Read: Colossians 3:12-14

Some years ago when the space shuttle Discovery was getting ready to head into space the mission had to be aborted and grounded.  It wasn’t technical difficulties or lack of government funding, but woodpeckers that caused the delay.  Yellow-shafted flicker woodpeckers found the insulating foam on the shuttle’s external fuel tank irresistible material for pecking. The foam was critical to the shuttle’s performance.  Without it, ice would form on the tank when it was filled with super cold fuel, ice that could then break free during liftoff and damage the giant spacecraft.  The shuttle was grounded until the damage was repaired.

Marriages and other relationships are frequently damaged not only by big things like infidelity , abuse, or abandonment; but by little things as well like criticism, lack of respect, and taking each other for granted.  Those things can peck away at the relationship and keep us from loving, supporting, and caring for each other in a way that is healthy and encouraged in the Bible.  In Colossians 3:12-14 it says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

In the Bible, husbands, wives, and children are all encouraged to love, submit, obey, and serve each other in ways that are not domineering or self-serving.  Looking out for the best of the other person is always a way to foster the love of Jesus in our families instead of picking and pecking away at all of the little things that really don’t matter in the big picture.  To produce a healthy Christ-like environment in our families, marriages, and other relationships we would do well to stop and think about how we are relating to each other.  Is it uplifting and encouraging or is it always deflating and discouraging?  Our words and our attitudes can be very huge things sometimes even though we treat them as the little things.

Make It Personal: Think about ways that you have been affecting your family or marriage with words and attitudes that are not helpful.  Try to catch yourself in the midst of those and change them for the better.  In the end you will be amazed at how it changes the atmosphere of your home and your relationships.

Read: Matthew 5:3-10

In a recent devotional in Our Daily Bread, David H. Roper shared some interesting thoughts from Matthew 5 and the beatitudes on what it looks like to be an authentic Christian.  He writes….

“I applied for a position in a Christian organization years ago and was presented with a list of legalistic rules having to do with the use of alcohol, tobacco, and certain forms of entertainment. “We expect Christian behavior from our employees” was the explanation. I could agree with this list because I, for reasons mostly unrelated to my faith, didn’t do those things. But my argumentative side thought, Why don’t they have a list about not being arrogant, insensitive, harsh, spiritually indifferent, and critical? None of these were addressed.

Following Jesus can’t be defined by a list of rules. It’s a subtle quality of life that’s difficult to quantify but can best be described as “beautiful.”  The Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3–10 sum up that beauty: Those who are indwelt by and dependent on the Spirit of Jesus are humble and self-effacing. 

They’re deeply touched by the suffering of others. They’re gentle and kind. They long for goodness in themselves and in others. They’re merciful to those who struggle and fail. They’re single-minded in their love for Jesus. They’re peaceful and leave behind a legacy of peace. They’re kind to those who misuse them, returning good for evil. And they’re blessed, a word that means “happy” in the deepest sense.  This kind of life attracts the attention of others and belongs to those who come to Jesus and ask Him for it.”  David’s thoughts are good things to consider when we think about what is right and wrong in our world.  Let’s look like Jesus authentically through and through!

Make It Personal: The kind of life described in the beatitudes and in the devotional above attracts the attention of others and belongs to those who come to Jesus and ask Him for it.  Which attributes from Matthew 5 do you especially need in your life?  How can you grow in this?

Read: Galatians 5:13-26

Read: Philemon

We have recently been hearing the Bible stories of Joseph from John Walsh’s Bible Telling Ministry during our Sunday morning messages.  For the reflection this week I share his short story on the book of Philemon in the New Testament.  It also is a good lead in to what we will hear in the story of Joseph this coming Sunday.  Here is the story.

Onesimus was a slave who ran away from his master Philemon. He went to Rome and eventually met Paul who led him to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Onesimus stayed with the apostle and helped him in the ministry. Eventually they knew it was time for the “runaway slave” to return to his master. Paul was a personal friend with Philemon, so he wrote a letter to help the two men reconcile their relationship. He said… 

Philemon—my dear friend—greetings to you, your family, and the church that meets in your home. I pray for you on a regular basis. I thank God for the love you have for the Lord Jesus Christ and for fellow believers. Those who meet you are encouraged in their faith.

Dear brother, you know me. I don’t normally hesitate in telling you what is right and wrong. I’m usually quick in reminding you of your duties in Christ. But I’m not going to do that this time. Instead, I am going to beg.

Picture this in your mind. I’m an old man who is in prison for the cause of Jesus Christ. In my weakness, God sent me a helper, Onesimus—a man who caused you pain and grief. But God sent him to me and I was able to introduce him to Jesus. He yielded his life to Christ and then became invaluable as a helper to me. In a way, it was like you sent him here to help me because you couldn’t come yourself. I don’t know how I can carry on without him; but he and I both know he should go back to you. He was helping me in your stead, but we didn’t have your permission.

Listen, he was a worthless slave when he ran away from you. Now he’s coming back as a valuable brother in Christ, a co-worker in the ministry and a dear friend of mine. Receive him back in love.

Oh, concerning those things he stole from you —put those on my account. Here, I will pick up the quill and write this in my own handwriting. “I, Paul, will repay it.” I won’t remind you of the fact that you actually owe me your very life.  Please receive him as if you were receiving me. You’ll bring joy to my life when I hear how you’ve accepted Onesimus back into your life and home.  But what am I talking about? I know you’ll do this and even more.  By the way, prepare your guest room for me. I know you’ve been praying that I’d be set free and come back to visit you. I think the Lord is going to answer your prayers.  Greet all my good friends who are there. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  – Paul.

Make It Personal:  Who do you need to receive back in love?  Many things happen to us that can offend, make us mad, and dishonor us.  How we respond is very important in how we move on, heal, and restore relationships.  The story of Joseph and Onesimus encourages us to receive those people back in love instead of moving ahead in vengeance and hatred.

Read: Psalm 139

When I grew up in Carlsbad, New Mexico we would visit one of the largest caverns in all of the world whenever someone came to visit.  In all I probably went through the Carlsbad Caverns National Park more than 25 times in those 17 years.  One year I even went on an adventurous hike into “New Cave” which required helmets with lights and no path to show us the way.  It should have been very scary but I was too young to know that I guess. 

In Psalm 139 David reflects on how God knows us more personally than anyone else on earth.  He also reflects on the truth that God is omnipresent and everywhere at all times.  In verse 8 he says, “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”  In verses 11 and 12 he says, “If I say, ‘surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you.”

Wherever we are, God is there!  This can be comforting, unsettling, and incomprehensible for us at times but it is something we must always know and be aware of.  From the farthest depths of space to the deepest caves of the earth God is there.  From our greatest times of need to our unfortunate steps of disobedience, God is there.  In our human understanding we cannot comprehend it, but it is true.  This is why Solomon encourages us to “Lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways submit to him.”  Life is full of ups, downs, and unknowns, but it is comforting to know that we serve a God who is there with us through it all.

 Make It Personal:  As you go about your day and week think about God being right there with you at all times.  This can be a comfort to you in times of need, perhaps help you to resist temptation in times of trial, and even bring forth worship when we consider the words of Psalm 139.  “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14  Read this entire Psalm today and praise God for being there at all times. 

Have a great week,  Glen Rhodes                          

Read: Nehemiah 1

When the name Nehemiah from the Bible is mentioned, most people remember the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem.  This was one of Nehemiah’s greatest callings and accomplishments for the Lord.  He was a brilliant planner, organizer, and motivator for sure.  But when Nehemiah sensed this call upon his life his first step was not to plan, organize, talk to the king, or begin his trip back to Jerusalem, it was to pray.  

The first chapter of Nehemiah includes his prayer.  He prayed for forgiveness, he offered praise and thanksgiving, and he committed himself to the Lord’s will.  Only after a time of mourning, fasting, and praying did he have the courage to go to the king and ask if he could return to Jerusalem to help his people and rebuild the broken walls.

In our fast paced world we are often tempted to barrel straight ahead with what we think is the right direction.  I wonder what would have happened if Nehemiah would have proceeded in that way?  What if he did not take time to mourn for what happened, to fast and seek after God’s direction through prayer?  Things might have ended up much differently for him and the people of Israel.  Perhaps the king would not have been so willing to let him depart from Susa?

The first step for Christians should always be prayer.  We need to make sure that our will aligns with God’s will.  Yes, he placed something on our heart, but the entire plan and direction may come through many hours of prayer and discernment, not the first inclinations of our flesh.  

Make It Personal:  If your first temptation is to act, step back and think about the first step that Nehemiah took.  Prayer and open communication with the Lord can open up many doors that human minds have not even considered.  If you read the entire book of Nehemiah you will see that this is not a one time decision for Nehemiah; he often turned to the Lord in prayer and asked the Lord to remember him, to deal with his enemies, and to use him in only the way God desired.  Hopefully that will be our approach as well.