Today’s Reading: James 3:1-12; Psalm 145

I started writing My Morning Coffee in 2010 because God told me to write them. My goal has been to simply share what God is teaching me – to share out of the overflow of my daily time in His presence. I see myself as more of a student of the Word than a teacher. I pray God has used these devotionals in your life — that there have been moments when God was speaking to both of us through His Spirit as we studied God’s word together.

Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. – James 3:1-2

Controlling our speech — this is the area I find myself messing up time and time again. It’s not easy, which is the point James is making here. He uses three comparisons to help us understand the importance of conquering this area of our life.

A LITTLE BIT

We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. – James 3:3

My friend, Todd Craig, showed me once how God created horses with a place in their mouth that doesn’t have teeth – a place where he can place his thumb and force the horse to open his mouth so the bit can be put into place. Once the bit is in place, the horse calms and cooperates with its rider.

A SMALL RUDDER

And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. – James 3:4-5a

The tongue may be small but it is mighty. It can set the course of our life, determining the direction of relationships. It can do both good and harm. What we say may seem insignificant but it has the power to speak kind words of encouragement or harsh words of condemnation.

A TINY SPARK

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! – James 3:5b-10

The tongue is small but powerful. We can tame animals but we cannot tame the destructive potential of the tongue. So what do we do with that? If the tongue can steer the course of our life and destroy everything in its path yet cannot be controlled, where is the hope in that?

Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring. – James 3:11-12

I don’t want to be the person who is praising God one minute and the next minute speaking unkindly about someone Jesus loves enough to die for. I don’t want my tongue doing the work of Satan, finding its source in hell. I want something different. But these verses are saying that I cannot just determine to do better and change old habits if I cannot tame my tongue. Again, where is the hope?

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. – Acts 2:1-4

And therein we find hope. I don’t have to try harder; what I need to do is take that step of letting God truly be the LORD of my life. At the point when I truly surrender to Him, He fills me with His Spirit and I begin to speak in new ways – ways that are different from my old speech patterns, ways that could only be the result of the work the Holy Spirit is doing in my life. I start speaking love instead of judgment, patience instead of criticism, and joy instead of pessimism. Now there’s hope!

Kalley Heiligenthal wrote a song called Ever Be and in one of the verses he writes:
“You shoulder our weakness and Your strength becomes our own /You’re making me like You…”

Lord, I give you control of my heart and my speech today. Please give me a fresh filling of your Spirit and may your praise always be on my lips! Give me the right words to say and a heart that desires to only bless and do your work with my words. I love you, Lord. Amen.

“You will be praised, You will be praised / With angels and saints we sing worthy are you Lord /
And it’s why I sing / Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips / Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips” [Ever Be by Kalley Heiligenthal, Bethel Music]

Today’s Reading: James 2:21-26 and 5:10-11

I love mornings when I can just rest in God’s presence, trusting in Him and waiting on Him. I love to study His word and let the faith of others build my faith. In his letter, James uses the faith of three individuals to show us how faith, actions and relationship work together. First, he brings our focus on Abraham.

FULLY CONVINCED IN FAITH — ABRAHAM

How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. – James 2:20-24

Romans 4:18-21 tells us that Abraham kept hoping even when there was no reason to hope. His faith did not waver when he was fatherless at almost 100 years of age; he kept believing in God’s promise that he would be the father of many nations. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

Time passed between the moment God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky & the sand on the seashore and the moment Sarah became pregnant. Time passed between the moment Abraham was told by God to sacrifice Isaac and the moment God provided the lamb. Time passed and yet Abraham’s faith did not waver, it did not weaken. He stayed strong in his faith and continued to give glory to God, FULLY CONVINCED that God had the power to do what He had promised He would do.

Can you relate to Abraham? Perhaps time is passing for you between the promise God has given you and its fulfillment. Do not waver in unbelief. Hold tight to God’s promises, giving glory to God and remaining FULLY PERSUADED that God will do what He has promised He will do!

WAITING IN FAITH — JOB

For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. – James 5:10-11

When we are in the midst of suffering, James encourages us to not get impatient and begin to grumble but instead to be patient and stand firm. We can’t rush God. We often have the tendency to go ahead of God and try to push His hand but God calls for us to patiently wait on Him. In the midst of this waiting, we are strengthened in our faith.

We don’t always know why God is allowing something in our life but we know we can trust Him. I love this quote from Melissa Moore Fitzpatrick: “Like Job, we endure cycles of suffering and restoration, sometimes without the slightest clue as to God’s specific purpose. Being a child of God means accepting God is fully free to do as He sees fit and abiding in His core attributes. Our heritage as God’s people is to stand firmly on the platform of God’s person, knowing He moves exclusively in ways consistent with His covenant commitment, even if we cannot grasp them with finite minds” [Mercy Triumphs, Beth Moore].

DEFINED BY FAITH – RAHAB

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. – James 2:25-26

Rahab helped the spies escape and then she waited – waited for the day of her own rescue. While the world around her continued to judge her by her past actions of sin and prostitution, God saw Rahab’s faith as evidenced in her heroic actions. Rahab was not considered righteous in spite of the sinful decisions she had made, she was counted as righteous because of her faith in the God of Israel and her willingness to put her own life at risk in order to be used by God for the preservation of His people.

Dear God, thank you so much for seeing us for who you created us to be, who we are and who we will become. Help us to trust you as Abraham did – to trust You to do what only You can do. Help us to live not on the basis of what we see we cannot do but on what we know YOU can do. Like Job and Rahab, let our actions be the seamless unity of believing and doing. Amen.

Today’s Reading: James 2:8-20

Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So, if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.

So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. – James 2:8-13

Have you ever considered the concept of MERCY when discussing favoritism or the habit of judging other people? I think of mercy when I think of seeing someone in need and having pity on them, then coming to their assistance. I think of mercy when I think of the need to forgive someone, regardless of whether or not they are asking for my forgiveness. But James is clearly using the concept of mercy while discussing our tendency to treat other people according to the standards WE set instead of loving them unconditionally.

MERCY SETS THE STANDARD WHEN…

Mercy is respecting where each person is coming from rather than judging or looking down on them. To truly love our neighbors, we must stop thinking so highly of ourselves, accept each other through the eyes of our Creator, and display authentic mercy to one another. To truly love is to respond to someone else’s need – to go beyond accepting and put our faith into action.

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well” – but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith BY my good deeds.”

You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless. – James 2:14-20

MERCY SETS THE STANDARD WHEN…

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10

Mercy and love should come naturally because of the work God is doing in our lives. Mercy should be an outflow of our faith or evidence of our faith. We can fall into a SALVATION BY WORKS mentality if we are not careful. We begin to say, “I need to try harder. I need to do better. I need to produce more fruit.” The danger in this is then we can say, “Look at these good works that I have accomplished for God. Look at the fruit of MY labor.”

Let us not forget the first 7 verses of John chapter 15 – God is the vine and we are the branches. It is remaining in Him that changes who we are and that change is evidenced in the life we live. Fruit is then a result of our relationship with God, daily remaining in His presence and allowing Him to work through us.

Romans 12:1 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.

When we become a living sacrifice, we are offering ourselves to God – utterly at His disposal — willing to be consumed by Him, desiring to be transformed by Him, set apart to be used by Him. Now mercy and love are a natural part of WHO we are because of WHOSE we are. Now mercy sets the standards.

Today’s Reading: James 1:26-2:7; Psalm 68

Today’s passage definitely requires that mirror we talked about yesterday. It is time for me to be honest and open with God – allowing His Spirit to speak to me as I read His word. I need to be willing to hear anything He might have to say to me this morning.

MY RELIGION IS WORTHLESS WHEN…

If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. – James 1:26-27

That’s good news for those of us who volunteer or work for a pregnancy center ministry. That is what we do! Many of the women we serve have been abandoned by their own father and now the father of their baby. We reach out to help both mother and baby.

Churches are known for this as well. I know of many churches that have Embrace Grace groups for single moms or Grief Share groups for widows. We attended a church in Nashville recently that encourages families towards foster care and adoption. These believers are beautifully taking care of orphans and widows because that is what God has moved their hearts to do.

Over the last few years, there have been many deaths in the church where I grew up. A generous couple in the church decided they wanted to do something special for the growing number of widows in their congregation, so now these wonderful ladies are able to go out to eat together once a month. They have become a close knit group and enjoy their time together.

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families;
he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. – Psalm 68:5-6a

Maybe you are thinking of the ways in which you reach out to orphans and widows in your community. That is good news for us then, right? But wait a second. Before we take too much pride in what God has called us to do or given us opportunity to do, there is more to this scripture.

MY RELIGION IS WORTHLESS WHEN…

James says that our religion is worthless if we cannot keep a tight rein on our tongue. Ouch! We don’t serve a God who is looking for more good works than sinful deeds. Our religion is not one where we just need to make sure the good outweighs the bad. We serve a God who is calling us to holiness – to a Spirit-filled life that guides both our actions and our words.

My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor” – well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? – James 2:1-7

MY RELIGION IS WORTHLESS WHEN…

Humans have a tendency to treat people differently – preference, prejudice, favor, stereotyping, assumptions, racism. If someone possesses something we esteem, we are naturally drawn to them. That could be physical beauty, clothing, designer shoes or purses, athleticism, jewelry, talent, celebrity status, intelligence, money, or a dynamic personality. It is all favoritism and it is all sin, and my guess is we are all guilty.

Listen my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? – James 2:5

Over and over again, scripture shows that those who are poor by the world’s standards are more easily drawn toward God. Because they have less of this world’s treasures to hold on to, they tend to trust God with more of their life.

I don’t want my religion to be worthless. Lord, please fill me with your Spirit today. Give me the strength to listen to your Spirit’s leading and hold back any words that are not pleasing to you. May my mouth be an instrument for you today and not a tool for the devil. Lord, bring the words of James to my mind today when I am faced with an opportunity to let the Spirit guide me. May I trust you with more and hang on to less! Amen.

Today’s Reading: James 1:19-25; Psalm 34

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith and don’t show it by your actions? – James 2:14a

This powerful question speaks loudly throughout James’ letter to the Jews. It’s tragic to say you believe in God but then live out a life absent of God’s presence, yet how often are we caught in that kind of moment?

HOW OFTEN DO OUR ACTIONS AND WORDS REPRESENT THE SELFISHNESS LIVING INSIDE OF US INSTEAD OF THE SAVIOR LIVING OUT THROUGH US?

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. – James 1:19-21

God’s plan is to fill us with His words – to speak into us the word of truth. But first we must rid ourselves of the things that drown out His words or that use up available space that is meant to be filled with His gifts.

Does anyone want to live a life
that is long and prosperous?
Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies!
Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it. – Psalm 34:12-14

I think I need to make room in my life for the good things that God has for me. It’s time for some end of the season cleaning!

— There are some unnecessary attitudes and anger that I need to stop embracing in order to make me feel justified. I need to rid myself of this moral filth so that God can give me peace and the ability to forgive.

— There are some habits in my life that I need to rid myself of – habits that make me feel good about myself when God wants me to go to Him for my self-esteem and joy.

— There are some things I put into my body to give me energy and keep me going, when God wants to be my source of stamina, drive and purpose.

— There are some lies that I tend to believe – lies I need to stop listening to so that I can clearly hear the voice of God speaking the truth into my heart.

— There are some things in my life that waste my time, but time is a gift from God — a good and perfect gift. I need to clear my schedule and stop telling God that I don’t have time for…that I just cannot…that I’m too busy…

WHAT IS GOD ASKING YOU TO GET RID OF SO THAT HE CAN FILL YOU TO OVERFLOWING?

Is there anger that God is asking you to let go of? Is He calling you to be quick to listen and slow to speak? Any filth or bad habits you need to get rid of? Are there lies you are holding onto that are keeping God’s truth from fully transforming you? Any schedule clearing you need to do in order to make room for what God is calling you to do?

So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like GLANCING at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you LOOK CAREFULLY into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. – James 1:21-25

The study of God’s word is a wonderful thing. Spending time each day in God’s presence is vital. The question is whether or not we allow God’s words and his teachings to change who we are and how we live. If I faithfully study the Bible and I daily write “My Morning Coffee” but I don’t allow it to change who I am and what I do, then I am simply a student of the Word and not a servant of the Author.

I am reminded this morning that my study of the scriptures needs to include more than a cup of coffee, it needs to include a mirror. When I look in the mirror, I need to see who God created me to be – the life He intended for me. When I walk away from the mirror, I need to remember who I am in Christ. I want to be satisfied with nothing less than fulfilling God’s purpose for my life.

Today’s Reading: James 1:9-18; Psalm 49

James starts out his letter encouraging his readers to have faith and endurance in the midst of troubles – to see difficult times as an opportunity for faith to grow and endurance to develop. He is still talking about this when he begins to talk about the rich and the poor.

Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. – James 1:9

Is James telling us we should take pride in our humble circumstances? No, he is telling us we should be humble no matter what our circumstances. The only time to boast is when we are boasting about what God is doing in our lives. James is saying that even those in humble circumstances can boast about the wonderful things God is doing in their lives. We do not need the riches of the world; we need the blessings of our Father.

And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away with all of their achievements. – James 1:10-11

James is speaking of those who place their confidence in their riches, or who look to their finances to provide help when trouble comes instead of looking to God. They look to the things of this world that will fade away and wither, instead of trusting in the God who is eternal.

God does not promise riches to those who have faith in Him, but He has blessed many believers with great riches. Whether God chooses to give us access to many material blessings or few, He wants us to trust in Him more than anything we can place our hands on. Whatever He has blessed us with, big or little, is His to use for His purposes. He wants access to all that we have so that we can embrace Him with empty hands.

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. – James 1:12

I find it interesting that this verse follows the section about the rich and the poor. How often does our financial situation tempt us to place our faith in money instead of God? We are tempted with the thought that our problems will be solved if only God will give us more material blessings. And when He does bless us financially, is He tempting us to get caught up in worldly treasures? James settles that question clearly in the next verse.

And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. – James 1:13-15

Imagine the analogy of a fish being caught on a hook. All is good and then the fish’s attention is drawn to something that looks pleasing — something dangling from a hook. The fish is not thinking about the danger of the hook but of the temporary pleasure of the worm. The fish has the choice to swim away from the temptation or to latch onto it. The latter results in the fish being pulled in a direction it never intended to go. Temptation comes from our own sinful desires. When we choose to pursue what our flesh desires, we take the chance that the temptation will drag us into sinful actions. As we allow sin a place in our lives, it gives birth to death. But don’t be misled! Don’t be enticed, and don’t let temptation drag you into places of sin.

So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. – James 1:16-18

Our God never changes. He is good and He is holy today, and He will be good and He will be holy tomorrow. We never have to question if He loves us. We are His prized possession and He longs for us to love Him in this same way. In good times and bad, have faith in Him. Whether you have little or much, trust in Him. Don’t let any situation, earthly possession, or temptation draw your attention away from the One who calls you His prized possession.

Father, thank you for loving us with that kind of love! Thank you for the abundance you provide for us every day as we live the life you have given us. May we always be satisfied with your provisions and may we always be thankful for your generosity. Help us to WAIT on you, the God who never changes or casts a shifting shadow, for all we want and all we need. Amen.

Today’s Reading: James 1:1-8; Psalm 9

Around the time of Paul’s first missionary journey, followers of Jesus began writing letters to the believers scattered across the region. James, the brother of Jesus, wrote a short letter packed full of inspiration for us today. It is one of my favorite books of the Bible.

James opens up his letter with a short introduction of himself. Have you ever had to introduce yourself or write your own bio? It is not easy to do. Out of all the different ways James could have described himself, he chose slave or servant (1:1). Not brother, not blood relation, not childhood playmate – James chose servant.

My heart resonates with James’ description of himself. I desire to be completely sold-out to God — a servant willing to do whatever God asks of me. I choose to recognize Jesus as my Lord or my Master, not just my Christ or my Savior. I recognize that it is through his blood that I kneel before him forgiven and with a hope and peace that are precious gifts from God Himself.

WHEN TROUBLE COMES YOUR WAY

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. – James 1:2

Wow! When trouble comes my way, I should consider it an opportunity for great joy. When things are going wrong, I should consider it an “opportunity” and not a burden. When problems are unresolved, I should look at the good that can come from it instead of dwelling on the trouble it is creating.

WHEN YOUR FAITH IS TESTED

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So LET IT GROW, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. – James 1:3-4

An opportunity…a chance…needing nothing. When it seems like all is going wrong and my faith is being tested, I can focus on the positive – I can trust that something good can come of this difficulty. I can see my circumstances as an opportunity to build endurance or perseverance. And when endurance is fully developed, when I am growing fully in Christ, I can rest in the knowledge that my life is perfect (all that God intended it to be).

WHEN YOU NEED WISDOM

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. – James 1:5-8

Sometimes I lack wisdom. Sometimes the way I handle a situation causes me to regret my actions before the day is even over – sometimes before the words are even out of my mouth. Apologies are made and I seek God for forgiveness. My GENEROUS God hears my cry for wisdom and He answers it. He forgives me and is willing to give me wisdom, if only I will ask for it.

WHEN YOU START TO DOUBT

The problem is that my lack of wisdom yesterday can cause me to doubt today. Have you been there? I find myself discouraged that I have once again blown it. I begin to wonder if I will ever get it right. It is in those moments that I need to remember where my help comes from (Psalm 121:1-2). I love how Beth Moore describes our imperfect submission to a perfect God.

“…we bring all that WE are to all that HE is and all that we NEED to all He can GIVE…” – Beth Moore [Mercy Triumphs, p.51]

I love that! When I am so sick of myself and so frustrated that I am not getting it right (again), I can take all that I am (as pitiful as it may be) to all that He is (holy, righteous and good). He can transform me into the person He needs me to be, giving me the wisdom I need to grow up fully in Him. I can ask my GENEROUS God for wisdom, in absolute confidence that He will give it to me.

Here I am again, Lord, looking back at yesterday, discouraged that I am not as mature as I long to be. I am reminded this morning by your brother, James, that you will give me what I need. Lord, I need wisdom. I ask you to empty me of all that is me, and fill me with all that is you. Generous God, please give me your wisdom and continue to grow me fully in You so that I can be ALL that You intend for me to be. Thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for continuing to work in me, building patient endurance each time my faith is tested. I choose to LET IT GROW. Amen.

The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,
a refuge in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.
Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Jerusalem.
Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds.
For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless.
He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer. – Psalm 9:9-12

Today’s Reading: Acts 14; Psalm 44

The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. – Acts 14:1-3

Paul and Barnabas experienced opposition again in Iconium, yet instead of moving on, they stayed. Sometimes in the face of opposition, the Holy Spirit leads us to WALK AWAY and sometimes he tells us to STAY; yet sometimes he directs us to FLEE. That is what Paul and Barnabas did next. When a mob of both Gentiles and Jews threatened to attack and stone them, they fled.

SOMETIMES WE FACE PERSECUTION ON OUR JOURNEY.

But good came from this persecution as Paul and Barnabas preached the good news in the next two towns they visited — Lystra and Derbe. The reaction at first was quite the opposite, as the people tried to make Paul and Barnabas into gods to worship.

While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking.

When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!” – Acts 14:8-11

Because the culture of these towns was to worship the Greek god Zeus, their natural response was to bring bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, preparing to make sacrifices to these two men who they assumed must be gods themselves. Paul quickly cleared up the confusion letting them know they were merely humans there to bring the Good News.

“Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them. – Acts 14:15-18

Paul and Barnabas were right to not revel in the praise of man. They knew popularity could fade as quickly as it appeared. Sure enough, troublemakers arrived and began stirring up the crowds against them. The fickle townspeople stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead.

So what did Paul do this time? Did he shake the dust off his feet and leave? Did he choose to stay or did he flee? As the believers gathered around the injured apostle, Paul rose to his feet and went back into the town.

The next day Paul left with Barnabas for Derbe, where they made many disciples. Paul and Barnabas stopped by Lystra, Iconium and Antioch of Pisidia on their way home from this long journey. They had one more message to convey using the example of their own lives — a reminder that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God (14:22).

SOMETIMES WE FACE SUFFERING ON OUR JOURNEY.

This is a good reminder for us today. God has called each of us to a special purpose. He promises to be with us but He does not promise that our journey will be without distractions, opposition, persecution and sometimes suffering. He has given us the Holy Spirit who will show us what to do when these problems arise. He might lead us to walk away or He may call us to stay. He might warn us to flee from the enemy or He may give us the strength to get up on our feet and go back.

I am so thankful for His direction and strength in any and every situation. I praise Him and thank Him for the wisdom He gives us to know how and when to respond. As long as we continue to worship and fast, remaining close to God, He will communicate to us through His Spirit. Praise God for His constant faithfulness!

Only by your power can we push back our enemies;
only in your name can we trample our foes.
I do not trust in my bow;
I do not count on my sword to save me.
You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies;
you disgrace those who hate us.
O God, we give glory to you all day long
and constantly praise your name. – Psalm 44:5-8

Today’s Reading: Acts 13; Psalm 27

Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. – Acts 13:1-3

It was while they were worshiping the Lord that they received directions from God; it was while they were fasting that the Holy Spirit gave them a message. What a privilege to be called by God to do His work! What an honor to be surrounded by the community of believers as they encourage you to embrace your calling and as they pray for the journey ahead.

The next two chapters of Acts describe Barnabas and Paul’s first missionary journey from Antioch. Their experience varied from town to town and so did the response. When they arrived in Paphos, Paul and Barnabas met with the governor, Sergius Paulus. He was an intelligent man with a desire to hear the word of God, but there was a voice in his life that was distracting him.

Sometimes there are barriers or distractions in our lives preventing us from fully trusting in God. In the case of the governor, it was a Jewish sorcerer named Bar-Jesus (also known as Elymas) who was keeping him from finding faith in Jesus. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, identified the man for what he was — a tool of the devil and an enemy. Instantly mist and darkness came over his eyes and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him. The distraction was silenced, and the governor became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord (Acts 13:6-12).

SOMETIMES WE FACE DISTRACTIONS ON OUR JOURNEY.

Next Paul and Barnabas ended up in Antioch of Pisidia, where they were invited to give a word of encouragement for the people during the weekly service in the synagogue. Paul reminded them of the history of Israel and how Jesus fulfilled many prophecies, how he was condemned instead of recognized and how God raised him from the dead.

“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God —something the law of Moses could never do. Be careful! Don’t let the prophets’ words apply to you. For they said, ‘Look, you mockers, be amazed and die! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.’” – Acts 13:38-41

Paul’s message of grace was accepted and they were invited to stay for another week. The Gentiles were thankful for these missionaries and many became believers. Opposition arose, however, among the Jews and a mob ran Paul and Barnabas out of town. So they shook the dust off of their feet and went on to Iconium.

SOMETIMES WE FACE OPPOSITION ON OUR JOURNEY.

Let’s consider the experience of these men of God in order to be equipped for the opposition ahead of us. Things had been going so well for Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia. Their ministry was experiencing fruit as many were coming to believe in who Jesus was and accepting the message of salvation by grace. But SOME of the Jews were jealous and began slandering Paul, arguing against the message he was preaching. Sergius Paulus was distracted by ONE voice; the entire city showed up to hear Paul preach the word of the Lord, but SOME stirred up those with influence and incited a mob against them.

It was while they were worshiping the Lord that the apostles received directions from God; it was while they were fasting that the Holy Spirit gave them a message. It was while they were preaching that many came to believe in the Lord. And it was while their ministry was experiencing much fruit that the enemy began to use the voices of SOME to stir up trouble, opposing and distracting from what God had called them to do.

The volume of even one person in our life can become a distraction to the truth of God’s word if we do not silence it. The lies of a few jealous individuals can quickly taint the success of a ministry if we allow them to continue to stir up trouble. But, even though Paul and Barnabas went on to the next town, the believers left behind were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit (13:52). They were thankful for the message they had received and continued to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, despite those who tried everything to keep them from believing. Paul and Barnabas had been called to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth and God was blessing their discipleship efforts.

Lord, help us to see past those who oppose your message so that we can see those who are growing in their faith. Help us to block out the words of discouragement and criticism so that we can hear the praises of your people. When the enemy tries to convince us that there is a majority against us, help us see the truth of the quantity regardless of the volume. Thank you for today’s reminder to focus on the fruit of the ministry rather than the thorns. Give us the strength to stay when we are supposed to stay, and give us the wisdom to leave when we are supposed to shake the dust off our feet and move on.

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident. – Psalm 27:1-3

Today’s Reading: Acts 12; Psalm 73

I studied the tendencies of two men this morning as I drank my coffee – Peter the Apostle and Herod the King. Peter was highly esteemed and respected in the early Church among both Jewish and Gentile believers. King Herod was well liked among the Jewish leaders, gaining their favor for his persecution of the early Christians and his order to kill the apostle James with a sword.

When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter (This took place during the Passover Celebration.) Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. – Acts 12:3-4

HEROD LOVED RECEIVING PRAISE AND ATTENTION.

Herod was SO pleased with the praise and attention he received for himself when he put the apostle James to death that he craved more attention. How could he top this one? Perhaps by arresting an even more popular apostle, one who had already been arrested at one point but had escaped. If he could arrest Peter, he could accomplish what others could not! He would arrest Peter and put so many guards on him that it would be impossible for him to escape this time.

Consider the timing of Peter’s arrest. Herod wanted the attention of as many of the Jewish people as possible so he arrested Peter during the Jewish Passover celebration with the intent of bringing him to public trial right after the Passover. Sound familiar? At the same time the traditional Passover lamb was to be slain, Jesus was crucified. If the Jewish people wanted a blood sacrifice to save them, Herod would give it to them through the death of Peter.

The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered.

So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron-gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.

Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!” – Acts 12:6-11

Imagine what this experience must have been like for Peter. I picture him standing in the middle of the dark street; all is quiet as everyone is already in their homes for the night. He is standing there in confusion thinking, “Did that really just happen?!!” As reality sinks in, I imagine a big smile coming across Peter’s face as tears of joy begin to fill his eyes. I picture Peter raising his arms towards heaven and thanking the God who loved him THAT much. At some point, I wonder if Peter thought, “I have to tell everyone! The church needs to know how faithful God is!”

PETER POINTED THE ATTENTION OF OTHERS TOWARDS GOD AND GAVE HIM PRAISE.

While Peter was in prison, the church was earnestly praying for him (12:5). Peter went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many believers were gathered for prayer. Imagine their shock when they opened the door and saw Peter standing there. Scripture says they were AMAZED. Peter motioned for them to quiet down and then told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. He was quick to let them know that his escape was not about him but about God; this feat was not by his strength but by God’s power, mercy and grace! – (Acts 12:12-17)

In contrast, Herod was in Caesarea, dressed in royal robes and sitting on his throne. A delegation of people trying to win his favor from Tyre and Sidon were his audience and he was making a grand speech. The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!” Just the attention and glory he craved! But God has never been impressed with man’s need for pride or our tendency to soak in the glory of men’s praise.

Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died. – Acts 12:23

HOW MUCH DOES GOD HATE OUR PRIDE?

How angry does God get when we crave the attention and praise of others? Consider this – Herod killed the apostle James, whom God loved very much, and nothing happened. Herod arrested Peter with the intent to bring him to trial and God rescued Peter without bringing physical harm to Herod. Herod accepted the praise of men when they worshiped him as if he was a god, and God struck Herod with a sickness that would lead to a painful and miserable death.

Oh great and wonderful God, only you are worthy of our praise and glory today and forevermore! Forgive us for our moments of satisfaction and pride in ourselves. May we crave only your attention and may you be pleased with our humility and service to you today. We love you! Amen.