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Chaplain’s Corner – Prescription for Confidence

Sep15

Warning: the following words are good medicine; however, they are only effective if you actually follow their advice and do what they say! Note to self: The aspirin, as long as it is in the medicine cabinet, won’t relieve the pain.

1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

How do we have confidence in face of uncertainty? These certainly are uncertain times.  One of the most favorite passages, Psalm 23, is a picture of how God guides us, how he provides for us, how he leads us. We are not in control, praise God, He is!! God knows who we are, where we are, and what we need. That should give us confidence.

Verse 1: Contentment.  “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

This verse speaks first of relationship. We are never alone when we have a relationship with God. “The LORD” (note the all-caps} refers to our awesome, sacred, sovereign master. “My shepherd” is possessive, the LORD is MY shepherd. In John 10:11,14 Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd.”  Just think of it: the Great I AM, The God of the universe, the God who is self-existent, holy, powerful, is present with his people (you and me) in a personal way! Just as shepherds are always thinking about how to best care for their sheep, Jesus provides this analogy to tell us how he cares for us.

Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? (Matthew 6:25). I shall not want. In other words, I have all I need, because Jesus cares for me.

Verse 2: Rest. “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters.”

This verse reinforces the first one. In other words, the LORD gives us rest. To rest is to be free from worry about where our next meal is coming from, free from worry about our safety, free from worry about tomorrow. When you rest, you are at your best. “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). “Therefore” in verse 34 refers to the command in verse 33 to seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness. In other words, if we seek the LORD as our Master and Shepherd, then He will take care of everything else.

Verse 3: Restoration. “He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”

This is so important to us right now. When we feel like we are absolutely poured out and used up, then the Holy Spirit restores what we have spent, whether it be our energy, our stamina, our patience, our compassion, our love. The Word of God renews our mind; makes us whole again.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2).

Verse 4: Protection and comfort. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

My image of this valley is a low spot with steep sides all around, and the only way out is to climb. We will all get in a valley, but we don’t have to stay there. With Jesus at our side, we can walk through, and not find ourselves overwhelmed with the insurmountable. Valleys can have some ominous shadows. These shadows can become our reality, especially when we allow them to control us. Have you ever been freaked out by a shadow? Just remember:

  1. Shadows are not real; they cannot hurt you, and they can’t fight back.
  2. Shadows often look bigger than the real thing.
  3. Shadows only exist when there is light.

Don’t let a shadow stop you from being what God has called you to be. This path you are on has a heavenly purpose.

Back to the analogy of Jesus as our shepherd: a shepherd carries a rod and a staff. The rod was for protection, a club, a symbol of strength, power, and authority over the flock. The Word is our rod. The staff was for direction, a crook or hook to guide the sheep. It is a symbol of Holy Spirit, our comforter and guide.

Verse 5: Abundance. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.”

God loves us so much he set the banquet table with his son and invites us to join in. Back in Biblical times, anointing the head was common courtesy if you could afford it, and it signified prosperity and blessing. It is linked to presence of Holy Spirit in our lives today. Satan is trying his best to bar our way to the banquet, the blessings that God has laid before us. We sometimes struggle to find joy in our troubles; and this is why it is good to remember all the Scriptures where Jesus found time to celebrate and fellowship with his family and friends. Most importantly, don’t miss the opportunity by turning down Jesus’ invitation to the banquet (Luke 14:15-24).

Verse 6: Goodness and mercy. “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

David, the author of this psalm, made some crazy mistakes, yet he was confident of God’s goodness and love leading to his everlasting salvation. Mercy is frequently used to describe God in Scripture; it sums up what Bible is all about. From the time of the Fall, God has been working His plan to redeem us, to reconcile us back to him. It is only by his mercy that He wants to do this for us. But we can’t fully understand how merciful God is unless we understand how vehemently He hates sin. For us to have God’s goodness and love, and for us to dwell in the house of the Lord forever, we must repent of our sin and seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness.

Psalm 23, written by King David (once a shepherd, himself), is fulfilled in Jesus, the Good Shepherd.  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – Knowing God

Sep8

“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Over the past few weeks, we studied the I AM statements of Jesus as he uses earthly metaphors such as “bread”, “light”, “door”, “way”, and “vine” to help us to better know Him. It is useful for us to learn about the attributes of God and his Son Jesus. But truthfully, we will never fully comprehend who He is until we see Him face to face.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8–9)

I am oddly comforted by the fact that I cannot fully comprehend God. I can try to explain the Trinity, but I can’t really comprehend the fullness and perfection of the Three-In-One.  By His divine nature, God is all-knowing, omni-present, and omni-powerful.  I am thankful for how He is perfectly just and perfectly merciful at the same time; and although I am such a benefactor of this aspect of His perfect goodness and love, I do not have the capacity or power within myself to perfectly emulate it.

“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” (Ps. 145:3)

As a human, I have a sinful nature; as a created being, I have my limits. As our Creator, God is limitless and without sin. He is simply bigger and more than my human mind can comprehend. I have a choice: I can accept this and trust Him, or I can disregard him. For me, I choose to trust His word and His promises in Deuteronomy 30:15-16 “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase….”

So why is this comforting? I guess it is because I know my own limitations, sins, shortcomings, and sorrows; and I am so relieved that my God, as my Creator, does not possess these same limitations, sins, and shortcomings. I know that my own disappointments and grief here on earth are temporary, and that when I finally leave this earth to spend eternity with God, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

In the meantime, we as believers have been given a great gift. Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit, one of the three Persons of the Trinity, to be with us while we reside here on earth. While we are human and do not possess in and of ourselves the attributes of God, we do have the power of the Holy Spirit residing in us to empower us to live and walk confidently and obediently with our Lord and Savior.

 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”  (Romans 15:13)

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – Trust and Obey

Sep1

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

“Because I said so!” thundered my dad (way too many times).

I hated when my dad answered my “Why” questions like this. I vowed that I would never do this to my kids; that I would always explain my reasons. And then I had my own kids, and, and well, I did honestly try to explain to my children. I wanted them to understand. But sometimes, I knew that because of their immaturity, there was no way they could understand. Maybe I knew the truth would be just too much for them to carry. Maybe it was because I knew that I was hoping to have something better for them but was still working out the details. Maybe I could not offer an explanation because I needed to honor someone else’s confidentiality. So, I would become my dad and tell them, “Because I said so.” I now believe this to be one of the Godlier expressions a parent or anyone in a responsible position can utter. Not that it should be overused, but sometimes, it is the best answer.

Sometimes, we can’t understand. Sometimes we just don’t need to know why, at least right now. I feel like that is where we are in our current circumstances. Why are we dealing with so much change, while we are dealing with so much sickness, while we are dealing with such a worker shortage? Why? It is just not for us to know.

Acceptance of this response “Because I said so” comes down to trusting the one who has spoken. Oh sure, we can tolerate the news or instruction with resentment, but if we love and respect our dad, we will instead trust and be obedient. We will keep on honoring the work set before us, the mission of the Mission.

This calls to mind the old song, Trust and Obey:

We are in a season of trusting right now. Let us seek to trust and obey. And one thing we know is this, God will surely bless us for our faithfulness, in His own timing and His own way.

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.” (Matthew 24:45-47)

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Trust and Obey

1 When we walk with the Lord 
in the light of his word, 
what a glory he sheds on our way! 
While we do his good will, 
he abides with us still, 
and with all who will trust and obey. 

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way 
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 

2 Not a burden we bear, 
not a sorrow we share, 
but our toil he doth richly repay; 
not a grief or a loss, 
not a frown or a cross, 
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]

3 But we never can prove 
the delights of his love 
until all on the altar we lay; 
for the favor he shows, 
for the joy he bestows, 
are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]

4 Then in fellowship sweet 
we will sit at his feet, 
or we’ll walk by his side in the way; 
what he says we will do, 
where he sends we will go; 
never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]

Chaplain’s Corner – I AM the True Vine

Aug24

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener” (John 15:1).

 “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).

I am a gardener. This time of year, I am picking tomatoes and cucumbers more than anything else. Until the last couple of weeks I was also picking lots of blueberries. Toward the end, one of the big blueberry branches got broken. It was attached, but just hanging on. Some of the berries on this broken branch had ripened, but some were still immature. I picked the ripe ones, of course, and hoped that the green berries would continue to ripen. They did for a day or two, but as the branch withered, the berries withered also. I tasted one and it was tasteless. Funny thing—earlier in the season, one of my first tomato plants to have tomatoes also had a broken branch. When I found it, it was attached, but just barely. I was crushed to think that these little green tomatoes would not become big, juicy, red tomatoes; but I had a plan. I got some gardening tape and taped the branch to the stem. It worked! The branch, which had been hanging by a thread, reattached and was able to get enough nutrients from the trunk (which is actually a vine) for the tomatoes to mature. Even though the branches have all the leaves, it is the vine that is lifegiving. It transfers nutrients and fluids from the roots to the branch with its fruit.

Jesus called himself the true vine. In John 15:5, Jesus says “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Just like those tomatoes or blueberries that had no chance of growing to maturity and serving their life purpose without being attached to the mother plant, likewise we can only bear good fruit if we are attached to Jesus. 

I want to point out something crucial in all of these “I AM” statements by Jesus. While the first two words — “I AM” – are essential to Jesus’ identity, the third word is just as important. “The” is a type of adjective, called an article because it is used to describe whether a noun is specific or nonspecific. Other articles are the words “a” and “an,” both of which are nonspecific. “The” is the only article which is specific. Earlier in this devotion, I said I was a gardener. But I am not trying to put myself on equal footing with God, who is THE gardener. I’m just any old gardener, but God is the one and only gardener, vinedresser, Holy Father.

John 15:5 says to remain in Jesus in order to bear much fruit. How do we remain in Christ?  Remember that Jesus said: “I and the Father are one.” In one of Moses’ final speeches to the children if Israel, when he was 100 years old, he told them to choose life by being “…completely faithful to the Lord your God, love him, and do whatever he tells you” (Deuteronomy 30:20a). It makes sense, then, that remaining in Christ is remaining faithful and obedient to God and remaining faithful and obedient to God is remaining in Christ.

We can only bear fruit if we are alive, and “The Lord is the only one who can give life” (Deuteronomy 20b).

This series of devotions based on Jesus’ seven “I AM” statements began with the July 7 devotion entitled “Who is God,” in which we tried to answer that question. We then then explored Jesus’ divinity based on his “I AM” Statements in the next seven devotions, and how they relate to the message of the entire Bible of redemption and reconciliation.

Jesus further reveals his divinity to us when, three times in the Book of Revelation, Jesus tells John: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13).

The best way to know about God is to study His Word. The best way to know God is to believe what his Word says to us and to put that belief into practice. What does this mean for you and me? It makes all the difference to me when I pray. If I begin my prayer as Jesus instructed, “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,” and when I ponder who He is and how He has kept his promises throughout all time, then I can pray with confidence, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” God is who He says he is, and He can do what he says He will do.

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – I AM the Life

Aug18

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25).

The story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead is well-known for several things. One, this passage contains the shortest verse in the Bible, well-known to those of us who have been challenged to recite Scripture on the spot – “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Two, Jesus miraculously raised a man from the dead. And three, Jesus made one of his most outrageous claims: that He was the resurrection and those who believed in him could be guaranteed eternal life. In fact, he was claiming his Divinity.

After presenting Himself as The Resurrection and The Life, Jesus asked Martha an all-important question: “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26).

From Jesus’ question, we see that we have a choice as to whether we believe Jesus is who He says He is. We have always had this choice. In fact, in one of Moses’ final speeches to the children if Israel, when he was 100 years old, he told them they had a choice between life and success or death and disaster. He recommended that they choose life:

“Today I am giving you a choice. You can choose life and success or death and disaster…. Choose life! Be completely faithful to the Lord your God, love him, and do whatever he tells you. The Lord is the only one who can give life, and he will let you live a long time in the land that he promised to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  (Deuteronomy 30:15, 19b-20).

Joshua also called on his people to make a choice. “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15).

If you carefully read the above passage, you will note that Joshua accurately tells his people that their choice is not if they will worship, but whom they will worship. Jesus also tells us this about our choices: “You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.” (Matthew 6:24 CEV).

We will die one day. And when we die, one of two things will happen. We will go on to heaven—to eternal life with our heavenly Father, or we will go to eternal damnation, to hell, separated from God forever, death. Choose Life. Choose Jesus,  because “The Lord is the only one who can give life” (Deuteronomy 30:20).

When Jesus asked Martha that all-important question: “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26), she answered“Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who was to come into the world” (John 11:27). Martha believed that Jesus is God, that he is the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Door, the Way, The Truth, The Resurrection and The Life. May our answer likewise be, “Yes Lord, I Believe.”

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – I AM the Truth

Aug11

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).

There was an interesting exchange between Jesus and Pilate when Jesus was brought before him. Pilate presented the accusation as he had heard it from the Jewish leadership. Then, “Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.’ ‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ ‘What is truth?’ retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, ‘I find no basis for a charge against him.’” (John 18:36-38).

“What is truth?” asked Pilate. And that is the question we should be continually asking.

All of Jesus’ I AM statements are supremely important for us to believe and receive in order to have eternal life. But there is one that seems to be foundational for our understanding of all the others, and that is that Jesus is the Truth.

It is telling that the arch enemy, Satan, is known by his dishonesty and deceit. Jesus told the Jews who were challenging his claim to be God’s son, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

What is truth?

Truth is about honesty. All school children in my day grew up learning that George Washington, the father of our country, could not tell a lie about chopping down that cherry tree. But truth is about so much more than honesty in admitting our wrongdoing, or even about our honest testimony in court as in “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (the ninth commandment).

The subject of truth is important to consider because of all the deceit that surrounds us. We’ve all heard about “fake news.” Most of us are now savvy enough, or cynical enough, not to believe everything we hear or read about current events. How sad that is that there are so few trusted news sources. This is not a new thing.  Even in the Old Testament, “Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice.” (Isaiah 59:5). How can we know what really is the truth?

And while the spread of fake news is intentional, there are other unintentional sources of untruth. This one gets rather personal, but my brothers and I used to joke about our dad “rewriting history.” Don’t get me wrong, my dad was a wonderful Christian man. But his memory was distorted. Clearly, there were things that he remembered about my childhood that were distinctly different from how I remembered it. I have since learned that our brains can be rewired. If we tell ourselves something enough times, our brain will “remember” it as if it happened that way rather than how it actually happened. Knowing that, I can’t really be sure if Dad was wrong or if it was me who was wrong about events from our past, but clearly, one, or maybe even both of us, misremembered. What is truth?

And then, perhaps worst of all, are those who tell us that truth does not matter. Your truth does not have to agree with my truth so long as you are true to yourself. This is called relativism, and it is deadly. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness” (Romans 1:18).

I don’t know about you, but all this really alarms me. If there’s one thing I have learned, it is that there cannot be multiple conflicting truths. Either young George chopped down the cherry tree or he didn’t. Either the U.S. landed on the moon in 1969 or we didn’t. Either Dad’s car broke down so that we couldn’t take that trip, or it didn’t. And finally, there can be only one Creator; there can only be one Sovereign God.  Everyone and everything else are created by the one true Creator; everyone and everything else is subject to the one true God who is Sovereign over all.

So, in this culture of falsity, fake news, deceit, corruption, and even fading memories, where can we safely and reliably turn to for The Truth? You know where I’m going. The Bible is the source of knowledge about Truth. It is the filter by which we sift out all the conflicting information that bombards us. It is the lens by which we examine everything. The Bible is True. Jesus is the Truth. Jesus is the Word. The Word is Truth.

  • The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
  • For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).
  • Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32).

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we must stay in the Word. It is our only reliable source of life-giving truth:

  • Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long (Psalm 25:5).
  • But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come (John 16:13).
  • Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace (Romans 6:13-15).
  • This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:3-5).

And just a few more words to those of us who minister to others (and that’s all of us):

  • If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed (1 Timothy 4:6).
  • Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
  • Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 2:25).

“For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does” (Psalm 33:4).

In Christ,

Judy

Chaplain’s Corner – I AM the Way

Aug4

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

This series of devotions has been focused on Jesus’ “I AM” statements. There are seven in the gospel of John:

“I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)

“I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12)

“I am the door.” (John 10:7)

“I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)

“I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14)

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

“I am the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5)

If, when you were a child, your mom or dad had told you that they were leaving (and maybe they did), you would have been distraught. Hopefully they told you they would come back to get you. You would have done anything to find a way to be reconciled to them. During the Last Supper, after Judas had been dismissed, Jesus told the remaining disciples that he was going away. He told them they couldn’t follow him this time, but that they would be able to follow him later. The disciples were indeed distraught; Jesus then comforted them with these words:

“’Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:1-6).

According to the Oxford Dictionary, as a noun, the word “way” can mean either (1) a method, style, or manner of doing something, or (2) a road, track, path, or street for traveling along.

Jesus is THE WAY – Thomas was honest when he told Jesus that he was confused about where Jesus was going and the way to get there. Jesus told Thomas and the others that he was going to His Father’s house, and that he would take us to be with him. Today, we use our various navigational systems as the method for figuring out how to get somewhere, and they usually tell us the best road or path to take. Jesus is our navigation system and the path we take—following Him is how we will get to that wonderful heavenly mansion with our name on it.

Interesting side note: Early Christians identified themselves with Jesus by calling themselves the Way.

  • “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priestand asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1-2).
  • And in Acts 19:23, in Ephesus, “About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.”
  • In Paul’s testimony to Felix, the Roman Governor: “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets” (Acts 24:14).

Navigational systems sometimes give us alternative ways in the event of traffic. Sometimes you can choose your path—fastest in time or shortest in distance. Do not be misled into thinking there are multiple ways to heaven. Jesus is the Way; the Word is our navigation system and the path by which we will achieve eternal life with our heavenly Father. Jesus is THE WAY, not the shortest, the fastest, the best; He is the ONLY WAY. Let us continually seek him as David did when he wrote “Teach me your way, Lord” (Psalm 27:11).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – I AM the Door

Jul28

“I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7,9).

Doors are important. Doors provide privacy. Doors provide security. Most of us shut and lock our doors, at least at night, to be sure we are safe. We even describe being outside as “out of doors.” The difference between inside and outside in this context is a door.

Doors also provide access. You want the correct door. If you are going to an office building or a school, for example, you are likely to be concerned about which door you enter. It is such a relief to find the right door, and to find that it is unlocked; and that when you enter, you have found the right place.

Adam and Eve had to have been traumatized to find they were locked out of the Garden of Eden after they sinned. “After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24).

On the other hand, after entering the ark along with all the animals, Noah and his family were probably relieved when “the Lord shut him in” (Genesis 7:16b). They had built the ark according to God’s instructions, probably with some wonderment. Then the floodwaters came, a phenomenon they had never-before experienced, and which must have been frightening. But as relieved as Noah and his family may have been, just think how hopeless all the remaining people must have felt as they saw the floodwaters rising and the door to the ark shut tight.

When Moses was instructed to build the tabernacle to house the ark of the covenant, we again find cherubim, now guarding the Most Holy Place. This time images of cherubim were woven into the fabric of the veil or thick curtain, a “door” of sorts which served as a barrier to make sure that man could not carelessly and irreverently enter into God’s awesome presence. “The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.” (Exodus 26:33b) “Aaron must wear it (a special robe) when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the Lord and when he comes out, so that he will not die” (Exodus 28:35).

And then, when Jesus died on the cross, “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51a). Now, according to Hebrews 10:19-20, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body….” This access, which had been denied since Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden, is now available because of Jesus’ death on the cross.

Now, not only has Jesus opened the way for us to enter into his presence by his death on the cross, but He is also seeking us. In Revelation 3:20, he invites us to let him in. Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (And if you are following the I AM theme in this series of devotions, remember that the first devotion was on Jesus as the Bread of Life. So, we are continuing that eating/food metaphor also.) Jesus not only knocks on the door, He is the door. And He watches over us as a shepherd to protect his flock from predators.

It was our sin that created the barrier to the tree of life in the Garden of Eden, to the ark for everyone except Noah and his family, and to the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle. And it was Jesus who tore down the barrier, who became the door to eternal life by his atoning death on the cross.  “I AM the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – I AM the Light of the World

Jul21

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world” (John 1:9)

We learned in elementary school that our sun is the origin of our light, and that even the light from the moon is only reflected light. So how can it be that God spoke light into existence even before he created the sun, moon, and stars? Genesis 1:1-5 reads:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.”

It was not until the fourth day of creation that He created the sun, moon, and stars. How can it be? It is because God himself is the light. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).

Fast forward to the Book of Revelation at the end of the Bible when the new heaven and earth is revealed. The new Jerusalem comes down from heaven and “shines with the glory of God.” “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp” (Revelation 21:23).

Light represents God’s glory. In both James 1:17 and 1 John 1:5, God’s essence and personality are equated with all that is “light.” In the Bible, darkness often symbolically refers to evil, sin, and corruption. Therefore, light represents goodness, honesty, purity, wisdom, glory, and love—everything that God is. (Reference)

Therefore, Jesus acknowledged his divinity, his role in creation, and his role in our redemption when he said in John 8:12 – “I AM the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

What is the takeaway for us as believers? Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount that as believers and disciples, we are the light of the world. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Like the moon that can only shine the reflected light of the sun, we as believers can only shine the reflected light of God the Father and God the Son. This is important because Jesus told us to let our light shine before men so that our good deeds can be seen which will give glory to our Heavenly Father.

Fellow believers, we are to shine our lights!! Even though we are mere mortals, we have the power of the light in us. The physical nature and power of light is such that one drop of light can dispel the darkness. We have such a unique and valuable opportunity as Mission staff to be the light of Christ to those we serve; to dispel the darkness that plagues their lives; and to provide Hope for Today, Hope for Tomorrow, and Hope for Eternity.

 “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6b).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – I AM the Bread of Life

Jul14

“Taste and see that the Lord is good….” (Psalm 34:8).

At the time this devotional is published I am on vacation with friends, and one of our most cherished activities is eating together. Even though we are at a state park in separate cabins, we share resources to prepare and eat several meals together. God did endow me with a major love of eating, and I just love the whole “bread” metaphor in the Bible.

God in his wisdom created man with a need for bread. Every nationality has different dietary customs, but I think each one has some equivalent of bread on the menu. It is universal. The first mention of bread in the Bible was when “…Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High… (Genesis 14:18). Shortly thereafter, in Genesis 18:6, “… Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. ‘Quick,’ he said, ‘get three seahs (approx. 27 quarts) of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.’”

And we all know of how God provided manna (bread) for the entire Exodus journey from the Mt. Sinai until they crossed over the Jordan River to the Promised Land (Exodus 16:35). God sustained Elijah and the widow of Zarephath for three and one-half years through the miraculous provision of oil and flour (1 Kings 17:13-14). Those are just a couple of the stories where bread plays a major part in the action.

Bread was even an element of the Old Testament sacrificial system. Grain offerings were to be baked into cakes of bread for the sacrificial fellowship or peace offerings as described in Leviticus 7:11-16. According to the website GotQuestions.org, “Most sacrifices in the Old Testament system were not eaten by worshipers, but the peace offering was meant to be eaten—only a portion of the animal or grain brought to the altar was burned; the rest was given back to the worshiper and to the poor and hungry. The beautiful picture here is of God’s provision for His people, both physically and spiritually. His grace and goodness are present throughout the offerings. In the peace offering, God was providing what we need: a way to thank Him for His goodness and physical sustenance.”

When we get to the New Testament, the best-known story about bread is when Jesus fed the five thousand with five small barley loaves and two fishes (John 6). And when the crowd of people followed him to the other side of the lake, Jesus challenged them saying that they were only following him because he had filled their bellies. He went on to tell them that they should be seeking food that would not spoil—food that would endure to eternal life. “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

“Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’‘Sir,’ they said, ‘always give us this bread.’”

Then, in verse 35, “Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’”

As bread sustains physical life, so Christ offers and sustains spiritual life. He is nourishment for our soul, but we must partake to get the benefit. The bread on the shelves of the grocery store does us no good. The bread in our pantry does us no good either. It is not until we consume it that it nourishes us, that it saves our lives.

The breaking and eating of bread is especially good when we acknowledge the communal aspect. I admit that I eat far too many meals in my car (any is too many). It is not mindful, and the nutritionists will tell you that mindful eating is healthier. Food is meant to be enjoyed. We are meant to savor our food, to be aware of where it comes from. Jesus includes this acknowledgement of our Provider in his model prayer when he says “Give us the day our daily bread”. And during the Last Supper, Jesus models gratitude for his meal when he prays. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’”

So, whether we are alone in our car or around the table with family or friends, let us use the actual act of eating to invite Jesus to join in the celebration of our meal, to commune with us. Let us use this time to remember that while we are dependent upon God and therefore thankful for our food, we are even more dependent upon the life-giving sacrifice of Jesus and therefore thankful for the spiritual nourishment that comes from our Savior.

Break Thou the Bread of Life

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14