimes we’re confused—seriously questioning—what really is the truth.

Jesus tells us that the devil is the “spin doctor” of hell—the master deceiver who is a liar. He casts himself as the one who wants to give us unrestricted freedom and pleasure. This masks his plans for our destruction. In John 10:10, Jesus tells us, “The thief comes not only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and have it in the full.”

Satan spins God’s love and loving ways by indicating that God’s ways are too restrictive, and take all the fun out of living. When we fall for the devil’s lies, we eventually discover that our lives are empty, and broken—having drifted away from our Father in Heaven.

When we diligently strive to avoid the devil’s traps, our path remains true to Him Who offers us salvation and eternal life. Jumping off the spin cycle ends Satan’s lies, redirecting us onto the path of truth and righteousness.

Steering our boat intentionally towards Christ prevents our drifting into the devil’s deception.

Take Home Nugget

Jesus’ warning us of the devil’s lies provides us ‘heads up’ for discerning the truth. When something contradicts God’s Word, we know who’s behind it, and steer clear. We know that Jesus is truth. Our defense against the “spin doctor of hell” is to pray and study the Bible. God’s Word will lead us to victory—for certain!

J.D. Griffith

The devil is crafty, deceptive, and sly;
He cleverly tricks us to swallow his lie.
But his cunning methods we’re sure to discern
If we make God’s warnings our daily concern.

D. DeHaan

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Box Seat

BOX SEAT
Luke 10:39
“[Martha] had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.”

Imagine that you’re floating on a lake inside a rubber boat and fall asleep while soaking up some rays. After awhile you awake and sit up, looking around. You don’t recognize your surroundings, and your hot skin’s glowing ruby red.

This really happens to people—and not only on lakes. We grow comfortable in our surroundings and allow life to proceed “as is.” Before we know it, we’ve been deceived…Perhaps you now think that going to Church EVERY Sunday isn’t necessary. Or, you’re too tired to pray tonight, and fall asleep without disturbing God.

Do you recognize that voice? It’s soothing, and bewitchingly evil.

1Peter 5:8-9A warns, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, stand firm in the faith…” The devil is the voice that eases you away from what you know is right, so resist him, as Peter urges. Besides, drifting can give you a bad case of sunburn—or much worse!

The latest about religion is that our country is drifting away from our Christian roots. USA Today, April 28, 2009, had an article on page 9D entitled, Study finds ever more U.S. religion switching. The reasons people give for changing religions, or abandoning it totally, are seeking to have spiritual needs met elsewhere—or they just “stopped believing.”

The kicker is that 70% said that they just gradually drifted away. Churches have seen a decrease in brand loyalty. People are switching from their childhood denominations of Christianity. 9% said that they came back to their childhood faith after drifting away.

This is the danger of drifting. If you ever feel that your spiritual needs are not being met, speak to a parent, teacher, or clergy. No one will turn away someone who is seeking deeper faith. But don’t drift because you’re bored. Ask the Lord to lead you into greener pastures of faith so that your spiritual journey will continue without interruption.

Mary had the best seat of all, a box seat at the feet of her Lord and Savior.

Take Home Nugget

While there are many attitudes that set people adrift, there is no more meaningful relationship than what we pursue with the Lord. Regardless of your religion, remain true to your faith and remain close to the One Who is the sole source of all satisfaction.

The devil doesn’t care that you have faith, but he hates it when you follow Jesus.

J.D. Griffith

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Brave Alternative

BRAVE ALTERNATIVE
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

As Justin skipped home from his baseball game, he whistled a happy tune. Thoughts swirled around his head about the Memorial Day picnic his Dad was having Saturday, May 23rd. Last summer, Justin’s Mom died from breast cancer. Tomorrow would be the day for his Dad, sister, older brother, and he to visit Mom’s gravesite with daisies, her favorite flower.

What would a picnic feel like after that?

His whistling faded, just as day-old daisies wilt after being picked. His older brother, Brian, jumped down from the porch rail when he saw Justin. “Hey Justin!” Brian hollered, waving his hand. “We’re starting the picnic now, hurry!”

Justin didn’t know what lay ahead. He said a quick prayer, “Lord, I dread tomorrow, and miss Mom so much! Take good care of her, and restore gladness in my heart so that I can face tomorrow with hope. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

He rounded the corner as the smell of cooking hamburger was sucked into his nose. Sniffing, he smiled. Thank you, God.

Justin survived the Memorial Day Weekend better than he thought he would. Without realizing it, he followed the best prescription for chasing away fears of dread. He prayed at the first sign of anxiety. God replaced confidence and joy in his heart. God wants His children to stand firm in faith—especially when apprehension threatens our confidence. This prevents fluctuation in our faith in God—Who desires steadfast trust and confidence.

During the picnic, Justin joined in teasing his brother and sister. After eating, they played basketball on the driveway. Dad let them stay up late to watch a movie. He treated them to Baskin Robbins ice cream after placing daisies on their Mom’s grave. The weather was sunny and warm the whole weekend. They played, laughed, and enjoyed every minute together.

Have you grieved for a missing loved one? Remember, “Do not fear, for I am with you.” God said to the trembling Israelites. (Isaiah 41:10a). Then choose to walk courageously by faith. Fear is not from God. (2 Timothy 1:7).

Has the Lord ever failed you? He will never abandon you; He gives you exactly what you need at precisely the right time.

Take Home Nugget

Apostle Paul assures us in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Nothing is greater than our God, Who replaces worry with hope every tomorrow.
When a storm threatens, tell it how BIG your God is!

J.D. Griffith

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Fullness

FULLNESS
Ephesians 3:14-21
Vv. 18-19: “(that you)…may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Texline, Texas, began in the late 1800’s as a budding community on the new railroad line. Within a few years, the town had shriveled to around 400 people. After year 2000, the population was still around 400. No growth, only stagnation for over one hundred years became Texline’s history. The town’s borders are designated, but one online description labels the space this way: “a city limits sign at one end, another at the other end, and not much in between.”

How sad for what once had been a hopeful place for people to live, but couldn’t thrive. What’s much worse is if this were a description of a person’s spiritual journey.

The believer’s spiritual journey on earth begins at the moment of faith in Jesus, and ends with the person going home to be with the Lord. How sad if a person’s eulogy—(EUL-o-jee), what is said about a deceased person—is devoid of accomplishments.

How sad to say that between birth and death, a person’s life had “not much in between.”

A bread sandwich is one piece of bread on top of another with nothing in between. Who eats bread sandwiches?

Whoever believes in and serves Jesus has the promise of a rich life—an abundant life, full of grace. The apostle Paul prayed that believers’ lives be packed with the “fullness of God.” He wanted each believer to experience life abundantly, as Jesus said in John 10:10: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” The Message says it this way: “I came so that they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

How many of us experience only a small portion of this abundant life that Jesus promises to them who are faithful to Him?

Take Home Nugget

Our Heavenly Father wants every one of His children to enjoy lives free from constant worry. He desires us to begin a marvelous spiritual journey, live full lives assured of salvation, and end in peaceful glory—with MUCH in between.

Many live lives that are steeped in stress
When in Jesus not believing nor trusting His lead.
Intended fullness is replaced by massive duress
Where abundance of love is the need.

J.D. Griffith

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Erasmus

ERASMUS
Psalm 119:17-24
The Message v.17: “Be generous with me and I’ll live a full life; not for a minute will I take my eyes off Your road.”

Ever since the beginning where men wrote down what God wanted recorded, (around 1446 B.C.), God’s Word was not available for people to read. Then in 1516 A.D., a Dutch scholar named Erasmus gathered up the books of the New Testament, and published it in the Greek language.

We learned how in the late 1880’s, over three hundred fifty years after Erasmus’ New Testament was published, the Rosetta stone was found—and just like that—the mysterious hieroglyphics of Egypt were translated. The whole world seemed to come together with translations between various tongues linking believers as one family. But it took a long time for believers to hold, read, and cherish God’s Word in their native tongue.

These two landmarks launched later publications of the New Testament. Luther’s German Bible, Tyndale’s English Bible, and the King James Version soon followed. For the very first time, the Scriptures became understandable to people around the world.

Erasmus had no idea that his Greek New Testament would affect the entire world. He was lead by his own passion for laypeople—from all walks of life—to get a copy of God’s Word, and read it for themselves. It took roughly 3,560 years since the beginning of the written word, roughly 1915 years since apostle John penned Revelation, the last book of the Bible, to hold a Bible in your hands. Erasmus’ preface said, “I would have [the Gospels and the Epistles] translated into all languages…I long for the plowboy to sing them to himself as he follows the plow [and] the weaver to him them to the tune of his shuttle.”

Having God’s Word in our own language is a privilege. Let us rejoice that God’s Word will always be alive!

Take Home Nugget

The prophet Jeremiah had a passion for God’s Word. He said in Jeremiah 15:16 (The Message—yet another translation of the Holy Bible), “When your words showed up, I ate them—swallowed them whole. What a feast! What a delight I took in being Yours, O God, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!”

Is God’s Word your delight?

J.D. Griffith

More precious than gold is God’s Word to me,
Much better than pearls from deep in the sea;
For in the Lord’s Word I take great delight,
Ant it is my joy each day and each night.

Fitzhugh

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Rosetta Stone

ROSETTA STONE
Ephesians 3:1-7
vv. 4-6: “In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight in the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise of Christ Jesus.”

Apostle Paul is at it again—freaking out foreigners, like the Ephesians. He blew people’s minds back around A.D. 60 as he travelled around the world to preach the Good News of the gospel. (Regions of Galatia, Ephesus, Corinth, Colossi, Thessalonica, Philippi, and Rome were Paul’s mission ministry).

His gospel message went beyond preaching Christ’s death and resurrection for believers to receive salvation and forgiveness of sins. His message targeted gentiles as being co-heirs to God’s Kingdom, along with fellow Hebrews.

What was the mystery of Christ, is the Good News to all people—from ancient times through today.

Do you want to learn a foreign language? In 1799, in the Egyptian harbor of Rosetta, a French archeologist made a fantastic discovery. He found an ancient stone that weighed 1,676 pounds, and reflected beautiful dark gray, blue, and pink colors. But the stone’s benefit wasn’t in its colors, or what made it remarkable. The stone was inscribed with identical messages in different ancient languages. Translating the stone in Greek unlocked, finally, the meaning of hieroglyphics (hi-ro-GLIF-iks). This was the picture language that was painted on Egyptian ruins—that remained a mystery for centuries.

And for many, the Bible also concealed a mystery. For centuries, people assumed God’s Word was limited for, and to, the Jewish people. Then Jesus appeared on the scene, and God’s promise to Abraham—that he would bless the whole world (Genesis 12:1-3)—finally made sense.

Paul broke the news to people in our ancient world—most of whom had no idea that the gentiles were co-heirs with Israel in God’s plan. Today, the “mystery of Christ” is taught as Good News that God provides salvation, forgiveness of sin, and eternal life to all who repent and believe in His Son. (Galatians 3:8-9, 28).

Take Home Nugget

People from every ethnic group, nation, and language can share in the inheritance of the children of God. (Revelation 5:9). What a glorious future!

The believer’s inheritance—no matter which believer—is guaranteed forever.

Dedicated to Linda Shanks, publisher of BibleStudyForKids.com, who’ll be retracing Paul’s mission steps. Join in her journey to Italy, Greece, and Turkey beginning May 17th 2009. Log onto the website now and check out: http://biblestudyforkids.com/freebiblestudy.htm, http://biblestudyforkids.com/, and www.biblestudyforkids.com/webvideo.htm.

J.D. Griffith

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God's Fidelity

GOD’S FIDELITY
Psalm 56:4, Psalm 118:8, Proverbs 3:5-6, John 14:1
Psalm 118:8 (Center of the Bible): “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”

Fidelity (fi-DEL-i-tee) means loyalty, faithfulness, reliability, trustworthiness, dependability, devotion. What stops people from trusting God to meet their needs? As we saw in the last devotion, God meets every need—even deep-seated needs that burn inside our beings.

What happens when someone does not turn to God to meet his or her needs? Three problems are created: 1.) He will always be disappointed with the results—no matter how well things seem to be. 2.) He will not love others as he should because desire for worldly success is his first priority. 3.) He will (eventually) be hurt and offended by the one in whom his trust was invested.

Sometimes the underlying frustration that results from these problems is manageable. But more often, destructive anger erupts. God’s Word tells us what we can expect if we trust anyone or anything but Him to satisfy the needs He placed within us. “He who trusts in himself is a fool,” (Proverbs 28:26). “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:5). “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,” (Proverbs 11:28).

Jesus Himself, said it best. “Trust in God, also trust in Me” were His words in John 14:1. Once Jesus is working in your life, then everything else can work. When God’s Word and Jesus stand before us every day, we will experience an awesome reality: His presence in our lives. Seeing His hand at work is something you’ll never forget.

Have you been looking to someone (or something) other than your faithful King Jesus to meet your deepest needs?

Take Home Nugget

Prayer: Jesus, show me how to rely on You for everything in my life—even the secret desires that live deep inside my heart. Teach me to lean on You—abiding each day as my rock and safe zone. Help me to trust You and Your Word as the foundation of every detail in my life. In Your name, King Jesus, I pray, AMEN.

J.D. Griffith

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Meeting Needs

MEETING NEEDS
1 Corinthians 10:3-4
“They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”

When storms of insecurity threaten your well being, and your peace is shattered, where to you turn to for help? Some needs go beyond the physical, and originate in one’s soul. Whether consciously or not, these needs drive people—motivating them throughout their entire lives.

Without realizing it, we’re obsessed to satisfy these needs. Some typical places where people go for seeking fulfillment of inner needs are: family, friends, teachers, church leaders.

Foolish people put their faith in things to satisfy and sustain their self-worth. But clothes, jobs, material possessions, money, or houses do not define a person.

Self-esteem and self-respect nourish our egos—which often lack fulfillment.

Who or what feeds your inner being?

There are four basic, instinctive human needs: A) Acceptance. This means being confident in love, (Psalm 32:10). B) Identity. Acknowledging unique gifts confirm individual’s significance. (1 Corinthians 7:7). C) Security. Knowing our future is safe and all provisions will be met averts anxiety. (Matthew 6:7, 25-27, 7:7). D) Purpose. Everyone needs a reason for living, (1 Chronicles 16:29).

Believers have one answer that addresses all these needs. They know that God has a special plan for each of us. Jeremiah 29:11 says: “‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans for hope and a future.’”

The fact that most people do not seek God first to meet their innermost needs is the root of all their problems. Our Father longs to satisfy every need, and He waits patiently for His children to seek Him.

Jesus offers us spiritual food and drink to quench our hunger and thirst.

Will you remember this the next time you’re feeling discontented, restless with life?

Take Home Nugget

No human person or any possession can satisfy completely. Only God can.

Check out the center of the Bible.

Psalm 118:8 says, “It is far better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”

Living without trusting God for everything is like driving in the fog, and never reaching your destination.

J.D. Griffith

Into His hands I lay the fears that haunt me,
The dread of future ills that may befall;
Into His hands I lay the doubts that taunt me,
And rest securely, trusting Him for all.

Christiansen

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