Category: Devotional

Matthew 6: 7&8   “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their many words. Be ye not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Before starting a new series, I want to thank those of you that sent encouraging comments regarding the “Be Attitude” series – comments are always appreciated. For me personally, I know I gained from the writing of them. With this next series on prayer, taking The Lord’s prayer as our model, I am confident that we will find it to be a blessing as well.

 As air and water are to our physical being, so prayer and study are to our souls. To not make time for prayer, is like trying to sustain your physical life with the breath you just breathed. You won’t make it, and the same with going through the day without first connecting to the ” Breath of Life.” We can function, but not in the spirit, we can make decisions, but not based on eternal values and truth. Everything we do may be good, but it will be short sighted. We will miss opportunities to share eternal truth with someone and/ or be an ” unprepared vessel” if the opportunity comes.  Remember, we can “act Christian”  or we can live it – and if we live it, it can move mountains. Mountains of bitterness, or desperation/ hopelessness, or break down walls of insecurity or fear by experiencing for ourselves or granting to others the hope and forgiveness that is in the Lord. To walk in communion with Him is to know hope, joy, love, peace, all by starting a habit of prayer, which is awesome. To be able to encourage someone and know that a seed of eternal truth was received, makes all the obstacles worth it. As mentioned in an earlier prayer, we are all in this race called “Life”  together. How will we end? Will we find that we ran from “Life,” through all our business, or did we run towards Him, howbeit a little crooked. And to be able to affect and or influence people to run towards the Light is an awesome privilege, and  it starts with consistent prayer in us.

So prayer is that daily connection that “plugs us in” to our source of Life. It keeps us running in the right direction. Without it, that sense of direction is just not there and in time, it feels as though He is not there.  However in reality, we are the ones that left Him. Imagine a college class that starts at 8 every morning. The classroom door is open, the room is set up and the teacher’s present –  but you’re (we’re)  not. The benefit of the teacher will not be experienced unless we’re present. I have a saying that speaks of this,  ”  show up for class with a readied heart and Bible in hand, and the teacher will teach wonderful things from His Word (The Bible) and fill your heart and mind with heavenly treasures.”

So based on our text, how do we pray? One, avoid repetition, ” use not vain repetition, as the Gentiles do: ”  Often repetition speaks of doubt. We repeat hoping to convince God, to get Him on “our side” and if we say it enough, it might just work. We are like a child pleading with their parent for just one more trinket. He who made the ears, cannot hear? If He does not grant our petition, then there’s a good reason for it. Remember, ” for your Father knows what things ye have need of before you ask.”  Some people ask, “why pray if He already knows?” The text does not say that. It says that He is so intimately connected to us, that He already knows what is in our best interest – even before we make our petition. It does not say not to pray. So let’s keep this in mind as answers to prayer come, as well as prayers that go unanswered. In ending I want to share one of my all time favorite verses, ” Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.” Proverbs 3: 5&6

Father,

Thank you for reminding us of the importance of prayer. Though we may struggle in the doing, it is needful for us, because You are our need provider. Prayer gives us hope as we connect with You in communion and it gives us strength and peace. Enable us to make it a priority in our life.  Thank you and Amen

Move forward in His Grace – Arthur

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

Lisa and I give to a couple ministries that operate in countries were Christianity is band, or where the government looks the other way when Christians are beaten or tortured. The stories are pretty horrific, anywhere from severe beatings to throwing acid on people’s faces to disfigure them. Often in cases such as these, the acid also causes blindness. If this is the first time you have heard of this, I can imagine your reaction. Quite a contrast. Here we get bent out of shape if someone doesn’t like us, or if they look at us cross. We have no idea of what other believers in Muslim, Hindu or Communist countries undergo. But what is even more convicting are our brother and sisters reaction. Asked what they want the most, it’s not their freedom, but they request Bibles and Bible literature, ” Give us Bibles and Bible tools to grow our faith and to be able to share the Gospel more effectively. And if necessary, we shall pay for them with our lives.” This is quite a statement and a reality check for us. Do we have this type of conviction, is Christ “All and All to us” or is He one of many “loves” we have. For these brothers and sisters, there is nothing else but Christ. When we grow to a point that we realize that Christ is all we really have, that everything else is on loan, then truly we begin to understand that He is all we really need. In Him alone we are secure, and our family and friends are gifts to be thankful for. Everything else materially loses its importance, as everything we come to value is found in Him. Paul the apostle said it best, ” In Christ we live, move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) This is a very mature statement and I don’t expect all of us to receive it – and that’s ok for now.

I know stories of persecution are off the charts for most of us. We can’t function without our Starbucks, or our Egg McMuffin. Materialism, wealth, and our careers or routines have become traps for our soul. Instead of defining ourselves as a child of God, we define ourselves by what we do, by the title we have, or the paycheck we receive – or a million other things. Until this changes, it is doubtful whether we will ever have the courage to stand for Christ. The disciples also struggled. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, and bare in mind the day prior they all swore their lives to Christ – they fled. Only John and Peter followed, and Peter ended up denying Christ, not once, not twice, but three times! However after the Resurrection and the time Jesus spent with them prior to his ascension, these men changed. Each man gladly gave their life for their Savior, and Peter who denied him three times requested at his crucifixion to be crucified upside down, for he did not feel worthy to be crucified as his Lord. And apart from their stories, there are countless stories of believers being stoned to death, burnt at the stake etc. The Foxe’s Book of Martyrs recounts the lives of many influential Christians paying the cost of discipleship with their life. It is said that “the blood of the martyrs is what waters the church.”

So how did these men change from fearing for their lives, to being willing to give their lives to honor  their Savior?  Just like our brothers and sisters who are willing to risk their lives for the gospel today, they understood the truth behind these verses, ” 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.” No man dies for a stranger, only for someone he dearly loves. The biggest issue that faces us here is we have many loves, and until Christ becomes “Thee Love,” our faith will flounder. These men and woman are today’s silent martyrs – their suffering and deaths go untold.

In Luke 7:36 there is a very intimate exchange between Jesus and a repentant woman recorded for us in Luke 7:36-50 ( I would encourage you to read it). All the Pharisees saw was a “sinner” touching Jesus feet. Jesus saw a broken heart and rebuked the Pharisee’s in vs. 47 ” Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much (in the sense of reaching out to Jesus through her repentance). But  to whom little is forgiven ( the Pharisees were proud of their rules, believing they were more righteous) the same loves little.” We are all forgiven a huge debt of sin, for we all have sinned and missed the mark. Those of us who are blessed to know that, adhere close to Christ for He has become our hope and strenght. Those of us who have yet to grow in that knowledge appreciate Christ, but lack the inner conviction to be desperate for Him. He has yet to become the “Bread of Life.”

Father God,

How we struggle with our faith, always going down tangents of this thing or that, instead of just quietly sitting before you in prayer and Bible study. Give us a desire to search for you, as though we are searching for hidden treasure, for truly you are priceless. Let us make it a priority in our schedules to met with you daily, just as we keep other appointments. Let us do the same with our relationship with you. Thank you Father

Move forward in His Grace – Arthur

Matthew 5: 9 & 10 ” Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Another definition of “Blessed” is to be at peace because of the work of God within. The work of God is like a treatise between two parties. There is an exchange that occurs and it is recorded for us in Isaiah  1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, saith The Lord: though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow; though they be red as crimson they shall be (white) as wool.” This is what God brings to the table – forgiveness. What we bring is our confession, agreeing to His statement. Some of us struggle admitting this to ourselves. Instead we want to bring “our good deeds” to the table and have God validate us. Yet if we are truly honest with ourselves, though there be good intent in us, goodness is a far cry from righteousness and that is what God is offering. If we accept His offer, by accepting Christ as our Redeemer, our sins are forgiven and the exchange is ” complete or sealed”  by the giving of His Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Peace. ” But as many as received Him, to them gave He power (the Holy Spirit) to become the sons/ daughters of God…” John 1: 12 – its a promise.

Another definition of peace is “to make one again.” It comes from the medical field with the concept of something being broken, e.g., a broken arm. In the arm being “set,” healing and “oneness” can be restored. When sin entered into man we became ” broken” from “The Life” that sustained us. This continued until Christ. The Law (10 Commandments, though there were many more) was given as a type of “custodian” or “school teacher” that pointed us forward to Christ’s Advent. It was never meant to be used as a means for salvation or as a means to compare ourselves, or justify ourselves. For the Law itself says that ” he who lives by the law shall be judged by it” and further says ” the soul that sins (under the law) shall surely die.” We do not want to live under the law, but under God’s Grace that will exchange our scarlet sins for the purity of His Holiness (white as snow). We need to be “set” back into fellowship with The Lord.

” Blessed are the peacemakers,” starts then with those who have received His peace. Therefore by definition “The one who, having received the peace of God in his own heart, brings peace to others. He/ She simply is not one who makes peace between two parties, but one who spreads the good news of the peace of God which he/she has experienced.” This now is when all the other “Be Attitudes” prior, having been accepted and fruitful in us, begin to go outside of us.  Reaching out to others. At this point we start manifesting the “Life of Christ.” It has to go profoundly inward before it can go effectively outward. As one person put it, “A mature Christian should always be witnessing of the life of Christ, and  at times – use words.” In other words, more is “caught,” or lived out, than taught. A truth all parents know. The greatest honor given as believers is when someone outside the faith asks if we believe in God, or if we go to church. Our actions have spoken before ever a word was shared. It’s a moment to quietly thank The Lord for His patience and gracious work in us.

” Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake…” Here’s the part where you can hear a pin drop; when all of a sudden we realize that being a Christian could cost me. It could cost us our job, our reputation, maybe even our marriage, or maybe the guy or girl you’re hoping to date etc. In many other countries persecution –  physical harm, jail, beatings, even your life can be taken from you for confessing Christ. This is what potentially awaits new believers in these countries. Therefore we must  “count (consider)the cost.” Is it better to live free from persecution, be dominated by worldly priorities, absence of the Life of Christ,  or “be being” set free from sin, but potentially endure hardship for my faith? This is a personal question that only you can answer. For me to live life without the “Life Giver,” is to have a life lived with many wrong turns and deep regrets. Not to mention the absence of true, abiding peace and His Divine Love.  I would rather live well, live joyously, live under the guidance and companionship of the Lord and accept what consequences may arise, than to live without Him. His Life, defines my life. Life without Him is like taking a black and white picture of your favorite scene. All the objects you love are there but everything is subdued, and so much of the color that speaks of life is missing. As a believer our emphasis is not in being “comfortable” in this life. It is not necessary that all “our perceived needs” be met. Jesus is the Vine and we are His branches (John 15:5). We just need to abide (dwell, belong, communion) with Him to make the most of this life, for overwhelming joy is coming – ” for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Father God,

Thank you that you will never leave or forsake us. This does not mean that hard times do not await us, but it means that through the hard times, not only will you use it to grow our faith but your faithfulness will be seen. You only ask us to be in prayer often (Philip. 4:6) and to store up your Word in us that we might not sin against You (Ps.119: 7 -9), feeding our soul with the food of the Spirit (The Bible) thereby growing our faith, ” For faith cometh, and that by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

Move forward in His Grace – Arthur ;)

Matthew 5:7&8  ” Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

The last two series have not been without their challenges, both in the writing and in the receiving. Truth always has its opposition. However truth also has its testimony, an “Amen”  in the hearts of those who receive it. So the effort in the writing, as well as the “effort” in the receiving surely has its rewards. As we continue to study, like miners going deeper into the earth, so we too are going deeper into the human soul. We started with a genuine repentance which  acknowledges our poverty in spirit with respect to any righteousness (holiness) that we posses. Followed by a sincere mourning/repentance for our sins. These two ‘Be Attitudes’ frame the “spiritual gate” that we must all go through. Without this heart change, we simply continue to live outside the aide and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. A life lived with good intentions, but good intentions can never redeem (save) a soul, or be a suitable substitute for the blood of Christ. I know for some of you this is super religious, so thank you for your continued reading.

Last week we understood that once “through the gate,” we are to change our “diet.” We are to hunger and thirst for righteousness and not for the “trinkets” and “bling” of this world. However this then begs a question – is it wrong to own nice things? No, not at all, provided that the nice things don’t own you. By definition, to hunger and thirst for righteousness means that we understand that “things” could never satisfy or replace kindness, truth, uprightness, and especially a relationship with the Lord. A good test question to ask ourselves is do the things we have make us grateful, thereby bringing us closer to The Lord, or do I start drifting because my “nice things” slowly replace The Lord?  If my “earthly treasures” do that they will eventually not satisfy. However, if we continue to hunger and thirst for righteousness our promise is that we shall be satisfied.

We also learned that meekness is not weakness, but it is strength. It takes inner strength and a deeper knowing of the Lord to remain calm in the storm when everyone else may be panicking. There is a lyric that says “my anchor is in the veil.” Referring to the Holy of Holies, the most sacred place in the Jewish Temple where “God’s Shekinah Glory” dwelt. There is my anchor, and from there shall I be secure. That’s meekness, and everyone of us has an anchor be it themselves, their spouses, their jobs, family etc. True meekness speaks to an indwelling, abiding Holiness that is outside of any human realm, or human achievement. It’s God only.

“Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy,” is one of our “Be Attitudes” this week. This goes beyond acts of charity, acts of selflessness, that gratefully most of us “rise” to in times of disaster or calamity. In context this verse refers to a permanently changing heart that in everyday life exhibits mercy because of the mercy it was given. It’s a changed heart because of God’s love, as His love washed away my sins. We give mercy because it was first given to us. “Deeds or acts” of mercy in times of difficulty or suffering only gives testimony to the life that God has created for us to live – to live outside ourselves.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” This is about as great a promise anyone could have! “Katharos” is the Greek word indicating clean, pure, clear, unmixed or unsoiled. With respect to metals, it means unalloyed. There is not a heart in the world that is pure. Our motives are hopelessly mixed with self serving intents. Even in acts of charity, often unbeknown to ourselves, we do them because it makes us feel good about ourselves. We can look in the mirror and smile, having gained a few points. In the New Testament there is a story of a man who was very rich, but also was extremely ethical, having followed all the Biblical commandments since his youth. Having lived as such, you would think he would be content, but in Matthew 19:20 he asks Jesus this question ( paraphrased) “I have followed the commandments since my youth, what more do I lack? Jesus responded by saying, “….go sell all your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. But upon hearing this the young man went away grieving for he had much possessions.” His heart was mixed with his love of his possessions, yet having all, he still lacked and was not willing to give away his possessions so he could truly “have it all.” Pure in heart implies one thing and one thing only, God is first, Jesus is my Redeemer, and I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This is just the starting point, for the whole of one’s life the work of the Spirit is to exchange selfish motives for Godly motives, but because of Christ in me, God see’s me as pure. It’s a “great deal.”

Father God,

There is much to living this life, and to run the race to only learn in the end we ran in the wrong direction is painful. Give us ears to hear and a heart to know, that to put You first is to run in the right direction. No effort, however difficult, is a waste of effort when we run towards you. Give us hearts of faith Father, let us run so we ” win the prize of the upward high calling of God.” Thank you and Amen.

Move forward in His Grace – Arthur

Matthew 5: 1- 3  “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain and when he was set, his disciples came unto him.

vs. 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

vs. 3 Blessed are the poor in Spirit: For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

vs. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

I am grateful for the positive comments on the ” Wisdom for Marriage” series. The topic was very specific and admittedly a good marriage has many qualities to it. To enjoy them we need to have a good defense against temptation. In football terms, a good defense is a good offense. In other words we make the “play” before the “play” is made on us. That was the main point of our last series. By heightening our awareness, and learning God’s truth and perspective on what a good marriage is makes us readied and sure. As we move forward into passages that are rich in truth, we need to take them and apply them to our relationships with our spouses, and then from there with others.

In Matthew 5: 3-12 there are a series of verses that have been referred to as the ” Be Attitudes” or said in reverse, “Attitudes to Be” (or become ). In this discourse, which is part of a larger message called the “Sermon on the Mount,” we learn a completely different set of values. Values contrary to our normal thinking and comforts. As we go through these verses we will see a progression of truth. In the same way we build homes, starting with the foundation before we build the walls, so is the progression here. We start with the foundation – one’s core view of themselves. There are 10 versus total and we will discuss two verses per devotion.

“Blessed are the poor in Spirit: For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” The first word to study is “Blessed,” or in the Greek “Makarios.” Its meaning is far reaching and for a single word, it is packed with interpretation. Some definitions include,” possessing the favor of God, or that state of being where one becomes partaker of God’s nature through faith in Christ and/ or to be fully satisfied no matter the circumstances. All of these definitions are Makarios. Makarios differs from happy (“hap” in the Greek) in that happiness is based on favorable circumstances, as in “good luck.” Good luck makes us happy, bad luck makes us sad. To be blessed is not circumstantial. Aristotle defined  Makarios as the one who is in the world, yet independent of it. His or her satisfaction comes directly from God, not favorable circumstances or “good luck.” It’s a great word – problem is, not too many of us live it. So I want to start by asking why and how do I become blessed?  I would like for us to view the next ten verses as a progression to that state of being blessed, if we apply the truth of these verses to our life.

“Blessed are the poor in Spirit: For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” That is quite a promise. What it is not saying is that you have to be poor to be blessed or “to inherit the Kingdom.” This clarification is important, because lacking finances does not always equate to being “poor in spirit” which is the emphasis of this verse.  So what is it to be “poor” in spirit? “Ptochos” the Greek word has three distinct usages 1) poor, helpless, relying on others for your daily needs 2) a humble state of being but working and able to provide for your daily needs 3) those who see themselves in the light of God’s Holiness and find themselves lacking, wanting or without – unable to bridge the gap from personal sin to holiness.

Often we think we can “cross over” to God’s side by our own efforts, by doing good etc. We are not understanding the righteousness/holiness of God. It is unattainable by our own means. We require the intervention of God the Father, which comes when we realize our poverty of spirit. Impoverished in any way to bring righteousness from ourselves. We fully  need and require the work of the Holy Spirit in us which is born by faith, as we trust in the work of Christ on the Cross. Much like a child that looks at a wall he can’t climb, but with trust in his eyes looks to his father who can easily lift the child up and over. It is the same with us. We can’t climb the wall of righteousness, but our Father can enable us through His Spirit. This then is to be poor in spirit and is the starting point of being blessed. Do not confuse acts of kindness or sacrifice for righteousness/holiness. Though very noble, these deeds do not make us righteous. They are a reflection though of who we are meant to be.

” Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.”  ” Pentheo” is the word to mourn and it means just that. To mourn, to grieve, or to lament. However in context we are talking about a deep inner grieving, that in view of God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf, we are deeply repentant. This is the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart, and the response of the heart as it says yes to His call. To be aware of one’s guilt, but to be flooded by the love and grace of God is nothing short of a miracle, causing one to feel blessed. Not based on circumstances, luck or worldly fortune, but solely based because God loves me (us). So my core view of me has nothing to do with my talents, intelligence or circumstances, but of God’s love for my life. This elevates and validates my worth, and brings comfort to my soul. To not have this understanding then is why we are not living out the life God would have for us.

Father God,

Thank you for this study. Cause me to understand that being “blessed” is not a material thing or based on circumstances. It is a heart condition that requires me to be rightly connected to You. This ” to be blessed” is available to all people from the child to the aged.  Cause us to value being in a relationship with You Father and to see that so many of our insecurities, frustrations and fears are because inwardly we are not connected to You.

Move forward in His Grace – Arthur

As we begin this series, please be mindful that topics discussed are mature in content.  I know some of you share the devotional’s with your children or grandchildren.

1 Corinthians 7:2-5:

2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

The above verses speak directly to issues we all face regarding marital intimacy, given the pressures and stresses of life. With school, sport functions, late nights doing homework, summer camps, and sport activities, etc., time to connect as husband and wife all but disappears. Without knowing it, we are now living our lives for our children and in some cases for our grandchildren, impacting our own time to connect with our spouse. The bedroom conversation goes something like this: “You want what? I’m exhausted!”  Another one is:  “You have got to be kidding!”  Then the lights go out.  As this repeats itself, whether it is because of the kids or because of hectic or opposite work schedules, our intimacy with each other is slowly being eroded. It is to our detriment to allow demands and choices we make to crowd out this vital part of our relationship. Intimacy, a combination of physical, emotional, and even spiritual oneness, is a need of the human soul, and we must recognize and acknowledge that. When we get to a point in our marriage that being intimate with our spouse feels strange, then we know we have gone too far.  We have allowed the demands of life to crowd out the heart of our marriage.

“The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.”   Men, as husbands, we must understand that we are sending out our wife into the workforce/world with her deepest needs not being met, making her vulnerable to the attention and compliments of other men.  Women, you, as wives, are sending your husband out into the workforce/world with his needs not being met, making him receptive to the praise and respect of other women. All that really has to happen is for someone to be consistently kind, give us an ear, a few compliments, nothing overt, and we can find emotions in us beginning to develop. Even if we don’t want to have feelings, it is almost guaranteed that feelings will develop—we are all subject to this. There is not one of us who does not respond to someone who is kind, who appreciates us, and who values who we are. This is an inward need we all have. We must turn our hearts to home, cancel karate or dance, skip that PTA meeting, and bring the fever pitch of the home down. Start making dinner at home, eat together as a family, talk to each other, keep the television turned off, listen to music (I personally enjoy Christian music) and end the evening early enough so that there is time to talk and be together.

“For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.”  In this day of equality between men and women, this verse does not carry the “shock” that it did when Paul penned it and especially to the congregation to whom it was written. Corinth, the city where the Corinthian church was located, was the Sodom and Gomorrah of Paul’s day. Even by pagan standards, Corinth was the dregs of society. The city was on a major trade route, making it extremely affluent and a magnet for all sorts of crime and violence. Also in Corinth existed the temple of Aphrodite.  Aphrodite was the goddess of love and beauty, and at her temple, there were nightly a thousand temple priestesses (prostitutes), who would come down into the city and practice their trade. Adultery, fornication, and debauchery were common practices in this society. A wife’s role was to bear children and take care of the home. Sexual pleasure came from a man’s concubines, whose children became slaves, and the “priestesses” were for “religious sexual worship.” The view of a woman in this culture can be best summed up in this Jewish prayer: “God, I thank you that I am not a beast of burden, a Gentile, or a woman.” Women had no rights or respect in this society, yet Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, penned “that a woman had ‘rights’ (power) over her husband’s body.”  This probably went over like a tidal wave. I would not even be surprised that Paul, a devout Jew himself, did not question it at first. Yet God’s Word is God’s Word, and God has always placed a woman next to a man—from man’s side did she come and by his side is she to be: a helpmate. In an over-packed schedule, the purpose of this relationship is lost, and we leave the home emotionally hungry, giving opportunity to outside influences.

The only allowance given is for personal devotion to the Lord:  “Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together (sexual intimacy) again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”  I am now in my early fifties, and I have been married to Lisa for 34 years. All successful, long-term relationships, faith-based or not, have found the secret to living together. Yet for me, the blessing of being not only united physically and emotionally, but also in faith, adds another dimension that gives hope, direction, and strength, especially with a family. There is a unity of the spirit that exceeds that of the soul. It’s a “God presence” that blesses the home. In this context, when Paul talked about agreeing for a limited time to devote ourselves to prayer, it sounds like the couple shared a ministry and they agreed to spend their “together time” in prayer and fasting, but only for that predetermined period, and it was for seeking God, not for other reasons.

Marriage, especially a good marriage, is not for the weak or faint of heart. It takes commitment, courage, and most of all selflessness, where score is not kept and forgiveness is given. Words like “quit, separation, and divorce,” except for reasons of infidelity or abuse, are not used. If these words are not options, then no matter how difficult the road, a solution will be found or God will give the grace to continue forward. Here is a personal example of how our differences can become our strengths. Lisa and I are opposites in many ways. I am outgoing, like a Labrador, and she is more reserved.  As we go through life together “holding hands,” it is like we are trying to pull the other one to our side of the road, hence the tension, but by doing that, we neither go right, nor do we go left, and guess what?  We go straight.  Our differences and strengths all serve for our “together betterment,” and that is marriage.

Father God,

Thank you for this study in your Word. Help us to understand that we are not in competition with our spouses, but we are a team. As a team, we need to work together with one goal—it is not about the individual but the whole, and the decisions we make are to benefit the whole. If our spouse is not there yet, let us rely on You, Father God.  For in all circumstances, You bring strength and hope. Thank you and Amen.

Move forward in His Grace –

1 Corinthians 7:2-5:

2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality (fornication), each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. ³ The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. ⁴ For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. ⁵ Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Before we begin, let’s agree that there are two directions. There is God’s way and there is my way or our way, and we must decide whom we will follow.  (By “our way,” I am referencing societal beliefs and/or allowances.)  As mentioned in last week’s Vida, Christianity is not a smorgasbord. To reduce it to such is to directly affect one’s relationship with the Lord, and in effect make what Christianity is all about—living and walking in communion with the Lord and experiencing His peace, joy and love—null and void.  You may disagree, but how do you know what you are missing if you are walking a compromised walk?  Let me explain. God is Holy, and He seeks Holy people.  There is no way any of us can give that to the Lord, so hence the need for Christ’s death and His atonement for us on the Cross.  When we accept what He has done for us, there is what is called the “Great Exchange.”  His righteousness, as God, is attributed to our account, and our sins are placed on Him. Since He is completely righteous and Holy, the sins are atoned for by His blood, just like the Sacrificial Lamb in the Old Testament atoned for one’s sin, or better said, “covered over” the sins of the confessor.

There is a huge difference, however, between the Old Testament and the New Testament. The blood of lambs could never sanctify man (to make holy), which is God’s standard. In the New Testament, therefore, Christ became the “Lamb of God that took away the sins of man”—to be sanctified.  Does that mean we do not sin?  No, not at all; but it means that when we do sin and confess and repent of our sins, “they are washed away completely,” not just covered over.  So my relationship to God has now been restored (because sin divides), bringing me back into fellowship with Him. And though there are often consequences to our wrong choices—“for we reap what we sow”—even in the consequences, God is there to help and to guide.  This was not possible in the Old Testament system, but it is completely possible in the New Testament—in Christ—as the believer becomes indwelt by the “paráklētos,” the Greek word for the Holy Spirit which means, “He who comes alongside to aid and to help.”  This is the major difference between the Old and New Testament periods, and it is huge.  For me to walk void of the Holy Spirit’s counsel and aid, without sensing His peace in me or His love for me, would make me feel insecure, unsure, and uncertain, and my faith would become much more a religion of right and wrong, instead of a relationship, where daily I am in communion with my Father.  Also, the ability to love others would be greatly challenged, as I would be operating out of my own strength—not pretty.

As we study these verses, bear in mind what I have just said, so that the right understanding is gained.  “But because of the temptation to sexual immorality (fornication), each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.”   Fornication, sex outside of marriage, is just as much practiced in the church as it is outside the church, indicating a huge disconnect about what it means to be Christian.  Here is an example of what we do, spiritually speaking. If you mix enough vinegar in a glass of orange juice, the orange juice will cease to be orange juice and will become a nasty tasting mix of orange juice flavored vinegar.  To practice fornication and claim the name of Christ is to become this vinegar/orange-tasting flavor to God, or it is to become lukewarm, as opposed to a refreshing glass of cool water on a hot day, or pure orange juice, given our example.  Lukewarm is the place we find ourselves when we live a compromised life. We have too much of the world to know what it is to have God’s peace and too much of a God conscience to return to the life from which we came.  It is an in-between existence that is laden with guilt, frustration, and uncertainty—such is “living” in fornication.  When the Bible uses the word, it is not referring to a one-time or two-time event in which one repents and moves forward, guarding one’s self so as not to repeat.  It refers to an unguarded practice where sex is routinely performed, as if one was married.

Living together is common and accepted in our culture and practiced from all ages—first-timers to divorcees to seniors, whose spouse has past on but is still seeking companionship and sexual intimacy.  My role is not to debate this but to simply state—to the extent you seek to walk, to know, and to be filled with the goodness and life of God, you should so order your life.  If God’s presence is of value to you and you are practicing fornication, you need to repent of it and get married or separate.  Holiness is holiness and there is no compromising what it is to have or live a sanctified life. (A sanctified life, not a perfect life, means a life where knowing and obeying God is the priority.)  If you are content in continuing to live together, then remain and pray this prayer, “God, cause me to understand that the life you have for me is far better than what I could have on my own.”  Be honest with God.  If you do not understand, then don’t separate because it will not be done with a right heart and will profit you nothing. You will simply be trading one dependence for another, if the desire is not to draw closer to the Lord.

Lastly, learn the difference between the emotion of conviction and of condemnation. Conviction is from the Lord. He is convicting us, because He wants us to come to Him and deal with the matter that is keeping us from Him—it is out of love that He convicts. Condemnation, on the other hand, makes us feel ashamed and guilty and puts a heavy ceiling between God and us.  That emotion is from Satan, who does not want us to draw close to God and will use our sins to keep us from Him.  The difficult part is you can feel both emotions at the same time, and you willfully must choose to respond to conviction, or cave and give in to guilt, which is easier, but the effects are much more damaging. Therefore, as the scriptures say in Joshua 24:15, “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  There are two ways—choose one.  Change and hope start with first being honest with yourself.

Father God,

Again, our study is difficult, like the making of a diamond.  The beauty and the potential of the diamond are seen by the master, as he skillfully but willfully hits and cuts the diamond until its potential is realized.  Many calculated hits and cuts are required to bring out its beauty. You, Father God, are no different.  We are Your diamonds in the rough, and through Your instruction of living life and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, You “hit and chisel away” all that distorts our worth and beauty in You. Help us to really understand this truth and not listen to the voice of fear, guilt, or insecurity, as we begin to bend our lives in Your direction. Thank you and Amen.

Move forward in His Grace – Arthur

As we begin this series, please be mindful that topics discussed are mature in content.  I know some of you share the devotional’s with your children or grandchildren.

Proverbs 5:15-19:

15    Drink water from your own cistern,

flowing water from your own well. (This refers to one’s spouse.)

¹⁶    Should your springs be scattered abroad,

streams of water in the streets? (This refers to man’s sperm and children from an affair.)

¹⁷    Let them be for yourself alone (with your spouse),

and not for strangers with you.

¹⁸    Let your fountain be blessed,

and rejoice in the wife of your youth (This speaks to the longevity that marriage is supposed to be.),

¹⁹       a lovely deer, a graceful doe.

       Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight;

be thou ravished always in her love.

Thank you for your comments on this series. Undoubtedly, hearing another voice on this subject, rather than what the television idol has to say, is refreshing.  Such is truth to our soul. It is not always easy to implement, but as you read the progression from last week’s to this week’s verses, who does not want Verse 19 to be part of their marriage?   For Verse 19 to be true, however, all of the above verses must also be in practice.  We are not just talking about sex on a physical level, but sex in the mind—fantasies as we call them—must end, along with viewing explicit material.  Without addressing the “whole man,” your “physical waters” may be “your own,” but they can be “scattered abroad” in your mind.  Jesus was questioned on the topic of infidelity, and his comment shocked the religious leaders of his day, as I am sure it will rock some of our boats as well.  Jesus said,  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (vice versa for the ladies) (Matthew 5:27-28).  This verse draws a straight line and raises the bar considerably. There is a saying:  “You can look but don’t touch.” This does not work with Jesus, and it should not be acceptable to us. To look (lust) will in time lead to touch.

Christianity is not a smorgasbord where we can pick and choose what we want to believe or obey and justify or ignore the rest.  That is like saying you are 95 percent virgin—you either are or you are not.  This washed-out version of Christianity is the reason many of us have not the power of the Holy Spirit within us.  We have compromised our faith, or we were never truly “Born Again.”  Remember, God is not forcing us to go His way.  We are free to choose. Christianity is by invitation. There is no one coercing us to believe; however, once we publically claim the name of Christ, then by our own profession, the “obligation” to let the truth live through us is there.  Is this to say that we have to walk a perfect line?  No, a thousand times no, but it does mean that both heart and mind, to the best of our understanding, have yielded (surrendered) to the truth we know. Our rightful response, therefore, is to grow our faith, and just like anything else we want to get good at, it requires time and practice. If we view faith like a college class and the Holy Spirit as the teacher, then we need to show up for “class” (personal devotions) with Bible in hand and a readied heart and mind to learn.   You will learn, and change will become evident.  If this foundation of study is not built into us—that it is God’s Grace that CHANGES US as we give Him time—then all of what we are discussing will be set upon sand.  In time, as we try to walk the walk of faith by our own strength, our foundation will crumble. For the temptation to be unfaithful, be it in mind or in body, is beyond the strength of one’s will.  We must become “supernatural” by living in the grace and fullness of the Lord.

“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe.  Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be thou ravished always in her love.”  The language in this is very intimate.  The word “fountain” is symbolic of the man’s penis; to be “blessed” is to confine its use to one’s wife, physically and mentally;  “a lovely deer, a graceful doe” refers to the enticement of the woman’s beauty in marital love; and “let her breasts fill (satisfy) you at all times” means to be drenched, soaked, or to drink to one’s fill (definitions for satisfied).  It gets better:  “Be thou ravished always in her love.”   Ravished means:  “to become intoxicated, to reel, to be under the influence.”   This is strong language, extremely sexual and fully charged with all the heights of human emotion a man or woman has been created to have.  There is such a misconception that God is a puritan in His approach to sex.  It is as if He says, “You can have sex to have children, but shame on you if you have it beyond that.”  As proven by these scriptures, that is so far from the truth; however, as mentioned earlier, for this to occur, the other verses must be active in our lives. By active, I do not mean perfect.  Active means that there is an agreement in us that they are right, and by God’s grace, we are working through our humanness till God’s Grace overcomes our weaknesses.

May this study be an encouragement to us but also a strong warning that the enemy is always trying to counterfeit God’s way.  If beauty and sex were a “stand-alone act,” why do all the sexual icons of our day marry and remarry?  Apparently, sex alone is not strong enough to keep two people from divorcing.  We must go deeper, beyond skin, and those of you who have good marriages understand that a lot goes into a relationship so that intimacy is what it was meant to be.  Forgiveness is fundamental; kindness should be routine; and loving friendship needs to be the bond that moves us forward with sex as the reward for it all.  In this context, no extramarital affair can compete. The heart is full.  There is no room or need to look outside of one’s marriage, but it takes work, and first and foremost an active faith, where routine times in the scriptures and prayer renews one’s faith.  Even if our marriages don’t fit these verses, and there could be multiple reasons as to why, be encouraged that as you remain faithful to the Lord, this is the goal and direction He wants for your marriage.  Hang in there!  Give your concerns to God in prayer and trust him and thank him.  The following is an encouraging verse found in Psalms 50:23: “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly, I will show the salvation of God.” 

Father God,

This is a lot of truth, and it will take time to process, but let’s start at the beginning, making sure of our salvation, or a least admitting to ourselves that we have not fully surrendered to you and start prayerfully working through those obstacles. You love us regardless, and You purchased our salvation “while we were yet sinners.”  How much more are we invited to come before you and work out the obstacles that keep us from fully trusting you?  Let us not fear a God who spread out his arms, abandoning all power and majesty, to demonstrate his undying love for us by receiving our punishment for sin.  Rather, if we are to fear, let us fear not coming to such love. Thank You and Amen.

Walk forward into God’s Grace – Arthur

As we begin this series, please be mindful that topics discussed are mature in content.  I know some of you share the devotionals with your children or grandchildren.

Proverbs Chapter 5: 1,3,4,8,9,10:

1. My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding

3. For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil,

4. but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

8. Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house,

9. lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless,

10. lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner

The book of Proverbs, as we have seen, is written as admonishment and as instruction by a father to his sons. In this case, the father is King Solomon of Israel—Israel’s wisest king. As we progress through Proverbs in Chapters 5 and 6, Solomon deals with allurement, passion, sex, the fallout from unfaithfulness, and the benefits of being faithful. This single sin of infidelity alone has destroyed families, putting the children on a dangerous path of not just present pain but future pain as well. Also, the violated spouse not only has his or her pain with which to deal, but the responsibility of picking up the pieces and holding the family together. The fallout of a broken home affects everyone’s self-esteem, making the children especially vulnerable to potentially high risk and just wrong choices, as their emotional base of self-esteem shifts from the home to seeking approval from their peers, as the remaining spouse is simply spread too thin to cover all the needs of the family. This fallout used to be mostly the fault of the husband, but over the past several years, women having affairs have outnumbered men. Maybe some of this increase with woman can be contributed to shows that glamorize an affair and repeatedly condition us to accept infidelity as a “social norm.” (Broken lives should never be accepted as a social norm; this is when you know your society is sick.)  So, though the scriptures are written in the masculine gender, they also very much apply to women. So with that said, let’s start.

Verse 1:  “My son (or daughter), be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding.” To avoid this kind of destructive sin, it starts right here. To whose wisdom are we going to listen? In that moment, when attraction and desire start to kindle an inward flame, how do we respond? As the moments tick away, turning into minutes, the will weakens and the conscience begins to betray that which it knows to be right, as passion clouds judgment. Action is what is needed—the same action we would take if we saw a vehicle coming towards our child.  There is no time to think “what if.” There must be action—a resolve to get the child out of danger—and we must do the same. To be “attentive to” and “incline your ear” means that what has been said has been received and there is no debate. A decision has been made prior, so in the face of temptation, the only decision to be made is when to walk, not if. A resolute decision is made to step away, keeping it professional, not going along with the “word games” that go along with flirtation. You walk away with no “open door or forwarding address.” 

Verse 3:  “For the lips of a forbidden woman (or man) drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil.”  The words we use today are different, but we get the message—she is hot or he is really good looking. The psychology of an affair is complicated, but it starts here—physical attraction. Chemically, we are wired to be attracted to beauty, be it another person, a vehicle or home, an outfit, or a painting. We internally get “turned on,” but why?  Why is beauty such an issue with us? I will give you an answer that initially will sound way out in left field, but we were made to worship the “Lord in the Beauty of His Holiness.”  From creation, we were meant to worship the Lord, to be fulfilled with His love. In his completeness, we are made whole. In the absence of this, we are emotionally hungry. Empty would be another word, or spiritually void of God’s love, which has a direct affect on our self-esteem. And just like our kids take risks because of a broken home, we take risks because our lives are broken, spiritually void of the worship/love relationship we were created to have. I know I just jumped over a whole bunch of Biblical teaching to draw these conclusions, but ask yourself this:  “Why are you (we) attracted to beauty? The attraction is deep because of the length and the risks we are willing to go to attain it. Could it be in lieu of worshipping the Lord—that this person or thing becomes an object of worship for us? We believe that he, she, or it can fulfill us. That would explain the risks we take, whether it is going into debt to buy a car we can’t afford so our self-esteem is built up or ending up in an affair that initially meets our need, though it is at the expense of our family. Logically, who would do that? Logic, however, is not what is used here.  Emotional hunger, if it is deep enough, wins every time.

Verses 4, 8, 9 & 10: “but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.  Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless, lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner.”  I once got into an argument with an Army recruiter, who was trying to recruit my newly turned 18-year-old daughter. I was about as angry as I have ever been, but I kept control, more so than he did, as he accused me of not knowing what “honor” was, after I told him his actions of not consulting the parents, regardless of what the law permitted, was not honorable. My response to his mocking accusation silenced him. Honor is when a man or women does the right thing, even to his or her own hurt. (This actually is a verse in Proverbs.)  So what has happened to honor?  It used to be that whether the actions of another were right or wrong, I respected myself enough to do the right thing. And when is it someone else’s responsibility to make me happy?  Is that not the justification we use: “They no longer make me happy.”  What has happened to us that we have become so empty of virtue? Has honor been trampled in the streets?  Has truth become overrun by lies that mask as truth?  Verse 4 says:  “but in the end she is bitter as wormwood”(an extremely bitter remedy used in ancient days to kill intestinal worms) and“sharp as a two-edged sword”? (The implication is that it cuts on both ends, causing severe bleeding and or death.)  The remedy is: “Keep your way far from her (or him), and do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless, lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner.”   View him or her as another empty human being, who is caught in the same web of lies in which you are becoming entangled. Unless action is taken, you will become both a victim and a perpetrator of the same cruel lie that has destroyed both reputation and wealth of a long line of people who decided to live “life” their way. 

Father God,

There is no way to deal gently with such destruction. It is a cancer that lies within us, and if given freedom, will consume and kill all manner of honor, love, joy, and peace. For us to believe otherwise only testifies to the fact of how conditioned and calloused we have become. Forgive us Father, for only in You is there any ray of hope to right the great wrong that has been done, whether we are the cause or the victim. 

Thank you and Amen.

May God help us – Arthur