Devotions for Dieters

2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

The army had been good for Stan. When he was younger, he was completely undisciplined. The army had taken care of that. He had to work his tail off to get into good shape, but it was worth it. The short period of affliction he suffered through helped him in so many other ways. The folks back home couldn't believe the change they saw while he was home for the holidays. God disciplines His children on occasion because He knows the lasting lessons we need to learn. Diets help us grow in maturity and fitness for the kingdom of God.

Today's thought: A gain in discipline means a loss in weight!

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At the end of 2007, there were more than 35 million displaced persons or refugees. A third of those (around 12 million) had been forced to leave their homeland for another country. The rest remained within their countries but fled from their cities or villages because of danger. What's truly tragic, however, is that 80 percent are women and children.

But this is nothing new. From the beginning, people have had to leave their homelands for a variety of reasons (it could be argued that Cain was a refugee). But the most famous refugee was a baby called Jesus.

What Does God Say?

"Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.' And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, 'Out of Egypt I called my son'" (Matthew 2:13-15, ESV).

1. What triggered this event (see the preceding verses)?

2. Why were Jesus and his family refugees?

3. What had to happen before they could return?

My Thoughts

If you answered that Jesus and His family were refugees because of Herod, you're only partially right. Matthew says this happened to fulfill what God had said approximately 750 years before through the prophet Hosea (see Hosea 11:1). In the immediate context, Hosea is writing about the faithfulness of God to the people of Israel. Even though they'd lived in Egypt 400 years and suffered many things, God never forgot them. At the right time, He brought them out with a mighty show of power (Deuteronomy 6:21).Under the leadership of Moses, God called His people out of Egypt.

But this scripture finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. God did the same for His Son as He had done for His people approximately 1,600 years before. What may have looked like a setback to some became an opportunity for God to show once again His faithfulness to His promises. At the right time, God brought back Jesus and His family and positioned them right where they needed to be (see Matthew 2:22-23).

Are you a refugee in the land of Egypt? Probably not literally, but perhaps figuratively you are. It could be you've been forced out of your job by cutbacks and layoffs. Possibly economic necessity has caused you to leave family and friends. It might be that you're alienated from someone special to you.

If you're living in your own version of Egypt, remember God's faithfulness. He will never forget you (Isaiah 49:16). At the right time, He will call you out of Egypt and back to where you belong.

My Part

What evidence do you see in your life of God's faithfulness? Write it down and share it with someone for his or her encouragement.

Be Strong, Be Strong, Be Strong

Haggai 1-2, Revelation 17
Key Verse: Haggai 2:4

Depression, it is said, has become the common cold of the mind. In spite of so many blessings and so many benefits, people still struggle with depression. When we are "down" emotionally or mentally, it can even pull us down physically.

In the days of Haggai the people were discouraged. Why? Among other things, the new temple they had built was inferior to the old one. One of the common effects of depression was evident-their initiative was stifled. Depressed people often slow down, even stop altogether. Having lost their motivation, they sit. And the longer they sit, the more depressed they get.

God gave very specific instruction to His people, instruction that can help us. He said first, "Be strong." Then He said, "Be strong." After that He said, "Be strong." Mark it in Haggai 2:4. Three times God says, "Be strong." That is spiritually based emotional resolve! It's not psychological self-help talk but divine instruction. It is also something that we must determine to do, to be strong.

God instructed one other thing-"work." This was not a "don't just sit there, do something" kind of instruction. It is amazing how much healing can take place when we start being constructive again.

Don't miss the bottom line. God said, "For I am with you." His presence indeed makes all the difference.

Is something depressing you? Then decide what you can do about it! Work on it, remembering that God is with you.

2 Chronicles 2:4-5

The Greatest of All

In 1934 the Cunard ship-building company was getting ready to name its greatest ocean liner, a vessel more than 1,000 feet long and capable of crossing the Atlantic in just over four days. The consensus of opinion was that it should be named after Queen Elizabeth I. A high official reportedly went to King George V and announced, "We would like to name the ship after England's greatest queen." "Well," said the king, "I shall have to ask her." Consequently the ship was promptly named after his wife, Queen Mary!

If we're not specific when we speak, a lot of confusion can result. No such confusion, however, existed in Solomon's mind when it came to honoring God. He was intent upon building a great temple because "our God is greater than all gods." A multitude of gods existed in the nations around Israel--Baal, Molech and Asherah, for example. These, however, were only demonic spirits (1 Cor. 10:19-20) or statues of stone. Solomon knew there was only One who was truly God.

Too often we forget that our God is greater than all other powers, human or supernatural. We needn't fear any foe. The psalmist said, "A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you" (Ps. 91:7). God's hand of protection is upon us until He chooses to call us home, and none can challenge His authority. No god is greater than our God.

Take courage. Rest completely in the God who is above all gods. He is your strength and protection. He will keep you when all others fail. He is the greatest of all.

The God of Your Heart

The God of the galaxies is also the God of the brokenhearted. That's what David tells us in verses 3 and 4: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name."

The contrast we see in these two verses--between the heavens and the broken heart--ought to encourage us. God made the heavens. He spoke and it was done. His creation stood steadfast. The God who made the heavens is concerned about your broken heart. Others may not be concerned, but God is. He's not so far away that He doesn't know your heart is hurting. He's not so great that He can't stoop down to you when you are pained, weeping and looking for help.

Yes, the God of the heavens is the God of your heart. The God who numbers and names the stars knows your needs. He knows all about you, and thus He is able to meet your every need. The God who controls the planets in their orbits is able to take the pieces of your broken heart and put them together again. He will heal your broken heart, provided you give Him all the pieces and yield to His tender love.

"Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite" (v. 5). His love and understanding are limitless. His power is great. He can do what needs to be done.

* * *

The One who set the galaxies in motion is the same One who addresses your needs. There is no limit to God's love, His understanding or His power. Perhaps you have a broken heart today. Give Him the pieces and let Him heal your heart.

Only God Sees Everything

Revelation 2:12-17

The Lord knows all about our living conditions, the temptations to which we are exposed and the motives that govern our conduct. He can judge us correctly.

This is a factor we must bear in mind with regard to our evaluating another person's actions. We need to know how much the other person has to face and resist before we can be even reasonably accurate in our approving or disapproving of the other person's conduct.

Are we sure that if we would face the same problems in the same environment as the person we tend to criticize, that we would do any better than he did? Or it may be that in our case it is easy to run the race because there are few obstacles to hinder us.

Do we realize how easy it is to murder character by simply not knowing the facts about the other person? Our judgment may be harsh whereas our Saviour, knowing the circumstances, would render an entirely different judgment than ours.

For lack of adequate knowledge we might even commend a person when there is nothing to commend.

We must always keep in mind that there are hidden recesses of the heart that only God can know. Few of us know the burdens others may be carrying.

There is a great Judgment Day coming when the Lord Himself will evaluate what we have done in this life for Him. In that judgment (known as the Judgment Seat of Christ, 2 Cor. 5:10), we will not be judged as to whether we will get to heaven or not. That is not what is in view here.

There is no doubt that our Lord, who will be Judge at that time, will reverse many of our quick and unfair judgments.

"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come" (1 Cor. 4:5).

Practical Wisdom

"And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear."

"How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver" (Proverbs 16:16). These sentiments of Solomon, regarding the preference for wisdom over wealth, stem from a strange dream that changed his life.

Once Solomon attended a solemn procession to the altar at Gibeon, about five miles from Jerusalem. This is where the ancient Tabernacle yet stood. Here the king celebrated an elaborate, religious festival in which he offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar built by Bezaleel nearly five centuries before. While at Gibeon, Solomon received a dream from the Lord, in which God demanded, "Ask what I shall give thee" (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon barely knew what to request from God. Then he remembered the great task that had been laid before him. He was the king of the chosen nation, a great people that could not be numbered for their multitude. Solomon asked for practical wisdom, the ability to discern between right and wrong and to make immediate judgments that were founded on the truth. He was not asking for spiritual discernment; he wanted to rule the people well. God was pleased with Solomon's concern to be a just ruler and thus granted Solomon's request and added riches, honor, and length of days as well.

An occasion soon arose to test this divine gift of practical wisdom. Two harlots came before the king bearing two children, one dead, one alive. Although their stories were conflicting they did agree both lived in the same house and recently, within days of one another, each gave birth to a child. One woman claimed that the dead child was the result of the other mother's carelessness in accidentally laying on the child during the night and suffocating it. She claimed that the other woman rose at midnight, took her living son from beside her, and placed the dead infant in its stead. When the woman arose in the morning to feed the child, she discovered it was dead (1 Kings 3:21). She also discovered in the morning, at the light of day, that it was not her child lifelessly lying beside her in bed. She claimed that the living child was hers. The other woman disputed the claim saying that the first woman's child had simply died and she was now trying to compensate for her loss by taking the live child to be her own.

The situation appeared hopeless. It was the perfect test for Solomon's practical wisdom. What would he do? The king resolved to appeal to the maternal instinct of the women He called for a sword to "divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other." Immediately the child's mother screamed and requested that the king give her own child to the other woman rather than see him slain. Solomon thus discerned which woman was telling the truth and presented the child to his mother.

The fame of this decision spread throughout all Israel, inspiring fear of the king's justice and a conviction that God had given Solomon exceptional discernment. Israel believed that he would carry out his administrative duties with supreme justice.

Solomon's wisdom, however, appears to have gone beyond mere practical shrewdness in everyday affairs: 1 Kings 4:29-34 indicates Solomon demonstrated significant literary ability in speaking three thousand proverbs and writing more than one thousand psalms. One of those proverbs was, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21). On this occasion, a happy mother had just realized the truth of those words.

MORNING HYMN
Hover o'er me, Holy Spirit,
Bathe my trembling heart and brow;
Fill me with thy hallow'd presence,
Come, O come and fill me now.