Tuesday April 3

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Don Schmidt

2 Timothy 3:5a  having a form of godliness but denying its power.

Consider these questions: 1) Is the Church a victim of the degenerating culture that surrounds it?  Or 2) Is it the other way around – is the surrounding culture reflective of the Church having a form of godliness but denying its power?  Jesus taught that we are the salt and light of the world.  Salt and light prevent decay and darkness.

The context of today’s verse is Paul’s warning to Timothy of the godlessness of the last days.  Some of that godlessness is inevitable but to what extent is it reflective of ‘unsalty’ Christians – or Christians who too often turn off their ‘light’?  A major issue we have to deal with is selective obedience (or selective disobedience).  This results in having a form of godliness but denying its power.

The power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is beyond anything we can imagine.  But how we choose to respond to His gospel is critical.  Let’s look at the older brother in the well known parable in Luke 15 of the lost son.  Upon the younger brother’s return and seeing the response of his father:

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’  31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

The older son has been ‘obedient’ for years, everything the father has is his and he has always been with his father but his negative response could not be more different from that of his father.  Who are his bitterness and accusations focused upon?  He’s more upset at his father than he is with his brother.  Over the years, outwardly everything might have looked fine, but inwardly the older brother was so far from where he should or could be.  The brother’s return and his father’s response revealed the reality of where he was.

The point of this is that the same thing can happen to us.  We can look good on the outside – having a form of godliness; but inwardly we can miss so much because we selectively respond to Gods’ word – resulting in a denial of its power.  Unfortunately we can be blind to this reality occurring in our lives.

To be continued…

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Sunday April 1 – Palm Sunday

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Don Schmidt

John 12: 17-19 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, was there giving eyewitness accounts. It was because they had spread the word of this latest God-sign that the crowd swelled to a welcoming parade. The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: “It’s out of control. The world’s in a stampede after him.” (The Message)

Have you ever imagined what it would have been like to be one of Jesus’ disciples and been there with Him for His entry intoJerusalem?  It would have been so exhilarating to see and hear the huge crowd cheering Him and spreading their cloaks and palm branches on the road before Him; listening to them cry Hosanna to the Lord.

Using an expression common today, I can see the twelve disciples looking at each other and exclaiming “YES!!”  The atmosphere would have been electric.  It would have been so easy to get caught up in all this and to join in with all the disciples joyfully praising God for all the miracles they’d seen – particularly Lazarus being raised from the dead.  The crowd was even proclaiming Jesus, King of Israel!!

Although in the midst of all this celebration and cheering, somewhere in the back of their minds they might have been struggling, unable to understand how this incredible welcome fit with what Jesus had told them.  Jesus had said that He would be handed over to the Gentiles and be mocked, spit upon, flogged and killed – here inJerusalem– on this trip!!  How could that happen with a welcome like this? It’s like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

Even though Jesus told them that He would be raised from the dead in three days, they didn’t understand any of this because it’s meaning was hidden from them and they didn’t know what He was talking about! (Lk 18:34).  Only after Jesus was glorified were the disciples able to understand.

Each day, when we read the scriptures and their description of the events of this week, try to view them through the eyes of the disciples who didn’t know nor understand what was about to happen.  Think of the incredible pain they experienced seeing Jesus tortured and killed – with no idea that there was a “Rest of the story…” beyond anything they could imagine about to happen.

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Saturday March 31

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Don Schmidt

Titus 2:13-14 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Belonging to a house church is a vital part of our life at St. Luke’s (Anglican), and we belong to a wonderful one.  We meet on Friday nights and normally begin with a good meal.  While technically a potluck, it’s consistently wonderful.  Better still are the friends who comprise the group.  What a weekly opportunity for fellowship, worship, Bible study, prayer and building relationships!  Last night we (as a group) did something a bit different.

When we came together we didn’t share a meal, nor was there a time of Bible study.  The entire evening was devoted to worship and prayer.  It went back and forth – we’d sing, then pray, then sing some more and pray some more.  What a wonderful and special time it was.  I so enjoy the music and one of the group is gifted at the piano and enhancing our prayer times with the music.

For over 2½ hours the worship and prayer just flowed wonderfully.  What an uplifting time!  A key focus last night was praying for the ‘walls’ or barriers in each of our lives to be broken down.  There are areas of difficulty that we each deal with and we prayed in concert for one another to become free from those ‘walls’.  Jesus is our Lord and deliverer and we all want our lives to glorify Him more.

One of the songs played as background while we were praying particularly blessed me.  The song was Refiner’s Fire by Brian Doerksen.  He has written so many anointed songs and this one really spoke to me last night.  Here are the lyrics and a link to a video where you can worship with Brian singing this song:

Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold

Refiner’s fire
My heart’s one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will

Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin
Deep within

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week.  This song is a beautiful start to such a special week.

Refiner’s Fire by Brian Doerksen   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y8zP34AhuU

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Friday March 30

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Don Schmidt

I Chronicles 12:32 men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;

Have you ever felt clueless as to what is going on in the world around us?  It seems that the media and some of our leaders are clueless to reality – at least in terms of communicating facts and truth and making sound decisions.  Those erroneous communications and faulty decisions affect us all.

It’s almost like a tsunami of serious events is sweeping the world right now and these events affect God’s people everywhere.  On top of that is political correctness run rampant.  God forbid that a spade be called a spade; instead it must be called a garden implement.

We have massive media and societal reactions to events with little or no concern for the truth.  Don’t let the facts get in the way of a story – and if any of the facts are troublesome just ignore or change them.  It’s all about achieving desired outcomes, specifically for those creating the uproar.

We are living in the midst of this and it’s imperative that we, and our leaders, respond with understanding, wisdom and righteousness. Today’s verse in the Old Testament is a hidden jewel.  It’s easy to miss as it’s included in a list of the various groups of men who came to David atHebronto turn Saul’s kingdom over to him.

The men of Issachar are described here in Scripture in a way that is such an example for us.  They understood the times and knew what Israel must do!  We need to pray for this for ourselves, our leaders, for Israel, for Benjamin Netanyahu (Prime Minister of Israel), for our military leaders and for Christians around the world.  God has wisdom, insight and understanding that is available to all those who seek Him.

We have a vital role to play.  We must not be clueless and resign ourselves to irrelevancy.  We are born to glorify our Lord and we are at His mercy – not the mercy of the events surrounding us. No matter how helpless we might feel, we are active ‘ingredients’ in the hands of our Lord and Savior.

Our prayers can move mountains!  Our faith-filled words and attitudes can impact those around us and influence them towards righteousness.   We too can respond faithfully to the events around us and further His kingdom.  Jesus, by His Spirit, will enable us to understand our times and will guide us in what to do.

Let us remember – we are players in the game – not spectators in the bleachers!

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Thursday March 29

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Don Schmidt

Isaiah 29:13 The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.

One day, a number of years ago at work, I began experiencing significant chest pain.  My staff wanted me to go to the hospital and get checked over.  I thought I was going to be okay and refused.  They insisted that I call my wife Donna.  So I did and she told me just what they did – but I stubbornly insisted that I was okay.

A few minutes later my oldest son John called me in response to Donna’s call to him.  He had been a paramedic.  I’ll never forget his lovingly blunt words to me.  He said, “Dad.  There are two symptoms you never ignore: a pregnant lady having contractions and a guy your age with chest pain.  Get to the hospital – NOW!”

So my staff took me to the hospital and over two days I went through a bunch of tests.  The good news was – no heart problem. Every test came out good.  But John’s advice was still right on.  My stubbornness and lack of grasping the obvious could have cost me my life.

Chest pains and contractions are kind of hard to be unaware of.  They might be ignored for awhile but as they intensify, they sure can interrupt things.  Today’s verse is just as serious but is much more subtle.  It describes a deadly condition that we as God’s people can have and yet be blind to.  This verse is one that I have identified on my “Oh Jesus – keep me from this!” list.

There are many descriptions in Scripture of what to avoid but there are some – and today’s verse is one – that are particularly foreboding.  It describes God’s people as living in deception.  They think they are pleasing to Him but they’re not.  Their words and outward actions are rendered meaningless because of their hearts.

In the New Testament (Revelation 2 & 3), think of the letters to the Churches in Laodicea and Ephesus.  The Laodiceans thought they were rich, but Jesus considered them “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” – worthy of being spit out of His mouth!  The Ephesians were doing many things right, but Jesus charged them with having left their first love.  He commanded them to repent.

Unfortunately, the same things can and do happen to His people today.  “Oh Jesus – keep us from this!”  May we never give our Lord lip service, with our hearts far from Him.  May our hearts be truly His with our lives be living examples of a people who are truly rich in Him.  Most of all, may Jesus be our first love – with us learning how and then loving Him more and more with each passing day!

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Wednesday March 28

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Don Schmidt

Psalm 28:7 Yahweh is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

Recently I had some goofy experiences that provide a great illustration for us to learn from.  We were watching TV where we were staying and it wasn’t cable or satellite.  It was simply local reception through a small antenna connected to the TV.  We were close enough to Cleveland so most of the stations came in fine.  But there is one station that was a ‘problem child’.

The antenna would sit up on top of the TV cabinet and could receive the handful of stations fine – but not this one.  When we turned to it, across the screen would appear “No Signal”.  Then we’d get up and move the antenna and adjust the two ‘arms’ on the antenna until we finally found the proper position to receive a strong signal.

This became a real adventure because sometimes, depending on the weather, that signal could be very difficult to receive.  So much so, that our determination was affected by how much we wanted to watch a program or sporting event.  One night, there was a program we really wanted to watch that required me to stand near the TV, holding the antenna up in order to get reception – for the whole program.

The signal was always there, sometimes circumstances just made it more difficult to receive.  Greater effort and perseverance were required of us to receive it.  Also involved was how much we wanted to receive it.  Now let’s read today’s verse again:

“Yahweh is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”

There are times when this reality is clear as a bell.  But there are other times when we find ourselves in difficult situations where the reality of this truth becomes fuzzy and unclear.  We can even find ourselves in situations where our hearts are reflecting a “No Signal” message.  (“Lord, where are you?!”)

It’s not that this truth isn’t there – it is.  But by faith we have to seek after it and Him.  And sometimes they can be quite elusive – but that mustn’t stop us.  This seeking activity is a priceless component in the process of us becoming strong in Christ.  This truth and the determination to seek Him become bedrock reality in who we are.

No matter what things look like, He is our strength and shield.  No matter how difficult we find our situations, our hearts can and will trust in Him.  We are never left to ourselves because He helps us – no matter what.  Because of Him, our hearts can and will leap for joy and we will sing thanks to Him.

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Tuesday March 27

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Don Schmidt

John 12:37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

Years ago I met a pastor who had a most amazing story.  He had been born with club feet – which he no longer had.  When he was born, his parents were leaders in a non-Christian sect but they had a Bible.  They read in James 5 where it talks about elders anointing the sick with oil in the name of the Lord and their prayer of faith will make the sick person well.

Well they were leaders and they had a baby with club feet.  Even though they didn’t believe miracles could happen then, they were desperate and acted on what the Bible said.  So they got a jug of oil and poured it all on the baby’s feet in the name of Lord and prayed that God would do what the Bible said and heal him.  To their utter amazement, then and there, the miracle happened!  They watched both feet twist and became normal.  One moment their baby son had club feet – the next he was miraculously healed.  They were beside themselves with joy and excitement.

Just then there was a knock on the door and the main leader of their sect happened to stop by.  They excitedly brought him in to see the baby and witness the miracle that God had done.  The leader took one look and angrily declared how it wasn’t done by God and he walked out.  They were stunned!

Fortunately, they refused to believe him.  They recognized that they needed to find the truth and that meant leaving that sect.  Their search led them to Jesus and they became Christians – active in a local church.  This miracle baby grew up to become a pastor in that denomination and was standing with us telling us his own story.

Thank God that this man’s parents chose to follow the miracle – rather than the blindness of the leader.  The miracle led them to Jesus and they were set free.  That leader had much in common with many of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day who refused to believe their eyes.

For me, the most difficult thing to believe in the Bible is not the miraculous; but it’s how the religious leaders could see the thousands of miracles Jesus did and NOT believe.   Worse still, was their anger at seeing Jesus performing miracles, particularly those done on the Sabbath.  They were determined to kill Jesus!

And about this time 2,000 years ago, Jesus was headed for Jerusalem with his disciples, telling them it was about to happen.  Luke records that the disciples didn’t understand what Jesus was saying about His death because the meaning of what He was saying was hidden from them (by God).  But we know what happened.  Let us make this journey with them as we approach the events of Passion Week.

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Monday March 26

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Don Schmidt

Jeremiah 3:19  “I myself said, ‘How gladly would I treat you like sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.  I thought you would call me Father and not turn away from following me.”

Yesterday we looked at this verse that is so revealing of the pain associated with the Israelites going their own way and not responding to God and His love for them.  This morning I thought of the parable of the lost son who rebelled and spent his inheritance sinfully and wound up in the pigsty (Luke 15:11-31).  What do you think was going on with his father after his son went off?

Imagine his father watching his son walk away from home – not knowing if he would ever return.  At meal time he likely noticed his son’s empty seat at the table.  The stillness of not hearing his voice and not having his presence in the home at times could have been deafening.  Can you imagine the heartache whenever his father looked down the road and didn’t see his son returning?

I can imagine the pain.  He loved his son but was helpless to reach him.  Now into this context, think of our God looking at a world with his potential sons and daughters all in pigsties, no matter what their circumstances were; all ‘away from home and away from Him’.  But our God wasn’t and isn’t helpless.  He made a way for each and everyone of us to ‘come back home’ to Him.

The way that He made for us is so wonderfully described in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…”  He didn’t and doesn’t just write us off – He made a way for us!  And His Spirit is wooing every one of us, in the pig sties of life, to come to ourselves and recognize that Jesus can and will ‘bring us home’.

When the son came to himself and returned he had no idea the joy that was awaiting him.  He recognized just how guilty he was and never expected the response his father gave him.  But his father saw him coming even when he was a long way off and ran to him, threw his arms around him and kissed him.  The son was stunned by the celebration; so great was his father’s joy that he had come home.

Jesus taught that this celebration is what happens in Heaven whenever one sinner repents!  And we get to experience it!!!  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect to experience the overwhelming joy and love that I did when Jesus came into my life.  One moment I was lost and in the pigsty, the next I was ‘at home’ in the embrace of my God, absolutely overwhelmed by His love for me.

Because of the love of God in Jesus, we get to call Him Father and faithfully follow Him all the days of our lives!

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Sunday March 25

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Don Schmidt

Question: What did God want when He gave us the gift of Jesus? My answer is probably different than you think.  Today’s verse is unlike any other and is at the end of the devotional.

Three months ago we celebrated the birth of Jesus – the greatest gift that God could ever give.  In two weeks we will celebrate His resurrection, which is the most important Christian holy day.  Yahweh so loved the world that He gave Jesus, His only Son for us.   Through faith in Jesus we are able to be born-again, saved, be born of the Spirit, freed from sin, become children of God, have eternal life, …

The blessings that flow from Yahweh’s love for us are beyond measure.  But they stem from His desire for something.  Can you think of what that might be?  Any number of answers might come close: He wanted to undo the results of the fall; He wanted a people for Himself; He wanted to redeem mankind.

A major clue is in the answer Jesus gives to the question, “What is the greatest commandment?”  My favorite recording of Jesus being asked this question is Mark 12:28-34.  I never cease to be moved by the response of this teacher of the law and then Jesus’ response to him.

Over and over again throughout scripture, Yahweh instructs His people to love Him.  He will keep His covenant of love to a thousand generations (Deut 7:9) with those who do love Him and keep His commands.  Is there a Old Testament verse that lets us see the impact upon Him of His people from not doing this?  The answer is yes.

The verse is in Jeremiah 3 and reveals His heart so uniquely.  In this chapter, our God is calling for unfaithfulIsraelto repent and return to Him.  The verse that is so revealing is 3:19 where Yahweh declares, “I myself said, ‘How gladly would I treat you like sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.  I thought you would call me Father and not turn away from following me.”

Do we see and feel the pain revealed in that verse??!! He thought they would call Him Father and not turn away from following Him.  I know of no other verse where Yahweh so reveals the pain associated with the failure of His people to respond to Him.  It’s as though His heart is bleeding on the floor in front of us.  More than anything else, God wants a people who love Him.  How can we do anything less?

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Saturday March 24

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Don Schmidt

1 Peter 1:7  These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Have you ever thought about the difference between what’s real and what’s artificial?  Depending upon the circumstances it might be irrelevant or it might be significant.  I don’t think we’d want to bite into artificial fruit – we might break a tooth; but seeing a bouquet of artificial flowers is another thing.  But you sure wouldn’t expect to see a garden of artificial flowers.  Context can make a big difference.

Personally I love bouquets of fresh cut flowers.  Right now, with this incredibly wonderful March we’ve been having, daffodils, hyacinth and blossom trees are in full bloom everywhere.  Given my love of flowers, their beauty and fragrance, I have a couple of bouquets in the house to enjoy.   But many are the times I’ve experienced the disappointment of being attracted to plants or bouquets only to discover they weren’t real.

I remember years ago we were being shown around a friend’s big new home.  The wooden furniture in one room was amazing.  At least it was amazing until we touched it and discovered that the ornate fronts of each piece were plastic.  They were pretty but it seemed the intention was to have the furniture give the appearance of being something it wasn’t.  It wasn’t genuine.

Do we realize that any discussion of real versus artificial takes on a whole different dimension when we talk about our lives and relationships?  What kind of ‘front’ do we put up when we go somewhere?  .  How often do we hear of marriages breaking up and it comes as a total surprise to even close friends or family?  Instead of a genuine quality relationship, the representation of the marriage was artificial.

The same problems can appear in individuals, families, friendships or working relationships.  The issue isn’t to broadcast our problems to the world but to recognize the importance of our lives; that as Christians – Jesus followers – they must be the real thing.  There are times when we need help to get through stuff and we mustn’t let pride get in the way.  Beautiful gardens don’t happen over night; they take work.  So do quality lives and relationships.

We must take advantage of the grace, mercy, instruction and resources that God gives us; plus the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to become the genuine reality that He desires.  When we do, our lives are real – not artificial – because they are the work of His of hands.  He is the potter – we are the clay.

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