Date: 06-30-2020

Title: Slander

(S) cripture:
    Titus 3:1-2 (NASB) Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.

(O) bservation:
    Paul tells Titus to remind the people to live godly lives. He gives a number of ways in these verses. Submit to the governing authorities, be obedient and ready to do good. Be peaceable, considerate and humble toward others and do not malign or slander. Tall orders for people that are stuck on themselves or who only look out for themselves.

(A) pplication:
    There is so much here for me, but I chose to think today about maligning a person or as the NIV translates it, “slander”. I am not trying to find the legal definition but rather just what is Paul getting at for me. Slander is assigning actions and words to someone that were not theirs. It always goes to attacking a person’s character, like calling a person a liar to cause people to distrust them. The political rhetoric in our country has gone from honest disagreement and debate to name calling and assigning inflammatory motives to what people are saying. Political campaign ads are the worse. The real tragedy is that we find this has spilled over into our everyday conversations. Rather than simply stating what a person has said we must also assign a negative motive to it. That to me is slander. It violates most of what is contained in these verses. Even though I might disagree with some of the policies of the present administration, I am tired of those who disagree assigning sinister motives to the president’s decisions. We can disagree without the personal attacks. When we condone that in our discussion of national policies it is easy to allow it in our personal disagreements and church conflicts, too. We are always better served by dealing with the issue rather than resorting to personal attacks. The kingdom of God is not served when we stoop to slander to get our way or to win an argument. Today I commit to dealing with issues without personal attacks. I will refuse to malign or slander. I do not need to assign motives to others I must simply make sure mine are honoring to the Lord.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, keep me off the high horse of pride. Let me deal with the issues and let me act with humility and grace toward all people. Let my life reflect you. Amen

Date: 06-29-2020

Title: Teach the Truth

(S) cripture:
    Titus 2:1 (NASB) But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.

(O) bservation:
    Paul exhorts Titus to teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. In the next few verses outlines what is to be taught to each age group. These behaviors are the natural outcomes of sound doctrine being lived out in the lives of the people. These instructions lead to Godly living and a solid testimony. Paul gives the “why” of this teaching in Titus 2:11-15 (NASB) 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. 15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

(A) pplication:
    If I want people to grow into mature believers, I must teach in accord with sound doctrine. That means that I must know and study sound doctrine. That will require time in the Word and prayer. I must also be living what I am teaching and preaching if I am to be authentic and effective. Today I commit myself again to the study and preparation it takes to know and teach sound doctrine.

(P) rayer:
    Father, my desire is to please you and to grow disciples. Help me and purge from my thoughts the things that are not in accord with sound doctrine. Let me authentically teach the truth with love and conviction. Amen

Date: 06-28-2020

Title: Playing Church

(S) cripture:
    Amos 5:21-24 (NASB) “I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 “Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. 23 “Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. 24 “But let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

(O) bservation:
    Amos is calling for repentance. He is describing the “Day of the Lord.” In this he speaks God’s words and blasts them for their hypocrisy in worship. They were doing the things of worship but were ignoring living a faithful life. They were just playing at their relationship with God. God calls for justice and righteousness to be part and parcel of our existence. These two are to be descriptive of our lives and here they were not and God was not pleased.

(A) pplication:
    At times I wonder if we are just playing church. This passage seems to describe what happens in our churches. We are good people doing good things but our lives are not being transformed and we seem content in our current condition. We think we are doing God some kind of favor by showing up on Sunday and throwing a quarter in the plate. Here the Lord requires much more. It is justice and righteousness that God requires from His people. We can no longer be satisfied with the pseudo practices of our faith. This can be so easy in this time of Covid-19, especially as we gather online for worship. Our worship must now be real and come from the heart. Our worship practices must be genuine and revealed in a life of faith lived out in the power of the Holy Spirit. Today I will examine my life and worship to make sure it is real. I do not want a hint of hypocrisy. I want my worship to be real and honoring to the Lord. I do not want to play church I want to experience real church and worship.

(P) rayer:
    Lord remove those things that are not real from my life. Rid me of hypocrisy so that my life with you will be real and true. Let me experience the power of the Holy Spirit in my life and worship today. Amen

Date: 06-27-2020

Title: A Pointed Reminder

(S) cripture:
    2 Timothy 4:2-5 (NASB) preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

(O) bservation:
    Paul continues his charge to Timothy and the ministry he will carry out in Ephesus. Paul has just reminded Timothy of the authority of the scripture, now he tells him to “preach the word” whenever and wherever he finds himself. People may complain and want something different but he is to preach the word. In the face of opposition he is to keep his head also and continue to do what he is to do as pastor of this church.

(A) pplication:
    “Preach the Word.” That is such a simple command and yet I find that many want something different. Feel good sermons or sermons on “felt needs” may draw a crowd but if they are not rooted and grounded in the Word they really accomplish nothing. I am to “preach the Word” nothing else has power or the ability to change lives. It is the word that is powerful. Why am I tempted to do something else. To preach the Word takes time and effort to study what it says and what it means and then how best to communicate it. I have always considered my messages to be rooted in the Word and want to continue that. I do not think that this prescribes a verse by verse preaching style but I do think that it means we stick to the text of the Bible. I am so pleased to be part of a church, New Baptist, where this is the norm and expected from all staff. Today I renew my commitment to “preach the Word.”

(P) rayer:
    Lord, it is easy to get side tracked and speak about so many things that have nothing to do with your Word. It is easy to twist your Word for my purposes and not necessarily yours. Keep me from doing violence to your word by preaching something that is not true or not meant in the passage. Let me proclaim your Word every time I preach. Use me today to “preach the Word.” Amen

Date: 06-26-2020

Title: God Breathed

(S) cripture:
    2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB) All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

(O) bservation:
    In a charge to Timothy, Paul reminds him of the power and purpose and origin of God’s Word. It is God breathed. It is the very breath or words of God and it is good for us in all ways.

(A) pplication:
    One of the most exciting truths about the Christian faith is that we have a “Speaking God.” He is not silent. He has not left us to our own devices trying to figure out what He desires. He has spoken to us and that word is recorded for us in His Word, the Bible. The Word is profitable for my life in all ways. That is why this time is of Bible Reading and reflection is so important. As I spend time in His Word I get to know Him better and I begin to understand more and more of what He desires from me as His follower. It is never wasted time when I am reading the Bible. Some names are hard to pronounce and some events hard to follow but it is not wasted time because I am getting to know Him a little better. Today I am thankful that God has spoken to us and then preserved His word for us in the Bible.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, thank you for speaking to us. Thank you for preserving your word for us in the Bible. Give me the energy to do what you have said. Help me to keep sacred this time I have with you each day. Amen

Date: 06-25-2020

Title: Jonah Pouts

(S) cripture:
    Jonah 4:1-3 (NASB) But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD and said, “Please LORD, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. 3 “Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.”

(O) bservation:
    Jonah did not like the people of Nineveh, he thought they deserved to be punished by God. He first refuses to go there to preach but God gets him there anyway. When he preaches all the people repent, much to Jonah’s displeasure. Instead of rejoicing with God, Jonah pouts because they did not get what he thought they deserved.

(A) pplication:
    I wonder how often I do not share the gospel with people because I think they should get what they deserve. I neglect to remember that I did not get what I deserved. I have received the grace and mercy of God through faith in Jesus. How can I keep that to myself? Today I will share and rejoice with those who respond and continue to pray for those who reject Christ.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, keep me from the pride of Jonah. I want to rejoice not pout when people come to you. Amen

Date: 06-24-2020

Title: No Fear

(S) cripture:
2 Timothy 1:7 (NASB) For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

(O) bservation:
Paul encourages Timothy to be faithful in the calling he has received. Paul encourages him to develop the gift God gave him. He then reminds Timothy not to be timid because God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love and self-discipline or as the KJV translates it, “a sound mind.”

(A) pplication:
I am nearing my 72nd birthday. I am not a young pastor any longer and yet these words are fresh for me today. It does not matter how old or how long I have been a pastor I still need to develop the gifts God has given me. I need to live out His calling in my life every day. I need not be afraid. In these days of economic turmoil it is easy to fret over the future and what might happen. And then I hear again Paul’s words to a young pastor that must be true for me today, 2 Timothy 1:7 (NASB) For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Today I will work on my gifts, and trust the Holy Spirit to let me experience God’s power, love and give me the benefit of a sound mind.

(P) rayer:
Lord, I want to trust you each day. Remind me of the spirit you have given me, that of power, love and a sound mind. Today I will live by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit that resides in me. Amen

Date: 06-23-2020

Title: Contentment

(S) cripture:
    1 Timothy 6:6-9 (NASB) But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

(O) bservation:
    In his instructions to Timothy, Paul warns him about the trap of discontentment and the pursuit of riches. Timothy was to be godly and content with whatever he had. Being content allows you to focus on the Lord and His work in and through you.

(A) pplication:
    Being content is not the opposite of ambition. To want to be and do better is not what Paul is warning about. I want to strive to be a better man, husband, father, grandfather and pastor. I want to strive for excellence in each of these and that is not what Paul is warning about. Proverbs 27:20 says, “The eyes of man are never satisfied.” It is the always wanting more that Paul warns about. If I am not content with what the Lord has provided for me how can I ever expect others to trust in God’s provision in their lives. Today, Lord, let me strive for excellence and to demonstrate to others that I have everything I need in Jesus.

(P) rayer:
    Father, it is easy to focus on what I do not have or on my wants rather than on what I have in You. Today let me focus on You and let me rejoice in Your provision in my life. Amen

Date: 06-22-2020

Title: Tearing Down Temples

(S) cripture:
    2 Chronicles 23:16-17 (NASB) Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the LORD’S people. 17 And all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down, and they broke in pieces his altars and his images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

(O) bservation:
    When we covenant to be God’s people (to become a Christian or as a church) we must then take action against the things and places that pull us away from God. In this passage the people tore down the temple of Baal. I wonder what temples we must tear down and what altars or idols we must destroy?

(A) pplication:
    Lord, Today I commit to worship only you. Make me aware of the altars and idols in my life. I will then go about tearing them down.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, I love you and thank you for your provision in my life. My desire is to worship only you. Give me strength and courage to tear down whatever pulls me away from you. I want to honor you with my life. Amen

Date: 06-21-2020

Title: Spiritual Fitness

(S) cripture:
    1 Timothy 4:8 (NASB) for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
    
(O) bservation:
    This comes in some instructions Paul was giving Timothy about what he should be emphasizing in his life and ministry. He is not diminishing physical fitness but is elevating spiritual fitness.    

(A) pplication:
    Today is Father’s Day and I am at the beach with my family. Becky and I just finished a nearly 2 mile walk on the beach. I love the beach and the walks I take there every day. I have always struggled with physical fitness. It takes time, commitment and work. I try to walk each day and yet it seems that many times I let other things crowd out the time I set aside for exercise. The same thing can happen spiritually. That is why this time each day is so important to me. I want my life to be characterized by godliness. That takes time, commitment and effort. It does not come naturally; it must be developed and that only comes through spiritual exercise. Today I renew my commitment to both spiritual and physical exercise. Paraphrasing the words of my best friend, “I want to be the fittest fat guy in Huntington.” I desire more to be Godly.
    
(P) rayer:
    Lord, today I commit to spiritual and physical exercise. Give me the strength to follow through. Amen