March 7 – Constant Growth

“Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?”(Proverbs 20:6)

IN WORD:
Billy Graham once wrote, “Nearly everyone has a spiritual mountaintop experience on occasion. For most of us, this is how we measure our spiritual maturity. We assume that the heights we’ve reached indicate the level to which we’ve grown.
But God has a different measure of our maturity. It’s not about the peaks we’ve scaled but our consistency between them. The peaks are great; we need them for an occasional boost. But they do not define us. Learning the mind of God is not a roller coaster experience. It’s a steady climb.”
This is where many Christians go astray. We let our spiritual highs determine our self-image, and we live off their memory while neglecting daily growth. We think we’ve stocked up on our Godward obligations and that He must be satisfied with us as long as we are satisfied with ourselves. A peak experience will indeed give us a satisfying feeling for a while, and we’ll gladly dwell on it as long as we can. But while we dwell there, we can lose sight of today’s needs.
Think of the inconsistency of that. Do we feast one day and then decide that we need no more nutrition for a few weeks? No, our bodies pester us with the need for daily sustenance, no matter how well we ate the day before. Our souls are more subtle. We respond to their hunger pangs with memories of past meals and expect them to be satisfied. But sporadic love isn’t love at all, and occasional obedience is an oxymoron. True discipleship is consistent.

IN DEED:
Our God is not the One to be appeased periodically and ignored in the interims. His love for us is constant and persistent. His character never changes. His mercy is new every morning, and His compassion does not fail. If our minds are being are being renewed to be like His, isn’t consistency a logical result? The blessings of discipleship and worship are found only in their constancy. Measure yourself not by your highs and lows, but by who you are in between them.

“By perseverance the snail reached the ark.”
-Charles Spurgeon-

March 6 – Necessary Perseverance (James 5:7-11)

“You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.”(James 5:11)

IN WORD:
Staying power. It’s a rare commodity in a microwave society. Technological advancement has made travel, communication, and daily chores incredibly time-efficient, if not instantaneous. The result is that we’re not trained in perseverance. We’re not accustomed to pains that can’t be relieved and problems that can’t be corrected. When they come, we send up prayers with almost the same expectation as when we press the buttons on our microwave. A few seconds, we think, and we should be done with it.
God doesn’t usually work that way. He is thorough and precise, and He will not be rushed. When He tries us in the fire, as He did Job, nothing can get us out. The time cannot be shortened and our growth cannot come more quickly. We must learn perseverance.
James began his letter by telling about the results of perseverance — maturity and completeness (James 1:4). There is no way to become mature Christians without trials. We may pray for Christlike character and hope that it will come by spiritual osmosis, but it will not. God’s plan for all of His people is trial by fire. It is the only way to burn away the flesh and reveal the Spirit. It is the only way to grow. No one has ever become a true disciple without perseverance, and no one has ever persevered without pain.

IN DEED:
What is your reaction to trials? Do you expect instantaneous answers to your prayers for deliverance? More often than not, you will be disappointed. Change your perspective. Rather than looking for escape, look for the benefit of the trial. Let endurance have its perfect result. Ask God what He’s accomplishing and then participate in it willingly. If you can learn perseverance, you will be a rarity in this world and well fit for the Kingdom of God.

“When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away your ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.” -Corrie Ten Boom-

March 5 – Gold That Remains (Job 23:1-12)

“When He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
(Job 23:10)

IN WORD:
Few of us would have the confidence Job did. We might rather assume that when God has tested us in the same manner that gold is refined, many impurities will be consumed. Eventually, perhaps, we will come forth as gold, but not immediately. Sin runs too deep and the refining takes so excruciatingly long.
Perhaps it is overconfidence that leads Job to say such a thing, or perhaps he really was that much more righteous than the rest of us. Either way, whether he is right about himself or not, he has hit on a foundational spiritual principle: God tries His servants, and the intended result is pure gold.
Just as the Cross of Jesus revealed the character of God within Him, so does the fire of trial reveal the character of God within us. Are we patient? We and the world will only know it if our patience is tested. Are we loving? It will not be seen until we are confronted with hatred. Are we full of faith? There’s no evidence until circumstances dictate against it. Every fruit of the Spirit is latent within us until its antithesis appears. Superficial joy and real joy look exactly the same until the storm comes and blows one of them away. Peace isn’t really peace unless it can survive when attacked. And deeper still: Your life in the Spirit isn’t life at all if it melts away when death threatens.

IN DEED:
We want all of the fruits of the Spirit and all of the blessings of Christlikeness, but we rarely realize the cost. Nothing God gives us is proven genuine until it is attacked by the troubles of this world and the devil. It is the only way God reveals Himself through His saints. It is the only way the authentic is distinguished from the superficial. It is the only way to come forth as gold.
Are you running from tests? Don’t. Stand firm in them. Let God do His purifying work. Get ready to shine.

“In shunning a trial, we are seeking to avoid a blessing.”
-Charles Spurgeon-

March 4 – Seize the Kingdom

“If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’ “ (1 Corinthians 15:32)

IN WORD:
The carpe diem philosophy — “seize the day” — is as old as humanity. It is written of in Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, and a parable of Jesus, but its practitioners have an older history than that. They assume that human life is short and that our capacity for enjoyment is limited to our physical life span. Pleasure is a god in itself — a god with a very short reign.
This is probably the prevailing Western philosophy of our day. We hear it whenever someone remarks, “Well, as long as he’s happy and not hurting anyone, what does it matter what he does?” We see it in our arts & entertainment. And, like it or not, we believers often act as if it’s our philosophy too. Ours is not a culture that often denies short-term pleasure for long-term gain. The question for us is how much of our culture we’ll absorb.
Paul’s indictment against this philosophy, whether it’s full-fledged hedonism or simple shortsightedness, is based on the Resurrection. Because we now know that life is eternal, seizing the day for immediate gain is folly. It exchanges eternal blessings for temporal satisfaction. It forfeits the truly meaningful for the truly mundane. It’s like trading away a Rembrandt for a drawing in the sand, or forsaking life in a mansion for a weekend trip. It’s dumb.

IN DEED:
As Christians, we must frequently take an inventory of our life. Are we living in light of eternity? Or are we offering up our most valuable resources for a momentary benefit? To know the difference, we must be sensitive to the motivations behind our actions. Are our morals based on eternal considerations? Why do we spend our money the way we do? Is it for today alone or for the Kingdom of God? What about our time? Our energy? Our talents? Know yourself well, and rearrange your life, if you must. Seize the Kingdom. It lasts.

“He who provides for this life, but takes no care for eternity, is wise for a moment, but a fool forever.” -John Tillotson-

March 3 – A Kingdom Pursuit (Proverbs 3:13-18)

“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.”(Proverbs 3:13-14)

IN WORD:
Solomon speaks from experience. One night early in his reign, God appeared to Solomon and asked him what divine favor he would want. Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge, and because his heart’s desire was not material but godly, God gave it all: wisdom & knowledge, plus riches, honor, victory, and more. When Solomon says wisdom and understanding are more profitable than silver and gold, he knows. This is not hypothetical, and it is not simply to impress others with his godliness. It is truth based on real life.
In a sense, we have the same choice available to us. No, God hasn’t appeared to us in the dark of night to ask us what favor we would seek. But we do choose what things in life we will pursue. Do we value understanding more than wealth? If so, we are in the minority. Most people believe more money is the key to more happiness. More money means — in theory only — less work, more vacation time, more time-saving technology, hired help, more conveniences, more luxury. The opposite is actually true. More money means more maintenance, more details, more uncertain investments, more to manage, more headaches. Understanding, however, has the opposite dynamic. More is better. Always.

IN DEED:
Isn’t the choice God presents Solomon with remarkably similar to what Jesus taught His disciples? “Seek first [God’s] kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). Solomon sought a kingdom commodity, and all the rest was added. We would be fools not to seek the same agreement with our Lord. He offers it; why would we not accept it? Examine the things you pursue. Make sure they are ultimately worth it.

“There is a deep wisdom inaccessible to the wise and prudent, but disclosed to the babes.” -Christopher Bryant-

March 2 – Fit For Glory (Psalm 19)

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my redeemer.”
(Psalm 19:14)

IN WORD:
Psalm 19 is all about the glory of God and the perfection of the things He has ordained. It ends with David’s desire to live consistently with God’s ordinances. In such a glorious creation that proclaims God’s goodness from the rising of the sun to its setting, David knows how tragic it would be not to fit in. He prays for forgiveness and for protection from willful sins (verses 12-13). And then he gets to the heart of the matter: the purity of words and thoughts. Most of us can maintain righteous behavior most of the time. Our deepest struggles are in our thought life and the words that proceed from it. James even goes so far as to tell us that anyone who has mastered the tongue has become perfect (James 3:2). Why? Because the tongue is a barometer for the mind. It measures what is going on inside our heads. Sooner or later, it will tell the truth about us — that we have pride, prejudices, impurities, petty agendas, and a strong self-will. If we can keep ourselves pure within, we will be pure in our speech and in our actions as well.

IN DEED:
Are you fit for glory? Do your thoughts and your words reflect the truth of who God is? Do they admire His ordinances? Anyone who is honest will have to admit that, many times, our inward thoughts lie to us about God — His love, His purity, His care for us, the goodness of His plan. And, many times, those thoughts slander His ordinances. We want to violate them in ways that will be pleasing to us or that will satisfy our personal agendas. We constantly need to ask ourselves whether our words and even our thoughts fit with the God of glory & truth.
Follow David’s example. Marvel at the glory of God’s creation. Praise the wisdom of His statutes. Count on His forgiveness. And then ask that He might grant you the blessing of having meditations and speech that is pleasing to Him.

“Holy Spirit, think through me till Your ideas are my ideas.”
-Amy Carmichael-

March 1 – A Personal Walk

“He whose walk is upright fears the Lord, but he whose ways are devious despises him.”(Proverbs 14:2)

IN WORD:
In our individualistic culture, we tend to think that our behavior is our own domain. “It’s my life,” “It’s my body,” “It’s nobody’s business but my own,” are all common declarations of independence that most of us have heard — or even said — often. We see ourselves as isolated actors on a crowded stage. Everyone does their own thing.
That was the philosophy in the period of the judges too. “Everyone did as he saw fit” (Judges 21:25). They used their own standards of morality not only because they had no king, but also because they disregarded God. In our era of tolerance, we are immersed in a philosophy of “to each his own.” Anyone claiming an absolute standard of behavior is sure to hear the mantra of the age: “As long as it’s not hurting anyone else, It doesn’t matter what a person does.” God has a direct response: IT MATTERS.
Why does it matter? Because those who are upright in heart and behavior show a respect for God and His ways. Those who are not — who are devious in their plans and destructive in their ways — show that they couldn’t care less that God exists. His standards are irrelevant to them. Ideas, behaviors, and lifestyles are not just personal decisions affecting only ourselves; they are personal statements about the God who created us. What we think and what we do says a lot about the One we serve.

IN DEED:
Have you made that connection between your lifestyle and your opinion of God? The two are intimately linked. Those who fear God with respect and awe will reflect it in their lives. Those who don’t believe god exists — or don’t care that He does — will also reflect that in their lives.
In an independent age, that’s a foreign thought. We who believe the Word can no longer say, “My life is my business.” Our lives are statements of who He is. Consider your thoughts, your words, and your actions well. Understand the statement you are making.

“Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer-

February 28 – Lord of All (1 Peter 3:15-16)

“In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.”(1 Peter 3:15)

IN WORD:
When we became Christians, we confessed Jesus as Lord. When we pray, we call Him Lord. But as we live, is He really Lord in our hearts? The words of our mouths do not tell the whole story. There is a depth in most of our hearts to which Jesus’ Lordship does not go. As much as we call Him Lord, most of us have held back a corner of our heart to ourselves. His Lordship extends only so far.
The work of the Holy Spirit in bringing us to maturity in Christ — i.e., sanctification — is this: to extend the Lordship of Jesus to every inch of our lives. It is a contentious process. We want the benefits of being a Christian — such as salvation, peace, joy and the like — but we want to retain a little autonomy as well. We have internal struggles that our friends and family do not see. There are places in our hearts that we guard, holding the Holy Spirit at a distance. We like to control the tempo of our discipleship.
To the extent that we do this, we base our lives on a false supposition — that we have the right to govern ourselves, even after we’ve supposedly laid our all on the altar. It is an unwise position to try to manage Jesus’ Lordship at all when we control even a portion of ourselves. It’s just an illusion.

IN DEED:
Is Jesus Lord of 100% of your heart? Your thoughts, your behaviors, your dreams — are they yours or His? What corners of your being have you retained for yourself? Whatever they are, they are footholds for the enemy and shelters for the sinful flesh. Jesus desires more of you than you have given Him to this point. He wants it all. This seems like painful surrender to us, but from His perspective, it is a happy day when one of His people lays it all on the altar. Blessing is the result. He is trustworthy with everything we give Him, and He will manage our lives better than we ever have. At no point resist Him; just set Him apart as Lord. You won’t regret it!

“Christ is either Lord of all or He is not Lord at all.”
–Hudson Taylor-

February 27 – Exalting Wisdom (Proverbs 4:1-9)

“Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.”(Proverbs 4:8)

IN WORD:
We all long for glory & honor. It is a longing built into us by a Creator whose image we bear and who Himself is worthy of all glory & honor. And there is, in fact, a way in this world that we can live to receive a crown. But it is not the way most people think.
Human instinct tells us to seek a crown by exalting ourselves. It prompts us to climb to the top of the ladder — socially, professionally, emotionally, and even spiritually. It is all about attainment. Godly wisdom, on the other hand, tells us to seek a crown by embracing understanding. It prompts us to become humble and self-aware, submitting to a higher Authority and becoming like Him. It has little to do with achieving; it is all about character.
Human striving is an interesting dynamic. When we seek self, we lose self. When we seek God, we gain God and self. And with God, all of His blessings are included. Jesus said it well: “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:35).
A substantial part of seeking God is seeking His wisdom. Those who want to benefit from His blessings but do not care to build their lives on His truth are fooling themselves. They are asking for an impossibility, like the benefit of good health without the wisdom of a good diet and exercise, or the benefit of passing a course without doing the homework. God has not constructed life to work that way. There is blessing in building on His truth.

IN DEED:
Whose wisdom forms the foundation of your life? Is it your own? A family member or friend? The collective voice of our culture? If so, why? With all of God’s wisdom available to us, why build on lesser material? Seek God’s wisdom. Esteem it and embrace it, and you will be crowned with honor by the only One whose opinion matters.

“If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself.” -D. L. Moody-

February 26 – Supreme Wisdom (Proverbs 4:1-9)

“Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”(Proverbs 4:7)

IN WORD:
Wisdom is a rare commodity in our world. We have plenty of smart people — geniuses, in fact — but few who are wise. And our culture hardly knows the difference. We value status, fame, wealth, a good reputation, companionship, and achievement — not all bad in themselves. But none of them satisfy unless handled with wisdom. We should seek true understanding first and foremost, or all of the rest become mere idols.
Wisdom is a right understanding of the world and our role in it. It knows who God is, it knows who we are, and it sees the relative importance of all things. It is a correct ordering of priorities, majoring on truth and character before superficial pleasures. It is the only way, in the long run, to be truly satisfied.
History is littered with kings and celebrities who seemingly had it all. But in the end they had nothing. They did not know God and built their lives on superficial things. There are abundant stories of people on their deathbeds, wishing they could do it all over again. They are often envied by everyone but themselves, because they know the emptiness and lies of worldly fulfillment. They learn that everything they thought would satisfy, eventually did not.

IN DEED :
Are you satisfied with life? Do you think that the next salary, the next achievement, the next job, the next relationship, the next “whatever” will finally make you content? Stop where you are and seek wisdom above all else. Make it your priority to learn who God is, what He is like, how He relates to us, and what He is doing in this world. Then invest your entire life in what you’ve learned. Even if it costs you all you have, it is well worth it. Only a life based on this kind of understanding will satisfy. Only godly wisdom can make everything else meaningful.

“He is truly wise who looks upon all earthly things as folly that he may gain Christ.” -Thomas A’ Kempis-