Faith Walk

[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference John 10:1-23 2 Chronicles 1-3

A Priceless Word Picture

2 Chronicles 1-3, John 10:1-23
Key Verses: John 10:11

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then how much is a word picture worth? When it communicates the message Jesus has for us, it is of inestimable worth. A priceless word picture is found in John 10, that of the shepherd and his sheep.

Most of us have little experience with sheep. In fact, most of what we know is secondhand information gathered from lessons taught at church, maybe from Psalm 23. We are like sheep and Jesus is the Good Shepherd. We are the wanderers and He is the finder, keeper and protector.

Take this part of the word picture-a man dying, intentionally, for animals. Hard to imagine, yet it is the image that Jesus used to describe what He did on Calvary. Willingly, on purpose, the shepherd is described as one who "'lays down his life for the sheep'" (v. 11). Let those familiar words sink in for a minute. The finder, keeper and protector of the wanderers died on purpose, with purpose, for us.

Death can be striking. It catches our attention, making us pause and reflect. The death of Jesus occurred nearly 2,000 years ago, but it should still catch our attention. We like to talk about salvation being free. That is true-but what was free to us came at tremendous cost. The price paid was the life of the Good Shepherd.

Quietly reflect on this tremendous truth-Christ died for you. Then thank Him for paying the price. You had a debt you could not pay, and He paid a debt He did not owe. "Thank You, Jesus."

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference John 10:24-42 2 Chronicles 4-6

The Presence of God

2 Chronicles 4-6, John 10:24-42
Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 5:13-14

On top of Mount Moriah in Jerusalem today stands one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, the Dome of the Rock. Even when seen from the distance as one looks across the Kidron Valley from the Mount of Olives, the glistening golden dome is a captivating sight. The building is a visual feast of mosaics and marble, a blending of circle and octagon with gold gilding. It is a Muslim holy site.

Somewhere on that mount stood the temple Solomon built. While the exact location is not known for certain, the general area is agreed upon. It is interesting to stand on the temple mount and reflect on the account found in these verses. There was a day when the glory of God so filled the temple that "the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud" (5:14).

God answered Solomon's prayer. While we sometimes sing of God's glory in our hymns and songs, Solomon and the people saw it displayed. The temple became the dwelling place of God's glory.

Today the temple is gone. God's glory has departed from there. But here's the compelling thought: the Bible tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit of God (1 Cor. 6:19). As believers in Jesus Christ, we are the dwelling place of His glory!

Solomon's temple showcased the glory of God. It was a place of great beauty and magnificence. We may not think of ourselves as being like that building, but we are! And, just as then, our bodies also must showcase the glory of God.

Is the glory of God evident in your life? As you look at how you live, think of what Solomon did, and determine to be a temple that brings glory to God.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference 2 Chronicles 7-9 John 11:1-29

Pulling an All-Nighter

2 Chronicles 7-9, John 11:1-29
Key Verses: John 11:9-10

The life of a college student includes eating a diet drawn from the four basic food groups--fast, frozen, microwave and pizza--and a time-management plan based on the "all-nighter." The assignment that is filed away under "I can do it later" one day becomes the assignment due tomorrow and really is done "later"--as in staying up until three or four o'clock in the morning. On every college campus lights burn late into the night as caffeine-energized minds try to get work done.

Isn't there a better way? Of course there is, but there is a great gulf between the ideal and reality. It would be much better for all of us if we used our time wisely.

Jesus used time wisely and sometimes confused His disciples in the process. When He heard that Lazarus was sick, He waited. Then when He said, "Let us go back to Judea" (v. 7), His disciples protested that the time was not right. At that point, Jesus gave them a lesson on using time wisely--do what God wants, when He wants it.

"Are there not twelve hours of daylight?" Jesus asked (v. 9). The person who walks in the daylight will not stumble, but the person who walks in the dark will. It makes sense to use the right time to do the right things.

Jesus worked on the Father's schedule. He neither rushed ahead by going to Bethany too soon, nor did He lag behind by going when it was too late. Knowing what God wanted done and when to do it was the guiding principle of time management for Jesus. It should be for us as well.

Are other demands keeping you from doing what God wants? If you know things that God wants that you are not getting accomplished, examine the guiding principle for how you use your time.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference John 11:30-57 2 Chronicles 10-12

Du jour Christianity

2 Chronicles 10-12, John 11:30-57
Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 11:16; 12:1

Restaurant menus sometimes include a "soup du jour." A little French makes the soup prepared for that day sound like something extra special. It is special in that it was made for that day, but that is the extent of its distinctiveness. Adding the French words for "of the day" make it sound nice, but it is still only temporary.

That is fine with soup but not with commitment. We too often live as if it is sufficient to have commitment du jour, the amount needed or wanted for today, when what is needed is commitment for life.

In the Bible we find repeated examples of commitment du jour. When Rehoboam became king, he immediately fortified Judah. The priests and Levites rallied to him and they were followed by "those from every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the LORD" (v. 16). For three years they "strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam, . . . walking in the ways of David and Solomon during this time" (v. 17).

But the next chapter presents a different picture. "After Rehoboam's position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord" (12:1). The crisis passed and commitment waned-a sad pattern that continues even today.

Make sure that the commitments you make are ones that last.

"God, help me strengthen my commitments. May I not waver but continue to be steadfast in my Christian life."

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference 2 Chronicles 13-14 John 12:1-26

The Long Haul

2 Chronicles 13-14, John 12:1-26
Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 13:10

The familiar phrase "in it for the long haul" is sometimes used in regards to investing. Day traders are people who buy and sell stocks in a way that focuses on short-term gain rather than long-term. Some investment counselors advise against that and recommend investing "for the long haul." Let the money stay and gain over the years rather than by the minute.

Our commitment to God is to be for that proverbial long haul and not a thing of the moment or for the crisis du jour. Once we accept Jesus as Savior, we need to focus our hearts on life-long discipleship, not wavering but continuing in our commitment.

When the people in Judah abandoned the law of the Lord, God dealt with them in a way that got their attention. The attack of Shishak, king of Egypt, was humbling. Then when Israel, under the leadership of Jeroboam, attacked Rehoboam's successor, Abijah, God gave Judah the victory.

What had changed? They were once again committed to God. Abijah said to the armies from the north, "As for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him" (13:10). Each of us should be able to say, at any point in our life, that we have not forsaken God. We are to be committed for the long haul.

Asa, the next king, also did right. He acknowledged that "the land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God" (14:7). As they remained faithful, God blessed.

God's blessing is desirable, but to receive it, our commitment is necessary.

You cannot live on yesterday's obedience. Pray that today you will be faithful, and remind yourself to pray this prayer daily.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference 2 Chronicles 15-16 John 12:27-50

Check Engine Light

2 Chronicles 15-16, John 12:27-50
Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 15:4

Some people fastidiously maintain their vehicles, doing all the right things on schedule. They change the oil every 3,000 miles, rotate the tires and check the brake pads. They even follow the inspection guide in their owner's manual, going to the dealership at the prescribed times--"mileage milestones" for preventative car care.

The rest of us wait for the check engine light to come on. There's nothing like the red glow on the dashboard to encourage us to build our relationship with a mechanic! And we wince when asked, "When was the last time you . . . ?" Our typical answer is, "I was meaning to take care of that just the other day."

When something goes wrong, we seek help; when things are fine, we don't. We may live that way in regard to our cars, but we should not in our relationship with the Lord.

When Asa was king of Judah, the prophet told him, "The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you" (15:2). That is plain enough--but ignored. It was "'in their distress [that] they turned to the LORD'" (v. 4).

Sadly, we are more prone to turn to the Lord in a time of distress than any other time. God desires that we always look to Him, in good times and in bad, as well as all times in between. If today is a day of distress for you, turn to Him. He will not reject you. Then, make it the habit of your life. Don't wait for the "check engine light" to come on first.

If you have an urgent need, pray about it right now. And if there is nothing pressing, pray right now that God would help you always to turn to Him whatever the day might bring.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference John 13:1-20 2 Chronicles 17-18

How Low Will You Go?

2 Chronicles 17-18, John 13:1-20
Key Verses: John 13:14-15

Ever see a candy wrapper on the floor of the lobby at church? Probably, and if not there, maybe you saw one left on a pew, along with the discarded bulletin from the service.

Did you ever pick up the candy wrapper and throw it away, or did you leave it for someone else? If you left it, could it be that you did not stoop to pick up someone else's trash because it was "beneath you"?

We can assess our pride by considering the question of what we will or will not do in various situations. In a sense, a candy wrapper is an easy test. It gets harder when it's a used tissue on the floor, or a church workday when you are assigned to clean toilets. How "servant" our servant heart is will be revealed by where we draw the line in what we will do.

The disciples served their Master but drew the line at washing feet. It was a mealtime, where provision had been made to attend to this lowest of servant tasks, but not a single disciple moved to pick up the basin and towel. It probably did not take long to establish that no one was going to do what obviously should be done.

Then Jesus wrapped a towel around His waist, poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet. What they would not stoop to do, He did. "I have set you an example," He said (v. 15).

Examples are set to follow. The candy wrapper you see next Sunday at church is a test. How low will you go to serve your Master?

Pride is a danger that must be carefully watched. Ask yourself, "What is beneath me?" and then ask the Holy Spirit to bring it to your mind again, especially at a time when it is not just a question but a genuine test of pride.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference 2 Chronicles 19-20 John 13:21-38

Logo Wear

2 Chronicles 19-20, John 13:21-38
Key Verses: John 13:34-35

A current marketing trend is stores that sell only logo wear. Want a hat that has a favorite team name on it? You can get it there-as well as shirts, pants, socks, pens, pencils, posters, beanie babies . . . you get the picture. We like to let others know our favorite teams, schools, vacation spots and hobbies by becoming a walking billboard. We proclaim our loves.

While we proclaim our loves, Jesus wants our love to proclaim. Specifically, He said that by our love for one another "all men will know that you are my disciples" (v. 35). The logo wear of the disciple of Christ is love.

Read carefully, though. Jesus said that we are to love as He has loved us (v. 34). The definition of love does not come from the latest popular movie or song on the radio but from the example set by Jesus. In Ephesians 5:25-32, Paul detailed Christ's love for us:
1. His is a sacrificial love--He gave himself up for us (v. 25).
2. His is a purifying love--He did that to make the church holy (v. 26).
3. His is a caring love--just as we take care of our bodies, He takes care of us (v. 29).
4. His is an unending love--like God intended for husbands and wives, united permanently, a union that illustrates the union of Christ and the church (vv. 31-32).

It's easy to put on a hat with a favorite team logo to let people know we are fans. But it is vital that our lives be a logo, stamped indelibly with the trademark of a disciple--love for one another. And not just any love, but a love patterned after the love of Christ.

Does your love for others show enough that you are recognized as a disciple?

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference 2 Chronicles 21-22 John 14

Certainty in Uncertain Times

2 Chronicles 21-22, John 14
Key Verse: John 14:1

Sometimes our hearts can feel like waves tossed in the wind. The word troubled, found in verse 1, can be defined that way, as if Jesus were saying to His disciples, "Don't let your hearts be like wind-tossed waves."

That is easier said than done. Troubled hearts need more than the admonition "don't." They need reasons. The hope of heaven is a cure for troubled hearts. To comfort their troubled hearts, Jesus taught the disciples three things about heaven.

First, heaven is a place. It is the dwelling place of God, angels and the redeemed, not an imagined place.

Second, it is a prepared place--prepared by Jesus, for us! He is there now preparing a place for us, an abiding place, a "mansion" as some translations put it.

Third, the presence of Christ is there. He promises to return for us, and we look forward to a glorious reunion, one that will be eternal as we dwell in heaven, the place He has prepared for us and will take us to.

Do not lose heart. Do not allow your heart to be tossed about by winds of despair. Believe in Christ. Believe in heaven, and let not your heart be troubled. Jesus did not promise an untroubled life but a peaceful heart, and it comes from an eternal perspective that sees heaven as home and knows how to get there from here.

Remember that this world is temporary. One day all of these things will be gone. Ask God to use the hope of heaven to calm your heart.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference 2 Chronicles 23-24 John 15

Repeated Reminders

2 Chronicles 23-24, John 15
Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 24:17-19

The last time someone said to me, "How many times do I need to remind you?" I replied, "At least one more time." Some lessons seem to stick easier than others-and if repetition really does aid learning, we ought to be geniuses by now.

Occasionally we have opportunity to learn from the mistakes of others. Perhaps you are trying to get to another part of town and know that construction is affecting traffic, so you ask someone who recently drove through it. A quick call might alert you to potential problems and you can avoid making the same mistake.

The Bible is filled with mistakes--not errors, but the mistakes of people. A recurring one is starting well but finishing poorly. Joash is yet another example of that. He started well under the tutelage of Jehoiada the priest, who made a covenant that "he and the people and the king would be the LORD's people" (23:16). As king, Joash ordered the repair of the temple. He started well.

But then the day came that "they abandoned the temple of the LORD," who "sent prophets "to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen" (vv. 18-19). The result was judgment. Joash was lying in bed, recovering from wounds suffered in battle, when he was murdered. Another account of one who started well, but ended poorly.

How will your account be written? Determine to finish well.

It's a morbid thought, but if your obituary were being written today, would it say that you finished well? Ask God to help you stay true to His Word and finish well.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference 2 Chronicles 25-27 John 16

A Test on Pride

2 Chronicles 25-27, John 16
Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 26:16

Human nature has a strong and strange capacity for self-delusion. We err in our assessment of ourselves--usually by overrating ourselves or our importance. At the heart of this problem is pride, a problem we all face at times.

King Uzziah was powerful but "his pride led to his downfall" (v. 16). Humanly speaking, his accomplishments were great, but his attachment to them was even greater. He became so proud that he was unfaithful to the Lord, doing what was not allowed of even the king. He was not permitted to take the place of a priest to burn incense on the altar in the temple. God judged him and he died of leprosy, living the final days of his life in quarantine, in a separate house, excluded from the temple.

Pride can affect our judgment, our attitude and ultimately lead to a fall. It is a peril to avoid.

How can you tell if pride is a problem in your heart? Answer these questions to help you examine yourself.

1. What is beneath you? Are there things you will not do because you are "above" them?

2. Who is beneath you? With whom will you speak or not speak? Do you look down on some because they don't measure up in one way or another?

3. How do you expect to be treated? Do you need to be recognized, credited, coddled?

A proud person knows what is beneath him, looks down on others and expects special treatment. To the extent these things describe you, ask God to help you overcome pride.

Read carefully and reflect on the questions asked in today's devotional. They can help you discern if you have a problem with pride.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference 2 Chronicles 28-29 John 17

No, I Haven’t Been Sick

2 Chronicles 28-29, John 17
Key Verse: John 17:13

A cartoon showed two people sitting next to each other on a bus. It was obvious that the man was answering a question asked by the woman next to him. There was nothing unusual about her appearance, but his caught my eye. He looked thin, with a gray complexion and hollow cheeks. His suit was black, worn with a white shirt and thin black tie. With his hands folded on his lap and his shoulders slouched, he gave the impression of one both weak and meek.

The question posed by the woman was not in the cartoon, only the man's answer: "No, ma'am, I haven't been sick. I'm a minister."

That cartoon played off people's conception of what ministers are like--pale, weak, meek, sickly. The humor, as often is the case, is truth thinly veiled. Christianity suffers at time from an image problem. We have conveyed the image of the character in the cartoon rather than the reality Christ wants for us.

In what is truly "the Lord's prayer," Jesus said, "I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them" (v. 13). When we have the full measure of His joy in us, we will not be mistaken for sick people.

A Christian has no guarantee that trouble will never come or illness will never strike. Some days we look ill because we are! But nothing should ever rob us of that inner joy that comes from Jesus and is not dependent upon our circumstances.

Do people see joy in you? Think about what you say, how you say it, and in what way you say it. It could be that your focus is off Jesus and your joy is lost. "God, help me have the full measure of Your joy within me."

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference 2 Chronicles 30-31 John 18:1-18

“Nevertheless, some . . .”

2 Chronicles 30-31, John 18:1-18
Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 30:10-11

Where were you on December 31, 1999, as midnight approached? Preparations for the infamous Y2K bug varied--from building bunkers to ignoring the warnings. Responses to the forecasts of Y2K-related problems were both extremes and everything in between, but it basically came down to one of two. Either you did something or nothing. Some heard the warnings and heeded them, while others choose to laugh them off.

Long before computers were even conceived of, a letter went out and was met with the same basic responses--people scorned and ridiculed the message, but some listened. The message was from King Hezekiah, calling the people of Israel to return to the Lord. He wrote, "Do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were; submit to the LORD. Come to the sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you" (30:8).

Return, yield, serve--a needed message for a people who as a nation had become unfaithful to the Lord.

The people scorned and ridiculed the messengers. Sounds like today. The message of God is not always received. But notice verse 11: "Nevertheless, some . . . humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem." Thank God for the "some."

Hezekiah's message is of eternal significance and so much more important than the Y2K warning. How do you respond to the Word of God? Are you part of the "scorners" or one of the "some"?

God didn't give us His Word just to increase our knowledge but to affect the way we live. If it is going to change you, you must be open to hearing the message. Determine to be one of the "some." Hear and heed His Word.

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Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference 2 Chronicles 32-33 John 18:19-40

Science Project

2 Chronicles 32-33, John 18:19-40
Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 32:7-8

One of the most dreaded days in the life of parents is when their elementary-aged child brings home a piece of paper that reads, "Science project." Truth in advertising laws should apply and the assignment be called what it is: Parent/Child Cooperative Homework Assignment." What has been given to the child to do inevitably requires parental involvement.

The thing to avoid is either extreme. If it is done totally by the child, the project will probably not meet the teacher's expectation. If it is done totally by the parent, that's obviously unacceptable. In between is the holy grail of homework: parental involvement, student participation. It is a "both/and," not an "either/or" situation.

The challenges we face in life should be approached with a "both/and" mentality. But in this case, the two parts of meeting the challenge are not parent and child but you and God.

In Hezekiah's day, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, invaded. Hezekiah prepared to be attacked. The water supply was secured, the walls repaired, towers built and weapons and shields manufactured. That was his part.

The other part of the defense was God's. "There is a greater power with us than with him," Hezekiah said of Sennacherib. "With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles" (32:7-8).

"Either/or" was not enough. The people did not rely just on the "arm of flesh" or just on God. It was "both/and." They prepared and trusted God--an early "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition" approach, which needs to be our approach. Work and pray.

Do you trust just in what you can do, forgetting God? Or do you sit back waiting for God to do it all? Determine to live in balance, not with an "either/or" mind-set but "both/and." Work and pray.

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Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference 2 Chronicles 34-36 John 19:1-22

Warning Ignored

2 Chronicles 34-36, John 19:1-22
Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 36:15-18

Perhaps it is the result of lawsuits that we have so many warning labels today. They are found on coffee cups at fast-food restaurants, batting helmets, side-view mirrors on cars--everywhere, it seems, except on credit cards, one place where they are probably most needed!

Familiarity does breed contempt, and the overuse of the word warning has resulted in chronic disregard of the word. Still, there are times that warnings are needed and should be heeded, such as when a tornado is sighted. Going out with a camcorder to film a tornado is not wise. Going to the basement is.

God gives warnings to us in His Word. He also tells us about people who did the unwise thing, choosing to ignore and even ridicule the warning. The closing chapter of 2 Chronicles is sad as it tells of the fall of Jerusalem, an event that occurred after God's messengers were ignored.

The messengers of God came to the people "again and again, because he had pity on his people . . . . But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets" (vv. 15-16). Judgment came as God handed His people over to the Babylonians.

The Bible tells us how to live as disciples of Christ. In it are instructions and warnings along with examples from which we learn valuable lessons. We need to read the Word, learn the Word and live the Word, putting into practice the principles God gives us.

Reading your Bible is only the beginning of what God wants. You also must learn what it teaches and then live it. When you read and learn, do you then live it?

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