Tag: godliness

Posted on

I Ran a Marathon

Daily Reading

Hebrews 11-13

Daily Thought

The Greek Games were a spectacular display of the Roman world. Cities had stadiums, and stadiums were filled with spectators cheering the chariots and the runners, the fighters and the tossers of javelins. The writer of Hebrews lifts this familiar Olympic imagery to heavenly heights, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2). The spectators, the cloud of witnesses, include Old Testament titans of faith such as Abel and Noah and Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, Moses and Rahab, David and Samuel. They have run their races, inspiring our efforts, and now cheer us on.

But I hate running.

When my wife turned 40, she decided running a marathon would be a good idea. I already told you I hate running, but I love Debbie, so we bought a book–The Non-Runner’s Marathon Trainer–and did what it said. A 16-week training guide to run 26.2 miles, but the book said before we could even begin we had to run 3 miles. I couldn’t run 3 blocks. Took me a month to get to the point where I could start the training.

During the next 16 weeks, we worked our way up until we were taking 18 mile runs, but the week before the marathon, our bodies need to rest. The book says to take it easy, only 3 mile runs. 

“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” ~Hebrews 12:11

Run 3 miles? Piece of cake! 

Daily Prayer

Lord God, You began a work in me that You promise to complete. Do whatever it takes. I will, too. I’m not saying I will like it, but I want it. There is this joy in front of me, and I will endure whatever it takes to reach it.

Right now it seems like a lot of work to live rightly. Someday, it will come naturally. God, I will continue to throw off whatever is holding me back and keep my eyes on Your Son Jesus Christ. He is my goal. I want to look like Him.

Amen

Daily Question

How easy is it for you to live a godly life?

Posted on

The Character of a Leader

Daily Reading

Titus 1-3; Philemon

Daily Thought

Paul reminds Titus of the task left to him in Crete, a large island off the coast of Greece, “that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you” (Titus 1:5). The way to choose a leader is to first look at their home. Look for a one-woman kind of man, devoted to his wife, with children who believe and behave. If someone cannot care for their own household, do not give them charge over God’s!

Paul then provides a checklist of virtues: “He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined” (Titus 1:7-8). These qualities must not only be present, but public, evident to others.

Finally, a leader must be mighty with sword, meaning “he must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9). The sword is double-edged, it teaches truth, it exposes lies.

Take care in choosing, warns Paul, because the conduct of a community will be a reflection of the character of its leaders.

Daily Prayer

My God, raise up godly men and women to lead well. Keep them holy and true, devoted to Your Word, sharing its wisdom with Your church, so that Your people will be equipped to live rightly and well, and do good to all they meet.

May I be constant in prayer for our leaders, that they will be on guard against the schemes of Satan. May they stand, and may I stand with them, as we all hold fast to what is true and godly and good, in a world that desperately needs to know God.

Amen

Daily Question

What do you look for most in your church leaders?

Posted on

Dig Deep

Daily Reading

1Timothy 1-6

Daily Thought

Paul prepared Timothy to lead the church in Ephesus, even though Timothy was younger than many of the people. Paul challenged him, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1Timothy 4:12). Paul knew if Timothy took the time to dig deep into God’s Word and paid close attention to his character, he would build a solid foundation for a godly life and a strong church. “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1Timothy 4:16).

It is not unlike the retaining wall I built in my backyard, 40 feet long, 36 inches high was my first measurement. Each block weighed 50 pounds and each block was surprisingly expensive, and I did the math. Then my landscaper explained, “You’ll need to put one row below ground as a foundation.” 40 feet long, 36 inches high, and 6 inches deep.

“I have to spend money and effort on a row of blocks that will never be seen?” I complained.

“Oh, you will know they are there–ten years from now, when the wall is still standing.”

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” ~2Timothy 4:7

Our strength is measured not by the height we attain, but the depth of our character. 

Daily Prayer

Almighty God, You won. You beat Satan on the cross and removed the sting of death. You rose from the dead and now You bring life, a full life that will stand on the firm foundation of the work of Your Son.

I place my trust in Your foundation, knowing that nothing can move me as long as I depend fully and solely on You. Not by my strength, but by Yours will I live victoriously in this world.

And the next.

Amen

Daily Question

How is good godly character developed in a person?

Posted on

By All Appearances

Daily Reading

2Chronicles 21-24

Daily Thought

Joash, descendant of King David, became king at seven years of age, and Jehoiada the priest stood by his side, a godly advisor and teacher. Things looked promising when Joash gave orders to restore the temple of the Lord. “And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord”–if only the sentence stopped there, but it continued, “all the days of Jehoiada the priest” (2Chronicles 24:2). By all appearances, Joash was following God’s ways, but that was the problem. It was all appearances. The long life of Jehoiada (130 years) was God’s mercy to Joash and the nation, but when Jehoiada died, so did God’s good counsel, and the king listened to new voices.

Joash’s godliness was borrowed godliness, he had neglected to develop his own, so he was only as good as those who surrounded him. “Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. And they abandoned the house of the Lord” (2Chronicles 24:17-18).

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, create in me a clean heart and make it strong. Test me, discipline me, and develop in me a passion for You that I may stay focused and stand firm. You are my rock, my fortress, my salvation, and the final source of all that is good. You will be my strength, and I will delight in You so deeply that the fancies of this world will lose their power to tempt. I know, God, that I am weak; therefore, my strength comes from You. 

It is good for me to be around people pursuing godliness. May I set my heart and mind on Your thoughts and Your ways and surround myself with the good and godly. But even better is when it is good for people pursuing godliness to be around me. May my love grow deep and strong, that I might stand for You and with You no matter what comes.

Amen

Daily Question

Do you want others to behave the way you behave? Why or why not?

Posted on

Every Reason But One

Daily Reading

1Samuel 21-24

Daily Thought

King Saul threw a spear at David, attempting to pin him against the wall. Twice he threw it according to 1Samuel 18:10-11. Once again in chapter 19, verse 10. David was well aware the king wanted him dead. Jonathan thought better of his dad, King Saul, until Jonathan challenged him by defending David, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” (1Samuel 20:32). This time Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan, and “Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death” (1Samuel 20:33). David was a better man than Saul; a better warrior, too. Saul tried to kill David three times and Jonathan for coming to David’s defense. Saul was a disgrace as king. David should be king, and David will be king, a better king. 

Sometime later, while pursuing David, “there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself” (1Samuel 24:3), and the men of David saw this and said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you’” (1Samuel 24:4). Saul was alone, distracted, and David could kill Saul and he had every reason to. Every reason but one–“The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed” (1Samuel 24:6). 

If David ignored God’s plan and gained the throne by blood, then he’d become like Saul. Israel did not need another king like Saul. Israel needed a better man, a better king, and they got one.

Daily Prayer

God, my Savior, I offer myself, body, soul, and spirit, as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You. I love You, heart, soul, mind, and strength. Not my will, but Yours, O God. Transform me God, to reflect Your glory, to resemble Your Son. Keep me humble and good.

You would rather I obey than play at religion. My obedience is not a demonstration of my righteousness, but a measure of my love. I want to know Your Word, follow Your ways, and live in Your love.

Amen

Daily Question

When have you made a tough choice to do what God wanted you to do rather than what you wanted to do?

Posted on

An Excellent Wife

Daily Reading

Proverbs 30-31

Daily Thought

It was not “very good” in the Garden until Adam met Eve. Little wonder, then, that Proverbs, a book of wisdom written by male mentors to young men, is not complete without a portrait of a godly wife; “an excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels” (Proverbs 31:10). What follows is a composite of qualities worthy of praise, and indeed should be praised–“her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (v 28). Unlikely, however, that they rose before her, “she rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens” (v 15).

Read these twenty-two verses detailing her day (Proverbs 31:10-31) and you are worn out by the end. The description of this multi-talented, hard-working, strong, wise, wonderful woman is hard to live up to, for it is a picture of the ideal, and it is written to the man, not the woman. Rather than a checklist for women to fulfill, this is a portrait to revise the image young men oft have of an ideal woman–“charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (v 30). 

The book of Proverbs is 31 chapters of wisdom. The last half of the last chapter is devoted to the description of a worthy wife. It took the previous thirty chapters to fashion a man worthy of her.

Daily Prayer

My Creator, You made me in Your image, male and female You made us. What a grand plan. Man and woman, husband and wife, together displaying Your glory.

God, may my love for my spouse bring you glory and honor. May I display Your wisdom in my marriage. And thank You, because this marriage thing, it is very good!

Amen

Daily Question

What qualities do you most look for in a spouse?

Posted on

Predictably Godly

Daily Reading

Daniel 4-6

Daily Thought

Talk is cheap only if actions do not follow, but otherwise, talk is a good place to begin. It makes public our heart and intention, and Daniel’s was to follow his God. Early on, Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself (Daniel 1:8) and put it into words. “He asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself, ‘Test your servants for ten days’” (Daniel 1:8, 12). This short test grew into a lifelong obedience and Daniel’s consistent character was evident through several generations of kings, always to God’s glory. King Nebuchadnezzar said of Daniel, “the spirit of the holy gods is in you” (Daniel 4:18); then came to acknowledge Daniel’s God is special, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven” (Daniel 4:37). King Belshazzar saw the writing on the wall, but did not know it spelled his doom until Daniel spoke, “God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end” (Daniel 5:26). Finally, King Darius observed that “Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom” (Daniel 6:3).

Jealousy ensued. The high officials, now below Daniel, sought grounds to discredit him and concluded, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God” (Daniel 6:5). They convinced King Darius to establish a silly statute, “For thirty days, no one can pray to any god or man except the king.” Then they sat by Daniel’s window and waited. “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God” (Daniel 6:10-11). The wait was not long. Daniel was predictably godly.

Our talk and our walk go together. Daniel walked well and kings thought him a good guy. Daniel talked well and they knew why. Daniel followed a good God. “Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, ‘May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!’” God did and the king issued a new statute, a better one, “I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever” (Daniel 6:26).

Daily Prayer

My Savior, my God, my Friend. Yes, You call me friend. I love You so much. How can I not speak of You?

I thank You so much for Your care for me. You gave me parents and friends, a neighborhood and teachers, many people have had an incredible influence on me. But You, most of all. If I talk of my friends and family, how much more shall I shout Your Name. You are the One who gives meaning and purpose, who fills me with love and compassion, who teaches me about life. You are my God, my Father in Heaven, my Savior and Lord.

Amen

Posted on

An Excellent Wife

Daily Reading

Proverbs 30-31

Daily Thought

It was not “very good” in the Garden until Adam met Eve. Little wonder, then, that Proverbs, a book of wisdom written by male mentors to young men, is not complete without a portrait of a godly wife; “an excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels” (Proverbs 31:10). What follows is a composite of qualities worthy of praise, and indeed should be praised–“her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (v 28). Unlikely, however, that they rose before her, “she rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens” (v 15).

Read these twenty-two verses detailing her day (Proverbs 31:10-31) and you are worn out by the end. The description of this multi-talented, hard-working, strong, wise, wonderful woman may be hard to live up to, but it is a picture of the ideal, and it is written to the man, not the woman. Rather than a checklist to fulfill, this is a portrait to revise the image young men oft have of an ideal woman–“charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (v 30). The book of Proverbs is 31 chapters of wisdom. The last half of the last chapter is devoted to the description of a worthy wife. It took the previous thirty chapters to fashion a man worthy of her.

Daily Prayer

My Creator, You made me in Your image, male and female You made us. What a grand plan. Man and woman, husband and wife, together displaying Your glory.

God, may my love for my spouse bring you glory and honor. May I display Your wisdom in my marriage. And thank You, because this marriage thing, it is very good!

Amen

Posted on

By All Appearances

Daily Reading

2Chronicles 21-24

Daily Thought

Joash, descendant of King David, became king at seven years of age, and Jehoiada the priest stood by his side, a godly advisor and teacher. Things looked promising when Joash gave orders to restore the temple of the Lord. “And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord”–if only the sentence stopped here, but it continued, “all the days of Jehoiada the priest” (2Chronicles 24:2). By all appearances, Joash was following God’s ways, but that was the problem. It was all appearances. The long life of Jehoiada (130 years) was God’s mercy to Joash and the nation, but when Jehoiada died, so did God’s good counsel, and the king listened to new voices.

Joash’s godliness was borrowed godliness, he had neglected to develop his own, so he was only as good as those who surrounded him. “Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. And they abandoned the house of the Lord” (2Chronicles 24:17-18).

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, create in me a clean heart and make it strong. Test me, discipline me, and develop in me a passion for You that I may stay focused and stand firm. You are my rock, my fortress, my salvation, and the final source of all that is good. You will be my strength, and I will delight in You so deeply that the fancies of this world will lose their power to tempt. I know, God, that I am weak; therefore, my strength comes from You.

It is good for me to be around people pursuing godliness. May I set my heart and mind on Your thoughts and Your ways and surround myself with the good and godly. But even better is when it is good for people pursuing godliness to be around me. May my love grow deep and strong, that I might stand for You and with You no matter what comes.

Amen