Out of the Fog

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34, 35 (New American Standard Bible)

Do you know the Boy Scouts of America came to be because a man was lost in the fog? The Boy Scouts was originally introduced in England by Lord Robert Baden-Powell in 1907. In 1910 American newspaper publisher William Boyce, while visiting London, became lost in the dense fog and was helped by a young boy. The lad refused a reward for his help and told Boyce that as a Boy Scout helping others was his duty. Boyce was so impressed he contacted Baden-Powell to talk to him about bringing the organization to America.

Helping others out of love will sometimes leave the receiver of that help in shock. I’ve noted with some amusement how people I’ve helped in the past ask “Why did you do that?” And a good many of them believed my motive was done because I wanted something. When I’ve told them it wasn’t me who did it but Christ in me the look on their face must be close to what Boyce had when that young English Scout refused any payment for his help. But I know those folks I’ve helped have never forgotten that someone took the time to help them and perhaps they went looking for the Founder of my program. Hopefully they found Him. I will know one day.

It is no stretch of the imagination to say the present age is overcome by darkness. That makes it difficult enough but add to that darkness the fog of unbelief and the sense of bewilderment and loss that feeds on it. How relieved they will be when we appear out of the fog and offer them a hand. With the Spirit of Christ working through us it won’t be as much a duty as a privilege.

Ken

www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com

Nothing for Something

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. Psalms 34:15 (New American Standard Bible

Ever gotten into a conversation with someone whose eyes dart around for someone else to talk to or even in the middle of your conversation calls to someone across the room? I believe all of us have been offended at someone we were talking to who was doing their best to ignore us. I believe that many of us feel that is mostly how our relationship is with God. I suppose if we are truly honest many times in our Christian experience we feel like we are getting nothing for something. We talk, we pray, we worship, we do good works and it seems we hear nothing but silence from God’s side. Is He there but looking for somebody else to talk to?

God is eternal and omniscient; He has perfect understanding, insight and knowledge and He has always existed. The good news is if that’s the case then He has thought of you forever along with every human who has lived or is yet to live. Isn’t that awesome that you and your story have been in the loving mind of God for eternity? Ever have someone love you who is far away? Is their love diminished because they don’t interact with you all the time? I would say that love exists in a spirit of confidence and trust. Even though you can’t hear their voice or see them you rest in the assurance their love for you is deeply true and enduring.

Even though it may sound like it’s a one-sided conversation with God His ear not only hears your voice of prayer He hears your every thought. God rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Be strong and let your heart take courage, if your hope is in the Lord. He is in total control of your life even when He’s quietly observing. His not speaking shows a depth of comfort and relaxed relationship with those He loves. There is no awkward silence with God. He’s there for you and His love is as true as the first day you fell in love with Him. Even in the quiet times His grace is always an offering of something for nothing.

Ken

www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com

Fixing Broken Wings

Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NASB)

A few years ago a sparrow flew into a window of my house and hurt her wing. I nursed her until she was well enough to fly again. When I took her outside and opened the box that had been her hospital room she came out of it like a flash and flew up and over my house. As she disappeared the old adage “The bird with the broken wing will never fly so high again” came to me and how Satan uses that train of thought to discourage us when we fail. He tells us if we blow it there’s no way we can return to the place with God we once knew. Horse feathers.

I talk a lot about grace for it is something that is changing my life for the better every day. It is marvelous to consider and dwell on. It means God the Father continues to love and cherish us even when we may have gotten off the path. We tend to believe that our broken wings will never allow us to again reach the full height of His love. The grace of God through Christ tells us the opposite is true. The bird with the broken wing can fly that high again. We feel unworthy to come to Him when we feel we’ve let Him down but we are encouraged to draw near with confidence to the throne of grace to receive mercy and help. The throne tells of the sovereign power of the one we approach and the grace speaks of His generosity, good will and blessing.

No matter where you find yourself today you are the particular focus of God’s love and concern. Not only does He know where you may be today but He's always known you would be right at this spot in your life. He can't be surprised but He can surprise us with grace. But you may say “That’s all well and good Ken, you don’t know what I’ve done. God can’t love me anymore.” Not so. God knows exactly what you’ve done and where you currently are. There seems to be in many of us a floor of brass located between the head and heart that keeps the knowledge of grace from trickling down from belief to conviction and certainty. Let us rest in the promise of His grace to us all and in particular to those of us with broken wings. Broken wings can be fixed and restored to health through His amazing grace. Let your faith take wing.

Ken

www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com

Razorblades

You ask and you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:2 (New American Standard Bible)

Chuck Smith tells about the time his then 2-year old daughter one morning came out of the bathroom with one of his razorblades in her little hand. Chuck saw what she had and gently said, “Oh honey, let daddy see what you have there.” When she showed it to him he took it from her and she began to cry. Oh, what a mean daddy; he wouldn’t let his little girl play with razorblades. There are still amazing moments in my own life when I see where I am and how God has withheld answering a prayer that was given amiss. He denied me for my own protection and brought my life around so I would not be in a position to hurt myself or someone else.

At times when I find myself in an unpleasant situation I will tell God, “Lord, I really hate where I am at this moment but keep doing what you’re doing because I know it is perfect and right for me.” It isn’t easy to pray that and it honestly irks me to have to say it for I have a fondness for razorblades.

Answered prayer is a beautiful thing and prayers that go unanswered are most times a blessing we don’t recognize. Because our Heavenly Father loves us so deeply when we ask for razorblades He will always say no. Sometimes we can see the outcome and we shudder at what might have happened if we had gotten what we asked for. Sometimes we don’t see what the outcome might have been but it is certain we will know one day. Thanks to God for every unanswered prayer. With Him we need not worry about being careful what we ask for. He loves us as no earthly parent can and there is always protection, grace and mercy in His answer.



Ken Evans

www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com

No Room for Fudging

Be Anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6, 7 (NASB)

There is a Chinese curse that goes, “May you live in interesting times.” We do live in interesting times and the way our world is today, it does rather seem like the earth and even the nations are under some kind of curse. Nations threaten nations, armies and navies deploy, armed terrorists foment shock and panic and on the smaller level neighbors bicker, bosses yell and families feud. Perhaps the greatest difference between our modern day and Paul’s is with our technology and instant communications anxiety just gets here faster and more often. We are bombarded on every side by television, magazines, radio, telephone calls, billboards; people knocking on the door and…well you get the picture.

Paul tells us not to be anxious about anything. Anything? Where does he get the authority to say such a thing? He was quick to remind those who followed Christ that he did not receive a gospel preached by men but he received his knowledge through a revelation of Jesus Christ Himself (Galatians 1:11, 12). Paul’s writing here gives us the key to the locked door of peace and to a place of rest. He tells us to be at ease and to pray. Most of us see praying as only a way of getting something from God. He sees it as communion with His heart. When we pray it is always relational. Sometimes I will pray a psalm. I will read a few verses then pray prayers of thanksgiving and praise through the beautiful words of David’s worship and interact with Him spirit to Spirit. When I don’t know how to pray specifically I rest in the fact that the Holy Spirit always prays for the saints of God interceding for us according to the will of God (Romans 8:26, 27).

How do we get to a place of trust where anxiety is lessened? Just like any talent it never happens without practice. People don’t just get up one morning and decide to play the piano like a Strauss or Chopin. If one is gifted it takes time to develop that gift into something that is breathtaking. Roam through the Psalms and meditate upon their truths. You will meet the Messiah there. Walk with Him every day through the Word of God. You will begin to take His truth to heart and come to believe the greatest rest lies in that truth. We may live in interesting times but we have a God who is a lot more than just interesting. He can take care of things. He can take care of that thing that is weighing on you right now. Don’t be anxious for anything? ‘Anything’ leaves no room for fudging. It is possible to come to a place where we can be anxious for nothing. When we do the peace of God which is beyond anything we can imagine will guard our hearts and minds in His Son, Christ Jesus.

Ken

www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com

Settling for the Slush

The Thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly. John 10:10 (New American Standard Bible)

I grew up in a city outside of Los Angeles. The L.A. Basin seldom gets snow and if areas do it is usually just a very light dusting. When I was a child during the winter if my family wanted to play in the snow we had to drive a couple of hours into the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles. Along Hwy. 38 around the 7000 foot elevation there would usually be plenty of snow to play in after a major Pacific storm had moved through the Southland. It was always a treat for us southern California kids to get to see, touch and play in the white stuff.

I do recall during the first years dad would drive my mom, my brother and I up to the mountains that as soon as I would see the first patches of dirty, slushy snow along the highway I would beg dad to stop so I could play in the stuff. Every time mom and dad would patiently assure me, “There’s more snow up higher and it’s cleaner and deeper. Those patches by the road are dirty and there’s not enough to really enjoy.” After a few winters of that I learned to ignore the sporadic snow with its dirt, slush and pine needles and look forward to getting higher into the mountains where some snow drifts would be up to my waist. My brother, Gary, and I would launch ourselves into it and play till our hands and feet ached from the cold. It was great fun.

I had been willing to settle for the slush and if someone hadn’t been along with me who knew better I would have came home with visions of dirty snow, mud and mire as having been a real romp in the snow. I find there is a parallel to my walk with Christ in that story. That old thief Satan loves to try and steal my security and satisfaction in Christ and to see me be satisfied with sparse and slushy temporary things. And how often does Christ have unspoiled and deep experiences for me to dive into and I am only willing to settle for dirty and slushy snow. The riches of Christ are so deep and vast that if we really recognized what was up the road higher we would be astounded and would hold the first experiences as lackluster and without any real positive appeal or value. Snow yes, but certainly nothing to bring lasting satisfaction. Patience is the key. As I was little at the time I did not understand what was up the road at a higher and better place. But I learned. Jesus desires for us to reprioritize our main concerns of earth’s temporary things and not be content with just slush. He has so much more for us and truly delights in our squeals of excitement and as we finally dive into His deep and limitless riches by abiding in His root. What a treat ignoring the slush and patiently heading upward to where what He has for us lies in limitless pristine drifts. How He loves to pour out His blessings upon those who love Him and as we patiently head up the highway of life deeper blessings are waiting for us past the mud and slush of temporary things. I want to head up the road. C’mon, let’s go play in the snow.

Ken

www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com

Uncle Elmer's Million Pounds

And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise. Luke 23:43 (NASB)

Will God redeem a person on their deathbed or will He reject their plea for salvation in the last hour or minute of their lives because all their life they pushed Him away? Surprisingly I’ve spoken to several Christians in my life who said they believed that any deathbed confession is rejected by God. If the person rejected Christ all their life then Christ certainly doesn’t want them at the end. In the cases where I’ve talked with Christians who hold this view I point them to the cross and the dying confession of faith in Christ one of the thieves crucified with Jesus is recorded as making. The thief had to do nothing but ask Jesus to remember him when He came into his kingdom. Jesus’ reply was “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

There is another story I like to share at times like this and allow the hearer to decide. It is about my uncle, Elmer Carson, who in 1975 was placed in the hospital dying of emphysema. All His family was believers yet all his life Uncle Elmer had rebuffed any call to salvation. As he lay dying in the hospital his daughter, Lynda, talked with him concerning his soul. Elmer’s response to her was, “I haven’t followed Jesus during my life and doing it now would make me a hypocrite. I can’t accept him.” Lynda had her pastor come talk to Uncle Elmer and got the same response. My cousin called my dad who was a believer and shared her fear her dad would go into eternity separated from God. Dad’s response was, “Elmer is dying. Get your pastor to go see him again and lay it all out for him and tell him he needs to get his soul right with the Lord.” The pastor returned and said to Elmer, “Mr. Carson, let me be honest here for the hour is late, you’re dying and you need to accept Christ. You will not be a hypocrite for God’s love and grace for you is there until you take your last breath.” As they talked Uncle Elmer came to a point of belief on Christ asking Him to forgive his sins. After he did his first statement to the pastor was, “I feel like a million pounds have been lifted off my shoulders!” Uncle Elmer passed away a few hours later in perfect peace and I believe immediately went into the presence of His Christ who became his Lord in the last hours of his earthly life. Truly I believe one of the first people I’ll see on the other side is my smiling uncle robust and healed completely in body, mind and soul.

I’m glad that at that moment on the cross Jesus in all his pain and suffering on that cross didn’t hesitate but in this man’s belief on Him immediately forgave him and accepted him into fellowship with Him. My dear uncle was like the thief on that cross and his witness that a “million pounds” had been lifted from his life is a testimony that the weight that had been lifted was a lifetime of sin. This is what Christ came to do: to reconcile the human race back into fellowship with His Heavenly Father. I would recommend doing it sooner than later for we never know when we may draw our last breath. It’s difficult to speak of these things but our soul’s destiny is deadly serious. One second after we die it’s too late to repent. We’re all born out of fellowship with God and if we do not address the problem with the Lord then that burden begins to grow and can ultimately feel like a million pounds. Will Jesus Christ accept any man or woman into fellowship with Him at any time and under any condition? He can lift a little child’s light burden as they confess that Jesus is Lord of their life but He’s still strong enough to lift a million pounds too.

Ken

www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com