A Christian Devotional

[Shammu]

All aboard!

Hebrews 2:10-11 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

After nearly completing his first overseas cruise, a young ensign was given an opportunity to display his capabilities at getting the ship under way. With a stream of commands, he had the decks buzzing with men and soon the ship was steaming out the channel en route to the states.

His efficiency established a new record for getting a destroyer under Way, so he was not surprised when a seaman approached him with a message from the captain. Strangely though, it was a radio message and it read: "My personal congratulations to you upon completing your underway preparation exercise according to the book and with amazing speed. In your haste, however, you have overlooked one of the unwritten rules--make sure the captain is aboard before getting under way."

We may think our lives are in order. We may have them managed them to a tee and people may wish they were us -- our businesses are prospering, our kids are doing well in school, our marriage is sweeter than ever. But if the Captain is not on board, at some point, we're going to have to head back and start again.

Let's make sure the Lord is on board our lives today. There's so much more we can do when He is!

[Shammu]

Let's get exposed!

Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

I recently read a story about a rather pompous-looking deacon who was endeavoring to impress upon a class of boys the importance of living the Christian life. “Why do you think people call me a Christian?” the man asked. After a moment’s pause, one youngster said, “Maybe it’s because they don’t know you.”

I don't know if this is a true story -- but I'm sure we've all experienced hypocrisy in our own lives. Mark Twain said "We’re all like the moon, we have a dark side we don’t want anyone to see".

Hypocrisy is a dangerous thing. It has turned a many a man away from the Lord to search elsewhere for answers. It can ruin an entire generation and more after them. But we have the opportunity to change those generations for the good of God's kingdom! Those of us who know and love God must never stop allowing Him to search our "dark sides" so that we can more effectively be used as vessels to lead the hungry multitudes to Him.

Let's come against the hypocrisy in our lives. Let's ask the Lord to search our hearts today and uproot the things that need uprooting. Let's give our all to God again. There's so much work to be done!

[Shammu]

Believe it.... or not?

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Jonathan Whitfield was preaching to coal miners in England. He asked one man, "What do you believe?" "Well, I believe the same as the church." "And what does the church believe?" "Well, they believe the same as me." Seeing he was getting nowhere, Whitfield said, "And what is it that you both believe?" "Well, I suppose the same thing."

The majority of the things we believe were told us by someone we deem trustworthy. For example, we believe there is such a place as Zimbabwe because our geography teachers taught us so, but how many of us have actually been to see it? We couldn't testify from personal experience but we believe it because reliable people have told us it’s true. The same goes for science, space, medicine, history, and the list goes on.

Sadly, one of the things most disputed in the world is the truth of Christianity. And even more sadly, many of us wouldn’t know how to defend it if anyone challenged us.

As Christians, we have a responsibility to know and share the truth of Jesus Christ. Let’s determine to read more of the Word and find out for ourselves what He is all about. There’s so much work to be done!

[Shammu]

Are you listening?

James 1:19-20 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt got tired of smiling that big smile and saying all the usual things at those White House receptions. So, one evening he decided to find out whether anybody was paying attention to what he was saying. As each person came up to him with extended hand, he flashed his big smile and said, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." People would automatically respond with comments such as "How lovely." or "Continue on with your great work." Nobody listened to what he was saying, except for one foreign diplomat. When the president said, "I murdered my grandmother this morning," the diplomat responded softly, "I'm sure she had it coming to her."

It's a funny story, but how often do we do the same? It seems that we have lot's to say but we are not very good at listening. Think about it -- how many language, speech and speaking courses can you find in your college course book? But can you find even one class on listening?? There is such a lack of good listening skills in this day and age that we have to pay someone a lot of money just to listen to us! More importantly, God has many things He desires to reveal to us -- but we’re always talking, talking, talking!

let's strive to do less talking and more listening today. Let's give the Lord and others a chance to be heard.

[Shammu]

Hold on tight and don't let go!

Psalms 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Our little Elianna is not a baby anymore, someone reminded us recently as we were saying something in passing about “our baby”. Boy do they grow fast.

It seems like yesterday that she was just beginning to walk. She would pull herself up by our two forefingers and take off while we run behind her! Later, she got a little more daring. Every once in a while, she'd look at us as if to warn us, and then let go! It's a good thing that we were right behind her, ready to catch her when she falls!

Isn't it like that in our journey with the Lord, though? Our nature as humans is to want to be independent. We want to walk on our own without any help, but when we try -- we quickly fall! Not only is our Abba always behind us to help and encourage us along the way, but we can walk farther and faster when were holding onto Him!

God desires that we hold firmly to Him and cling tighter with each and every step we take! If you've fallen today, no worries -- just grab hold of His hand again -- He's right there behind you!

[Shammu]

Badgering can be a good thing!

Proverbs 30:26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

Unless you’re up on your biology, you’re probably wondering, “What in the world is a coney?” I certainly was. After doing a little research, I discovered that a coney is a rock badger.

These little critters make their homes underneath rocks and in sides of mountains -- only venturing away from their rocky homes in the quest for food. While the badger stays within his home of rocks, he is safe from his natural predators. He stays close to home because he realizes his limitations. Badgers recognize that they do not have strength within themselves --- their strength lies in the rocks they call home.

Hmmm. If a coney can recognize his limitations, how much more should we?! We, like them, are feeble folk! If we venture too far away from our Rock , our Messiah -- we will become vulnerable, easy prey! But if we stay within the shelter of our Rock, we can rest in the security He provides!

The winds and storms of this world can shake us up a bit -- but they don’t sway the Rock! Let’s make sure our homes are built in the safest place there is -- on the Rock.

[Shammu]

Which would you choose?

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

We came across this story, about a man who was slowly losing his memory. After a lengthy examination, the doctor said that a risky operation on his brain might reverse his condition and restore his memory. However, the surgery would be so delicate that a nerve could be severed, causing total blindness.

The surgeon asked, "So, which would you rather have, your sight or your memory?" The man pondered the question for a while and replied, "My sight, because I would rather see where I am going than remember where I have been."

Our enemy is always trying to dig up the past and keep us all bound up in our failures. But be encouraged! Today is a new day! Today and every day we have a choice to make! Like Paul, we must choose to press forward and put aside our past. We must purpose to keep our eyes on the Lord, not on our successes or failures, but upon on what can we do for Him today!

Be free from the shackles of the past! Keep your eyes on the prize! There’s so much work to be done!

[Shammu]

You're not alone!

Hebrews 12:22-24 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Two and a half years ago, shortly after we moved to Israel, our little daughter was born. Little did we or the doctors realize that she was born blind with a rare eye condition. With much prayer and fasting, we've seen the Lord do miracles and she is a seeing, thriving and very bright toddler today! (Please pray for Elianna as we have a very important doctor appointment on May 21st which through very invasive testing, will determine if her sight has improved since she has been wearing glasses).

However, one of the remarkable things that came out of this event in our lives was that my wife and I began a nighly praise and worship service in our home. Although originally we’d hoped it would gather more of a crowd most nights, it's often just us.

I recently heard about the pastor of a small church, who was dismayed when only two people stayed for the communion service. As he read from the liturgy, he came to the words: "Therefore, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, we worship and adore Thy glorious name." That sentence changed everything for him. In his heart he said, "God forgive me. I did not know I was in that great company."

It's true -- we are in GREAT company! When we worship the Lord, no matter how small a number we think we are, we worship along with all the hosts of heaven!

[Shammu]

Wake up and smell the roses!

Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

An ancient story is told of the Queen of Sheba. She sent two wreaths of roses to Solomon, one real and one artificial, to test his reputed wisdom. She defied him to detect the genuine from the artificial. Solomon at once directed that some bees be brought into the room and of course, they immediately flew to the real flowers and thought nothing of the counterfeit.

So it is with us as believers. When we find ourselves overwhelmed, surrounded, being attacked from every side with the bees of revile and persecution, it simply means they recognize that we are the real deal! Our beautiful aroma attracts those scary bees but the Lord, in the end, "Where,[oh bees], is your sting?"

Rejoice when the bees come around! Don't lose heart! God has the victory!

[Shammu]

Let it go!

Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

My wife has had an interesting life. Here, she shares a small portion of her past:

I was born in Israel. My parents divorced when I was a toddler and my mother met and married a hippie American tourist who was searching his roots in Israel at the time. Later, we went back to the States with him. Little did we realize that he was heavily addicted to drugs and this among other things made for a very unhappy family and little on which to live.

Every once in a while my father in Israel would send money for my mother to buy an airline ticket for me to visit him and the rest of my family. One particular year when I about eleven or twelve, he gave me a nice chunk of spending money for the duration of my trip, the equivalence of two hundred and fifty dollars or so. When my time in Israel that summer was coming to an end and I realized I had hardly touched that money, I decided keep it and not tell him or anyone else. “I mean, my dad had assumed I’d spent it, right? No one would have to know,” I reasoned. “I’d take it back with me and have lots of money to spend when I returned to Israel the next time.”

When I got back to America, I put that stash away in a little jewelry box on my dresser. No matter how poor we were, I always secretly felt rich knowing that stash was there. The next summer, my father sent for me again. Before I left, I was sure not to forget to put my saved shekels deep in my pocket, as not to lose them. I was the richest girl in the world!

But when I reached Israel this time, my father gave me money unlike the kind I had in my pocket. It looked funny -- not at all like my long-awaited spending stash. It was different in color and had a different design. “That’s strange,” I thought, “How could this be?”

To my great dismay, the currency had changed to the New Israeli Shekel while I was away. The money I had was absolutely worthless now. I was sick to my stomach.

What a waste! And worse, I couldn’t even tell my dad.

A wise man once said, “Greed is the logical result of the belief that there is no life after death. We grab what we can while we can however we can and then hold on to it hard.”

Our Father has given us some spending money, hasn’t He? And sadly, it is our tendency as human beings to want to keep it to ourselves. Let’s not hoard what He has freely given us. Let’s freely bless people around us in need, whether it is with our finances, our possessions, our time and energy or comfort. There is a lot more where those came from. And we can’t take it with us anyway… the currency is different in heaven!

[Shammu]

Don't be overwhelmed with tomorrow!

Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

When I first gave my life to the Lord, like many of us, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. If God would have shown me, at that time, all the things that would have to change about me, I think I would have gone running for dear life!

Now, here we are, in Israel, a whirlwind of events going on around us, a toddler, a growing ministry, all the trials you can imagine in relating to a different culture, language, etc. Ha! If you would have shown me this picture back in the days of my rebellion, I think I would have laughed my head off in unbelief!

But that is the Lord’s way. God is a gentleman. He doesn’t show us more than He feels we need to know. He knows that we are weak and He’s merciful enough not to give us more than we can handle. What He desires for us to lay our worries upon Him and trust Him for our future.

God has not given us power to overcome all the problems we have yet to face. He has given us only the power to overcome what faces us today! Just as the children of Israel could collect only enough manna for one day, the power God gives us to face our trials -- it only comes one day at a time.

God has so many wonderful adventures ahead for us who love Him and are called according to His purpose -- and He will surely give us the strength to endure the trials we’ll face with each adventure. Let’s trust Him only for today’s trials -- and let Him worry about the rest!

[Shammu]

What are you seeking?

Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

The following is not a true story but it's worthwhile and too good not to share!

There once was a wealthy man from upstate New York. Among other things, he owned much land, property and cattle. His beautiful estate was worth many millions. Even with all his wealth, however, he was very unhappy. His wife was growing old and the couple was childless. He had always wanted a son to carry on the family legacy.

Years later, his wife miraculously became pregnant and gave birth to a little boy. The boy was severely handicapped but the man loved him with his whole heart. When the little one was five, his mother died of cancer. Through this difficult time, his father drew closer to his special son. At thirteen, the boy’s birth defects cost him his life and sadly his father, too, died shortly after, from a broken heart.

When the estate was auctioned, hundreds of bidders came from all over, as there were many beautiful antiques and such to be auctioned. Everyone sat and waited with expectancy. However, the first item offered was only a simple painting of the boy. No one was interested. They waited like vultures for the riches.

Finally, one of the housemaids, a sweet woman who helped raise the boy, offered the little she had for the picture and easily took the bid. “Wait a moment, -- there’s something here.” he said. Everyone watched as the auctioneer ripped off an envelope taped to the back of the picture. In it was a hand written will which said: "To the person who thinks enough of my son to buy this painting, to this person I give my entire estate."

The auction was over and the greedy crowd left in an uproar.

How many of us have sought after what we thought were true riches only to find out later that our Father was prepared to give us His entire estate if we had only sought after His Son alone?

All of us are guilty of seeking out things other than Jesus alone. May God forgive us! And may we choose today, to let go of our own desires and cling to His! God has such amazing things prepared for those who do.

[Shammu]

Be a servant to all!

Matthew 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

If you were to visit Paris, you could see the statues of two men, both named Louis. 

The first is of Louis XIV, France's absolute monarch. He represents one of the supreme achievements of greatness through power.  His philosophy of life was that the whole nation and the world, should serve him.

A few blocks away is another statue.  There is no uniform on this figure carved in stone, no badge of office, no sword, no crown.  It is a memorial to Louis Pasteur, a man whose life was unselfishly devoted to the research of immunization and disease prevention.

The statue of the monarch, Louis XIV, is nothing more than a piece of sculpture--who even remembers what he did? But the statue of Louis Pasteur has become a place where pilgrims throughout all the world pay grateful homage for his great work; and every time we drink a glass of milk, we remember his name. That milk we're drinking has more than likely gone through a process called pasteurization, named after Pasteur's research.

It is the uncrowned servant of mankind who wears the real crown of men's love and honor.

Let's ask the Lord to help us become more humble and available to serve to both Him and others. It is then that we will wear the true crown of glory!

[Shammu]

Are you ready?

Matthew 25:1-4 ¶ Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Notice that though all of the virgins here were expecting the bridegroom's return, only five were prepared. This parable was written about those of us that have knowledge of Jesus and His return, but have not made ourselves ready. The foolish virgins had not stored any oil for His return. Interestingly, oil is symbolic of the Spirit of God.

This parable teaches us the importance of spiritual preparation. There is really no substitute for it. When we prepare spiritually, by daily reading the Word and practicing worship and prayer, we will become equipped with the oil of His Spirit. Not only will we be preparing for His return but as an extra added bonus, it will empower us to face today's trials. And when those unexpected challenges come, we'll have the power of the Spirit already working within us, helping us through! What a great deal!

Let's get ourselves ready so that we can help others get ready! He's coming and there's so much work to be done!

[Shammu]

Take the leap!

Ps 33:4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee flames by jumping to the ground from the roof. His father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." But the boy was afraid -- he couldn't see his father -- all he could see was flame, smoke, and blackness. He was afraid. Still, his father kept yelling: "Jump son! I will catch you!" But the boy refused, crying, "Daddy, I can't see you!" His father replied, "It's ok son -- I can see you -- and that's all that matters!"

Sometimes we find ourselves in the midst of the fiery trials of life and all we can see is the smoke and the flames. But faith is knowing who will catch us when take that leap. In Hebrew, the word 'truth' in this verse, is em-oo-nah, which is also translated faith.  God delights in responding to our faith. He wants us to jump into His arms --- especially when we can't see Him.

George Mueller said, "Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends."

Let's practice some faith today. Our Father's arms are biggest and strongest they come!