Only Pretending

There once was a young teenager who thought he could play high school baseball, even though he had never played organized baseball for a team before. On weekends and after school, he would play baseball with his friends at the local park. Against his friends, he was really good. He could catch, hit, and even pitch a little too.

Finally, in the spring of his sophomoe year of high school, with the encouragement of his friends, he tried out for his high school team. Can you guess what happened? Right...it was complete disaster. Even though he had a glove, it was much smaller than the ones the team used. During the tryout, he couldn't field even a single grounder. Even worse, when it was his time to bat, he didn't even come close to getting a hit. He struck out in three pitches.

How could this have happened? It was simple. Even though he had a hat, a glove, and a bat, we was just predending to be a real baseball player. He lacked the training and experience to ever play for a real team.

Sometimes, the followers of Jesus do the same thing. The pretend to be serious about their faith...they participate in Christian clubs like Younglife and FCA, they carry a Bible to church, they know the tunes to some of the worship songs, and they hang out with the right kids. But, all along they are just pretending to be something they are not...sold out follower of Jesus Christ.

This is nothing new. God's people in ancient times pretended as well. When caught in sin, they would pretend to be remorseful about having done wrong. It was ancient practice to tear one's clothes as a an outward sign of repentance that reflected the grief of the heart. But it was easy to pretend. To tear the clothes with really being sorry at all, God could see through it back then and He sees through it today. Notice what He tells His people in Joel 2:13.

Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate,slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.  Joel 2:13

God wants His followers to truly repent in their hearts and not just pretend to be sorry.

Why do you think people pretend to be serious about Jesus when they are not? 

When is a time when you feel like you need to pretend?

Dear God, I don't want to just pretend to follow You. Help me to take my walk with you seriously and have a heart that glorifies You! In Jesus' name. Amen.

No Playing Favorites

Read Romans 2:1-11

For there is no respect of persons with God.  Romans 2:11 (KJV)

A few years back when I was serving as the youth and college pastor of a large church, a high school baseball player in our community became a serious pro prospect. Though baseball kept him on the road most weekends, from time to time he would attend our church with a few of his friends. Each time, I would watch from a distance as parents and teenagers alike would show him great favoritism simply because he could throw a 95 mph fastball. (Today he plays for the Tampa Bay Rays)

This comes as little surprise since, as a culture, we are enamored with celebrities. We view them as more important than us. Yet, in God’s culture, He created each one of us uniquely and for a special purpose. God is not impressed with our best qualities because He gave these qualities Himself. He wants us to take what He gave us and fully become the man or woman He created us to be. To Him, each one of us is special!

God is not impressed with your ability, only your availability. Commit today to be available to Him!!

Learning to Trust God’s Timing

Read Psalm 90:1-12 NIV

For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.  (Psalm 90:4)

As a child, I loved the Christmas season. I loved decorating the tree, driving to see the lights, singing carols, and watching the Christmas specials on TV. The one thing I didn’t like was waiting for Christmas to come. Weeks seemed to pass like years as my brother and I waited for Christmas morning. My brother and I would wake before the dawn and beg our parents to come to the tree so that we could open our presents. The rest of the day was spent playing with the toys I had been dreaming of the day before.

Now that I am grown and have wide-eyed dreamers of my own, I have learned that waiting is part of life, especially in my walk with God. I have to remind myself often that God does not work on my schedule nor does He count time the way I do. What seems like a long period of waiting for me is merely perfect timing with God. When I grow impatient, I am learning to trust that God is working out all things according to His plan in His time.

Father, teach me to trust that You are working out all things according to Your will in Your timing. As I wait for You to move in my life, grant my heart patience and contentment in every circumstance. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Time to Wash Up!

Read Leviticus 18:23-28

In the summer, most children like to spend all day outside. They like to dig in the dirt, ride their bikes, play baseball, eat popsicles, and be plain rowdy. And yet, when the day is done, there is one thing most children do not like to do-take a bath. They can make all kinds of excuses about how they don’t really need a bath. Usually they lose this argument when their mothers make them wash up.

In Old Testament times, the Israelites were also “dirty”-dirty from sin and in need of spiritual cleansing. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would make one sacrifice in the most holy part of the temple for the whole nation for the forgiveness of their sins. After the sacrifice is made, the high priest must…

“take off the linen garments…bathe himself with water in a holy place and put on his regular garments.”(Leviticus 16:23-24)

Today, we are also in need of forgiveness and cleansing from our sin. We find this cleansing power in the blood of Jesus Christ. When we trust Him to be our Savior, our sins are forgiven and our lives are made new.

Have you trusted Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sins and give you a new life?

Do you need to trust Him now?

Thank God for Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Too Many Rules?

Read Numbers 19:13-19

Ever since the tragedy of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, airport security has tightened around the country. All of the rules regulations can be frustrating and have made travel more time-consuming, however, without these regulations, where would we be? The rules and regulations are designed for our protection so that days like 9/11 never happen again.

The Bible is also filled with rules and regulations designed for our protection. Consider..

“…when anyone dies in a tent: Anyone who enters the tent and anyone who is in it will be unclean for seven days, and every open container without a lid fastened on it will be unclean.” (Numbers 19:14-15)

This unusual law is designed to prevent the spread of disease and to keep the community safe. The Old and New Testaments are filled with specific guidelines for living so that we can enjoy a full life and avoid the pain of sin and its consequences.

Many teenagers don’t understand that God has reasons these guidelines and feel that God is trying to spoil their fun. They can’t see God’s protection and love for them in the words of the Bible.

Do you feel that the Bible is a list of unfair rules designed to ruin your fun?

Can you see God’s love for you in the rules and regulations of the Bible?

Prayer Emphasis: Ask God to give you the desire to be obedient to Him today.

Pride Kills

Read 2 Kings 5:1-14

The mention of leprosy, a curable disease(now known as Hansen’s disease) of the nerves and upper respiratory track, has instilled fear for thousands of years.  Left untreated, leprosy can cause permanent damage to skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes. In Biblical times, when there was no cure, it was a certain sentence of seclusion and death for anyone who contracted the dreaded disease.

When Naaman, who had been struck with leprosy, heard that there might be a prophet in Israel who could heal him, he was desperate for the chance to find out.. His king sent him to the king of Israel with a note asking for Naaman to be healed. When the prophet Elisha heard of his arrival, he asked that Naaman be sent to his house. When Naaman arrived, Elisha sent a message to him saying…

“Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” 2 Kings 5:10

Naaman, enraged that Elisha didn’t come out to him in person, refused to wash in the Jordan. His servants had to talk him into following the instructions and being cleansed of his leprosy. His pride and arrogance nearly cost him his life.

Are there times when your pride keeps you from doing something you know you should do?

Have you ever considered that your pride could one day cost you everything?

Ask God to give you humility in all circumstances.

Come Home Ruinning

Read Ezekiel 47:1-5

Mowing a lawn around a backyard swimming pool is a wonderful combination on a hot summer Saturday afternoon. However, it might take you a little longer to get the lawn mowed. As you push that mower up and down, the sweat starts to run down your face and soaks through your clothing. From the corner of your eye, the water of the pool glistens in the sunlight, calling you to come. Finally, you take off running, kicking off your shoes, you dive right into the pool. Such sweet relief!!

Life is a lot like this. As we live our lives, we get spiritually dirty and smelly from the “stuff” in our lives that displeases God. Yet from God’s throne flows a river of forgiveness that calls us to wash and be clean from our sin.

“The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming from under the threshold of the temple toward the east…” (Ezekiel 47:1)

As forgiveness calls out to us, our hearts are drawn to God even as we are mired in our own sin. The blood of Jesus covers all of our sins and makes us new in God’s eyes.

Are you caught in a lifestyle of sin right now? Can you sense God calling you to forgiveness right now?

Will you come running to the water?

Thank God for the healing power of His forgiveness.