Ecclesiastes 12:10

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Dangerous Devotions

In Hebrews 12:4 we read, “ You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.” The implication is that at some point you will. Which might be hard for us to accept. For many, the only thing that we expect to suffer in being a Christian is losing a bit of sleep on a Sunday morning or some FOMO for an event. Yet the Bible tells us something different. “ For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if, when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps ,” 1 st Peter 2:20-21 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted . 2 nd Timothy 3:12 so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for t...

Take It To The Limit

Job remarks about life that man “ is short lived ” and like a “ flower that comes forth and does not remain .” He says that God “ put my feet in the stocks and watch all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet .” Every one of us has only so many steps we will take, only so many beats of our hearts. So why then do we waste them? Many of our steps go down empty paths. Wasted time, pointless path. Many of our steps pace back and forth, standing on the sidelines of our own lives. Many of our steps go backwards to things that should be left behind. We only have so many steps; why are we using them to move forward to a better place? Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil . Ephesians 5:15-16 Time is short. You only have so many steps to walk. Make sure that you are taking them to the full limit. Watch your pa...

Prisoners of Our Own Device

There might not have been a more world-changing invention this century than the smartphone. I remember in high school we would ask our math teacher if we could use a calculator, she deny us by saying, “Are you going to be carrying a calculator in your pocket every day?” Well, it turns out we would, plus a phone, computer, encyclopedia, message system, gaming console, news feed, and music player. As great as the devices are, they come at a high cost and not just to our pocketbooks. Since the mainstream adoption of the smartphone, there has been a stark corollary increase in anxiety, depression, and suicide, especially in the younger generation. It is easy to see the distraction they make on the roads, in the classroom, and in the workplace. As author Jonathan Haidt put it, “ The phone-based life makes it difficult for people to be fully present with others when they are with others, and to sit silently with themselves when they are alone .” This...

Already Gone

Some folks like to arrive at the airport minutes before the plane is about to take off. Some don’t get to the show till the curtain has gone up. Some people will only step out on the platform when the train is spewing smoke. The only problem is that if you do that, you run the real risk of the gate being closed, the doors being shut, and the train is departing the station. While that is not a wise way to go about life, it is a much worse way to approach God. Many will wait to seek forgiveness from God till the absolute last moment. They assume there will always be time. Yet let’s consider what the psalmist tells us in Psalm 32. As he espouses the goodness of being forgiven, he warns in verse 6, “ Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him .” He warns that waiting till later may mean it’s too late! Don’t wait till the rush, it might be...

Take It Easy

I recently read a great piece of advice: “ Be hard on yourself in the morning and easy on yourself at night.” The idea is that at times we keep ourselves up at night beating ourselves up over what we didn’t do, yet we often let the opportunities that are there slip away in the morning. It's about regret. We usually can’t do anything after the fact. The best way to eliminate regret is to kill it before it is born. Procrastination seems like a solution in the moment, but it's a drain for the future. Proverbs 3:27-28 says, “ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you”. If we act when we can, we won’t have to be so hard on ourselves later.

Finish What You Started

Well, the year is coming to a close. It sure seems to go by fast. As you think back, what are those things that you planned to do but just didn’t get around to? You had good intentions, but it just never seemed to be the right time. Consider the advice Paul gives in 2 nd Corinthians 8. Here, Paul is fundraising for relief efforts and knows that the church in Corinth wants to help. He is encouraging them to finish what they started. He is not asking them to give what they can’t, but rather to not let an opportunity pass them by. “ So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have ”. 2 nd Corinthians 8:1 Don’t let the year pass you by on something you can do. Don’t let a good idea go to waste. An inch of movement is better than a mile of intentions. If you can, do. There is not a time like the present. Finish the year with a good finish!