In God We Trust

IN GOD WE TRUST

Psalm 20:7:  “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

            War is hell.

            I’m allowed to say that—even in a children’s devotion—because war is unspeakable horror.  Seeing fields littered with the bloodied dead is an image that one never forgets.  It haunts one’s nightmares.   

            When brother fights against brother, or son against father, war drives people to God.  God comforts.  God can make sense of the senseless.  God can mend broken bones and also make a broken country whole again.  In 1864—before the end of United States’ Civil War—President Lincoln first stamped “In God We Trust” on a coin. 

            Then, in 1956, the phrase became a common mantra against “Godless Commies” during the Russian ‘Red Scare.’  “In God We Trust” starkly contrasted the bad guys from the good guys.  The phase was added to paper currency.  “Under God” was added to The Pledge of Allegiance.  

            In 1970, a U.S. 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals wrote, “It is quite obvious that the national motto and the slogan on coinage and currency ‘In God We Trust’ has nothing whatsoever to do with the establishment of religion.  Its use is of a patriotic or ceremonial character.”  This court case decision is Aronow v. United States.

            Others argue that adding the phrase to currency elevates it to national status, and has everything to do with religion!  The U.S. Treasury defended the slogan by saying the motto was stamped on US coins mainly because of religious fervor during the Civil War.

             

            Today, this slogan has gone viral.  People argue that this motto has no place in the USA.  “Separation of Church and State” activists’ demand eliminating the phrase.  Does USA believe that money is our God? 

            Putting this decal on police cars is deliberate.  Law enforcement agencies across the country know that after aggressive policing, officers living through firefights agree that they truly trusted in God.

            Today’s patrol cars’ insignia is definitely inspired by religion!

            Of course “In God We Trust” has always been about faith.  But the legal decision on Aronow supplied the court precedence to say otherwise.  For 45 years of debate, U.S. courts cite that decision as ‘not religious’ with authority.   No judge will consider current cases otherwise.

            Challenges to Government agencies that claim they’re honoring our country with this motto are rare.                                                                       

Take Home Nugget

            What a shame for Christians who feel that we’re always defending our faith to others in our own country.  No wonder citizens of USA are confused about religious freedom and government.  Courts will always strike down Scriptural phrases in government.  But “In God We Trust” seems to be immune to attack. 

I’ll trust in God, no matter what. 

Adapted from “When Police Embrace ‘In God We Trust’” from USA Today. Paulson, Ken.  Page 7A.  Texas.  October 21, 2015.   

J.D. Griffith

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Planned Obsolescence

PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE

Part three of three devotions in God’s New Covenant of Grace series

Lamentations 3:22-33

Psalm 136

Lamentations 3:22-23:  “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

            Planned obsolescence [ob-sol-ES-ense] means something that’s made to wear out soon.  Obsolescence means old, useless.  When something is made new to wear out soon, something is definitely wrong.  When something wears out, what do we do?  We buy another to replace it!   Built-in profit for that company. 

            Manufacturers make stuff cheaply so they won’t last.  Thin plastic instead of metal.  The earlier things wear out, the better.  That doesn’t sound right, does it?  Of course not!  But we see how corruption has seeped into the world—a far cry from when God wrote His Laws on our hearts so that we’d live righteously.

            Believers in Christ are empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit.  He helps us live according to God’s Laws: royal love for him and others, perfect liberty in Christ and faith that we’re saved for eternal life.  Christian manufacturers should make stuff better so that they’d last longer.  Where’s the profit in that?

            God’s not interested in making a profit.  God created a whole universe   to last forever!  Earth would have never worn out if people hadn’t discovered fossil fuels.  Burning coal and oil provides heat.  Oil is the main ingredient of gasoline.  Those fuels blew enough carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that our climate balance is whacko.    

            People were never supposed to die.    

            Sin is the bad-guy that invented wearing out.

            Some things don’t wear out.  The same opening Scripture passage is worded differently in another version of the Bible:  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.”   That’s something we can count on to never wear out.  God’s mercy and grace never end.  Because His love lasts forever, it will never stop.  God will never stop being God, so His love for us shown through Christ will never end.

            The Lord’s love is eternal!  Check out the lesson linked below. 

Take Home Nugget

           

            Jesus suffered, died, AND rose again.  Death—to Believers—has become a planned obsolescence.  Death wore out.  Death is dead!  Death has no claim on you!  Jesus’ resurrection restored believers’ faith in happily ever after.  That gives God’s kids a wonderful promise—that we too, will live forever! 

            When Jesus comes to Earth a second time, He’ll also give us bodies that will never wear out.

Heavenly Father, Thank You that Your love never wears out—even if my pranks wear You out!  I can believe that Your love and Your faithfulness last forever.  I celebrate Your new covenant of grace this Thanksgiving.   Amen.  

Adapted from “Steadfast, Unmoving, Unrelenting Love.” Salemink, Ray J.   Portals of Prayer Devotional.  July 17, 2015.  Missouri.   

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY, USA!

J.D. Griffith

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Three Laws

THREE LAWS

Part two of three devotions in God’s Covenant of Grace series

Hebrews 8:10:  “This is the [new] covenant I will make with Israel after that time, declares the Lord.  I will put My laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.  I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

           

            God created people in His own image so He could have a relationship with us.

            Had there been nothing wrong with God’s first covenant, there would be no need to replace it with a new covenant.   A covenant [COV-en-ant] is an agreement.  It’s a promise of “I’ll do this if you do that.”  God still wanted to be their God even after people refused to obey Him.

            We know that we STILL cannot obey God’s laws perfectly, even if they are written on our hearts and put inside our minds.  And so does our heavenly Father.  The laws He writes on our hearts and puts in our minds are not the Ten Commandments.  He saw to what extent people go to dodge safe living under His divine protection.

           

            Soooo, the Father sent His Son Jesus to redeem people.  Jesus’ birth, earthly ministry, suffering, horrific death and subsequent resurrection proves—to what extreme measure—that our heavenly Father goes for that personal relationship with His people.

            His new covenant of grace has only three laws.

            The laws in God’s new covenant of grace are:  1) the royal law of love, 2) the perfect law of liberty and 3) the law of faith.  Jesus taught the royal law of love in Matthew 22:37, 40:

            “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all our soul and with all your mind. …And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

            The perfect law of liberty is found in James 1:25, and paraphrased here:  Anyone who believes in Jesus, follows His teachings to live righteously by the power of the indwelt Holy Spirit.  This person is blessed in all he does.  Righteous living demonstrates Christian truths, based on Old Testament morality (honor, virtue)—and rooted in the Ten Commandments—all of which were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.    

           

            Unbeliever are slaves to sin.  Their afterlife is eternal death.  But Believers in Christ live in joyous freedom.  We’re sure of eternal life.  We cooperate with God’s Spirit to grow into people we were created to be.   

Take Home Nugget

            The law of faith is found in Romans 3:27-28 and summed up here.  Apostle Paul declares that God justifies (or claims) as His whoever comes to Him through faith in His Son Jesus.  See the lesson linked below for greater detail.  

“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith, apart from observing the law.”

Adapted from “Life Under the New Covenant” from Joseph Prince. www.josephprinceministries@josephprince.org. October 05, 2015.   

J.D. Griffith

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Outrageous Blessings

OUTRAGEOUS BLESSINGS

Part one of three devotions in God's New covenant of Grace series

Deuteronomy 28: 3-13

Deuteronomy 28:1-2:  “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.  All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.”  (Emphasis mine).

            Well, since no one can follow all of God’s commands, no one qualifies to receive these outrageous blessings. …But there was one Man…Jesus followed all of the Fathers commands perfectly.  So, faith in Jesus is the way, the ONLY way to receive these blessings.

            Chapter 27, verses twelve and thirteen in Deuteronomy divides Israel’s twelve tribes into two groups of six.  The Lord named two mountains on which the tribes were to stand.  Mount Gerizim was designated for the priests (Levites) to speak blessings where Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin tribes stood. 

            Mount Ebal was where the priests were to say curses in a loud voice—to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali standing on the mountain.

            This exercise was a lesson in contrast for God’s people.  The Levites said in a loud voice both the blessings people would receive for obedience, AND curses received for disobedience to God’s commands.

            The lesson was interactive.  The people were to say, “Amen!” after each curse was declared.  Check out the awful curses in Deuteronomy 27:13-26.

             Would this lesson have gotten your attention?

            Just as modern time, no one can keep all of God’s commandments.  But we have something the Old Testament Hebrews didn’t have: Jesus Christ.  Faith in Jesus yields Believers blessing after blessing.  Today.  Tomorrow.  In this city, or there in the country.  Another blessing is waiting for you right around the next corner. 

            Aren’t you glad that we live in the time of God’s covenant of grace that Jesus brought after His death and resurrection?

Take Home Nugget

            And yet, we still wonder, Why does God bless me?  I don’t deserve blessings!  No, you don’t deserve them, but Jesus wants you to claim them because of His grace. 

            I can keep many of God’s commandments—but not all of them!  Besides, James 2:10 says, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”

            But we are not under the law anymore!  And yet, while we’ve been redeemed from the law, we haven’t lost receiving outrageous blessings under the law!  Complete the lesson below for Scriptural proof.

            Holy Father, Thank You for blessing me for good things that I don’t deserve.  But because I believe in Your Son Jesus, I abide in Him.  And all Your promises are “Yes” to me because of Him!  Amen.  

Adapted from “Jesus is Your Qualification for God’s Blessings” from Joseph Prince. www.josephprinceministries@josephprince.org. October 11, 2015.   

J.D. Griffith

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Lot

LOT

2 Peter 2:9-18

2 Peter 2:4, 7, 9:  “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; …and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men, …if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.”

            Do you remember Lot—Abraham’s nephew?  Chapter thirteen in Genesis says that Abraham and Lot’s livestock and possessions “grew so great that they could not stay together.”  Their herdsmen quarreled with each other about where their livestock would graze. 

            Abraham decided that instead of fighting, they should go separate ways.  He offered Lot first choice where to live.  Lot chose to live in Sodom.  Then, Abraham settled down in the opposite direction. 

            Lot chose poorly!  The opening Scripture says that Lot “was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men” when living in Sodom.   Genesis 14:12 shows that four kings “seized all the goods of Sodom …and “carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and all his possessions.”  (This was before God changed Abram’s name to Abraham).

           

            “The Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials” is also in the opening Scripture.  Abraham’s faith was “credited to him as righteousness,” is recorded in Genesis 15:6, Galatians 3:6 and James 2:23.  Before God destroyed Sodom, Abraham begged for the lives of the righteous to be spared (Genesis 18:23-32). 

            So, why did God spare Lot?  Genesis 19:1 and 12b-13 shows that two angels came to Sodom.  Lot invited them to come home with him. They declared the awful news after dinner: Get your family out of Sodom, because God sent us here to “destroy this place.”

Take Home Nugget

            Lot chose a very dangerous place to raise his family.  Giving into sinful temptations leads people into suffering, disappointment, pain and even death.  It was only because Lot was Abraham’s nephew that God spared Lot’s life—by   sending two angels who insisted that he leave immediately.  

            Whew!

            See how scary it is when people play around with their “flesh” nature?  Soon, we lose sight of what’s righteous.  Getting sucked into sinful behavior is so imperceptible, we barely recognize what happened!  We cannot climb out of that pit on our own.  Yielding to God’s indwelling Spirit is the only way to conquer evil and live righteously.

            Let’s put our lives in God’s hands.  Then we can live righteously, claim His promises and rest in His grace.

Holy Father, strengthen me to go where Your Spirit leads. Forgive my mistakes, test my heart and work out poor choices to my good, in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Adapted from “A Worldly Heart” from Dr. Charles Stanley. Christianity.com. Daily Inspirations.  October 10, 2015.  www.intouch.org. 

J.D. Griffith

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Shining Light Perfection

SHINING LIGHT PERFECTION

John 8:12:  “When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows Me will ever walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”

            Ten year olds Cassie and Missy approached classmates Jeremy and Brad as they exited school for the day. “Hey guys, would you like to go roller skating sometime?”

            Jeremy looked at Brad and snickered.  “How about it, Brad?” he asked.

            Brad looked at the girls sheepishly before replying, “Well that’ll have to be a later ‘sometime;’ I’m grounded.”

            Kids aren’t the only ones who get caught doing something wrong.  So when Jesus says that He’s the “light of the world,” people cringe.  “Don’t shine Your light on me, Jesus!” we pray.

            It doesn’t help when grown-ups tell kids, “Jesus sees everything, so don’t think that you can get away with being bad!”

            Because then we grow up being afraid of God.  What must God think of me after I did that? 

            We hate Jesus’ glorious light that spotlights our sins!  All our faults and weaknesses are laid out before Him—to our shame.  We hesitate coming to the One who loves us unconditionally because we think that God is angry with us. 

            That’s simply not true!

            Reread the opening Scripture.  It’s like Jesus said that after comforting a woman caught red-handed in sin.  He refused to condemn her…then stood up and immediately told the people that He is the “light of the world.”  (See the lesson linked below for the story).  How wonderful for us to see that Jesus says that He’s the “light of the world” right after He refused to condemn a woman caught in the act of sin.

            This tells me that I don’t have to be afraid to come into God’s presence because He’s NOT waiting to punish me.  Jesus’ glorious light spotlights how perfectly His blood washed away my sins!  This gives me great confidence to follow Jesus throughout my life. 

            How about you? 

            Jesus knew that His blood would wash away that woman’s sin BEFORE He died on the cross.  He knew that He’d take all her AND OUR sins with Him to the cross!  Therefore, He would not condemn her than.  And, He certainly won’t condemn us for mistakes, failures and sins now.  

Take Home Nugget

            The truth is that our heavenly Father only sees that Believers’ sins have been completely removed.  Jesus’ light reveals spotless perfection—because of His perfect work on the cross.  When we believe this, we can come boldly into God’s presence.  We have faith-confidence that Jesus’ light shows our perfection in Him!

                                                                                   

Can you follow Jesus now—believing that your faith in Him spotlights your perfection to the Father?

Adapted from “The Light of the World Exposes Your Perfection” from

Daily Grace Ministries.  Joseph Prince. www.josephprinceministries@josephprince.org.  October 4, 2015.

J.D. Griffith

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Excellence Unseen

EXCELLENCE UNSEEN

Matthew 6:3:  “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”

 

 

            Ten year old Jeremy and Brad high-fived each other.  “We’re going to be part of the Wolfpack!” they screeched wildly.

            The Midget League scheduled one game at North Carolina State University.

            “Not to spoil your celebration guys…” classmate Cassie said,   “but you realize that your game will be televised; are you ready for that?”

            Jeremy grinned from ear-to-ear, “Oh yeah, we’re ready for prime-time!”

 

            But they weren’t ready. 

 

            Saturday morning, the Midget League football game was certainly a show.  A show of prime-time disaster. The ten - twelve year old boys were not ready for prime time.  Television cameras distracted them.  Their coaches couldn’t get them focused.  They forgot plays.  But in the end, Jeremy and Brad’s team scored a field goal.  They won 3-0.

            Excellence was expected, but not seen on the football field that day. 

 

            That’s the thing about prime-time on the big stage.  You’d better be ready.  Madison Square Garden.  The Apollo.  Wrigley Field.  Everyone’s heard the names of the famous places where basketball games, comedians, and baseball games are seen.  Excellence is expected.  People applaud excellence.   

 

            But, after dinner, Jeremy washed the dishes without being asked.  Brad tutored the little boy next store in math.  That’s where they excelled Saturday. 

 

            “You guys looked great in your purple uniforms!” Cassie said, the following Monday.  Jeremy just chuckled. 

            Cassie put a hand on his shoulder, “You’ll both do better the next time,” she said, trying to get him to smile.

            The boys’ true excellence was unseen. 

            What they didn’t realize is that God doesn’t look on the football field to applaud excellence.  It’s when people return home and perform their chores without having to be asked that they shine the brightest.   It’s when they help the neighbors without telling anybody that they perform excellently.  Yes, God smiled Saturday afternoon at the boys’ unseen, unapplauded excellence.

 

            Jesus despises show-offs.   He said that when the Pharisee prayed loud and long thanking God that he wasn’t like others, he already got his reward.  In full.  He’d better not expect Jesus to reward him with, “Well-done, good and faithful servant.”  (Matthew 25:21).

 

Take Home Nugget

Jesus urges His followers to give, pray and serve unseen by others.  We are to complete these things only before the eyes of the Father, “who sees what is done in secret,” (Matthew 6:18).

            The whole world is our stage, but the only one who matters that we impress is God. 

 

Holy Father, I confess that I want people see my good works.  I even brag about them!  Give me a heart that only wants to please You, practicing righteousness on secret.  Amen.

 

Adapted from “Excellence in the Quiet Place.”  Dr. Tony Evans.  September 29, 2015.  The Urban Alternative at LightSource.com.  Kingdom Living.   Alternative View. 

 

J.D. Griffith

 

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Graphene

GRAPHENE

Isaiah 46:1-10

Isaiah 46:5:  “To whom will you compare Me or count Me equal?  To whom will you liken Me that we may be compared?”

            Resolve 2 B Blessed devotion showed that God gives His kids free will.  We use that free will when God challenges us to decide for ourselves whom we will serve, whom we adore most in all the world. 

            Who do you love most?  God is a jealous God.  He will not accept second place in anyone’s heart.  But God has also given His kids unique gifts and passions to pursue.  These gifts are talents we use to work at various jobs.   

            These gifts also enable us to serve God by helping people.  The church also needs people to serve in many ways: teaching, managing, answering phones or typing.   

 

            People can get passionate about their work.  Passion drive people to excel in their chosen fields.  Once in a while, a “miracle” is discovered.  Physicists Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov derived a substance from graphite, called graphene, at the University of Manchester on October 22, 2004.    

Graphene as a strongly crumpled sheet on a silicon wafer viewed by scanning electron micrograph

            Geim wondered…is it possible to polish, or shave a graphite block down to 10-100 layers thick…then study its properties?  The best attempt his team achieved was 1,000 layers thick.  Then Geim had an idea to use Scotch tape to peel away the top layer.  Flakes of graphite adhered to the tape.  The process repeated many more times to achieve thin layers of flakes attached to the tape.  He dissolved the tape into a liquid that eventually yielded ultra-thin layers of graphite just 10 layers thick. 

            Further refinements rolled out the first graphene sheets. “We fooled nature by first making a three-dimensional material, which is graphite, and then pulling an individual layer out of it,” said Geim.

            Graphene is a million times thinner than paper, stronger than a diamond, and more conductive than copper.  Graphene is one atom thick—perhaps the thinnest material in the universe.  It forms a high-quality crystal lattice, with consistent properties throughout the structure.

Take Home Nugget

            Danger Andre Geim!  When people are drawn intensively into a project, attain wild success, then forget to thank God, God is not impressed.  If Andre Geim is so proud of his own genius that he doesn’t give God the credit for his success, he worships himself.  Who gave Andre the intellect to create something magnificently new and wonderful in the first place?  

            When someone or something becomes more important to us than God, we worship an idol.  Even if that idol is ourselves.

The TV show “American Idol” should sound the alarm that we are dangerously close to substituting others and “things” for worshipping God.

           

Adapted from Our Daily Bread devotional magazine.  “Miracle Material.”  Mart Dehaan.  July 23, 2015.

J.D. Griffith

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