Trick or Treat

TRICK OR TREAT

John 1:29

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!’”

“Trick or Treat!” a group of kids on the front porch screamed when Shakira’s Mom opened the front door.

“Don’t you all look great?” Shakira’s Mom exclaimed. “Are you Cassie?” she asked a candy striper.

Cassie lifted her mask. “I knew you’d guess who I was, Aunt Donna!” She chose a PayDay candy bar. “Thank you! Can you guess who these other kids are?”

As the bowl was passed around to all the kids who were dressed up in various costumes, each one took a piece of candy. As they turned to leave, each one said, “Thank you!”

Over two thousand years ago, a man was traveling incognito (in-kog-NEE-toe means disguised). This guy looked like an ordinary person, but He was totally different from what everyone guessed. Because he wasn’t wearing a crown or purple robes, no one recognized Him as royalty. This guy was the Son of God! But, He looked ordinary. Just like you or me.

This is typical when Jesus isn't recognized for who He is. After all, who would have guessed that Messiah would be born in a stable?  And even if Jesus was recognized as royalty, no one thought that Messiah would die on a cross to pay for people's sins. They expected Messiah to come and free people from the Romans. They expected a politician! Or at least, they expected a soldier.

Jesus isn’t what anyone expects—yesterday or today. But He is the perfect One to knock on the door of our hearts (Matthew 7:7, Revelation 3:20). Jesus enters as King to anyone who welcomes Him into the heart. Jesus brings gifts. Forgiveness of sins, salvation, and eternal life are treats for whoever welcomes Him inside their heart. Instead of our treating Jesus, He brings treats for us!

Jesus is King in the spiritual kingdom. He’s already defeated all opponents, including death and the devil. When He comes knocking, won’t you welcome Him inside? He’s the best Friend, and He’s the best Master. Jesus willingly serves us, doing whatever is necessary to give people a saving knowledge of God.

Have you thanked Jesus for the treats He brought you?

Take Home Nugget

In Jesus’ time, the bondservant had the worst job. This task was to wash the feet of everyone entering the house (people wore sandals and walked on dusty streets). Jesus even performed this task—willingly! The night before His Passion week began, Jesus served by washing His disciples’ feet (John 13:4-16).

Peter was uncomfortable by Jesus' service.  But in the end, we all Thank Jesus for His working out our salvation--what a treat! 

Jesus took my place and bore my sin.

So I, guilty, could eternal life win!

J.D. Griffith

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Church

CHURCH

Fourth of four in Tent of Meeting devotion Series

John 12:24-26

Verse 26: [Jesus replied] “Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will also be. My Father will honor the one who serves Me.”

This four devotion series shows where people have met, and still meet with God. But way more than structures, church represents:

A. Community. Church is where people live out their faith, worship, and learn godly values.

B. The church is also the entire world of believers in Christ. We represent Christ’s Church—His bride—so named in Revelation 19:7, 22:17. 2 Corinthians 5:20 calls believers Christ’s ambassadors, 2 Timothy 2:3 names believers Christ’s soldiers, and we’re called saints in Ephesians 2:19. Christians need one another. We support and encourage each other, serving the One Who protects and sustains us through life’s difficulties. The highest honor that anyone can receive is to be called servant of the Most High God!

Those who die to self (put others’ needs ahead of their own), may not be highly regarded by the world’s standards. But they are #1 in God’s kingdom. Serving God is not limited to what happens within church buildings. While Pastors, Priests, or Rabbis lead their congregations in worship and prayer, choirs sing and lead others in praise.  Cooks and servers feed people. House-keepers, broom sweepers, and file clerks also serve the Most High God.

Everyone who gives 100% effort to everyday tasks—impacts others around them—and serves the Living God. Serving Jesus isn’t about WHAT task we do, but rather HOW we accomplish assigned tasks. Following and serving Jesus is all about an attitude of humility, motivated by reaching out to others with the love of God.

What else about church?

Take Home Nugget

C. God’s eternal light never goes out, never even dims. The Israelites pressed clear oil from olives to keep lamps burning in the Tent of Meeting 24/7 (Exodus 27:20-21). Everywhere throughout the world, the eternal flame is universally recognized as a symbol. It honors a person, or group of people connected to some event. It represents God’s eternal presence.

Eternal flames can be found at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and President John F. Kennedy’s gravesite in the U.S.A.  In Israel, an eternal flame burns at Yad Vashem, the official memorial to Jewish Holocaust victims.

The Olympic Games host the eternal flame, which circulates to countries around the world. 

In synagogues, the Temple menorah’s continuously burning lamp is never out. A sanctuary lamp is found in Christian churches, representing either the Blessed Sacrament, or God’s presence. The eternal light is believers' call to be God’s light in the world, by acts of kindness, compassion, and charity.

J.D. Griffith

Lord, grant me a heart of compassion

So burdened for others’ needs

That I will show Your kindness

In attitudes, words, and deeds.

Fitzhugh

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Temple/Synagogue

TEMPLE/SYNAGOGUE

Third of four in Tent of Meeting devotion Series

1Kings 8:10-13

“When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled His temple. Then Solomon said, ‘The Lord has said that He would dwell in a dark cloud: I have indeed built a magnificent temple for You, a place for You to dwell forever.’”

The Tent of Meeting and the Tabernacle were temporary houses for communing with God. They were used for fellowship and worship, too. The Israelites grew accustomed to God’s presence in a cloud, as He led them out of Egypt to Canaan. (First Moses, then Joshua led them to their promised land—from books Exodus through Deuteronomy in the Bible's Old Testament). Even though David wanted to build a house for the Lord, God told him that another would do it (2Samuel 7:13). That job (honor) fell to David’s son, Solomon.

The glorious Temple that Solomon built continued as the center of community for the Jewish people (the Israelites). Five hundred years before Christ, centuries after Solomon built the Temple, it was destroyed. Herod built a second temple, but Jesus told His disciples that, it too would be destroyed (Matthew 24:2). That happened in year 70, and the Jewish people were scattered to the four corners of the earth. From then, to now, hundreds of synagogues (SIN-a-GOGS) have been built in Israel and beyond. These are still where Jewish people gather together.

The synagogue is where people nourish their faith, where God’s Word is studied. In fact, Jesus did much of His teaching and preaching in the local synagogues. Just like today, people meet in synagogues in times of sorrow, and in times of joy. They assemble there to worship and pray. It’s their communal study hall, where kids and adults go to learn the Bible. Synagogues also are bases for social and humanitarian work.

God knew that His kids would need a “house,” or resting place, where we could meet with each other and with Him. Our primary responsibilities are to God—focusing on His will for our lives, obeying His commands, worshiping Him, and Bible study.

For Jews, this “house” is the synagogue, for Christians, it’s the church.

Take Home Nugget

Just like Miguel and Jules’ 4th grade classroom, where school is where kids meet to learn and grow, everyone needs a house where we go to grow in Christ.

God Himself is with you—

Savior, Keeper, Friend.

He will never leave you, too,

Nor forsake you to life’s end.

J.D. Griffith

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Tabernacle

TABERNACLE

Second of four in Tent of Meeting devotion Series

Isaiah 66:1

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Heaven is My throne,

And the earth is My footstool.

Where is there the house you will build for Me?

Where will My resting place be?’”

Jules answered correctly in Tent of Meeting devotion. Once the kids understood the down side of having fun when their 4-grade teacher, Ms. Landis, stepped out of the classroom, they stopped. (Well, mostly, anyway.) But Jules, more than the other kids, know that rules are important. Being Jewish, she learned how specifically God instructed Moses about the tabernacle’s construction (Exodus 36-40), even down to the priest’s garments.

That little Tent of Meeting became a large, portable worship center called the Tabernacle. Exodus 35 shows how Moses got the Israelites to donate their precious gems, gold, silver, and bronze for the materials to use in obedience to the Lord’s instructions. They donated scarlet, blue, and purple yarn, fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red. Acadia wood, olive oil to light the lanterns, spices for anointing oil and fragrant incense were collected. Everyone who was skilled at doing stuff contributed their time and talent to building the Tabernacle (Exodus 36:2).



The very fact that God approved of and instructed Moses how to make a place for His residence ought to be encouraging for every believer. God is not some distant disinterested custodian of His creation. Quite the opposite is true! He repeatedly reaches out to people, eager to form relationships with each of us. He longs to live among us; His choice home is our hearts.

Spending time in Bible study welcomes Him to “tabernacle” (TAB-er-NAK-le can also be used as a verb that means to meet) with us. He sent His Son Jesus, to die on the cross so that we can be rejoined to the Father. (Jesus’ name, Immanuel, means God with us—Matthew 1:23). God also gave us His Holy Spirit, who indwells whoever believes in Jesus.

Take Home Nugget

Building the Tabernacle of the Lord was much more than just constructing a home for God to reside. The lesson was a bonding of man to his Creator: a Father instructing His child. Moses showed all God’s kids how to obey instructions—to the letter. The Father’s directions are never meant to be a burden. They demonstrate His unquestionable authority and holiness.

Our lesson is to approach Holy God on His terms, and not our own.

Do the 4th graders get the lesson yet?

How cool that God loves the specifics of me!

His loving care and guidance is individual, you see.

You’ll never be me, and you I could never be.

This relationship cannot be bought at any fee!

J.D. Griffith

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Tent of Meeting

TENT OF MEETING

First of four devotions in Tent of Meeting Series

Exodus 33:7-10

“Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the ‘tent of meeting.’ Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke to Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshipped, each at the entrance to his tent.”

Ms. Landis charged her 4th grade students, “I expect more from you. For the next five minutes, I want you to lay your heads down on your desks. Close your eyes, and think about why I’m so angry.”

Thousands of people (mostly men) flock to the Western Wall in Jerusalem to pray. They find privacy amidst the throng crammed against the wall, and speak to God. Often, they slip folds of paper with written prayer requests in the cracks of the wall for God to answer. Each man wears a shawl, called a talith, draped over his head.



The prayer shawl is named from two words. “Tal” means tent, and “ith” means little. Jewish people continue following this custom today because of its meaning. They envision that when wearing prayer shawls over their heads, their entire beings are devoted to fulfilling and following God’s Word. The shawls are personal prayer closets, little tents of meeting.

Inside these prayer closets, each person speaks to God privately and intimately. And like Moses, they KNOW that He hears them. Not a bad idea, is it? Many faithful Christians wear a head covering to church. Piety (PI-e-tee means godliness) and modesty (MOD-es-tee means reserved, humility) are two reasons that Christians wear head scarfs. Many faiths, Judaism and Islam for example, forbid women to be seen in public with their hair flowing freely.

Where do you speak to God? Inside your bedroom? No matter where we meet God in prayer, we can imagine that we’re inside a little tent of meeting.

Take Home Nugget

“OK. Miguel, can you tell me why I am angry at the class today?” Ms. Landis asked.

Miguel raised his head. “Well, we acted up when you left the room for a couple minutes.”

“And, Jules, why should I trust you in the future?”

“Uh, because we learned our lesson?”

Holy Father, I admit that I disobeyed You today. Please help me, through Your Son Jesus, to obey every command from now on.  Amen.

J.D. Griffith

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The Taste Berry

THE TASTE BERRY

Psalm 40:3

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”

“Ugh!” Jeremy said, spitting out a mouthful into his napkin. “That’s disgusting!”

“What?” Brad wondered.

“The sandwich Mom made me is awful!” Jeremy picked out his apple, balled up the lunch bag, and tossed it into the trash.

“Maybe your sandwich went bad, like because it was out of the refrigerator too long?” Brad suggested.

Did you ever hear the phrase, “it left a sour taste in his mouth?” This can mean anything that went wrong. The person is left feeling robbed, and grumpy. After a “sour” taste coats one’s taste buds, nothing afterward is any good. But just because Jeremy’s sandwich was awful, his day can proceed without a sour attitude. His day isn’t wasted. It’s his choice.

There is a fruit in Africa called the Taste Berry. These little beauties alter a person’s taste buds for many hours after eating them—so that whatever is eaten afterwards tastes sweet.

Wouldn’t it be cool to eat a taste berry before you’re forced to eat something that you hate? Well, consider that praise is the taste berry that alters a Christian’s life. After one thing goes wrong in your day, gulp a taste berry. See if the world doesn’t change immediately…from downer to upper. It’s all about attitude, Jeremy.

But there’s more concerning taste berries. When we start our prayers with praise, suddenly our focus isn’t on the issues we’re praying about. Praising God reminds us of all the things that we have to thank Him for. And isn’t it interesting that salvation and forgiveness of sins come to mind at the end of our list? “Things” usually are what we name first—rather than people, and eternal gifts. How about God’s faithful undying love for us?

By the time we add, “Your will be done,” our trials seem manageable. How does that work? Boy, those taste berries sure are powerful! Ending our prayers with praise shores up the fact that regardless of what we’re going through, God deserves all the glory and honor. Just for creating us, and for endless blessings—He’s all that—and bigger than our greatest need.

Yeah, “taste berries” can transform more than our taste buds!

Take Home Nugget

Let’s check out Jeremy’s attitude now. “Thanks for splitting your sandwich with me, Brad.”

“No prob. Do you want one of my cookies?”

“Sure. Thanks! Today’s a perfect day for football practice. We’re getting better every game.”

“Yeah, we may even go all the way!”

Sweetening our prayers with praise

Alters outlook and attitude.

Thanks are easy words to raise

God smiles when hearing our gratitude.

Devoted to Berry Dries Kleintop, my Mother.

J.D. Griffith

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Jaw-Dropping Awesome

JAW-DROPPING AWESOME

Isaiah 41:17-20

Verse 18: “I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.”

Inside Floral Showcase greenhouse is a sign that reads, “Enter, friends, and view God’s pleasant handiwork, the embroidery of earth.” This botanical garden, on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, houses beautiful flowers and exotic plants of awe-inspiring splendor1. We just finished the Alphabet of God’s Promises devotions—and this devotion is to remind His kids how our heavenly Father adorns our home with majestic beauty.

Weren’t His promises amazing? God meets, and often exceeds, every need we have. How many times does it happen, often even before you pray, that His gift lands in your lap? Spooky, huh? Let’s just take a day off, and rest in God’s splendor.


If you’ve never been to the lush rainforests of Brazil, imagine green deep and long as far as the eye can see. Dense, humid heat—flush with life—erupts critters, big and small. The teeming forest chatters and flutters to life. Looking right, then left, you suck in air so moist that your breath wrings it out. A creepy feeling floods a sense that we’re not alone; many eyes are watching.

Zoom to the top of a glacier, at the top of the world. The starkly forbidden Arctic Circle icy winds automatically wrap arms around us. Frosty air chills our lungs all the way down to our toes. The snowy white polar bears stare us down, daring us to stay. Blue white feels so lonely, that we hate to leave.

Vibrantly multicolored, fertile Serengeti, in Africa, awakens senses as though from a deep sleep. Giraffes, elephants, and lions stalk, fully aware of our presence. Here, we tiptoe, breathing in pregnant energy. Surely, life originated in Africa!


Tornado Alley, Kansas, USA, welcomes you with soft breath. Your bare feet are swift, racing a tumbleweed to the road where eighteen wheelers dominate. Wheat sway to the tune of “Stay for Dinner.” Feeling at home, even the rabbits don’t run away. Licking your lips, you taste the abundance of the breadbasket—the North American plains—which could feed the whole world.

Take Home Nugget

Scripture displays pictures of individual wonders of God’s creative handiwork. From vast landscapes to one flawless rose, God paints our world. His colors are richer and more dramatic than we could imagine. His creation a wonder. Such a splendorous display deserves our praise for God’s “embroidery of earth.”

J.D. Griffith

If God’s creation helps you see

What wonders He can do

Then trust the many promises

That He has given you.

D. De Haan

1”Embroidery of Earth.” Dave Branon. Our Daily Bread. Michigan, USA. August 13, 2011.

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God's Alphabet Promises 2 of 2

GOD’S ALPHABET PROMISES 2/2

 

Part two of two

 

Galatians 3:14

 

“He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”

 

The first part of God’s Alphabet Promises whet appetites of God’s generosity to every child who believes in His Son, Jesus. These are the tip of the promises iceberg I found in my Bible’s Concordance. (Kon-KOR-dans is a dictionary of words found in the Bible). For each letter, there are many more that could have been included. Let’s see how many different promises you can think of.

 

 

 

No [condemnation]. Romans 8:1 promises: “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

 

Orphans. In John 14:18, Jesus promises: “I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.”

 

Prepare. In John 14:2, Jesus promises: “In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”

 

Quiet. Zephaniah 3:17b promises: “He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

 

Rainbow. Genesis 9:13-16 promises: “I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth…never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.”

 

Savior. Titus 2:13 promises: “…we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,…”

 

Twinkling. 1Corinthians 15:52 promises: “… in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet…the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

 

Universe. Philippians 2:15 promises: [Do everything without complaining or arguing] “…so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and deprived generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”

 

Victory. 1Corinthians 15:57 guarantees: “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

Weak. 2Corinthians 12:10 promises in Christ: “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

 

eXtends. Luke 1:50 promises: “His mercy extends to those who fear Him.”

 

Yes. 1Corinthians 1:20: “No matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.

 

Zion. Romans 11:26 promises “And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The deliverer will come from Zion…’”

 

See also Isaiah 59:20. The deliverer is Christ, the Messiah. A perfect way to end God’s alphabet promises!

 

 

 

Take Home Nugget

 

I hope that these two devotions have filled you with joy. How generous is our God!

 

Holy Father, We thank You for Your awesome promises to us who believe in Your Son, Jesus! Amen.

 

J.D. Griffith

 

 

 

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