Where your heart is, there is where your treasure lays. Our hearts guide our emotion and decisions. Unless God is the center of the heart, things are askew. Allowing the Spirit into the matters of the heart promises the faithfulness of Jesus in our lives.
We note October 31 as Halloween, but Protestants celebrate Reformation Day on the last day of October.
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his famous Ninety-five Thesis to the door of All Saints Church in Wittenberg, Germany. It protested the Catholic Churches’ selling of indulgences. His act is generally recognized as the start of the Protestant Reformation.
Luther was brought before the Diet of Worms to recant his heresy for this act and other writings. But he responded, “My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot, and I will not retract anything since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.”
Luther believed that if something was not in the Bible, it should not be a Church doctrine. When the Church’s precepts are people-made and we hold to the supremacy of God’s Word, we always run into trouble, as did Luther. The Catholic Church eventually excommunicated him.
However, elevating human wisdom above the Bible is not confined to one denomination or church tradition. Since the Reformation, some churches and denominations have followed their church rules and by-laws over biblical truth. The result allows for actions and practices called sinful by the Bible. Scripture alone must be the basis for our faith.
One of Luther’s quotes explains why he became a pivotal figure in church history: “The Bible is a remarkable fountain: the more one draws and drinks of it, the more it stimulates the thirst.”
However, an inverse relationship between physical and spiritual food is also possible. The less we ingest physical food, the hungrier we get. The more we take in spiritual food, God’s Word, the hungrier we get too.
Don’t ignore Bible reading and prayer. Let God’s Word take you captive.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay and Pexels.)
“Rejoicing in the Lord.” That’s what she says every time anyone asks her how she is doing. Not part of the time. Not occasionally, but every time this sweet elderly lady responds, it’s the same. Rejoicing in the Lord.
When I first met her, I wondered if it was just a sweet response, but as I grew to know her, I found her genuine. It made me somewhat ashamed that I didn’t give this answer when others asked how I was doing. She placed a certain conviction on my heart. She reminded me that God’s eyes are on every single person all the time.
It’s hard to imagine God’s eyes on every person in the middle of hurricane cleanup. It’s never good when a hurricane sweeps through the coastal states leaving devastation and death. But devastation becomes catastrophic when that fury turns its head toward the Appalachian Mountains. Our mountains and our people were ravaged, torn to shreds. Dead animals are strewn across fields, and the stench, wretched. Valleys that once housed quiet, quaint towns are now barren. The only remains are broken pieces of homes or an overturned vehicle. Thousands are still isolated and unreachable until roads can be reestablished. It is … a war zone.
Paul was such a trouper. The accuser turned persecuted found his strength in rejoicing in the Lord. It didn’t matter whether he was in jail, starving, or on a wrecked ship. Paul’s mind shifted directly to rejoicing in the Lord. His faith, despite his circumstances, promised him resolve, whether here or on the other side. He believed God in every situation, and he did not worry. He rejoiced and waited on God.
When calamity comes, it’s easy to look upward and cry out to God. But looking inward? That’s a different story. It takes looking inward to find the joy we have in the Father. Inward is where we can switch gears from woe-is-me to rejoice-in-the-Lord. Tragedy comes. It never fails. This world is difficult at best, but Paul had it right—shifting from the gloom to rejoicing in the promises of God.
When your world turns upside down, take a breath. Look inward and seek the Master of all creation. Rejoice in Him, for in God, all things are made new.
Give to IMPACT
Many are contacting Christian Devotions Ministries and asking how they can help meet the needs of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. If your heart is moved, you can donate to Impact Fund. All monies are given to the care of Colonial Heights Christian Church, which works with organizations, churches, and individuals as boots-on-the-ground in Hurricane Helene cleanup. Give by clicking here: https://square.link/u/3S2D8oMy. All donations are tax deductible.
Returning home from morning walks, my younger dog, Lucy, always pushes her way in front of my older dog, Charlie. She wants to be the first inside the house. I suspect Lucy is simply eager to get her leash off and enjoy a sumptuous dog treat, but whatever her rationale, one thing is sure: she always wants to be first. While I jokingly scolded Lucy for her desire to be first, I realized it was a lesson I needed to re-learn. While I may not push ahead to the front of the line like my young pup, I frequently prioritize myself over others. I have yet to learn that the last will be first.
In describing the kingdom of heaven, Jesus explained this last-first principle. Unlike worldly standards—where being first in competitions, the workplace, hobbies, and the community takes precedence—God sets selflessness and servanthood as the standard. Instead of being me-focused, God calls us to be He-focused and kingdom-focused.
As we avail ourselves to God and ask Him for opportunities to serve those around us, the Holy Spirit will help fulfill that request—nudging, guiding, and directing us to those we can serve. Our spiritual senses will increasingly fine-tune to our surroundings, and we will notice opportunities to serve: To let the mother comforting her teary toddler behind us in the grocery line go first. To offer a helping hand to a stressed and overwhelmed coworker. To bring a meal to an elderly neighbor. As we act on those opportunities, we operate as the hands and feet of Christ.
Lucy may never stop pushing to the front of the line to ensure she is first inside the house after our morning walk, but as I scratch her fuzzy head, I thank her for the daily reminder to put others first. In God’s eyes, greatness comes not through achievement or worldly success but through serving and loving our neighbors and putting their needs ahead of our own.
Prioritize others’ needs and look for opportunities to love and serve those around you. As you do, you mirror Jesus. In His kingdom, the last will be first, and the first will be last.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay and Alexas_Fotos.)
Growing up, I repeatedly saw my mother give items to needy people. I saw people come to our house with sad faces but leave with big smiles. Mom took care of their biggest worry.
Mom’s kindness made a big impression on my heart and influenced my interaction with others. To this day, I show kindness too.
I never realized how much effect my mother’s giving had until she hosted an event. People from different places turned up. Some I hadn’t seen in many years. Such influence.
One thing that encourages us to show kindness is knowing we will receive a reward. Our kindness won’t be wasted.
But beyond the rewards, God wants us to demonstrate this culture of kindness as Christ did. Christ was a kind man in all ways. We must be kind as well if we call ourselves Christians.
We live in a world where many are self-centered and don’t care about others. A believer sees a fellow believer going through a tough time but looks the other way.
Many try to avoid others’ challenges as much as possible, watching them suffer from afar. This shouldn’t be so.
Christ has called us never to tire of doing good. To accomplish this, we must be intentional about showing kindness and always be on the lookout for others.
Think of ways to show kindness to those around you.
In the 1990s, after six years, my service with a Christian music ministry ended abruptly, catapulting me into a midlife career crisis.
Organizational troubles prompted my sudden departure, leaving me disappointed and hurt. I loved sharing the gospel worldwide through music and felt a deep sense of loss. I wondered why God took this from me and what I was to do. I didn’t know. But I didn’t want to return to my journalism career. Bruised and battered, I sought refuge in the Lord and begged for direction.
Disappointment strikes everyone. We feel let down or short of our best life. Disappointment is no respecter of age or station in life.
Yet Jesus can help us navigate through these times. He provides rest and peace amidst the storms. Our circumstances may not change overnight, but the Lord promises not to leave or forsake us. He can give us the strength to forge on as we trust Him for our next steps. He did this for me by setting me on a new path that led to more mission work, another degree, and a job at a Christian university.
When disappointment crushes you, give it to Jesus. Run into His arms and feel His warm embrace. Bask in His promised rest. He awaits.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay and bstad.)