On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5).

According to the church calendar, we are currently between Jesus’ Resurrection and Pentecost, which occurred after Jesus’ ascension to heaven to be seated at the right hand of His Father. (We will celebrate Pentecost on May 19, 2024). Jesus has commanded his disciples to stay in Jerusalem to wait for their baptism with the Holy Spirit. In hindsight, we understand what Jesus meant. However, the disciples must have been filled with quite a bit of uncertainty. They asked questions, but Jesus told them “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority (Acts 1:7). And then Jesus did promise them “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). What???

What must it have felt like to the disciples during that time? Their beloved leader said he was leaving, but they needed to stay in Jerusalem, a dangerous place for them. Jesus told them just enough to give them hope. He told them to wait for the gift he had promised. Apparently, they would be traveling soon. And they would have power from the Holy Spirit, which perhaps they had some idea about but not fully. And Jesus gave them the ultimate ambiguous command: Wait!

Does anyone like to be told to wait? Indeed, does anyone like to wait? For sure, there are rare circumstances where waiting is better than the alternative. But mostly, waiting is painful. We wait for the doctor, the diagnosis, the treatment date, to recover. We wait for the plane to take off. We wait for the interview, the offer, the start date. We find ourselves in the middle of waiting: for someone to show up, for someone to leave, for the show to start, for the game to be over. Waiting is a fact of life. It is not if we will wait, it is how we wait.

In truth, on an earthly level, we are waiting for all those things I listed above—health, financial, job, relationships; all have a waiting component. However, on a spiritual level, we are also waiting. And although it might not be obvious, God is working while we are waiting. We are on his timetable, rather than the other way around. God is working out his plan for his good pleasure. He has a role for each of us, and he will put us in at just the right time. He will give us our directions and ensure that we have just what we need when we need it. So how do we wait for it?

1. We wait in humility, with the perspective that God is God, and we are not. “You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure” (Psalm 39:5).
2. We wait with trust in God. We know that He is able, and that He is loving. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Psalm 103:8).

The apostles gave us the best example of how to wait, and their example is applicable for most any circumstance. We read in Acts 1:13-14 that after Jesus ascended to heaven, they returned to Jerusalem together (as instructed), and “When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers” (Acts 1:13-14).

The next time you find yourself waiting, remember these words. Find some prayer partners and devote yourselves to prayer. Prayer is not what we do as a last resort. It is the first and foremost way to participate fully in God’s plan for our lives.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him.’” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

In Christ,

Judy

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7).

We have just completed a study of Hebrews in the Tuesday Bible Study. The last chapter, Chapter 13, includes some instruction to this audience of Jewish Christians who are living in an uncertain world where persecution and false teaching is prevalent. The author is instructing them on how to live their lives in this culture, which unfortunately, closely resembles our own. Therefore, these instructions are applicable also to us.

The focus of this devotional is two verses in Chapter 13 that speak to leadership. The presumption in verse 7 (quoted above) is that the leaders live a way of life that we as followers should imitate. Some of you might quickly react that the leaders you know do not live lives you would want to imitate, and that may be a valid point.

However, I urge you to consider another viewpoint. There is not a staff position at Nashville Rescue Mission that does not include a leadership element. That is because the people we serve are being led by us. Each guest or program participant is subject to our authority as staff. And many of you also supervise staff and program participants.

With this viewpoint in mind, how would the people under your authority evaluate your way of life? If anyone has the opinion that this is judgmental, remember that we are known by our fruit. The people around us do not know us by our good intentions. They often do not care about the challenges we have endured. All they know is what they see and hear.

I pray that we will daily evaluate ourselves in light of this scripture, ask for conviction for where we fall short, and strive to carry out our work roles in a way that is skillful and gracious; that we will strive to be examples worthy of our calling, and that by our example we will lead others to faith in Christ and to a better way of life.

“Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you” (Hebrews 13:17).

In Christ,

Judy

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:27-28).

We are so very blessed to live on this side of the cross. They had the promise of a Savior. We have the Savior! Those Old Testament heroes of the faith we see listed in Hebrews 11 “… were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (v39).

What was that something better that God had planned for us? We have Jesus! Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift!! We have God Himself coming to earth in the person of His Son, as a human, living a perfect life; the gift of His sacrificial atoning death, His miraculous resurrection, and His ascension to Heaven to resume his place sitting at the right hand of His Father. And because of this, we know that we too, we who believe, will also experience resurrection to live in eternity in unity with God. Praise God. This is our hope, and there is no other.

How should we then live? We should live in the truth of the resurrection: that this world is not our ultimate destination. Whatever we experience in each moment of our life on earth is preparation for our eternal life in Heaven. We can persevere because we already know our future. We have these words to live by from the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 15:54-58):

“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality,

then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

How should we then live? “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Jesus himself gave us these commandments, which Matthew recorded:

• “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, ’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment (Matthew 22:37-38).
• “And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:39-40).
• “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Note: “How Should We Then Live” as a title and question in this devotional is borrowed from the title of a book by Francis Shaeffer.

In Christ,

Judy

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13).

Subtitle: Getting Off the Bench and Into the Game

As I write this, I am still celebrating the UT-Vols men’s win over South Carolina to secure the SEC Title. Now on to the SEC Tournament, then the NCAA Tournament, a/k/a March Madness. I am not a sports fanatic, but I do enjoy the contest between athletes. I played some sports in my early years, but now I mostly participate vicariously through my children and grandchildren. And because of my interest, I also appreciate the many sports analogies in the Bibie. I have included a link to a wonderful Table Talk article about this.

My two sons and their families are active in both individual and team sports. Some of my observations from watching them and from my own experience include the following:

First, you have to get off the bleachers and into the game. I go to the kid’s games—both soccer and basketball as well as their swim meets. There is a vast difference between being on the bleachers as a spectator and being on the field, court, or pool as an active participant.

And once in the game, you have to want the ball. In their first years of basketball at ages 5-6, my grandkids had as much fun (maybe more) sitting with their teammates on the sidelines as on the court. But my high school age granddaughter is amazing on the soccer field, yelling for the ball, and running her route to aggressively go after it. She hates being on the bench. It is like the difference between going to church occasionally and sitting in the back, slipping in, and slipping out, hoping not to be noticed, vs. showing up for every service and signing up to serve in some capacity. In other words, throw me the ball, coach, put me in!

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

Second, it is not all about the event itself. Most of the work is done in the preparation. Staying fit, learning the rules of the sport, and practicing so as to be ready when the whistle blows and the competition begins. One of my sons and his family also participate in various levels of triathlon events. They workout, run, swim, and bicycle daily with little exception, pushing themselves constantly; and as a result, they invariably “make the podium” for their events. I know I am bragging, but I am proud of them and the discipline they exhibit. Their example is a picture of what Paul tells us to do in 1 Timothy 4:7a-10:

“…train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

Third, at some pre-determined point, the event will end, and the score will be tallied. The shots after the buzzer do not count. The laps after the finish line do not matter. In our earthly games, we know how many minutes are in the game, we know how many miles we must run to get to the finish line. In life, we do not know when the race is over. Only God knows.

Why am I making such a big deal of this? Because Paul does in these Scriptures. His focus is not on sports themselves, but on the metaphor for our participation in the Christian life. We are using sports metaphors, but the better comparison might be to warfare. In sports, it is a friendly competition, but in war it is life and death. And so it is with us as believers. In sports we have an opponent; in warfare we have the enemy. In sports we should shake hands in the end, no matter who wins; in Christian warfare, there is no shaking hands. First we want to win souls to our side, the winning side. Then we want to vanquish the enemy. This takes the desire to go to battle and the discipline of preparedness.

God has placed us in a mission field with other Christian warriors. We are all on the same team with the same mission. Let us each do our part to diligently prepare ourselves for our mission and to eagerly play our role in this great cosmic battle, serving as a soldier of the cross. It is March; it is March Madness. It is two and one-half weeks until Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter. Very shortly, we will be celebrating the sacrificial death of Christ in atonement for our sins, and His glorious Resurrection with its promise of Eternal Life for all of us. Our charge is to strengthen our own walk and share this wonderful news with everyone God puts in our path. Put me in, coach!!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

In Christ,

Judy

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

In these recent devotions, we have been talking about our posture—the various ways in which we position ourselves in relation to God and others: kneeling, sitting, standing, climbing, and now forward movement. I use this label rather than either walking or running (although these are definite implications), because the Bible is clear that regardless of our physical mobility, we are either moving toward or away from God. There is no in-between. “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30).

Walking with God is not always a piece of cake. The Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan, is a wonderful allegory, told as a dream, about what it is like to journey through life from the “City of Destruction” to the “Celestial City,” otherwise known as Mt. Zion. There are all kinds of side-tracks, pitfalls, dangers, temptations, etc. along the way. This allegory is an accurate description of our life, from birth to death. It has always been a helpful way to describe my “walk” with the Lord, as a pilgrimage with my destination as eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

So, let us be purposeful in our forward movement.

• “You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess” (Deuteronomy 5:33).
• “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
• “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
• “So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).

Let us move forward with the right sense of urgency.

• “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24).
• “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

And let us move forward, in step with God.

• “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy” (Colossians 1:11).
• “But those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31). 

And a final word of encouragement. Not only does the Lord go in front of us, He also goes behind us. His Hand is on us always. We are never alone on our pilgrimage. Whether we see Him or not, He is there, both guiding and protecting us. I love this part of the Exodus Story, when the Israelites were approaching the seemingly insurmountable barrier of the Red Sea with Pharaoh and his chariots on fast their heels: “Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long” (Exodus 14:19-20). And we all know how that turned out!

“You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me” (Psalm 139:5).

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

In Christ,

Judy

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

In these recent devotions, we have been talking about our posture—the various ways in which we position ourselves in relation to God and others: kneeling, sitting, standing, climbing, and now forward movement. I use this label rather than either walking or running (although these are definite implications), because the Bible is clear that regardless of our physical mobility, we are either moving toward or away from God. There is no in-between. “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30).

Walking with God is not always a piece of cake. The Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan, is a wonderful allegory, told as a dream, about what it is like to journey through life from the “City of Destruction” to the “Celestial City,” otherwise known as Mt. Zion. There are all kinds of side-tracks, pitfalls, dangers, temptations, etc. along the way. This allegory is an accurate description of our life, from birth to death. It has always been a helpful way to describe my “walk” with the Lord, as a pilgrimage with my destination as eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

So, let us be purposeful in our forward movement.

• “You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess” (Deuteronomy 5:33).
• “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
• “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
• “So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).

Let us move forward with the right sense of urgency.

• “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24).
• “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

And let us move forward, in step with God.

• “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy” (Colossians 1:11).
• “But those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31). 

And a final word of encouragement. Not only does the Lord go in front of us, He also goes behind us. His Hand is on us always. We are never alone on our pilgrimage. Whether we see Him or not, He is there, both guiding and protecting us. I love this part of the Exodus Story, when the Israelites were approaching the seemingly insurmountable barrier of the Red Sea with Pharaoh and his chariots on fast their heels: “Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long” (Exodus 14:19-20). And we all know how that turned out!

“You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me” (Psalm 139:5).

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

In Christ,

Judy

“He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights” (2 Samuel 22:34).

Since beginning this series on “posture” three weeks ago, I have become intrigued with the concept of “standing.” Just like “kneeling” conveys submission and “sitting” conveys community, “standing” conveys steadfastness and power. Who is standing when others fall? There are so many situations in which we are to stand. We stand trial. We withstand the tests of time. We stand in line, stand in for others. I loved the old song, “Standing on the Promises.”

For a person who is well-known and respected, we say they have “standing” in the community. That means they are someone to be listened to and followed. “Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz” Ruth 2:1).

Standing firm is an emphatic positioning meaning (literally and/or figuratively) “I’m not going anywhere.” Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again” (Exodus 14:13). Nashville Rescue Mission is standing firm in its physical location in Nashville, and in its stance on the Gospel. “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

We stand in reverence. “Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up” (Nehemiah 8:5). “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds Lord” (Habakkuk 3:2a).

To stand in a setting can imply a place of honor and responsibility.
“At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name, as they still do today” (Deuteronomy 10:8).

It can also imply strength. “No one will be able to stand against you. The Lord your God, as he promised you, will put the terror and fear of you on the whole land, wherever you go” (Deuteronomy 11:25).

Standing does not convey lack of humility or community; in fact, it implies both of those things. One of the most inspiring scriptures in the Bible is in the passage in which Stephen is being stoned to death. “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” Remember that after His resurrection, Jesus ascended to sit at the right hand of God. The visual of this scripture, seeing Jesus stand to recognize the complete giving over of Stephen’s life to follow Jesus, Stephen’s willingness to die for Jesus, fills my heart. Jesus is not submitting to Stephen in any way, but he is standing in recognition and welcome to his brother.

There are so many examples of God giving us a place to stand. “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” (Psalm 40:2).

So many examples of where God calls us to stand up. “l stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts” (Habakkuk 2:1).

Most of all, we stand in hope, in the confident promise of our LORD and Savior. “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:12-14).

“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth” (Job 19:25).

In Christ,

Judy