Devotion for April from a Devotional Book

A New View Of Change

"I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep." - John 10:14

    People hate change, or so I hear. But the change we generally resist is the kind that we think will make our situation worse rahter than better. We eagerly change jobs when it means higher pay and more influence. We happily  move to a bigger house in a better neighborhood. So it's not change in general that we hate; it's change that involves loss - sometimes physical; other times emotional or psychological.

    Change is both inevitable and necessary. If everything stays the same, no one is growing. But we have a Shepherd who guides us through change and leads us to a better place. Getting there may be difficult, as it was for the Israelites in reaching the Promised Land. They grumbled when their situation got worse rather than better (Exodus 15:24; Numbers 14:2). But we have the example of Jesus. In less than a week, He went from being the leader of many to being abandoned by all. Between Palm Sunday and Good Friday, the Good Shepherd became the Passover Lamb. Because Christ willingly went through suffering, God elevated Him to the highest place (John 10:11; Philippians 2:8-9).

    Not all change is pleasant, but when we're being led to a better place by Someone who loves us, we don't need to fear it. - Julie Ackerman Link

I know not, but God knows;

Oh, blessed rest from fear!

All my unfolding days

To Him are plain and clear. - Flint

Faith in Christ will keep us steady in the stormy sea of change.

Devotion for February from a Devotional Book

Six Degrees Of Separation

"My Word...shall not return to Me void." - Isaiah 55:11

    Eighty years ago, Hungarian author Frigyes Karinthy wrote a short story he called "Chain-Links," in which he proposed the idea that any two individuals in the world are connected through, at most, five acquaintances. The thesis has been revived today and is usually described as "Six Degrees of Separation." It's an unproven theory, of course. But there is a dynamic at work that links us to others around the world: It is the wisdom and providence of God working through His Word to accomplish His will.

    Some years ago, I received a letter from a man whom I had never met telling me that a note I had sent to a nearby friend had found its way to him, and it had encouraged him in a time of weariness and dark despair. The friend to whom I had sent the note sent it to a friend, who, in turn sent it to a friend, and so on, until it was sent to the man who wrote to me.

    It may be that a simple word offered in love, guided by the wisdom of God, and borne aloft on the wings of the Spirit will have eternal consequences in someone's life.

    Should we not then fill ourselves with God's Word and pass it on to others with the prayer that God will use it  for His intended purposes? (Isa. 55:11) - David Roper

Do a deed of simple kindness,

Though its end you may not see;

It may reach, like widening ripples,

Down a long eternity. - Norris

As the blossom can't tell what becomes of its fragrance, we can't tell what becomes of our influence.

Devotion for January from a Devotional Book

Facing The Future

"If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." - James 4:15

    While going through some old files, I came across a 1992 special issue of TIME magazine titled "Beyond the Year 2000: What To Expect in the New Millennium." It was fascinating to read the predictions made 2 decades ago about what the future would hold. Some general observations were on target, but no one foresaw many of the events and innovations that have radically changed our lives. The most telling statement to me was, "The first rule of forecasting should be that the unforeseen keeps making the future unforeseeable."

    James reminds us that any view of the future that omits God is foolish and proud. "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.... Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that'"(James 4:13-15).

    Many people used to begin their statement of plans with, "Lord willing." The phrase may have become trite, but the acknowledgment of God's overruling hand is not.

    As we look ahead with God firmly in view, we can face the future with confidence in His loving plan. -David McCasland

God holds the future in His hands

With grace sufficient day by day,

Through good or ill He gently leads,

If we but let Him have His way. -Rohrs

Those who know Christ as Savior can face the future with joy.

Devotion for December from a Devotional Book

Peace

"You, who once were alienated...nowHe has reconciled." - Colossians 1:21

    In the days of Adam and Eve, peace was lost. As soon as they ate the forbidden fruit and realized their nakedness, they started blaming each other (Gen. 3:12-13) and introduced conflict to God's peaceful planet. Sadly, all of their descendants, including us, have followed their bad example. We blame others for our own bad choices and become angry when no one will accept the guilt. Blaming others for our unhappiness breaks apart families, churches, communities, and nations. We can't make peace because we're preoccupied with placing the blame.

    Christmas is the season of peace. The Olt Testament tells the story of how God set the stage to introduce the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). Jesus came to break the cycle of sin and blame by making peace for us with God "through the blood of His cross" (Col. 1:20). Instead of blaming us for all the trouble we cause, He bore the blame for all of us. He is now recruiting followers who, having received His forgiveness, want others to receive it as well.

    When we accept forgiveness from God, we lose our desire to withhold it from others. And when we live in peace with God, we are eager to make peace with others. We can both give and receive the gift of peace this Christmas. - Julie Ackerman Link

At Christmastime we celebrate

The coming of the Prince of Peace;

Though now our world is locked in strife,

One day He'll make all conflict cease. - Sper

Jesus took our place to give us His peace.

Devotion for November from a Devotional Book

Be Who You Are

"Even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed." - 1 Peter 3:14

While awaiting a routine medical procedure in a local hospital, I noticed a wall plaque showing Christ on a cross. Later, a nurse asked me several administrative questions, including, "Do you have any spiritual needs you'd like to discuss with a chaplain?" I said that I appreciated her asking that question, which I found unusual in today's world. She replied with a smile that they are a faith-based hospital and "that's part of our mission." I was impressed that the people were not afraid to be who they are in an increasingly secular and pluralistic society.

Peter urged the firt-century believers who had been scattered by persecution and were living in a hostile world to consider it a blessing to suffer for the sake of what is right. "But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it" (1 Peter 3:14-15).

Just as the woman at the hospital freely stated their faith, so we can express ours. And if we are criticized or treated unfairly because of our belief in Christ, we should respond with gentleness and respect. We should never be afraid to be who we are in Him. - David McCasland

Whenever people judge and say

They don't like what we believe,

We need to show a Christlike grace-

Then our Lord they might recieve. - Branon

It's better to suffer for the cause of Christ than for the cause of Christ to suffer.