Devotions with D

The Time Machine

With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. —2 Peter 3:8

In 1896, H. G. Wells published a book titled The Time Machine, an imaginative tale of a scientist who builds a machine that can transport someone through time. The time traveler is preoccupied with the future, not the past. Like many scientists, he believes “progress” will enable the human race to build a better world. Yet in Wells’ book, this science-fiction story does not have a happy ending.

The protagonist travels millions of years into the future. There the world has grown cold and dark. As a bleak snow falls, he sees the last remnants of life awaiting extinction. Thoroughly sickened by the twilight of life on our planet, the scientist returns to the time of his origin to report his anguish.

The biblical view of the future is very different. It tells us that God is Lord over time itself: “With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). We can be optimistic about the future because God will replace our world with a new one. In that new heaven and new earth we will experience blessed fellowship with our Creator for eternity (Rev. 21:1-4). Even now, Jesus is preparing a place for those who love Him (John 14:1-3), a place where “there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying” (Rev. 21:4). — Dennis Fisher

A Church That Cares

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. —Philippians 2:4

While traveling together, my wife and I started talking with a delightful young woman we met. The time passed quickly as we chatted about lighthearted topics.

But when she heard that I was a minister, the conversation took a heart-wrenching turn. She began to share with us that when her husband left her only a few months earlier, she had struggled with the pain of that abandonment.

Then she smiled and said, “I can’t tell you how much my church has meant to me these past months.” Her mood and countenance changed dramatically as she recounted the ways her church family had wrapped their loving arms around her in her season of heartache. It was refreshing to hear how that local assembly had surrounded her with the love of Christ.

Far too often, it seems, we limit the significance of church to what happens on Sunday. But the church is to be so much more. It is to be a safe haven, a rescue station, a training center for spiritual service. It is particularly to be an expression of the concerned heart of the Lord for hurting, broken people, such as our young friend.

We are to “love one another,” John the disciple reminded us, “for love is of God” (1 John 4:7). — Bill Crowder

Wow!!! I'm really behind on my devotions!!! Things got a bit crazy for me and I just couldn't keep up so let's get back on track!

One Who Goes Before

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.bn Romans 8:26

The CEO of an American multinational corporation plans to travel to an Asian country to make an offer to purchase a small company in that country. The CEO doesn't know the language or customs of the foreign country, but one of his employees does. That employee is sent ahead of the CEO to set up the meeting and convey the purpose of the CEO's visit.

There are many times in life when we wish there was someone to go before us— to represent our interests or to intercede on our behalf. Unfortunately, that's not always possible. But there is one realm in which it is always possible to have one represent us, and that is in the realm of prayer. Sometimes we know we need God's help—or is it counsel or wisdom we need? Sometimes it's hard to tell. All we know is that we need God! In those times, the Holy Spirit goes before us to the Father and intercedes, telling Him what we need.

When you know you need to pray, but don't know what to say, begin by thanking the Holy Spirit for going before you to the throne of grace.

If you could pray the best prayer in the world without the Holy Spirit, God would have nothing to do with it. Charles Spurgeon

songz777 said:

good to see you back on the devotions again keep it up

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Thanks

Divine Encourager

For if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. John 16:7

Tradition has it that, in 1803, Nicholas Hugh Sinep, the mayor of New Iberia, Louisiana, officially decided to be known as "Nick" instead of Nicholas. His new "Nick-name" supposedly provided a label for the practice of shortening names or assigning names reflecting aspects of character—that is, nicknames.

Nicknames are nothing new, of course. They not only go back to 1803 but back 1,800 years—and more! One of the most well-known nicknames in Scripture is "Barnabas." Barnabas's real name was Joseph. He was a Jew, a Levite from the island of Cyprus, who became a believer in Jesus, perhaps at Pentecost (Acts 2). Because Joseph was known for his encouraging spirit, people began to call him Barnabas, or "son of encouragement" in Hebrew (Acts 4:36). The word "encouragement" was also applied by Jesus as an appellative (a nickname, if you will, translated as "Helper" or "Counselor" in our Bibles) to the Holy Spirit—because He was sent to encourage the followers of Jesus.

If you have lost your courage, depend on the Holy Spirit to "en-courage" you—to be your Helper, Counselor, and Guide.

There is a real nutriment for the soul in Scripture brought home to the heart by the Holy Spirit. Charles Spurgeon

The Mystery of the Spirit

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3:8

In a Sunday school class, a pastor asked a young boy, "What is the Trinity?" The boy had a soft voice and answered quietly, "The Trinity is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." The pastor leaned forward and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't understand what you said." To which the bright young man replied, "You're not supposed to—it's a mystery!"

Perhaps no member of the Trinity is less understood than the Holy Spirit. But He shouldn't be—with the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit is equally God. Jesus Christ said the Spirit is like the wind that goes where it will, but which cannot be predicted or contained. We look around and see evidence of the wind—trees swaying, flags fluttering, leaves tumbling. Yet we cannot see the force that moves them—the wind itself. Like the wind, the Spirit is a mystery. We know of, and often experience, His presence. Yet He "blows" where and when He will, by the will of God.

Life with the Spirit is a life of faith, not sight. He lives in those who belong to Jesus. If that is you, train your spiritual senses to discern His presence.

The Trinity is (not are) God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Donald G. Barnhouse

Born Again

Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3

Suppose you were born in one country and learned its culture, language, traditions, and values as a child. Then your family moved to another country very different from your own. Suddenly, nothing was customary—new words, new foods, new practices, new sights and sounds. You'd be overwhelmed! It would be like starting over—like being born again.

Imperfect as it is, such an analogy helps when thinking about the meaning of being born again into the kingdom of God as an adult. Scripture says that before entering the kingdom of God, human beings are subjects of Satan's kingdom, the kingdom of darkness (Colossians 1:13). In Satan's kingdom we learned to get something by grasping, but in God's kingdom we get by giving. In Satan's kingdom, we learn that the first shall be first, but in God's kingdom the first shall be last. Everything is different; everything has to be relearned. That's one of the reasons Jesus said we must be born again.

If you're a follower of Jesus and you find yourself doing things differently than the world, rejoice! It's because you've been born again and are learning a new—and better—way to live.

If you are never born again, you will wish you had never been born at all. J. C. Ryle

The Real Enemy

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

For many years, medical researchers thought that stomach ulcers were caused by stress and spicy foods. Then, in 1979, two Australian researchers rediscovered the helicobacter pylori bacterium and proved that it was the cause of stomach ulcers. In 1994, the National Institutes of Health agreed and recommended treating ulcers with antibiotics instead of milk.

In medicine, the enemy has to be identified before the proper defense can be used. And the same is true in the spiritual life. Many Christians, while believing in the devil generally, have not identified him as being the enemy of their personal life. The apostle Paul wrote that the Christian's struggle in life is against spiritual powers under the control of Satan. To fail to identify one's true enemy is to fail to defeat him. It takes spiritual defenses to defeat a spiritual enemy.

When you find yourself in a soul-sick state, make sure you identify the cause. If it is spiritual in nature, only God's spiritual remedies will cure you.

Jesus invited us not to a picnic but to a pilgrimage; not to a frolic but to a fight. Billy Graham

The Oneness Factor

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13

Not everyone has the privilege of attending a large family reunion in their lifetime. Many families are widely dispersed and have lost touch with one another. But when large families get together and meet distant cousins, they have no trouble bonding. Why? Because they share a common heritage.

Strangers in the body of Christ should be that way—distant spiritual cousins who bond immediately. After all, we have "one body and one Spirit . . . one hope . . . one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all" (Ephesians 4:4-6). Unfortunately, Christians too often stick to their own "families"—Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and so on. The world looks at the body of Christ and wonders why we can't seem to get along better than we do. The early church, in its pre-denominational days, was known for its oneness and unity. It is a characteristic every Christian should work hard to restore to Christ's body.

When you meet Christians who are strangers, give them the right hand of fellowship. There's nothing wrong with enjoying a taste of eternal unity right here on earth.

Unity is the essence of the body of Christ. R. B. Kuiper

The Believer's Wall

Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls. Proverbs 25:28

Cities in the ancient world defended themselves with walls. Think of the time and energy invested in building a massive wall around a city, one stone at a time! But think of the consequences if the wall wasn't built, or if it wasn't properly maintained. A city with a weak or fallen wall issues an engraved invitation to its enemies to march right in.

Proverbs 25:28 likens self-control to the wall around a city. Self-control is a defense against enemies like temptation and impulse. If the wall of self-control has never been established or has not been maintained, our life is a prize waiting to be claimed by our spiritual enemies. But self-control for the Christian is not a matter of grit and determination. Yes, it takes resolve and commitment, but that is another way of saying "submission to the Holy Spirit." For the Christian, self-control is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is His life within that gives the power to say "No" and "Yes" when self-control is called for.

To the degree that you are "out of control," consider whether that is the degree to which the Spirit is not filling your heart and mind with His presence.

The fruit of the Spirit is not excitement or orthodoxy; it is character. G. B. Duncan

If you have ever been involved in any type of drug rehabilitation training or education, you have no doubt heard these phrases: "Don't pay attention to what he's saying. Those are the drugs talking." Or, "She doesn't mean that. That's the alcohol acting out." The meaning is this: It's possible for human beings to be controlled by outside forces.

What Everyone Needs

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

When it comes to radical spiritual transformations, it's easy for us to think of saints like John Newton (from slave trader to pastor), the apostle Paul (from persecutor to protector of the church), and Nicky Cruz (from street thug to street evangelist). But the truth is, every follower of Jesus has been transformed.

Before you met Jesus, you were something that needed radical transformation—what the Bible calls a "natural" man or woman (1 Corinthians 2:14). You may have been polite, friendly, generous, and well-educated—hardly someone who appeared in need of transformation. But in God's eyes, the need was readily apparent. Only God can see the fallen human nature that does not know how to give glory to the Creator. If you think for a moment about your life before and since meeting Jesus, you'll see the transforming work only God could accomplish.

Whether the changes are subtle or significant, they are the work of the Holy Spirit within you, reproducing the life of Jesus (Romans 8:29). Don't forget today to thank God for the changes He has made.

Unless God changes a person's heart, nothing lasting will be achieved. Will Metzger

The Need for Light

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. I Corinthians 2:14

All spelunkers (cave explorers) know the true meaning of "I can't see a thing." Above ground, there is always a bit of light coming from somewhere to aid us. But in a cave, once you're far enough in, there is no light. None. None at all. It is the most complete experience of darkness we can have on planet earth.

Spiritual darkness is like that. The Bible says that, before being born again, we are "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). Spiritually dead means no spiritual life. None. None at all. That means we have no love for or understanding of the things of God "because they are spiritually discerned." We only gain understanding through the mysterious illuminating work of the Spirit. What believer hasn't had the, "Oh, now I see!" experience in the spiritual life? All have and will as the Spirit opens our eyes to the truth of God for which the spiritually dead have no appreciation.

As you read God's Word today, pray with the psalmist: "Open my eyes, [Lord], that I may see wondrous things from Your law" (Psalm 119:18).

Whenever anyone knows truth, his knowledge is due to God's illuminating it to his mind. W. Andrew Hoffecker

Spirit-Walking

I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Ezekiel 36:27

Sometime this month, if you watch the Summer Olympics on television, you'll see an athletic event unfamiliar to most people: race walking. It's more than walking but not quite running—and it takes years to learn to comply with the two rules: the rear foot's toes cannot leave the ground until the front foot's heel touches; the supporting leg must remain perfectly straight until the body has passed over it.

There's another kind of walking that takes a lifetime to learn: walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. Walking in the Spirit is like learning a new language, a new culture, new foods, new guidelines, and more—all the while fighting the urge to do things "our way"—the way that is comfortable and takes less effort because it's so ingrained. No wonder the apostle Paul called the Christian life a race (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). It takes practice: discipline, commitment, obedience, and daily choices to learn a new way of walking.

Watch your own spiritual walk today. You may not receive a gold medal in Beijing for your commitment, but you will receive "gold, silver, [and] precious stones" in heaven (1 Corinthians 3:12).

If I walk with the world, I can't walk with God. Dwight L. Moody

Uncomfortable with the Culture

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

It's happened more than once—missionaries leave the United States and, in time, become more comfortable in a foreign land than in their native country. They give various reasons: "It's quieter," "less materialism," "less peer pressure on our children," "the people are more receptive to the Gospel." When they return to America to visit, they talk about "returning home" in a new way—they've exchanged their old home for a new one.

That's what it means to be a citizen of the kingdom of God. Paul says our "citizenship is in heaven," not in this world (Philippians 3:20). It's why, over time, Christians begin to feel more and more out of place with the cultures of this world; why they speak of God's eternal kingdom as "going home." When we exchange our earthly home for our kingdom home is up to God. In the interim, our job is to so walk in the Spirit that we aren't "conformed to this world"; that we aren't squeezed into the world's mold, as Bible translator J. B. Phillips put it.

When you leave home today, let it remind you of where your true home is—in Christ Jesus, now and for eternity.

If you stand on the Word you do not stand with the world. Vance Havner

The Gift of Weeding

He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work. Exodus 35:35

Jim didn't like teaching the boys class at church, but he pressed on dutifully because he'd been asked and he didn't want to disappoint his pastor. What he really liked, however, was using his day off to do yard work at the church. He devoted every other Tuesday to mulching, mowing, trimming, clearing, raking, planting, and weeding. He knew that the appearance of the church's lawn was important in attracting visitors to the Sunday services where they could hear the Gospel. But truth be told, he was a poor Sunday school teacher.

One day after talking with his pastor, Jim realized he didn't have the gift of teaching. He had the gift of weeding—well, the gift of serving, of helping. When he began working more fully within his areas of giftedness, he was happier; and so was everyone else.

The Lord has made each of us differently, with different passions, abilities, and gifts. We're happier when we're doing what God has called and gifted us to do. Others will be blessed, too, and the Lord will be honored.

Be good and true; be patient; be undaunted. Leave your usefulness for God to estimate. He will see to it that you do not live your life in vain. Scottish preacher George Morrison