A Devotion May Be Someone's Only Bible
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.
I stood alone in my church, fully aware of the consequences of my sin. I was also fully aware that the time of hiding my sins was ending.
I found myself at my own well. The consequences of my sin had finally reached a point from which I was sure I could not return. My struggle with lust and adultery was more than I could battle. Night after night, I asked God to forgive me but quietly wondered why He hadn’t taken this desire away. Why hadn’t He healed me? Now, the consequences lay before me. I was convinced God was tired of hearing my prayers for forgiveness.
Driving home during the middle of the week, I felt God call me to go to my church. I parked my car, hoping nobody was there. I opened the door, walked inside, went to the front of our church, and quietly worshipped God alone with the music from my phone. Then I prayed to God. I felt His presence telling me that I had never trusted Him with my shame. I asked for His forgiveness. Then, alone, I took communion.
The woman at the well lived with the knowledge of life’s circumstances. On each trip to the well, she found herself alone to reflect on the burden of her circumstances. I wonder what she thought of her life. I wonder if she had given up hope for the life she dreamed she would have.
Jesus stood face to face with the woman at the well. She was caught up in her sin, but she discovered her sin was not too much for Jesus. He had not hidden His face from what she had done. He knew each sin yet still called out to her. The story ends with the woman proclaiming the good news that the Messiah had come.
From her circumstances, Jesus called the woman to proclaim His name. When we find ourselves alone at the well with our sin, we discover Jesus comes to us, just as He went to the woman at the well. He knows what we’ve done, yet He reminds us we still have a purpose.
Remember, you are never alone. God is always by your side.
Lunchtime approached as we ran errands.
“Where do you want to go to eat?” my husband asked.
Weighing a few options, we settled on a favorite restaurant close to our route. As we enjoyed our food, the attendant escorted three people and a baby past our table to the courtyard beyond. The older woman caught my eye.
“She looks familiar,” I said. “I think we went to the same church, but I can’t remember her name.”
My husband didn’t think it could be her. After all, it had been at least twelve years prior, in another state, and 1,200 miles away.
But the more I watched, the stronger became the sense that it was my friend.
When I finally remembered her name, I said, “It will bug me forever if I don’t check.”
Although not something I easily do, I went to her table.
“Excuse me,” I said, “Is your name Iris?”
She looked at me wide-eyed and said, “Is that you, Anita?”
We had a wonderful chat. She had moved to help her daughter and son-in-law with their baby.
“Since I don’t know anyone else here, I have been praying that the Lord would help me find friends, and here He brought you right to my table.”
Why did we all choose to go to that restaurant at that time? The table they were seated at could’ve been in a different section or my view in the opposite direction. I didn’t realize God was leading my husband and me that day. We’ve remarked many times since then about how the Lord does His work. Sometimes it is behind the scenes. He places us in significant roles without us even knowing.
Iris and I believe God orchestrated our meeting. She prayed, the Holy Spirit heard and directed, and God met her need for local friendship. It is a delight to be in Bible studies again with this dear lady and to enjoy our fellowship.
No matter your need, you can make your request known to the Lord. He delights to meet it.
It was Sunday during the weekly church service.
The pews were filled with families—all in their designated spot from which they do not depart. The song leader asked the congregation to stand and turn their hymnals to page 316.
The song chosen was none other than “How Great Thou Art.” The song was one of our favorites. The problem was Miss Betty, who took the commandment to make a joyful noise a little too seriously. She repeatedly overshot the high notes, causing everyone to cringe in anticipation throughout the song.
The good news for Miss Betty and the rest of us is that Jesus does not look at us in the same way we view other people. Where we hear sour notes in our favorite hymns, Jesus hears praise. Where we see tear-stained cheeks Sunday after Sunday, Jesus sees praise.
When the crowd of people following Jesus told the blind men to shush it, Jesus heard the blind men’s call. He asked them what they needed and gave it to them then and there. The Savior chose the people who were deemed annoyances by their peers.
After Jesus healed the men, they did not look around at the beautiful world, shake Jesus’ hand, and say, “Well, it was nice meeting You, but we’ve got places to go and people to see, so we’re going to head on out.”
Instead, they opened their eyes, saw the face of Jesus Christ, and chose to follow Him. If they did not thank Him with words, they certainly thanked Him with their actions.
When God changes us, shows us compassion, removes the scales from our eyes, or turns our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh, we need to drop everything and go with Him.
Reflect on the reasons you are thankful God doesn’t see you the way the world sees you. Think about a time Jesus healed you. Be like the blind men who followed Him the moment Jesus healed them.
“What has God done for you?” the speaker asked.
I couldn’t think of any miracles, so I jotted down the question without an answer, content to sit and listen—until movement distracted me. A woman I didn’t recognize bent at the end of my row. She whispered something I didn’t hear, an insistent expression as she reached over two of my friends to hand me a small item. I stared as she left—at the item in my hand, my friends, at the space where she had just stood, and at my friends.
“Did you know her?” I asked.
They did not. For the last few nights, my contacts had swum in solution at the bottom of a deodorant container and the plastic bowl from a razor head. I had forgotten to pack a contact case, but this stranger had just handed me a brand-new one.
I think Jesus is saying God cares whether we have the necessities of life. If He cares for us in the little things, how much more in the more significant things?
Thinking about my future is scary, but the exhaustion from relying on myself is far worse. When Jesus says God clothes the grass, it reminds me of God’s power. He will care for me in the little things—like a case for my contacts—and He will care for me in the big things—like where my career will take me.
Life might not always be painless, but we can trust that God will be with us. Give your fears to God. He loves you so much. Remember what God has done for you and praise Him.
They say Christmas has become too commercialized, so much so that it has lost its true meaning and purpose. Many Christians suggest steering away from trees, decorations, giving, and even the idea of having fun—calling these practices pagan rituals and unpleasing to God. They avoid celebrating because of the overindulging and overspending they see.
Jack Hayford suggests that “such harsh debunking is nothing more than holy humbug.” He goes on to say:
No matter how we celebrate, Christmas is meant to be a joyful time. A time to gather with friends and family. A time to reach out to those in need. But most of all, a time to remember the birth, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This Christmas, invite the guest of honor. The presence of the Lord makes all the difference. Remember … He gives us richly all things to enjoy.
And be sure to celebrate. No holy humbug.