Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Exodus 21:22-23:13 ESV, Matthew 24:1-28 ESV, Psalm 29:1-11 ESV, Proverbs 7:6-23 ESV

Daily Verse: “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.” (Matthew 24:9 ESV)

THLIPSIS (2347): “This word primarily means “a pressing, pressure,” anything which burdens the spirit.  In Mt. 24:9 “to be afflicted.” It is coupled with stenochoria (4730) “anguish”[I]

Pressing pressure.

Tribulation means pressing pressure, something we all encounter in our daily lives.  We will never suffer like Christ.  Life comes with trouble, feeling pain and anguish part of the journey.  When my nephew died, my suffering crippled me.  Like a son to me, I can still hear my brother’s voice on the phone, telling me of Cody’s passing.  In my mind, I hear the scream that left my lips, as tribulation like I’d never experienced entered my life.

Somehow, people think placing their faith in Christ means no more trouble, but it’s a lie.  Jesus tells us the truth:

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV)

Tribulation, a pressing pressure, a constant in our lives, whether small or large, anything that burdens the spirit, we can overcome with Jesus.  He won the battle for us.

Why not me?

We often ask the same question as we journey through life, facing the tribulations that we meet on the road.  “Why me?”  I know I’ve queried God with those words when life’s pressures overwhelm me.  But recently, I heard a message adding a third word to the question, “Why not me?”

Admittedly, I don’t like pain and suffering any more than the next person.  But accepting tribulations as part of life helps us find Jesus’s peace amid our pain.  God equips us for the journey He calls us to walk.  Everyone’s troubles differ, but we all have issues.

And because we experience tribulation, we can develop gratitude.  Without bad days, we wouldn’t appreciate good ones.  Experiencing freedom from life’s pressing pressures comes from trusting Jesus.  Placing your pain at the foot of the cross allows God to fill you with His grace and mercy.  Comfort from the Creator comes in ways that minister to your grieving heart.  Let God heal the brokenness with you, find life to the full in His loving arms.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p 116) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Exodus 19:16-21:21 ESV, Matthew 23:13-39 ESV, Psalm 28:1-9 ESV, Proverbs 7:1-5 ESV

Daily Verse: “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.” (Matthew 23:13 ESV)

HUPOKRITES (5273): “One who answers,”; then “a stage-actor;” It was a custom for Greek and Roman actors to speak in large masks with mechanical devices for augmenting the force of the voice; hence the word became use metaphorically of a dissemble, a hypocrite.” It is found only in the Synoptists, and   always used by the Lord.”[i]

God sees behind the mask.

One common complaint I hear about Christ-follower’s, “They’re hypocrites. They act one way on Saturday and another way on Sunday.”  Yep, we sin on Saturday and show up to worship the Lord on Sunday, including me.  No matter how hard I try, I will always falter.  As human beings, God knows we will sin.  We can’t help ourselves.

Eight times in Matthew 23, Jesus tells of the woes that befall hypocrites.  Sin separates us from God, dividing the mind and causing a broken relationship with God.  The peace that surpasses all understanding leaves us when we knowingly go against God’s will.

Accept your imperfections.

Instead of hiding your sinful nature, accept it as part of life.  Since I began writing devotionals, I spend more time in God’s word than ever.  Yet I still sin.  Errant thoughts will run through my head so fast; I don’t know where they originate.  Yet they do.

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16 ESV)

Confession conquers hypocrisy.  Overcoming our sinful nature requires honesty, not hiding.  Becoming vulnerable about our struggles draws us closer to God and others.  As I grow closer to God, He makes me more sensitive to my sin.  The quicker I acknowledge and confess my sinful ways, the better my relationship with God.  Right living requires daily surrender to God. 

Confess your sins daily.  Acknowledge God in all your ways.  Experience life to the fullest by accepting your humanity, allowing God to work through your weaknesses.  In Him, we find perfection.

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[i] Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Word Study) (p. 99). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Exodus 17:8-19:15 ESV, Matthew 22:34-23:12 ESV, Psalm 27:7-14 ESV, Proverbs 6:27-35 ESV

Daily Verse: “And 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 great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40 ESV)

ENTOLE (1785): “From entellomai signifies ‘to enjoin, to charge with, to give charge’ i.e. in an authoritative prescription.”[i]

Authoritative prescription.

Commandment, in its original form, means an authoritative prescription.  Therefore, God’s commandments equal doctors’ orders.  The Ten Commandments help us have better relationships.  Instead of viewing them as an impossible set of rules no one can keep, look at them as “relationship how-to’s.”  The top four in the list tell us how to relate to God, the remaining six, how to interact with people.  If you want healthy relationships, follow God’s prescription.

Unfortunately, the Ten Commandments have a bad rap.  People don’t like to think about the rules because they highlight our imperfections.  But if we embrace them as ways to become better people, they help us live fuller lives.  And to fulfill Jesus’s greatest commandment, we must obey the others.

Love God, love others.

Looking at the Ten Commandments with a lens of love, you realize quickly they help you fulfill God’s ultimate purpose for our lives, loving.  When asked what commandment sums up all of God’s commandments, Jesus responded, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…love your neighbor as yourself.”

God didn’t give us commandments to make us feel bad about ourselves.  No, God’s prescription for life helps us live life to the fullest, no matter what our circumstances.  Every day we have an opportunity to respond to the world around us.  Our choice remains simple, to love or not.  God says, choose love.

I recently began volunteering in the children’s ministry at church.  In this week’s message, the children learned why God created us: love God, worship and glorify Him.  At the end of the lesson, we discussed ways to love people for God.  Top of the list, do something nice for their friends, not fight with their siblings, listen to mom and dad, and pray for one another.

Out of the mouths of babes, we get our best instructions.  Follow God’s commandments, His prescription for a full life.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p 89) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Exodus 15:19-17:7 ESV, Matthew 22:1-33 ESV, Psalm 27:1-6 ESV, Proverbs 6:20-26 ESV

Daily Verse: “And again Jesus spoke to them in parables,” (Matthew 22:1 ESV)

ROOT WORD: “Fictitious narrative of common life conveying a moral.  A placing beside, to throw or lay beside.  Christ’s parables most frequently convey truths connected with the subject of the kingdom of God.  Two dangers are to be avoided in seeking to interpret parables: ignoring of important features, trying to make all the details means something.”[i]

                      Stories help us relate.

Jesus used parables, short stories, to make His point.  Today’s verse begins the parable of the wedding feast.  A king hosts a party for his son’s upcoming nuptials, but no one comes.  The slighted father becomes angry, retaliating against those who didn’t come; he sends his servants to gather more guests, “good and bad” (vs. 10), to fill the wedding hall.

Dissecting Jesus’s parable could lead us in many different directions.  People turn down God’s invitation to eternal life with Him.  For whatever reason, they don’t accept the invite. 

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14 ESV)

When interpreting Jesus’s teachings, deciphering important details from unimportant ones requires God’s help.  If we rely only on our human interpretation, we may find ourselves in a rabbit hole.  To see life application, we must spend time with our Creator.

Trust God’s Spirit.

Reading the parable of the wedding feast makes me think of people in my life who deny Jesus.  Friends and family members who, for whatever reason, choose not to follow God.  Hurtful experiences in church cause them to stop attending, causing a slow drift away from God.  Or they worship something or someone else.  I have friends who worship their jobs or a personal relationship first and foremost. When God gave the 10 Commandments to Moses, having no other god before Him, number one (Exodus 20:3 ESV).

Any one of us can unwittingly place someone or thing before God, missing the invitation.  When we take our eyes from Jesus, putting unrealistic expectations on something temporary, we’ll miss out on the gifs of God.  Peace that surpasses understanding, hope that never dies, love that never ends, all gifts received when we accept God’s invitation.

Don’t miss the invitation God extends.  Trust His promises.  When reading Jesus’ parables, ask God’s Spirit for help understanding the lesson.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p 188) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Exodus 13:17-15:18 ESV, Matthew 21:23-46 ESV, Psalm 26:1-12 ESV, Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV

Daily Verse: “And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” (Matthew 21:23 ESV)

EXOUSIA (1849): “From the meaning of “leave or permission,” or liberty of doing as one pleases, it passed to that of the “the ability or strength with which one is endued,” then to that of the power of authority,” the right to exercise power.”[I]

God gives authority.

Jewish leaders at the temple challenge Jesus’s authority about God.  The day before this encounter, Jesus rid the temple of money changers conducting business within its walls.  Appalled, the chief priests and elders want to know who gave Jesus the right to exercise such power.

Brilliantly, Jesus answers the question with a question.  Instead of thinking for the religious leaders, Jesus allowed them to think for themselves.  When faced with the dilemma of who gave John authority to baptize, heaven or man, the elders didn’t have an answer.  Since the chief priests couldn’t answer Jesus, He didn’t respond to their query.

Actions convey authority.

Instead of asking permission, Jesus knew His mission.  On a divine task, direct from His Father, Jesus didn’t hesitate.  When God’s house became tainted with commercial traffic, Jesus put an end to the business.  Teaching parables, Jesus taught those in the temple a new way of thinking.

Jesus left us with a divine task, love God and others (Mark 12:30-31).  We have the authority to love, against such things; no law exists (Galatians 5:23).  When searching for purpose in life, God gives direction.  You have the choice of what your actions convey, to love or to hate.

Exercise your authority today.  Love everyone God brings into your path.  Give affection freely, just as God gives it to you.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p 92) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Exodus 12:14-13:16 ESV, Matthew 20:29-21:22 ESV, Psalm 25:16-22 ESV, Proverbs 6:12-15 ESV

 Daily Verse: “He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” (Matthew 21:13 ESV)

PROSEUCHE (4335): “Worship; by implication oratory (chapel); pray earnestly to God, the most frequently used term.”[I]

Keep prayer sacred.

Jesus quotes the prophet Jeremiah when He calls the Temple a “den of robbers” (Jeremiah 7:11 ESV). People committed sins in the temple, feeling safe from God’s punishment because they occupied His house. But God doesn’t play those games. Our heavenly Father expects us to keep the temple holy. Jesus’ anger arises because the merchants cause distraction in the temple courts.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV)

Christ lives in us when we place our faith in Him. As a result, our bodies become God’s temple. Keeping our temples free from the distraction of sin requires earnest conversations with God.

Prayer worships.

Proseuche, prayer’s root word, means oral worship. In other words, talking to God. As quickly as I sin, I try to confess. “Forgive me, Lord,” words I utter often, begins my confession. My thoughts require the most repentance. Internally, Jesus sweeps the merchants from my brain as I confess my sinful thoughts to Him.  Once I rid myself of the things which distract me from God, I can connect with my Creator.

Conversations with God don’t end. Each morning, when I finish my quiet time with the Big Guy, I get on my knees for prayer. At the end of the chat, I say, “In Jesus’ name, I pray.”  Then I get up and go about my business. However, my conversation with God continues throughout the day.

“Three Word Prayers” help me keep the conversation going. When I begin to drift off track, uttering a plea to God helps me stay on task. Whether “Grace, not Anger,” “Faith, not Fear,” or “Pray, not Panic,” all draw my thoughts back to God.

Keep your conversations going with God. When thoughts try to distract you from the King, let Jesus sweep them from your mind. Refocus, again and again, on God with prayer. Keep your temple holy by continuously chatting with God.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. (p 213) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Exodus 10:1-12:13 ESV, Matthew 20:1-28 ESV, Psalm 25:1-15 ESV, Proverbs 6:6-11 ESV

Daily Verse: “But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?” (Matthew 20:13 ESV)

HETAIROS (2063):  “A companion, comrade,” is translated fellows (Mt. 11:16). The word is used only by Matthew and is translated as “friend.”[I]

Friends work together.

Matthew uses a word no other author in the Bible does; he describes the laborers as “friends.”  Needing workers for his vineyards, the farmer pays the helpers, one denarius, the going rate for day laborer’s efforts.  As time proceeds, the master recruits more help, paying them all the same wage, whether they worked 8 hours or 1 hour.  Tired and hot from toiling in the sun for their employer, grumbling erupts as everyone receives equal pay.

“Friend (hetairos), I am doing you no wrong.” Says the master to his workers.  Each person working a full day agreed to set wages, while those recruited later didn’t.  Instead, when the farmer said, “Whatever is right, I will give you,” they trusted him and went on about their business (Matthew 20:5 ESV).

God considers us companions.

Matthew’s use of “Hetairos” to describe the laborers means the master considered them companions and comrades.  Everyone works towards the same goal, harvesting the vineyard.  Even though the master wasn’t in the fields, he recruited more help to accomplish the task faster.

Some people, like myself, met Jesus early in life.  Others don’t enter a relationship with God’s Son until taking their last breath.  Length of service doesn’t determine the reward. Aligning our lives with God’s mission, whether young or old, means we reap the same benefit, eternal life.  The longer we serve the Lord, God willing, the more people who enjoy the benefits of heaven with us.

Don’t become bitter because others haven’t put in the same effort as you.  Rejoice that they joined the mission, planting seeds in the fields where God placed them.  When Christ calls us home, you won’t care they joined the party late.  You’ll rejoice they came at all.

Working for Christ means becoming His comrade.  Companions for life, our mission never ends.  Love God, love others until the day your heavenly Father calls you home.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. (p 104) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Exodus 8:1-9:35 ESV, Matthew 19:13-30 ESV, Psalm 24:1-10 ESV, Proverbs 6:1-5 ESV

Daily Verse: “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mathew 19:24 ESV)

PLOUSIOS (4145):  “Wealthy, abound with.” [I]

Rich people abound.

Everyone living in America abounds in food, housing, and jobs compared to the rest of the world.  No one enjoys the freedom of life as much as we do in the USA.  Unfortunately, we take our luxuries for granted.  Instead of privileges, we think rights, becoming self-entitled.  Spending a week in a third-world country changed my materialistic perspective into gratitude.  I only had to use the outhouse in El Salvador one time to praise God for my porcelain pot that doesn’t require lime to tame the smell.

Witnessing the rectangular cement tank filled with bug-infested water changed my life.  Watching as the women scooped water, using it for cooking, cleaning, and drinking, made me nauseous.  Controlling my features and acting completely normal in such utter poverty challenged all my senses.  Living in what they considered a luxury, the family devoted their lives to Jesus.  Connecting over our love of the Lord, one of the most profound days of my life.  My El Salvadorian friends didn’t have material wealth, but the richness of their relationships with God and each other, inspiring.

Become richer.

God gave us life in America for a reason.  Having material wealth doesn’t make someone a sinner.  What we do with our wealth does.  Keeping a Biblical perspective, we remember all good things come from God (James 1:17). First and foremost, we’re to give back to God through our local church (Malachi 3:10, Mark 12:17).  When we put God first in our finances, money loses its hold.  The best way to offend money, give it away.  Don’t let the dollar control your life; let Jesus become your financial planner.

Giving requires faith.  Becoming involved with a local church allows you to share God’s gifts with others.  When we adopt the principles of the early church, everyone wins.

“And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” (Acts 2:45 ESV)

As you apply Biblical principles to your finances, your faith will grow.  God will provide in ways you can’t imagine, not always financially.  Good health saves money and allows for a fuller life.  When you begin counting blessings, you’ll realize your wealth, much more significant than you think.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. (p 204) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Exodus 5:22-7:25 ESV, Matthew 18:21-19:12 ESV, Psalm 23:1-6 ESV, Proverbs 5:22-23 ESV

Daily Verse: “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:35 ESV)

APHIEMI (863):  “To send away, to bid going away or depart.  To let go, let alone, let be, to disregard.  To give up a debt, keep no longer, remit.  To leave, go away from one in order to go to another place,” [i]

Keep no longer.

Forgiveness frees you from negative thinking.  When we focus on an offense, we bind ourselves up inside.  Wanting someone to suffer for the hurt caused, whether intentional or unintentional, keeps you in bondage, not the offender. 

“Schadenfreude” means pleasure derived by someone from another person’s misfortune.[ii]  When we hold onto unforgiveness, we want someone else to suffer.  As my husband says, “You know you’ve truly forgiven someone when you wish them well.”

However, if we spend our time wanting bad things to happen to other people, we miss out on today.  Instead of enjoying the blessings in our own lives, we waste time.  You do have the ability to refocus your thoughts, freeing yourself from the bondage of unforgiveness, living in the freedom of God’s grace and mercy.

Take no offense.

In a world offended by everything, choose a different path.  When someone offends you, make the conscious decision to let it go. A friend sent me a picture of a simple sign, black background with white letters that carried a profound message:

“When you finally learn that a person’s behavior has more to do with their internal struggle than it ever did with you, you learn grace.” Vintage Vivid

Hurting people hurt others, four words that will help you not take offense.  When someone’s actions impact you negatively, remember, they’re operating out of their pain.  Whatever flawed thinking causes them to commit harmful acts, it’s about them, not you.  Choose grace, keep the offense no longer, let it go. 

Letting Go
Author unknown

To “let go” does not mean to stop caring,
it means I can’t do it for someone else.
To “let go” is not to cut myself off,
it’s the realization I can’t control another.
To “let go” is not to enable,
but to allow learning from natural consequences.
To “let go” is to admit powerlessness,
which means the outcome is not in my hands.
To “let go” is not to try to change or blame another,
it’s to make the most of myself.
To “let go” is not to care for,
but to care about.
To “let go” is not to fix,
but to be supportive.
To “let go” is not to judge,
but to allow another to be a human being.
To “let go” is not to be in the middle arranging the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their own destinies.
To “let go” is not to be protective,
it’s to permit another to face reality.
To “let go” is not to deny,
but to accept.
To “let go” it not to nag, scold or argue,
but instead to search out my own shortcomings, and correct them.
To “let go” is not to adjust everything to my desires
but to take each day as it comes,
and cherish myself in it.
To “let go” is not to criticize and regulate anybody
but to try to become what I dream I can be.
To “let go” is not to regret the past,
but to grow and live for the future.
To “let go” is to fear less,
and love more.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. (p 48) Thomas Nelson

[ii] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schadenfreude

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Exodus 4:1-5:21 ESV, Matthew 18:1-20 ESV, Psalm 22:19-31 ESV, Proverbs 5:15-21 ESV

Daily Verse: “And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:2-3 ESV)

OURANOS (3772): “through the idea of elevation; the sky; as the abode of God. By implication, happiness, power, eternity.  The eternal dwelling place of God (Matt. 5:16).”[i]

Become like children.

Entering God’s kingdom requires childlike faith.  Heaven’s root word means the dwelling place of God.  Children have no problem believing in God and His promises.  Biblical stories of Jonah in the belly of a fish or David’s triumphant victory over a giant, easy to believe from a child’s perspective. And children trust they receive the Holy Spirit when they place their faith in Jesus, bringing heaven to earth:

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10 ESV)

Heaven means God’s residence.  When we receive His Spirit, we become God’s dwelling place.  Eternity in heaven begins on earth when we place our faith in Jesus.  Accepting God’s Spirit gives us access to His peace.  Only when we tune into the Spirit’s promptings will we enjoy the beauty of heaven.

Embrace heaven.

God doesn’t want us to live lives of misery; He wants us to live our lives to the fullest.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10 ESV)

Receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit will help us live abundantly.  Trusting God’s grace and mercy, despite our sinful nature, frees us from condemnation.  Learning to forgive others as Christ forgave us liberates us from the negative thoughts of unforgiveness.  When we fill our minds with God’s word, we become more childlike.  Instead of letting harmful intentions control our minds, God’s word transforms us into uplifting and encouraging people.  Life change happens when we put God’s word into practice, not just reading it but doing it.

You can experience heaven on earth by applying childlike faith to God’s promises.  Don’t look for explanations; trust God will do what He says He will.  Experience heaven on earth as God’s peace transcends all understanding in your life.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. (pp. 183-4) Thomas Nelson