Grace: The Greatest Gift from Above
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast”—Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV). When someone gives you an unexpected gift, how do you react? For example, if someone blesses me with a Christmas present, and I have nothing for them in return, I feel the need to reciprocate. I apologize and then rush to purchase a gift in return. At least that’s what I did in the past. I didn’t feel worthy unless I could respond to their kindness. Reciprocating with …
When Your Burdens Are Too Heavy
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”—Matthew 11:28 (NIV). In my late 60s, I’m not as strong as I used to be. However, through exercise, I’m working toward improving my physical strength. My exercise is not as intense as it once was. I’ve had to downsize the amount I can lift with my hand weights. I don’t want to injure my body by overdoing it. As we age, our bodies don’t bounce back as quickly after an injury. The burdens of an aging body change our lifestyles. It …
Do You Listen with Your Heart?
“Make your ear attentive to wisdom. Incline your heart to understanding”—Proverbs 2:2 (NASB). A recent devotional in The Upper Room about listening with the heart led me to meditate on the writer’s words. The writer’s husband had retired early because of Parkinson’s disease. Because his voice had become soft and monotone, his wife often had trouble understanding his speech. However, she said, “Our adult son always understands what his dad is saying.” One day she asked her husband the difference between their son’s approach and hers. Her husband replied, “Our son listens with his heart.” The writer realized her preoccupation …
Tracing Our Blessings Backward
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love”—Ephesians 1:3-4 (NRSV) Sometimes we get hung up on our past mistakes. Our regrets. Our poor choices. We soon forget the blessings God has bestowed on us. Why is it easier to focus on the negative, forgetting what He has done for us in the past? Aren’t we encouraged not to dwell on the …
Is Your Treasure in Heaven?
Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me”—Matthew 19:21(ESV). “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Have you ever wondered where this idiom originated? According to the English Language and Usage website, the earliest example is found in Hector Urquhart’s introduction to 1860’s “Popular Tales of the West Highlands.” The intro reads: “Practical men may despise the tales, earnest men condemn them as lies, some even consider them wicked; one refused to write any more for a whole …
Failure is Inevitable But Not Fatal
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”—Romans 3:23 (NIV). Fearing failure, I waited almost a year after becoming eligible before I took my driver’s test. I was getting ready to enter college when I took a leap of faith. Passing the written part didn’t bother me. It was the fear of failing the parallel parking portion of the test that held me back. Living in a rural community, we lacked parallel parking spaces. The examiner would use two vehicles parked across the street from an auto repair shop to conduct the test. On the day …
Spiritual Poverty is the Real Problem
“Let me sleep a little longer!” Sure, just a little more! And as you sleep, poverty creeps upon you like a robber and destroys you; want attacks you in full armor—Proverbs 6:10-11 (TLB). In 2008, I went on my first mission trip with 19 others from our church to Rio Bravo, Mexico. It was also the first time I’d been out of the country. However, I wasn’t prepared for the abject poverty of the people we would be helping on our trip. A few weeks before leaving, our senior pastor met with the team to offer encouragement as well as …
The Word of our God Stands Forever
“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever”—Isaiah 40:8 (NLT). As I read my Bible this morning, God’s Word reminded me “He is still in control.” It’s often difficult, even for a Christ-follower, to let go of the fears and embrace His peace. Romans 8:6 reminds us “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” If we stay focused on the constant stream of bad news via all types of media—both mainstream and social—we will slowly die inside. His Word is where we …
Choose to Be a Servant Among Others
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”—Matthew 20:25-28 (NIV). Have you ever met a true Christian servant—someone who served others without a second thought to their own needs? My 91-year-old friend, …