Devotions for Dieters

Matthew 6:21
'For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.'

Grady thought he was pretty smart, hiding the chocolate bars be-side his bed. He would do well on his diet during the day, but at night he would go wild eating chocolate. Every day he would talk a good game, saying how much he really wanted to be thinner, but when the lights went out at night, he would undo all his fine talk by sneaky, fattening action. When he was caught, Grady merely shrugged it off, saying he wouldn't do it again. The next night, Grady fell asleep with chocolate thick on his breath. Actions often do speak louder than words. Where our treasure is-that is, what's really important to us-there will our hearts and actions be, also.

Today's thought: Make my diet important enough to me to keep me from temptation!

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BIBLE STUDY

You've likely seen the adventure movies where the hero's in a sticky situation and his sidekick worries out loud about getting through it alive. How does the hero respond? "Trust me, I have a plan." (But you and I both know he's really just making it up as he goes.)

God is not that kind of hero. He has a plan, a perfect plan designed to accomplish His goals for His glory--and for your good. Faith is all about trusting God, no matter what. As you get to know Him better through His Word, the Bible, you'll begin to see that He can be trusted even when you wonder about His program.

What Does God Say?

John the Baptist had been a good and faithful servant of God carrying out a demanding mission which came at a high price. Yet, even John had a few questions about God's plan. In Luke 7, we read that John, in prison, sent a message to Jesus. "And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, 'Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?'" (Luke 7:18-19, ESV). How John understood his mission depended on the answer to his question.

Jesus' response was simple: "And he answered them, 'Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me'" (Luke 7:22-23, ESV). He tells John to be confident in what he knows and believes because Jesus was doing exactly what Scripture said the Messiah would do.

Hebrews 11 offers us many examples of men and women who, like John, had questions about the plan of God (for example, Abraham in his desire for a son; Moses leading people out of slavery, etc.) but who, in faith, confidently obeyed and trusted God to work out His plan perfectly. They couldn't know all that God would do to accomplish His purposes, but they exercised faith that flourished and was commended. That's what we need too.

My Thoughts

Look at what Hebrews 11 says about each of the following men; then review the original story.

Noah--Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6:9-7:24.

1. What was God's command or plan for Noah?

2. If you were in Noah's shoes, what would make you question God's plan?

3. How did Noah respond?

Moses--Hebrews 11:23-29; Exodus 3; 12:1-28; 14.

1. What was God's mission or assignment for Moses?

2. What do you think might make Moses question God's plan?

3. How did Moses respond?

Gideon--Hebrews 11:32-34; Judges 6:1-27; 7

1. What did God ask of Gideon?

2. If you were in Gideon's position, what would make you question God's plan?

3. How did Gideon respond?

My Part

We've looked at just a few examples of people who put their faith in God and trusted His plan, even when it seemed impossible.

1. What do you learn from these men about God's plan, even when it's hard to understand?

2. How does this challenge your faith in God?

3.Where do you need to exercise your faith even though you don't understand?

In reality, you're not taking a big risk by doing this because God is completely trustworthy. Everyone from Hebrews 11 would tell you that, along with many others found in God's Word.

The more you know Him, the more you'll understand that faith in Him is a secure anchor. And while it's OK to wonder, don't let the questions keep you from growing in your faith and stepping out in trust. Remember what the Lord says in Isaiah 55:8-9:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts" (ESV).

DEVOTIONALS

The Seriousness of Sin

Obadiah, Revelation 9
Key Verse: Revelation 9:20

This chapter of Revelation does two things. First, it tells of events that will occur. It is a prophecy detailing part of the judgment God will pour out on this earth. It also serves as a warning of the seriousness of sin.

The seriousness of sin is seen in the increasing severity of judgment. As you read through Revelation you will notice this. The warning at the end of chapter 8 is given in a way that none will fail to see or hear. The movement through the seal and trumpet judgments, on to the bowl judgments, is one of increasing severity.

The seriousness of sin is also seen in the severity of the judgments themselves. Torment and death are the results of the fifth and sixth trumpets. We sometimes focus more on the description of these judgments rather than reflect on their severity. These will make all other disasters pale in comparison.

And how does mankind react? Incredibly, with great stubbornness. In verses 20 and 21 we're told that people refuse to turn to God. Their hearts are set in their hostility toward Him. Not even torment and death lead them to repentance. They "still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood . . . . Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts."

Sin can so grip the heart that even the judgment of God does not break its grasp. Don't just learn about the future from these verses but see the warning for the present. See the seriousness of sin.

We sometimes are too casual about sin and its effects. Consider your life today, looking to see if sin is gripping some part of it. By God's grace and power you can break its grasp.

Mixed Prayers

One of the greatest privileges we have as children of God is prayer, yet so often we take it for granted. As the gospel song goes, "O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!"

In Psalm 141 David pictures prayer in a beautiful way that will help us appreciate it more. "Lord, I cry out to You; make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice" (vv. 1,2). The Jewish priest would go to the altar of incense in the holy place and offer a special incense that no one was allowed to duplicate. As the smoke of the incense rose from the altar, it was as though prayer were going up to God. David was not in the temple; he was a king, not a priest. He may well have been out somewhere in the battlefield when he wrote this. But he says, "I am going to lift up my hands to you as the evening sacrifice. My prayer is going to come to you as incense."

The incense at the altar was mixed together carefully; it was well prepared. Likewise, let's mix our prayers carefully. Our prayers should contain adoration and confession to the Lord, petition, thanksgiving and submission to Him. Let's allow the Holy Spirit to ignite the altar of our souls. Do not pray from a cold heart. David goes on to say, "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing" (vv. 3,4). After we pray to the Lord, let's make sure that our lips and hearts do not sin.

* * *

Are your prayers a good mix rather than a series of petitions? When you pray from the heart, you can't help but praise God and thank Him for His grace and generosity. Make your prayers like fragrant incense that brings joy to the heart of God.

1 Kings 10:6-7

Great Day Coming

Since my early school days I had read about the Grand Canyon. I knew that it ranges from 4 to 18 miles in width and more than a mile deep in places. Perhaps the most impressive part is a 56-mile-long stretch within the Grand Canyon National Park. I had even see photos showing the beautiful colors that stripe the canyon walls. Yet nothing that I read or saw in a book prepared me for the awesome experience of standing on the canyon's edge and seeing for myself the majestic beauty of this natural wonder.

The Bible says the queen of Sheba had the same response when she met Solomon. Sheba was a land hundreds of miles away in an area now called Yemen, but this queen had heard stories about Israel's king. The tales told her were sufficiently intriguing to propel her to make the difficult journey to see Solomon for herself. Yet when she actually stood in the presence of Israel's king, she confessed, "The half was not told me."

The same is true for Christians. God's Word speaks of the glorious future that awaits us, yet it also indicates that the half is still to be told. Paul says, "But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him'" (1 Cor. 2:9).

Perhaps you're going through a time of loss and grief right now. Maybe you're feeling lonely and unhappy. Let me encourage you to lift up your head, turn your thoughts away from your present grief and gaze at what God has in store for you. When you stand face-to-face with Jesus, your current distresses will fade away instantly. It will be worth it all when you see Christ.

Victory on the Mount

Exodus 17:8-16

The Christian's war with the flesh is seen in the Israelites' desert experiences as outlined in the Old Testament. This age-old battle is seen in Amalek's attempt to keep Israel out of the land of promise.

The simple statement is made in Exodus 17:8: "Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim." This historical battle furnishes us with a good illustration of the internal warfare every believer in Christ experiences.

Amalek is a type of the flesh. He did not want the Israelites to claim their inheritance in Canaan. Amalek was strong and had high aspirations. He did not like the idea of being subdued but wanted rather to be in control. So it is with our fleshly nature.

Joshua was the leader of the Israelites in this battle. Though he was an able general and fought well, Israel's subsequent victory was not attributed to him or his army but to the Lord.

Moses also fought in the battle--on a mountaintop by prayer and faith. He interceded, using the rod of God as his authority.

As long as he kept his arms and the rod raised, the Israelites were winning. When his arms dropped, then Amalek began to win. Aaron and Hur finally came to his aid and held up his arms as he interceded for Israel. This brought the final victory.

Believers have two members of the Trinity interceding for them--the Holy Spirit and Christ. This assures us of victory. We do not need to fear defeat if we will allow the Spirit of God to have control.

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:25).

Practical Religion

And in the morning, It will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

Faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour transforms us from a shallow meaningless person into one filled with the Spirit of God. If we are born again and the Spirit resides within us, our religion ought to be as full of meaning as our lives are full of the Spirit. How terrible to see many religions in which there is absolute meaninglessness because of spiritual ritualism. Jesus encountered this very same thing in His day as well.

The Pharisees were always guilty of practicing an empty religion. This is why John the Baptist called them a "generation of vipers" (Matthew 3:7). The Pharisees were constantly interested in keeping the ceremonial law, but they had the wrong heart attitude toward God. When Jesus called Matthew to discipleship, the Pharisees were right there to question the Lord's disciples, "Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?" (Matthew 9:11). When He cast a demon out of a man who was dumb, the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out devils through the power of the prince of the devils (Matthew 9:34).

Always the Pharisees were seeking a sign from Jesus that He was the Messiah. Time and again He refused to give them such a sign saying that the sign of Jonah was all they would need. His resurrection after a death of three days would be the great sign to them that He was indeed the Messiah. If they would not believe that sign, neither would they believe any other.

At Magdala Jesus again encountered the Pharisees, this time in league with the Sadducees and Herodians, who again asked Him for a sign. As before, Jesus refused to give them such a sign but at the same time He taught them something about the emptiness and blindness of their spiritual ritualism. Jesus noted that the Pharisees and Sadducees could read the weather signs in the heavens. He said, "When it is evening you say, it will be fair weather for the sky is red." This is comparable to our axiom, "Red sky at night, sailor's delight." But Jesus continued, "And in the morning it will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowring" (Matthew 16:3). Or, as we would say, "Red sky in morning, sailors take warning."

Jesus then concluded with the assessment, "O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" These religious leaders could read the skies with the best astronomers and mariners, but could not recognize that Jesus was the Messiah. This was where their expertise should have been, but because they had been involved so long with empty formalism instead of meaningful activity in carrying God's love to the world, they did not have the eyes of faith with which to see Jesus as their Saviour.

An item from a church bulletin clearly points out the inconsistency of pious religion which does not follow through in meeting the needs of people. It is a satirical rephrasing of Matthew 25: "I was famished and you formed a humanitarian club to discuss my hunger...I was imprisoned and you crept off quietly to your church to pray for my release. I was naked and you debated the morality of my unseemly appearance. I was sick and you knew it, yet did nothing but thank God for your own health. I was homeless and you preached to me of the spiritual shelter of the love of God. I was lonely and you left me by myself while you went and prayed for me. You seemed so holy, so close to God; but I am still very hungry, desolate, and cold!"

While the Pharisees had all the trappings of religion, all the robes, all the religious paraphernalia, they had none of the heart, none of what true religion is all about. Yet today as well there are many churches and denominations that have all the trap-pings of religion but none of the heart of the Lord Jesus. It is up to each of us to make sure that we attend faithfully those churches which show the heart of the Lord Jesus and not the heart of the Pharisee. Is your church following Jesus or following the Pharisees? Is your religion practical? Make it a point to pray for your church today.

MORNING HYMN
All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and Heav'n reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.