Even though salvation is by grace through faith, and even though no one can be saved through keeping the law of God (unless they keep all of it, and no one can), the law remains instructive. As Paul wrote in the New Testament, God’s commandments show us where we fall short.
And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:1–6).
This are the first two commandments. They are closely related. Simply put: no idols created and no idols worshiped. If idolatry is practiced there will be consequences.
As a Christian experiencing the grace of God and a changed heart, I tend to think that since there are no statues of Buddha or any other religious icons or artifacts in my house, that I have no idols. However, the definition of an idol is more than a mere carved image. By reading both verses together, an idol is anything that I bow down to (own, crouch, humbly beseech, make obeisance, do reverence, worship) or serve besides the Lord.
The falling on my face part is rather obvious, but serving is a more telling word. In the original Hebrew, this word is about slavery and bondage. That definition brings to mind all the things that threaten to control me. Some of them are tangible, but most are not like a carving up on a shelf. I’m thinking of other “idols” that threaten the place of God in controlling our lives, things like appetite, desire for comfort, the clock, my to-do list, a need for praise or popularity, the quest to know the answers, workaholic motivations, or even more mundane things like noise, music, television or texting.
Compulsions to do good and be helpful are not in the same category, but the motivation to be appreciated and have others look up to me or think well of me could hold a greater priority than wanting others look to Christ. If that happens, such motivations could fall into the idolatry category.
Someone once said that an idol is whatever you rely on or even think about all the time. The inference is that this thing, whatever it is, becomes a total preoccupation, taking the place of the One who told us to pray to Him without ceasing. Even if my thoughts are concentrated on my own ideas of how to solve problems and overcome obstacles, then my own abilities could be an idol of sorts.
What shakes me the most about these two commands are the consequences for obedience and disobedience. While I cannot be saved or lost by my choices, God does describe His response to those who ignore what He says and to those who obey Him. From this, I’m thinking how my children are affected by the example I set. I also know that grace can override my bad examples. However, idolatry is bad enough without also risking the spiritual lives of my family and their children and their children’s children.
I am far wiser to put God first, to forsake any other object of attention and trust. When it comes down to it, how feeble are any of my other resources. Not only that . . .
Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. (Revelation 4:11).... Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! (Revelation 5:12)
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Lord, I may not have any carved images, but the gospel writers also warned Christians to keep ourselves from idolatry. They knew that idols can take other forms, or even just be lurking in our motivations and desires. You are my salvation; keep me aware of any temptation to trust anything other than You for any part of my life. Keep me from idols.
Whenever I look at my character and position before God using the evaluation of all that His law says I should be, I get depressed. I know that salvation does not depend on anything I do, yet at times I feel so useless and worthless in the kingdom of God.
Spurgeon says that this despair is a good thing, particularly for those who are not Christians. All need to know that if judged based on the laws of God and His high standard of righteousness, no living person could ever be saved.
I am so blessed to know this is true. Why then be depressed? I live under grace, not law. My thinking is not, “Am I perfect in regard to the rules outlined in the Bible?” but, “Am I perfect in Christ Jesus?” That is a very different matter.
Does that mean that now I am saved by grace that I live by regulations? The Galatians fell into that trap. Paul wrote them and said, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? . . . . Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1-3)
Paul also told them, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Galatians 5:18). He wanted them to know the great freedom of living by the Spirit, but they had fallen from grace and were living by rules and the pressure of trying to please God by what they were doing.
The Christian at Colosse apparently had a similar problem. Paul also had to tell them, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7)
I received Christ by faith. My part was confession of sin and repentance. He does the saving and He changes the way I think and act. That has never changed. While I must obey Him, I cannot save myself nor can I live for Him in my own power. My sin should make me sad, but His saving grace should fill me with joy and thanksgiving.
Yet sometimes I ask the wrong questions or think the wrong way. Living for Christ does not mean I am without sin. To say that I am sinless would be lying, so why then do I get so bent out of shape over each mistake? Nor can I think that my faith has to be without doubt. That is not only unrealistic but smacks of pride. The biggest problem with these errors is that I have my mind on myself and my own performance.
Spurgeon says that I always need to consider the object of my faith instead of my faith. When I look at Jesus, then I can say, “There is no failure in him, and therefore I am safe.”
On the other hand, when I look at me, my hope fades in anxious carefulness and worries about being acceptable. Instead, I am always to judge myself by what Christ is rather than at what I am. Satan can easily spoil my peace by reminding me of my sinfulness and imperfections. I need to meet his accusations by faithfully adhering to the gospel, living by its power, not mine.
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Father, Your salvation is perfect and complete. It is never based on my performance. If I pridefully start looking at myself, my self-focus so quickly turns from glee to despair. No matter how well I think I’m doing, my performance falls short and becomes a shameful failure. Jesus is my Savior; in the beginning and all the way through to the end, the Author and Finisher of my faith. Keep my heart and my eyes always turned toward Him.
Sometimes driving in our city feels like I’m in a war zone with other drivers bent on destruction. They drive like kamikaze pilots with no concern for their own lives and certainly none for the safety of others on the road. This past few days, I’ve seen vehicles make left turns in front of oncoming traffic, drivers hit the gas to speed through red lights, motorcycles doing double the limit up, over and back down the ramps of an overpass to get ahead of traffic and the usual cars weaving in and out of traffic as if being there first was going to get them a trophy.
Traffic is not the only peril in this world. In talking with a young man who just returned from Africa, we heard stories of the apathy where he lived. People don’t care about much of anything, just having their own way without concern for others, or their eternal destiny.
The psalmist felt much the same about his world.
Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war! (Psalm 120:5–7)
Spurgeon points out that as a Christian, I must live in an ungodly world. There isn’t any point in crying, “Woe is me” even though I feel like it at times. Being here is not about what I want. If it was, I would be no different from the reckless, careless, self-focused all around me.
Today’s devotional reading offers the reminder that Jesus did not pray that His people should be taken out of the world. Because of that, I should not be thinking of escaping this place, at least not for that reason. Instead, I need to be asking Him for His strength to meet the difficulties of living in this world. He wants me to be determined to glorify Him rather than live for myself.
I realize that my bigger battle is with Satan, my unseen but ever-present enemy. He is continually looking for ways to cripple my conduct and ruin my witness. If he cannot destroy me, he will tell me lies to throw me off track and get me thinking more about my I-wants than about glorifying God.
On the other hand, the Bible tells me to watch my conduct and give no occasion for blame. While I find this hard to imagine, I’m to let my goodness be the only fault others can discover in me. One example is the Old Testament prophet, Daniel.
Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” (Daniel 6:4–5)
To live without fault is challenge enough, but the greater challenge from Spurgeon’s reading today is this: “The worse the people are among whom you live, the more need have they of your exertions; if they be crooked, the more necessity that you should set them straight; and if they be perverse, the more need have you to turn their proud hearts to the truth.”
He says that doctors go where there are sick people. Soldiers earn the greater honor in the thick of the battle. When I am dismayed or weary of the strife and sin that seem to be in every corner, I need to remember that all God’s people have endured the same trial. None were carried on beds of ease to heaven. I cannot expect to travel more easily nor can I escape the reason that He put me here. I am His ambassador and in His name, I represent my real home.
Yet sometimes I just want to opt out. Sadly, some Christians do simply stop trying. The mess is greater than their desire to be effective for God in reaching out to those who are in it. They find other things to do.
This is a big temptation for me. I could spend the rest of my days perfecting skills in some hobby or other. I could ignore the news and the lost condition of those around me. I could shake my finger at poor driving instead of caring that the drivers need more than a refresher course in driving. However, I know for certain that God offers only one cure for their problems and for all selfishness and sin. There is only one way to overcome thoughtless and even foolish behavior and I must walk that way. If I take the other route, then I will lose any right or credibility to tell others about that one way.
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Father, the good news of forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ can change lives. Those who do not care about others need new hearts, yet most of them either do not know it or do not want change. That does not alter Your command to me. I’m still supposed to tell them about Your love for them and show it by the way I live. Forgive me for sometimes wanting to give up. Because of what I see around me, I don’t always know whether to be merciful or simply outraged, so help me to have the right attitude. Grant me grace to persevere.
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An online class I’m taking requires making a careful plan, then taking all the necessary steps required to carry out that plan and complete the project. This morning, when I read Jesus’ words I am reminded of the importance of good planning and how it feels to carry it to completion.
I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. (John 17:6)
Jesus simply tells His Father that the job is done. This verse does not describe how He felt, but that the plan had been made and now it was finished. The Father had given Jesus a few disciples. Jesus made the Father known to them and they responded by obedience to His Word. Done.
Jesus was not surprised. He may have been excited and was no doubt deeply gratified at the power of His Father and that His plan had worked. What joy to see these few men, who had no special training or qualifications, become so loyal to Jesus that by their obedience the world would change forever.
Then I stop to think about my own life. I’ve also been given to Jesus. He also has manifested the glory of God to me. Yet the last part stops me. Have I obeyed His Word? In the sense of believing it for salvation, I have.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8–10)
I have that first part, the gift of faith given through the grace of God. However, the second part has question marks. Verse 10 says that I am His workmanship using a word that can also mean “poem.” I know enough about poetry to hesitate and say, “Who? Me?”
But even more on my heart are priorities and what I should do with the rest of my life. This verse says that He has created me for good works that He has prepared beforehand. This is a plan. When Jesus came into my life, He brought with Him a blueprint, or perhaps a to-do list that was just for me. However, for some time I’ve been bombarded with thoughts that I’m not doing enough, or that I don’t know what I am doing, or that my to-do list is too long, or difficult, or cluttered. I also struggle that I’ve never figured out what I want to be when I grow up.
These verses expose the foolishness of such stewing. God planned what I will do. I can make lists, set goals and fuss over such things, but He is the Savior and Lord of my life. His plan stands over any I might make.
The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
All this flapping about is a waste of energy. While I might not be too sure what each day holds, the Bible is clear about Who holds the day. I need to trust Him to take me along the path that He has planned, guiding me to do the good things that He has ordained for me to do.
God does not forbid the making of plans. Instead, He says, “Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3). Walking by faith isn’t about seeing the path, but about trusting the One who made the path. This includes my daily schedule. I can write on paper what I want to accomplish, but must commit that to the Lord. He will help me with my plans, even instigate them in my heart, but I need to hold them loosely — for He may have other ideas.
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Lord, You have taught me not to fret over interruptions, but to see them as opportunities. You have also shown me that unexpected trials might be in Your plans for me, and I’m to face them with joyful endurance, learning whatever I can from them. Now You have answered my questions about my to-do list. It is okay to make it, but not to be upset or anxious if my plans don’t make it to fruition. The most important thing is remembering that whatever You have prepared for me beforehand, I will walk that way. Your plan will work, not because I know what it is or was in on the planning, but because You know how to direct my steps.
Most of us know that if an emerging butterfly is helped out of its cocoon, it will die, or if a young chick is given aid to break through the egg shell, it will lack strength for life. Do I then appreciate the struggles of my own life? Would I look like the Pillsbury dough boy if someone else did my lifting and my muscle work? Would I succumb to every outside germ if my house was scrubbed germ-free?
The Bible says that, “The LORD tests the righteous. . . .” (Psalm 11:5) and clearly explains that those trials have a divine purpose. God isn’t trying to flunk me, but to make me stronger.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)
Steadfast is not a stoic pressing on with lips clenched and a determination to get through life, come hell or high water. Instead, this wonderful Christian virtue means having a cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, a constancy with patience and the ability to wait on God, to be joyful and carefree under His care.
God taught me early in my Christian walk that all events are under His control and that He uses them for my good (Romans 8:28-29). That promise and my mother’s philosophy about most things (“We must need it or we wouldn’t be getting it”) continually remind me that no matter what happens, God has a lesson in it. He is trying to teach me something about this “cheerful endurance” that should be part of my character and in the process, show me that my life with Jesus can be lived with carefree abandon.
In vivid imagery, Spurgeon describes trials as an army marching out of the golden gate of God’s ordinance, clad in iron armor and armed with weapons of war. These warriors march on all roads, lurk in every corner and pay no attention to clocks or our well-laid plans. Not only that, they can come to us in any situation because “even mercies, like roses, have their thorns” and prosperity as well as rivers of affliction can drown us.
Most people spend much of their life trying to avoid difficulties, yet this army of trials is relentless. What most do not realize is that none of them can assault God’s people without permission from God. He isn’t flinging hardship willy-nilly but allowing these things that come my way to prove and strengthen my faith. He demonstrates the power of His grace as He tests the genuineness of all that Christ is in me. The trials have a way of moving me from trust in myself to trust in Him. When I do that, I find Him totally able to deal with it all.
Job is the ultimate example. God proved that no matter what happens, the faith that He gives His people will withstand all tests and even grow during them. Like a tree’s roots grow deeper and stronger in the wind, so God will root me more deeply in Christ by using the storms of life.
Spurgeon reminds me also that worldly ease is a great foe to my faith. I need this reminder. Sometimes I want to go on permanent vacation. Others might think my life is easy and privileged, but how tempted I am to complain of its difficulties. Yet griping is the opposite of “cheerful endurance” and not at all the attitude the Holy Spirit offers me. No, being a Christian is not pie in the sky, but more like eating at a great banquet in the presence of my enemies, continually aware of danger yet also aware that I am protected. God has another army, scores of heavenly host that protect me from whatever God does NOT want me to experience. I can be in the midst of a war zone and still know His deep joy.
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Lord, today I feel like running away from my perplexities and trials. Those enemy warriors aim their arrows of doubt, discouragement and self-pity and I feel bombarded. However, You give me these verses. You remind me that Your purpose is not to plow me under but give me steadfast endurance, a cheerful and hopeful attitude. Steadfastness is the mark of those who trust You. May the trials of these days fulfill Your purpose and make that mark on me.
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Scripture speaks often about how the heart is revealed by what comes out of our mouths. Many examples come to mind. A former pastor was a godly person. For him, using phrases from the Bible in ordinary speech was as natural as the twinkle in his eye and his overflowing good humor. Others speak with skepticism, or sarcasm, or enthusiasm, revealing their hearts.
This morning, I was doing a Bible study on gossip. Several verses pointed out that those who do this are often motivated by envy or fear. Their attitude comes out in words that cut down others in an attempt to appear better or above the other person. It made me think about my own words and the source of negativity that is too often there.
Words are small units, yet they have great power. Proverbs 18:21 even says that life and death are in the power of the tongue. Proverbs 15:4 says that a gentle tongue is a tree of life. Words can hurt; words can heal.
God gave nearly everyone the power of speech. For most of us, the tongue is an instrument of self-expression. We use it to say what we think. Yet this is not all that God intended. I’m created so I can talk, but that talk is not supposed to be totally me-centered.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ (John 7:38)
Today’s devotional reading points out what Jesus did not say. This verse is not that believers would realize and enjoy the blessing of God, but that all of God’s blessings would flow from Him through us to bless others. His purpose for my life is the opposite of what most think. Instead of becoming all that I can be (which seems noble), God promotes anti-self-realization. That is, I am to become less like me and more like Christ, never forgetting that one of Jesus’ main characteristics is self-expenditure.
Believing in Jesus is about personal gain in some ways. For instance, I gain forgiveness, peace with God, the life of Christ and with that eternal life. However, Jesus says that what I gain is not as important as what He pours through me. The devotional says, “It is not that God makes us beautifully rounded grapes, but that He squeezes the sweetness out of us. Spiritually, we cannot measure our life by success, but only by what God pours through us, and we cannot measure that at all.”
Mary of Bethany broke a box of precious ointment and poured it on Jesus’ head. The disciples said it was a waste, but Jesus commended her extravagant act of devotion. He said that wherever His gospel was preached this would also be spoken in a memorial of her. What she did gave Him joy. Not only that, her actions instruct believers for all time that we are not to be concerned about ourselves but be abandoned to Him. Just as He spilled out His life that the world might be saved, we are to spill out our lives for Him by obedience, by sacrificially loving others.
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Lord, those “rivers of living water” You give are not for my pleasure, but for the refreshing of others. I could be like the girl in the restaurant who made an effort to look good on the outside — but did not guard her heart. I could strive for my own satisfaction, even satisfaction in knowing You, but with little consideration for others. This is not Your plan. Instead, I’m to pour out what You give me so others are blessed and satisfied. Any self-focused talk, trivia, gossip, slander and so on will not bless others but makes me like a garden hose clogged with sand. I just block the flow. Yet even without the sand plugging the channel, it seems I give out but a mere trickle compared to what You have poured in. Am I willing to be a river? Only You can make that happen. Just keep me from blocking the flow.
After a lifetime of very little caffeine because I do not like colas nor the taste of coffee, I tried Vanilla Coke® when it first came out and liked it. The next thing I knew, I was in the ER with a racing heart. I didn’t make the connection until two weeks later when I drank another bottle of vanilla coke with the same results.
The doctor diagnosed this an A-fib. However, I’ve been relatively symptom-free as long as I avoid caffeine and the rich chocolate found in desserts like lava cake. Since I had a childhood disease that affected my heart (a leaky valve), this A-fib thing added more concern about the health of my heart. It also increased my love for what the psalmist says in Psalm 73:26. Here it is in context:
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:24–26)
The psalmist knew the guidance and care of God. He knew his eternal destination promised by God. He knew that God was his sole desire on earth, and even when his body declined, God would be there for Him, his strength and his inheritance for all time and eternity.
Spurgeon uses these verses to emphasize that God does guide His people. He gave us all the instruction we need in written form in His Word. Whenever I need to know the mind of God (which is most of the time), the Bible spells it out for me. Scripture can be difficult to understand at times, but the Holy Spirit has a way of opening it up for me and giving me what is needed for each day, even for each problem or situation. My part is to read it, study it and remember what it says.
God also gave us His Word in human form. Jesus, the Word made flesh who lived among us. Whenever I need to know the heart of God and how He does things, I can look to Jesus and see God perfectly represented in a way that even a little child can understand. Hebrews 1:3 says, “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. . . .”
While others may think that the promises of God are about the next life only, the psalmist also knew that this is a limited view of God. He wrote, “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” (Psalm 62:8)
God will take me to glory, but He is also here for me in every problem and challenge of life, big or small, significant or trivial, He is my refuge and my strength. He takes care of my heart and helps me find misplaced car keys. He answers my prayers for safety in danger and guides me through the grocery aisles. He hears and forgives when I confess serious sins and those little lapses that no one notices except me — and His Spirit.
Others might say not to “bother God” with the trivia of life. Why then does the psalmist bid me to “trust in Him at all times”? Who do I have in heaven or on earth that cares about the “all times” including each and every moment of life? Only God.
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Father, You invite me to pour out my heart to You. Sometimes this is for big issues, like the fears that go with a heart racing at more than 175 beats a minute when I’m lying in bed, but it is also for the frustrations of daily living. I feel weak and You are my strength. I feel unsure and You guide me. I am sad and You cheer me. I need grace to care for others and You give it. The key is knowing that trivia does not bother You. Instead, when I ask for help in the little things, I am declaring that You are God of my life — all of it — and that I need You all the time — my help and my refuge. Amen.
