Online Devotions

February 12 (Exodus 4:2)

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Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. (NIV)

You already have all that you need to do what God has called you to do. This is a powerful thing to realize. When God called Moses to lead His people out of Egypt, He told Moses to look at what was already in his hand. God then worked miracles through that simple staff.

Think about this for a moment. We often think that we must purchase this or obtain that in order to fulfill some grand scheme that we have convinced ourselves God wants us to follow. While it is true that God does call ordinary people to extraordinary lives, it is also true that He knew what He wanted from us before we were born. The work of our lives should not be about spending our efforts to get ready to do the work of our lives.

What is that in your hand? Is there something you are particularly good at doing? How could you do it to serve God’s purposes? Is there something in which you are particularly interested? Do you have certain resources? How can you work through what is already in your life to fulfill what God has called you to?

Gracious heavenly Father, thank You for the blessings You have poured into my life, blessings of time, resources, and talents. Forgive me for overlooking those blessings in the mad pursuit of others. Help me to use what You have already given me to be salt and light in the world. In the name of Jesus, my Lord, amen.

Copyright © 2012 by Steven R. Perkins

February 5 (Exodus 3:4)

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When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” (NIV)

A burning bush caught the attention of Moses, and he heard the voice of God. What catches your attention? Political candidates spend vast sums to catch our attention. Advertisements during sporting events spend even more. God reaches out to us continually through miracles that surround us. I repeat, what catches your attention?

Sometimes God acts dramatically, as He did when parting the Red Sea and splitting the curtain in the temple when Jesus was crucified. Yet He does not have to shout. He is God. He has every right to expect that even His smallest whisper will get our attention.

Paying attention and learning to see and hear God are skills that we must develop. They take time. They take effort. In the frenetic pace of life, is hearing God worth your time and effort? Look and listen for Him this week. He is always speaking and wants to speak to you.

Father, forgive me for not having enough time for You. I confess that I am often so busy with the things I think are important that I disregard how You are trying to speak to me. Help me to hear You and to respond quickly as Moses did. In the name of Jesus, my Savior I pray, amen.

January 29 (Exodus 1:10)

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Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country. (NIV)

Few biblical figures are as reviled as Pharaoh, yet before we rush to judgment, it may be good to see just how reasonable a person he was. Here was a leader who inherited a situation in which a large group of foreigners was living within his boundaries. It was certainly reasonable to think the Israelites would continue to grow in number. It was also reasonable to think that they might join with Egypt’s enemies. They were not native Egyptians, and in those days, ethnicity meant everything. As a good leader, he knew he had to address the situation before it became a genuine problem.

Do you see the danger in clear, reasonable thinking when someone does not know God? Proverbs 3:5 tells us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not to lean on our own understanding. Whether you are a pharaoh or a president, a CEO or coach of the Little League team, a principal or a parent, our thinking and planning must be rooted in the fear and worship of God, or we risk going badly astray. If we are not in any position of leadership, we must carefully measure what our leaders say and do against this same standard.

This is a presidential election year in the United States. We will hear much about plans for the economy, education, health care, and domestic and foreign policy. It does not matter how reasonable any person’s plans sound in the light of personal preference. The only thing that matters is how they align with faithfulness to God.

Lord, help me to rely solely on You and Your perfect will and not on my own understanding of the things that affect my life. Help me to see as You see, to love as You love, and to serve as You serve. In the name of Jesus Christ, Who saw death on a cross as the ultimate glory, amen.

Copyright © 2012 by Steven R. Perkins

January 22 (Exodus 1:8)

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Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. (NIV)

With the change of one ruler to the next, the lives of an entire nation went from good to bad. Under the previous ruler of Egypt, the nation of Israel had been allowed to receive food during a time of famine and to live off the land when the famine passed. The pharaoh had made promises to Joseph, and all of Israel prospered because of them. This pharaoh’s successor, however, knew nothing of this and began to oppress the Israelites, turning them into slaves.

This passage from our history reminds us of the importance of passing on the faith and teaching its precepts and its stories to the next generation. Think about it. Wherever you live, you have an incredible opportunity and responsibility. Whether you live in Texas or New Zealand, you have the task of passing along the details of the Christian faith, which began two thousand years ago in the Middle East.

To fulfill this task, we must all do two things. First, we must study and understand our faith. We must read the Bible, and through prayer and study, seek to understand it better. We must learn the stories of our faith. Second, we must always be looking for those with whom to share our faith. Whether with a neighbor or co-worker, whether with a son or daughter, niece or nephew, we must spread the Good News, lest there should ever come again a king who does not know.

Father in heaven, thank You for those who shared the gospel with me. Thank You for the teachers and pastors, family and friends who taught me the stories and doctrine of our faith. Help me to be a faithful steward of that gift, passing it along to everyone I know. In the name of Jesus, my risen Lord and savior, amen.

Copyright © 2012 by Steven R. Perkins

January 15 (Joshua 24:15)

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But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. (NIV)

We do this and do that, follow this, listen to that, vote one way, and support particular teams. It is easy to become divided, fractured people in a world where the voices vying for our allegiance are ever louder and more persuasive. Yet in all the clamor for our attention, there is really only one voice that has priority, and we must decide whether or not we will follow the One Whose voice it is.

No one is saying we cannot cheer for our favorite teams or take part in a heated political discussion, but at the end of the day, just where do you stand? Ultimately, you have only yourself to answer for. If you are a parent, then you have the additional responsibility of speaking for your family. Where do you stand? Is it with God? If so, then there are certain claims on your life. He has expectations of what it means to follow Him, expectations clearly laid out in His word and clearly taught in his church.

When you plant the banner of the Lord deeply and take your stand, all manner of lesser things go whirling by. Sometimes the wind they create is strong, but hold firm. If you choose to cling to Him, the Lord will be your strength.

O Lord, my God, I submit to You in humble obedience. I am Yours. I belong to You. Command me to do what You will and grant me the grace to accomplish all You ask. In the name of Christ Jesus, the rock on which I stand, amen.

January 8 (Psalm 46:10)

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Be still, and know that I am God. (NIV)

In Joshua 3:5, Joshua told the people to consecrate themselves for the work that the Lord would do among them. Whatever it means to consecrate yourself, it cannot happen carelessly in the hubbub of life with no more thought than it takes to fill your gas tank. If we are going to set ourselves apart for holy work, then we first have to humble ourselves in awed silence of God’s transcendent holiness.

Has reading the Bible become a quick thing you do in the morning, something to check off the list before going to work? Is prayer nothing more than a few words in time of need? If you want to consecrate yourself for what God is calling you to do, then it may be time to change your spiritual habits. Anything, over time, can become dull and lifeless. Read a new translation of the Bible, one that makes you think about stories that are familiar. Set aside a different time and place to pray. This will cause you to break the rhythms of life, forcing you to slow down a bit and be still.

The purpose of daily devotions is not just to get something from God. It is to get us before God. Once humbly before our Lord, our task is simply to glorify Him. He will work in us what He wants.

Lord, I want to draw closer to You. Help me to dedicate time each day to You, time that is Yours alone. May I guard this time as sacred, allowing nothing to intrude on this intimate time with You. In the name of Jesus, Who often went away from the crowds to be along with You, I pray. Amen.

January 1 (Joshua 3:5)

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Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you." (NIV)

I love Joshua. He is bold and confident in the Lord. Who would not like to live a bolder, more confident life of faith? Perhaps this is your resolution for the new year. If so, then Joshua tells you how to do it. Consecrate yourself.

I am ashamed to think how much our Lord could have done through me had I been ready for Him, able to see what He wanted me to see. Too often, my life is clouded with sin or blurred with distractions and affairs of the world. I need to consecrate myself, to set myself apart for a sacred work. Just as an athlete trains repeatedly for a shot he or she may not get a chance to use for years, so we must prepare ourselves and get ready for whatever our Lord calls us to.

How should you consecrate yourself? is there something you need to stop, like a particular sin? Is it something you need to do, like pray or read Scripture more regularly? Whatever it is, hear Joshua telling you to do it. Get yourself ready. The Lord will do amazing things with you.

Gracious Father, I surrender myself completely...body, mind, and spirit...to You. Train my hands and feet for Your service. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, o Lord, my strength and my redeemer. In the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2012 by Steven R. Perkins

December 25 (Luke 2:11)

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For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (KJV)

There is no gift we will open on Christmas day as great as the one wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. There is no meal we will eat so sumptuous as the body and blood of which we partake in holy communion. May we all live as grateful recipients of such costly blessing.

In the words of the heavenly host, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Amen.

December 18 (Matthew 2:13)

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And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. (KJV)

Herod is the quintessential bad guy. After all, who wants to kill a child? The answer is you and I. We may see Herod as the embodiment of evil, but we have all wanted to kill the baby Jesus.

God became flesh for the reason of our salvation. By His death on a cross, we have been brought to life. Yet He would never have needed to suffer that death had we not sinned. The simple, unpleasant fact is this. Every lie we tell, every act of greed we indulge, every lust we fulfill is grounds for the crucifixion of Christ. When we sin, we are saying that we would rather the baby in the manger have suffered and died than that we should do what is right.

We rightly revile Herod and all who seek the death of innocents. We do well to remember Herod each time we are tempted so that we do not do again what he did.

Father, I thank You so much this Christmas for sending Your Son to be my savior. Strengthen me with Your grace that I may not sin against You. In the name of my blessed Lord Jesus, Who with You and the Holy Spirit reigns as one God, now and forever, amen.

December 11 (Matthew 2:11)

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And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. (KJV)

What do you get a baby who has everything? Shopping can be so difficult when you are trying to find the perfect gift for the King of kings! The gifts of the magi were symbolic, and God continues to want this kind of gift. He wants us to give in ways that symbolize and show our love for Him.

So what can you give Him for His birthday that fits this bill? He has already given you whatever it is. You see, He has given each of us certain gifts that He wants us to use in His service. Are you an encourager or someone who can explain things clearly? Do you have great gifts of patience or the ability to see needs? Look past your resume and grade transcript for a moment. What has God gifted you to do?

Pull back from the daily grind and consider where you could use the special gifts that God has given you to serve His people. As you put those gifts to good use, you will be giving Him what He really wants, not just for Christmas, but for every day of your life.

Lord, what gifts have You given me? Help me to see them clearly so that I may use them to Your glory. In the name of Jesus, my Savior, Whose birth we all celebrate, amen.

December 4 (Luke 1:13, 30)

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But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias…. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary…. (KJV)

There is not much to fear when we wish someone a merry Christmas. More often than not, Christians are the ones who are afraid to utter the C-word in December lest someone be offended. Yet when the angels appeared to announce the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus, they had to tell Zechariah and Mary not to be afraid. What is going on here?

The word “angel” simply means “messenger.” Messengers from God were fearsome beings, yet when they approached humans, they did not water down their message or do anything to disguise it or themselves. They simply said, “Do not fear,” and proceeded to deliver the message. They spoke with the authority they had been given by God.

We, too, are angels in the sense that we are messengers of God. He has entrusted to us the Good News of Jesus and has given us the authority to take it to others. We must never water it down or approach our task with embarrassed hesitation. We must be bold and confident, for ours is a message that must get through.

O Lord, our God, You have given to weak creatures the awesome task of being angels. Strengthen us for our calling. May we boldly share Your love and grace and light and truth with a dark and hurting world, just as the angels did in the time of Zechariah and Mary. In the name of our most holy Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

November 27 (Psalm 1:2)

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But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (KJV)

I once read a description of a teacher reciting a poem for her class. She encountered the words like old, familiar friends. Is this how it is with you and Scripture? Do you read and re-read the stories and the teachings, coming back to them with welcome familiarity, yet always finding something new?

We have a great many study aids at our disposal. We have study Bibles and specialty Bibles for different aspects of life. There are countless Internet tools to help us understand the original languages and the geography of the biblical stories. Yet what we need most sometimes is simply to read and re-read. We need to savor the stories, dwell in them, and realize that they have not ended. We are living the next chapters of the story that started with Adam.

As we approach Christmas, read that most familiar of stories again. Reconnect with old friends like Mary and Joseph. Consider reading a part of the Bible with which you are less familiar, not from the perspective of learning facts, but with a view to adventure. What new delights await you in a lesser-known book? Rediscover your delight in God’s word.

Lord, what a precious gift You have given us in the Bible! Help me to see it with fresh eyes and to find my joy within its pages of poetry and drama, of which I am a part. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

November 20 (Ruth 1:16)

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And Ruth said, “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” (KJV)

If you go to stay with a friend, even for a short time, there are certain things you can expect. You know that you will eat at some new restaurants, see some new sights, and in general get a glimpse into how your friend lives. Your own life will change as you adapt to sleeping in a new environment and following a different pattern of life. The same would be true if a friend came to stay with you.

What would your friend see about your relationship with God? When Ruth said that she would stay with her mother-in-law, Naomi, she also knew that her life would change, and one of the expectations was that she would follow Naomi’s God. In the ancient world, religion was a defining aspect of a person’s life. Is your relationship with God a defining aspect of yours? Would a non-Christian friend experience life differently for spending time with you, or would you hide this aspect of your life in an effort not to offend?

More than our jobs, our ethnicity, or our favorite sports team, our relationship with God must be the single most significant defining aspect of our lives. There should never be a question in the minds of our friends what to expect from us in this regard.

Father, I want my light to shine before others so that they may glorify You, just as Jesus commanded. Help me to live faithfully to you at home, at work, and at play. Give me the grace and courage to live for You when I am alone and in public. In the name of Jesus, my Lord, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

November 13 (Luke 2:49)

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“Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?”

Our church has multiple worship times throughout the weekend, and we usually attend on Saturday evenings. This weekend, however, I was out of town, and our son had a basketball function, which he attended with my wife and daughter. What she called to tell me on my way home humbled me. The basketball function let out just a bit earlier than they had expected, and our son, who is eleven, asked if they could go to church.

Mary and Joseph were surprised to find their son in the temple, but Jesus was surprised by their surprise, wondering why they did not know that He would be about His Father’s work. Perhaps adults are astonished when children say such things because they have become a bit jaded about worship or doing the work of God. For us, it may have become simply one more thing to do in a long and growing list. God uses unlikely voices to remind us of the important things.

What gets in the way of doing your Father’s business? Is serving and worshiping Him the most or least likely thing someone would find you doing?

Father, restore to me the innocent surrender of youth, that with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, I may serve and worship You. In the name of Jesus, Who never lost sight of His Father’s business, amen.

November 6 (Genesis 18:23)

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And Abraham drew near, and said, “Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” (KJV)

Life in Sodom had become so corrupt that God was intent upon destroying the entire city. Abraham went to God and began to plead on its behalf. We pray for ourselves and we pray for families and friends, but when was the last time you prayed for your city, your state, or your country? Do you pray for your company and the school your children attend?

Not only is it not enough for Christians to wring their hands over the world’s woes, it is a waste of a powerful weapon. We have the privilege of going to our Father in heaven at any time of the day or night, and Jesus encourages us that whatever we ask for in His name will be done (see John 14:13-14 and John 15:16).

What major problems of the day are you aware of, problems far outside your scope to address? Are you bothered by the slaughter of abortion, a burgeoning porn industry, and anti-Christian sentiment? Are you pained by the violence in foreign countries and our inner cities? Jesus has invited each of us to do what Abraham did. We can intercede in all these matters, confident that our Father will hear us.

Father, I come before You now with a heavy heart, burdened by the sins of our day. As I lift these cares to You, inspire me with Your Holy Spirit to be Your hands and feet in the world. I know that You will act in these areas. Show me how I can help. In the name of Christ Jesus, my Lord, amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

October 30 (Luke 9:62)

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And Jesus said unto him, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (KJV)

There is only one God, Who has revealed Himself as Trinity. This one God wants all of us…our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. In the verse for day, we see that He wants us all the time.

Perseverance can be one of the most challenging aspects of being a Christian. We think of Lot’s wife, who looked back at their home, despite being told not to do so. We think of those disciples who followed Jesus only until His teachings became too hard for them (see John 6). If you are reading this devotion, then you have put your hand to the plough to serve in the Kingdom of God and to follow Jesus. What causes you to look back? Is it fear or worry? Are there temptations that are too enjoyable to give up? Is it sickness, exhaustion, or just the daily grind?

God has not called us to a life that we cannot live. If there are things that distract us from Him, He already knows what they are. Ask Him to reveal those things to you so you can then surrender them to Him. He will make you fit to the task of the persevering life in Christ.

Lord, I have such good intentions. I want to do this or that for You, only to find myself distracted or falling back into old habits. Help me to see nothing but You, Lord. Give me the strength to live all of my life, every day, only for You. In the name of Jesus, my Savior, Who persevered for my salvation all the way to Calvary, amen.

October 23 (Mark 12:30)

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And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. (KJV)

Last week we looked at the exclusive nature of God, that there is only one God, and He has fully revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Should it come as any surprise that the one and only God wants all of us?

The people and organizations in our lives know that they must share us with others. I want to give as much of myself as I can to my family, but during the hours of the workday, I am not giving directly to them. They may benefit from my salary, but my boss has the right to claim my attention during those hours. The same goes with the time I spend with friends, other relatives, and at the store talking with the clerk. My time and attention are divided.

God says that when it comes to a relationship with Him, there can be no such divisions. We are giving Him our heart, soul, mind, and strength in every circumstance. He does not just get our attention during worship at church or during our private devotional time. When I am working for my boss, I must do so in ways that please God. When I am with friends and family, I am not away from God. He wants all of me, and He wants me all of the time.

O Lord, forgive me for the times when I treat You as if You were merely another person in my life, one to whom I will give my attention when I can get around to it. I want You to be my all in all. Help me to give my all to You in everything that I do, say, and think. In the name of Jesus, my Savior, I pray. Amen.

October 16 (Jeremiah 10:10a)

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But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king. (KJV)

Studies show that some people leave the Christian faith because of its exclusivity. We live in a world that values all things, even when they are contradictory, and we are told to be tolerant of everything. Churches that preach that the God of Christianity is the only God seem out of step with contemporary culture.

This is nothing new. Those who follow God have always been out of step with their culture. Ask the Jews in Babylon. Ask the Christians in ancient Rome. Ask the Coptic Christians in Egypt today. That there is only one true God, revealed fully in Jesus Christ, is not something a fundamentalist church made up. It is what the Bible teaches and Christians for two thousand years have acknowledged.

What is it about the Christian faith that is most uncomfortable to you? Is it the mysterious nature of the Trinity, or the call to love your enemies? Is it that there is only one true God, or that we must give our time and money to serve the poor? Our faith will always be at odds with the world around us. The call of Christ is a difficult one, but when you stop to think about it, would you want to follow anyone else?

O Lord, help me to be strong in living out Your calling of me. May I be a light to others, so that they may see Your truth. May nothing about You be a stumbling block for me, but may I always be willing to follow You, even unto death. In the name of my Savior Jesus, Who did just that for me, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

October 9 (2 Timothy 1:7)

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For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (KJV)

Scripture tells us to fear God and that such fear is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10). Yet worldly fears are crippling. They usually start by believing a lie, such as that we are not good enough or that no one loves us. From there the fear builds, and like a spreading vine, it begins to choke off life. It leads to ever greater degrees of control as we seek protect ourselves from what we fear. If left unchecked, it can produce death.

I know. Not long ago, certain fears had begun to choke the life out of me. Praise be to God, when I took those fears to Him, He showed me their roots, and when I laid those roots before Him, He took them away. He freed me of fear and restored to me a spirit of power, love, and a sound mine, enabling me to see things clearly and as they really are.

What is it that troubles your soul? Would you not like to be free of it? Our Lord promises that a fearful spirit does not come from Him. Lay before Him your worries and let Him restore you to peace by His grace.

O Lord, I could sing of Your love forever! Truly, Your grace is amazing, and I thank You for restoring my soul. Give me the strength in my weakness not to rely on my own strength, which is nothing but weakness, but to lean on Your strength, and so be truly strong. In the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

October 3 (Jeremiah 23:1)

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Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. (KJV)

When we hear of a church scandal or the sinful actions of a church leader, it is tempting to want a return to a purer time, when the faith was new and the Church was young. Unfortunately, such a pristine state never existed. Even in the days of Jeremiah, there were pastors who did more harm than good, and when you think about it, this makes perfect sense.

God works through human beings. He built His Church on Peter, a man who denied he even knew Jesus. It is foolish to think that those who serve God are perfect. They are not. They face the same temptations as the rest of us and, thanks to our shared sin nature, they will at times yield to that sin.

Claiming that the sin of a church leader is keeping a person from the Christian faith or being part of a church is a copout. It is also being hypocritical, for why should we demand those around us to be perfect when we fall short ourselves? We must always judge the Church and the Christian faith from the perfect standard of Christ and His word. Our obedience must be to Him, no matter how much His servants may let us down.

Lord, may I never be an obstacle to anyone enjoying Your grace by my sinful actions. Likewise, may I never doubt You because of the actions of another. In the name of my perfect Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

September 25 (1 Samuel 8:22)

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And the LORD said to Samuel, “Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.” (KJV)

The people of Israel wanted a king. God said no. He instructed them to have judges, for He knew that a king was likely to become tyrannical. The people of Israel asked for a king. All the nations around them had kings. God said no. He had just led His people out of the land of Pharaoh, an oppressive ruler, and He did not want this for His beloved children. The people of Israel demanded a king, and God told Samuel to make them one.

What is going on in this story? Is this about badgering God until you finally get your way? Does it depict God as some kind of pushover? This is one of the most horrific and terrifying stories ever told, and today’s verse contains perhaps the most frightening words in the Bible. This story shows that when people are determined to rebel against God, He will let them.

Our loving Father knows what is best for us. He created us, knows all things, and loves us enough to let His Son die for us. If, however, we say that we do not want His gifts and reject His will for our lives, He will not use His mighty power to make us do what is right. He will simply let us go.

O Lord, my God, do not give me over to my worst impulses. Save me from myself. Help me to trust Your good and perfect will and to follow You all the days of my life. In the name of Jesus, Who was obedient even to the point of death, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

September 18 (Leviticus 20:23)

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And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. (KJV)

Christians work at gas stations, banks, and schools. We cheat, get divorced, and abuse alcohol. Some of us drive trucks, while others drive minivans. We use cell phones and drugs. In short, there are those who call themselves Christians who do the same things, good and bad, that everyone else in our culture does.

Where do you draw the line? Most of us enjoy our communities. I love the city and state where we live, and I am quite happy to be an American. Because I enjoy my communities, the large and the small, it is easy for me to think that the patterns of life in those communities are good. It becomes natural for me to think, act, and speak like those around me.

God reminds us in this verse that the ways of life of our workplace, our neighborhood, and our country are not the ways of life for those who follow Him. He has called us to be salt and light in the world (see Matthew 5:13-14). We must stop every so often to examine our lives. Are we representatives of God in the world, or are we indistinguishable from it?

Father in heaven, forgive me when I begin to adopt the easy ways of the world around me. Strengthen me for the life of Christian faith that calls me to walk against the ways of the world rather than with them. Help me to be the salt and light You have called me to be. In the name of Jesus, my Savior, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

September 11 (Psalm 33:12)

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Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. (KJV)

Today is a day for remembering. It is a time to recall heart-wrenching tragedy and loss along with heroic deeds. It is a time to tell stories of those who pressed on in the face of overwhelming grief and fear not only to continue living, but to forge a new life.

It is also a time to remember the events of September 11, 2001.

While the worst attack on this country in a generation and the heroism that followed demand our remembrance this day, even those events do not supersede the crucifixion of Christ Jesus and the faith that was forged by His followers. No genocide, no act of terror was worse than what your sin and mine did in causing the death of Christ. No deeds of bravery have produced more change in the world than those of the first disciples. As we honor the fallen and the heroes of 9/11, we must never forget that their stories and ours are part of a much larger story whose most significant chapter was written at Calvary.

Lord, we praise You in the midst of painful remembrance. As we recall horrific and heroic acts, may we see everything through the light of our Savior, Christ Jesus. Help those who follow You be lights themselves for Christ throughout our nation, that we might become a nation whose God is the Lord. In the name of the risen Christ we pray, amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

September 4 (Matthew 6:33)

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But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (KJV)

Death. The economy. Job insecurity. Relationship difficulties. In which of these areas are you facing struggles? In which of these areas are you facing multiple struggles? As I think about my friends, family, and even my own life, I see that we all face challenges most of the time. There comes a point where we have to say with Scotty in the old Star Trek show that we just cannot give the engines any more.

Jesus knew this. He knew in the first century that we in the twenty-first would suffer the same challenges and difficulties that His friends and family were facing, and He gave us amazingly simply help. Look away. Stop looking at all that threatens you and turn your gaze upon God. Do not look seek a way out of difficulty and challenge, but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. It is amazing what this change of perspective accomplishes.

Is this not being irresponsible? It is actually both responsible and irresponsible. It is responsible to the only One to Whom we owe a response and irresponsible to what should at best have a secondary claim on our lives. It is a proper ordering, or for most of us a re-ordering, of our lives.

O Lord, my God, black thunderclouds sit on the horizon and threaten to overwhelm me. Turn my eyes from the storm to the One Who is light from light, true God from true God, my own savior Jesus Christ. Help me to seek Your kingdom and righteousness, confident that You will supply all that I need. In the name of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

August 21 (Matthew 27:55-56)

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And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children. (KJV)

Who was doing the laundry while these women were watching the crucifixion? Who was tending to the children, preparing the meals, or taking care of the homes? Women in first-century Judea were just as busy as anyone today, yet they had abandoned their duties for something more important.

Does this mean that tending to the basics of life is unimportant? Certainly not. It reminds us, however, that no matter how pressing we may think some things are, there are others that demand our immediate and complete attention to the exclusion of all else. What are the things that seem important to you? What are the tasks that occupy most of your time? Now ask yourself whether those are the most important. Even if they are not, it does not mean you will stop doing them. It does mean, though, that you can view them in a proper perspective.
For what would you be willing to set aside the typical activities of your life?

Father, thank You for the example of these women who saw what was truly important in life. Help me to see my life as You see it, understanding what is important, what is unimportant, and what is truly necessary. May I do all, but only, what You would have me do. In the name of Christ Jesus, my Lord, amen.

August 14 (Philippians 1:6)

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Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (KJV)

What happens when you have gone some distance in your walk with Christ and begin to drift? What happens when you continue to fall into sin? What happens when the blazing joy of first knowing your Lord begins to fade?

One thing that does not happen is that God does not drop you like a hot potato. He does not finally, after giving you so much grace and so many opportunities, wash His hands of you. Whatever He has started in you, He will see through to the end, and Paul says we should be confident about this.

Pause for a moment and let those words sink in and then let the deep truth of those words penetrate your heart. It does not matter if you cannot see God from where you are. He can see you. It does not matter if the fire of your love has cooled. His love for you never wavers. It does not matter if you think you are making no progress in your spiritual life. Your loving, heavenly Father is the one Who will see you through to the end.

O Lord, my God, I am humbled when I think for even a moment about Your boundless love and unshakable promises. I stake my confidence on You, the author and perfecter of our faith, as I face what lies before me. In the name of Christ Jesus, my Savior, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

August 7 (Mark 1:35)

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And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. (KJV)

It is summer vacation, and I have been stuffing myself, just gorging on all my favorite things. I have been going hog wild doing all that I cannot do during the work year. For me this means spending as much time humanly possibly playing with our children, reading, and writing. These are certainly not bad things. In fact, they are quite good, and I have enjoyed going at them full bore, trying to do as much of what I love as I can for as long as summer lasts.

I have, however, allowed my prayer and devotional life to slip. Instead of following my normal schedule of rising early to pray and read Scripture, I have fallen back into praying here and there with no regularity. The same is true with reading the Bible, and I miss it. Or rather, I miss Him. I miss God and the times of intimacy with Him. He, of course, has gone nowhere, but I have drifted.

I am reminded of this verse from Mark, describing Jesus. He never got so caught up in the affairs of the day that He failed to remain in closest communion with His Father. I look forward this week to returning to my normal practice. I look forward to reconnecting with my heavenly Father. How about you?

Father, draw me closer in Your loving arms. Help me to slow down, be still, and know that You are God. In the name of Jesus, our Lord, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

July 24 (Nehemiah 8:3)

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And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. (KJV)

Can you imagine standing for hours, other than to get tickets for some event or to cash in on a Black Friday sale? I cannot imagine most of us paying any kind of attention to the books of the law, that is, the first five books of the Old Testament, without getting bored and skipping on to the more exciting parts.

What does it say that the Jews stood from morning until midday and did not just hear, but listened attentively to, the books of the law being read? It suggests only one thing. They believed in God. We may say that we believe in God, attend church, and do various Christian things, but pause for a moment. If we truly believed that there was a God at all and then believed that He had spoken, nothing would be more important to us. Nothing. For many of us, reading the Bible is just one other among a number of good things we try to do. It is on the list along with getting an oil change, having a six month dental check up, and paying our bills on time. Yet if this is our attitude toward the Bible, then we do not truly believe in God.

We are perhaps too enchanted with the advancements of the modern age. Blinded by smart phones, the Internet, and satellite movies, we would do well to be marveled again by God. There is no one and nothing like Him. He alone is omniscient, omnipotent, and worthy to be praised. He alone has spoken to each person on the planet individually and to all of us collectively, and what He has spoken lies between the covers of your Bible.

Lord, forgive my casual attitude toward the precious gift of Your words and at times even toward Your Word made flesh, my Savior, Jesus Christ. Restore to me the wonder and awe of You that our ancestors had. Fill me with delight in all that You have to say. In the name of Christ Jesus I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

July 17 (John 2:9)

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When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom. (KJV)

Why is it that some people can understand the acts of God for what they are, but others cannot? It is true that God can harden a person’s heart as He did with Pharaoh, but there can be a simpler explanation. Those that understand God have a relationship with Him.

In the story of the first miracle that Jesus performed, the servants were there for the whole thing. They listened to what His mother, Mary, said to them and then they followed His direction. The governor of the feast was nowhere around. When we know people well and have spent time with them, we understand the things they say and do far better than a stranger would.

Take a quick gut check. How is your relationship with Jesus? Are you close to Him, spending time talking with Him and listening to Him? Remember, He has never moved away from you.

O Lord, my God, I want to be closer to You. I want to see all that You have to show me, to hear Your words to me, and to follow all that You would have me do. I turn back to You today, Lord. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

July 10 (Ezra 3:2)

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…as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. (KJV)

At the beginning of the movie Gladiator, Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius speculates with his most trusted general about how the world will remember his name. Will he be known as the philosopher, the warrior, or possibly even the tyrant? Most of us do not ask that question, but it is good to consider. If you were to die today, how would you be remembered? Would it be for things that you had done, words you had said, relationships you had developed? Would it be for things you had owned? Most importantly, do you like the thought of the answer?

The verse for today is almost a throw away. It comes in a passage about building an altar to God and is not really about Moses at all. Yet the words jump out at us…Moses the man of God. Replace the name of Moses with your own. What phrase would most likely follow it? What would it take for you to be known as a man or woman of God?

Gracious heavenly Father, I know that we do not live for titles or to honored by others. Still, I would like to be known the way Moses was, not for the glory, but because I want my life to be so completely focused on You. Help me to weed out what is unimportant and distracting in my life and turn my eyes completely on Jesus, my Lord. It is in His name I pray, amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

July 3 (Daniel 6:5)

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Then said these men, “We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” (KJV)

If someone wanted to trick, trap, or harm you, how would he do it? Where is the chink in your armor? Is there a particular weakness or secret sin that could be the way to do you in?

When the leaders who served under King Darius of the Persian empire wanted to discredit Daniel, they realized that there was no way to do it. Their only hope was to set up a law opposing the law of God, for they knew that Daniel was so faithful he would obey God rather than the king.

I would love for that to be the case about me. I would love to live my life in such a way that it was completely honorable, with no crack through which someone could discredit me. On top of that, I would like very much to be known as a man that, if push came to shove, would obey God before anything else. Can what was true of Daniel be said about you?

Father, thank You for giving us examples like Daniel. May I follow in his footsteps, never surrendering to the culture around me, but always standing faithful to You. In the name of Christ Jesus, my Lord, Who was faithful to the point of the cross, amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

June 26 (Luke 18:13)

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And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (KJV)

This is the man whom Jesus lifted up as an example, a tax collector with a reputation for cheating people out of their hard-earned money. This man knew how to confess. He knew how to repent. We may know a great many things about technology and how to advance in the world, but do we know how to confess and repent in the way our Lord approves?

Humans are the pinnacle of creation, made in the image of God. Yet humans are sinners, and so am I. My life may have all the marks of success, but not a day goes by that I do not sin in thought or word or deed, and often in all three. I need to acknowledge who I am, a sinner redeemed by grace, and I cannot focus properly on the grace and give proper glory to God without first admitting that I am a sinner.

O Lord, my God, You know every thought that passes through my mind, yet I must confess to You my sins. I have not done the things I should, and I have failed to do what You command. Of my own merits, I deserve nothing but punishment. Thank You, heavenly Father, for allowing Your Son, my Lord Jesus, to take that punishment for me. Restore me to a righteous life, one that can bring true glory and honor to You. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

June 12 (Matthew 25:30)

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And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (KJV)

Audio version available here.

Our children love to snuggle with both mommy and daddy. Even our son, who is all boy, loving swords and basketball and Legos, likes to be close to us. It is natural for children to want to be near their parents, and few things are as hurtful to a child as separation from a parent for any reason.

We learn in the first chapter of John that God is light. References to darkness, therefore, are about utter separation from God. Think about that for a moment. Try to imagine being separated from God forever and never feeling His presence or His love. Imagine knowing that there is nothing you can do to enter into His presence again and that the cold darkness will never end. Ever. Truly, there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

It is worth contemplating hell, if only because it causes us to run toward our Father, Whose arms are open and waiting for us. It is good for us to long for His Presence and to want to be ever closer to Him. It is, after all, what children do.

Father, I want to be closer to You today. I am deeply sorry for the things I have done that have pushed me away from You. I reject everything in my life that could separate me from You and run with my all my heart toward You. In the name of Jesus, my life and my light, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

June 5, 2011 (Ephesians 5:3)

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But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints. (KJV)

Audio version available here.

It is increasingly difficult to distinguish a Christian from a non-Christian. Our language and behavior tends to mimic that of the culture we are in rather than stand out as a contrasting example of a better way. We want to be just enough of a Christian to enjoy the fellowship of church and get that warm, fuzzy feeling from doing good things for others, but when it comes to our private lives, that is another matter.

Yet, as the saying goes, Jesus is either Lord of all or He is not Lord at all. That means I cannot dress however I want. In a land of free speech, my speech is limited. There are things I am called to do and things I must not do, however much I and those around me may enjoy them.

We are entering summer, a time when many of us take vacations. While we take time for those activities that recharge our batteries, will we take a vacation as well from acting like the Christians we claim to be?

Father, it is easy for me to slide into behaviors that are not pleasing to You. Give me the strength I need to stand against all temptations. May my life be an example to others of what You want from Your followers. In the name of Christ Jesus, to Whose lordship I have surrendered, amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

May 29 (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:26)

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And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (KJV)

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. (KJV)

Audio version available here

It is right that we remember this weekend those who have died in the service our country, helping secure a place where we can be free. In no other place in the history of the world have people enjoyed a particular freedom that we have in the United States, the freedom of religion. We are free to practice our faith without interference from any agent of the government.

What does that mean for Christians? Among the many things, it means we are free to obey our Lord’s command without fear of reprisal. We can consume His body and blood in the form of communion without fear of being arrested for cultish or cannibalistic practices. And when we do this, it has an effect beyond our own blessing. As Paul reminds us, whenever we partake of this memorial meal that our Lord instituted, we are proclaiming to the world His death. In other words, when we remember Christ Jesus in the way that He instructed us to remember Him, we become the servants of His evangelistic message. The Good News is shown to the world when we remember Him through bread and wine.

Once again, God demonstrates His incredible love for us. Not only does He bless us through the celebration of communion, He uses this distinctly Christian event to bless those who do not yet know Him by giving them a picture of what He has done for them.

Gracious heavenly Father, how great is Your love for all mankind! We honor and praise You as we remember the sacrifice of Your Son at Calvary, a sacrifice necessary to secure our salvation and to send the Holy Spirit into our lives. We glorify You and Your Son, our Lord Jesus, along with the Holy Spirit, the one God of all creation. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

May 22 (James 2:15-16)

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Audio version available here.

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (KJV)

This is part of the famous teaching on faith without works. It is so famous that perhaps it has suffered from the contempt that familiarity breeds. Christians are among the best at serving. We have outreach ministries at our churches, food pantries, and assistance programs. We collect clothing for children in foreign countries and we give of our time and money.

If we think that this has fulfilled the teaching of Scripture, however, we are mistaken. Pause for a moment and look at the people we often do not see, those closest to us. We may spend a Saturday at an inner-city home restoration, but what needs do our elderly neighbors and relatives have? We collect canned goods for the food pantry, but is there a co-worker going through hard times who could use a meal?

Of course we must not stop reaching out to those whose names we will never know. In doing so, we must not neglect those whose names we do.

Lord, it is so easy for me to get caught up in the fast pace of life that I fail to see those around me. Help me to see with the eyes of Jesus and to move quickly to serve anyone whose need would have caught His eye. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

May 15 (Psalm 68:5)

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Audio version available here.

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. (KJV)

With a word God spoke the blazing heat of stars into creation. With His breath He created the intricacies of the subatomic world. There is no human language capable of expressing the extent of His power.

What does it say, then, that He is a father to orphans and sees to the needs of widows? In the human realm, what kind of person does it take to parent an orphaned child? Can you imagine the care, love, and tenderness? For all of His vast and creative power, for all of His judgment of what is right and wrong, God is also a father of the fatherless and a judge for widows. Can there really be anything you are facing that He, as your Father, will not care about even more than you do? Is there anything that He will not help you with?

Father, I tremble at times to call You by that name. You are so awesome and mighty. I sometimes feel that You are too far from me to care about the troubles I face. Embrace me in Your love. Help me to know that You are indeed my Father. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

May 8 (Revelation 2:4-5)

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Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works… (KJV)

I can still remember what it was like when I first fell in love with Jesus. In the summer between 8th and 9th grade, I was baptized. In those years, and those that immediately followed, I was passionate about my faith. I loved reading the Bible. Christian music was all I listened to. My thoughts were constantly on God and how I could live a life faithful to Him.

Do you remember what it was like? Can you recall the white-hot passion you felt when your faith was new? How long has it been since you felt that way? In the decades that have followed my first love, my relationship with Christ has gone up and down. I have drifted, come back, drifted, come back. He, however, has never changed. He still stands at the door and knocks.

The verses for today are quite clear. If you have drifted, stop where you are. Remember what you once knew and felt. Repent and start again. Our Lord is always eager for us to renew our relationship with Him.

Lord, it has been some time since I was as committed about my relationship with You as I once was. Forgive me the adulteries of my heart when I chase after things that do not matter. Draw me once again into Your sacred heart. I long to burn with love for You. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

May 1 (Romans 8:26)

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Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (KJV)

What an incredible blessing this is! God the Holy Spirit lives within us. He prays for us when we do not know how or for some reason cannot pray.

Have you ever gotten to that point? Have you ever been so stricken with illness, so overcome with burdens or worries that words just will not come to your lips? The Holy Spirit knows. He dwells in our hearts and He knows. He will pray for you. Just as God the Son while on earth prayed to God the Father, so God the Spirit continues to pray for us. Think about that for a moment. God is praying for you!

Lord, there are times when I just do not know what to say. Too many burdens press in upon me. Hear the prayer of the Holy Spirit. Graciously accept the words of His intercession for me. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

April 24 (John 20:28)

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And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. (KJV)
Christ the Lord is risen today! Alleluia! Easter is a day of celebration. It is time for dancing in the streets as David did before the Ark of the Covenant. Our sins have been forgiven and death itself has been conquered. We should arise with the sun and wear ourselves out until sunset with praise and celebration of Jesus.

We must also remember that this act of triumph over death was the act of our Lord and our God. Just how mighty must He be to reverse the irreversible? Just how powerful must He be to die, preach to those who were already dead (see 1 Peter 3:18-20), and ascend, first to earth and then to the right hand of His Father in heaven? As surely as our Lord was fully God and fully man, so our celebration and joy must also be humble and full of awe. There was never before a god like our God. There is not now and there never will be again. He Who created nature has reversed its laws for our sake. This is the God Who calls us to be His friends.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

April 17 (Romans 5:8)

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But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (KJV)
It is quite easy to believe that when we sin, God will not love us. This reaction is written deeply into the human heart. A young child will burst into tears over a broken cookie jar, and adults will wonder why the extravagant reaction. Deep inside, the child knows he has done something wrong, something against the will of parents who love him, and now that love may be at risk.

This reaction does not go away, even for the mature Christian. Having lived in good relationship with God for a period of time, we suddenly stumble into sin. Suddenly we become the child with the cookie jar. We love our Lord so much and are, rightly, crushed that we have sinned yet again. Yet we must remember this powerful verse. We were sinners when Christ died for us. We never did do anything to earn His love and grace and were actually His enemies through sin when He reached out to us.

And the love and grace of Cavalry have not changed.

O Lord, my God, forgive me my sins, for I have continued to sin against You not only in what I do that I should not, but in what I fail to do that I ought. Help me to know Your grace and restore me to a right relationship with You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, my Savior, amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

April 10 (Psalm 44:1)

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We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old. (KJV)

Do the stories of the Bible form the weave for the narrative of your life? Do the events of the Israelites or the episodes in the life of Jesus come to your mind and your lips as you think and talk about your own life? In order to understand something, we relate it to something else that we know. To what do you relate the circumstances of daily living? The Bible is our story, from the description of the Israelite exodus out of Egypt to the lives of the early Christians in Acts.

Yet it is not just for ourselves that we relate our lives to those of our biblical ancestors. We must do so as a way of preserving those stories and making them part of the living heritage of the next generation. We exert a small, but important influence on everyone with whom we come into contact. When our friends and relatives hear the biblical foundation in our casual speech, they begin to absorb the biblical worldview.

Of course, having the biblical stories as the foundation of our lives can only happen when we know those stories. Put aside the study guides and extra books for a moment and delve back into the Bible itself. Read the stories straight through as you would any other story. In the stories of our biblical ancestors you will find your story as well.

Father, it is so easy for me to relate my life to nothing more than my own preferences. Help me to develop a more historic and faithful view of life. Help me to see where my life fits into the grand story that You have been telling since Adam. In the name of Christ Jesus, my Lord, amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

April 3 (John 8:58)

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Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (KJV)

Our fourth-grade son’s small group at church recently began a lesson on the divinity of Jesus. I asked them whether, upon discovering that I was actually the President of the United States, a king, or the richest man in the world, they would treat me differently. They immediately agreed that they would.

Jesus is indeed our friend (John 15:15) and a great teacher (John 13:13), and we will relate to Him in certain ways because He is those things. Yet if we do not grasp fully His divinity, then we run the dangerous risks of blasphemy and error. Failing to acknowledge the divinity of Christ keeps some from centering their lives around Him and giving Him the glory that is His due. It also leaves them open to embracing other beliefs, as if all religions were the same. Many religions teach similar principles, but the distinguishing tenets of Christianity stand on one fundamental truth, that Jesus is God. With this in mind, hear again the words of Jesus to His disciples.

But whom say ye that I am? (Matthew 16:15)

O Lord, my God, may my life ever be one of humble adoration before You. May I never lose sight of Who You are, the God of all Who humbled Himself to take on flesh and die in my place. Help me to live in a right relationship with You and thereby live in a right relationship with the world. In the name of Jesus Christ, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit reigns as one God, forever and ever, amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

March 27 (Luke 9:23)

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And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (KJV)

The student council at the large public high school where I teach hosts Safe Decisions Week every year just before Spring Break. It is a week filled with posters and videos urging students not to drink while driving, not to take drugs, and to be sure to practice safe sex if engaging in sex at all. As good as the intentions are behind such a campaign, it is misguided on two levels. It presumes that the only reasons for not engaging in certain behaviors are the practical ones, e.g. you may die, you may get hurt, you may get pregnant. It also suggests, by emphasizing one week out of the year, that safe decisions are not something to think about the other 51 weeks.

The reason for not engaging in destructive behaviors is simply that they bring dishonor to God. By abusing our bodies, we abuse the temple of the Holy Spirit. To engage in premarital sex is to violate the will of God for our lives. These and many others are things we must think about not one week out of the year, not only as we make New Year’s resolutions, not only when we have a moment of conscience, but daily.

Make no mistake, following Jesus is a daily decision. We have been baptized once, but it is a daily choice to take up the cross of right living, the cross of rejection from society, the cross of humbly asking forgiveness for dropping the cross yesterday, and continuing to follow our Lord.

My Lord and my God, strengthen me to carry the cross that You have called me to bear. When I waver, hold me up and make me firm in my walk. If I stumble, help me to my feet. Grant me the grace necessary to bring You honor in all that I say, think, and do. In the name of Christ Jesus, Who bore the cross all the way to Calvary, amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

March 20 (Job 31:13-15)

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If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; what then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb? (KJV)

If the boss comes to us with an immediate request, we respond to it, well, immediately. But how often do we make friends or family members wait when they request something of us? Familiarity indeed breeds contempt.

Oh, it is not contempt, we argue. Surely that is too harsh a word. Yet what else can it be when we drop everything to serve some, but not all? If we treat some people differently from how we treat others, then, like it or not, some are more important to us and some count for less. And what shall we do when God rises up? When He comes again, what shall we answer Him? Did not He Who made us, make all?

Who in your life gets your best, the best of your time, the best of your efforts, the best of all that you have? Who gets the leftovers? If God asked you to explain the difference today, what answer would you give?

Father, You sent Your Son to be the first born among many brothers. Forgive me when I count anyone as more worthy of my time than another. Help me to view all equally and to pour forth freely to all what You have poured forth freely in me. In the name of Christ Jesus, my Lord, amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

March 13 (Psalm 103:3)

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Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; (KJV)

The previous verse of this psalm praised God for His blessings, and this verse continues the list. Those who suffer from disasters like the Japanese earthquake may wonder whether God truly does rescue us from destruction. While we may suffer many things that seek to destroy, from disease to natural calamities, there is a far greater destruction that threatens us all. Death.

In a land that knows row after row of pain relieving medicines and the greatest advancements in medical care, death is not the looming reality that it once was. On top of that, it is not in vogue for many Christians to talk about hellfire and brimstone. Yet it is just as much a reality as it ever was for the simple fact that you and I were born as fallen creatures into a fallen world. We deserve to die for our sins. This does not mean simply physical death. We deserve to spend eternity in horrific separation from God.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

March 6 (Psalm 103:2-3)

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Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; (KJV)

Yes, yes, I should praise God because of all the really great stuff He has done for me. My life is a lot better than so many whose pictures I see on the nightly news. I get it.

Hold on a minute. If this is our interpretation of Psalm 103:2, it is crucial that we read on to verse 3. In the list of blessings from God, many of which are material, David begins with forgiveness of sin and healing of soul sickness. No matter how great you and I think we are, and let’s face it, in the privacy of our minds, we think we are pretty hot stuff, we were born with a sin nature that has earned us eternal death. On top of that, from the hateful word snapped at a spouse to the truly dark iniquities, we have done and continue to do many things that would separate us from God.

Yet God has forgiven all that. Through the grace of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, He reaches into the dark and secret recesses of our hearts and heals us. This is truly great news! Bless the Lord, o my soul!

Father, I operate too much on a superficial level in my relationship with You. Help me to see the deep work You have done and continue to do in my soul. Take me to those places in myself I would rather not see, that I may lay them before You and be healed. In the name of Christ Jesus, my Savior, amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

February 27 (Psalm 31:24)

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Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. (KJV)
“I had nothin’ to live for, and look like nothing's gonna come my way. So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bay, watching the tide roll away.” Those of a certain age will recognize the lyrics of Otis Redding’s classic “Dock of the Bay.” If it comes on the radio, most people will turn it up, and everyone around will start singing along. It is a catchy tune.

Yet those are the lyrics of despair. They describe why teenagers and those with good jobs, a marriage, and children, and the elderly at times feel led to commit suicide. Despair is the absolute lack of hope. Everything seems bad at the moment, but what is worse, nothing good is on the horizon.

Christians no less than anyone can be attacked by despair. Satan would love us to believe that our situation is hopeless. Yet God, far from offering a greeting card sentimentality, calls us to strong hope. He tells us to be of good courage, to take heart, to live boldly. He promises to strengthen our hearts, hearts that we all know can be breeding grounds for doubts and fears. All this is for those who will risk defying the world and its depressing, despairing message to put their hope in the Lord, Who defied even death itself and rose victoriously to the life to which He now calls us.

O Lord, my God, I have chosen before to follow You wherever You lead, and I boldly make that choice again today. You are my God, my light and my life. I adore You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. I place my hope in Your unfailing love. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

February 20 (Proverbs 3:5-6)

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Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (KJV)

Confusion and chaos surround us. On the world stage, there are violent protests, brutal regimes, and the ever-present threat of nuclear war. On the national front, there are bitter disputes over healthcare, abortion, and the economy. At the local level, families struggle with rising gas prices, job security, and rearing children in a violent, dangerous, and pornographic culture. I have never been so uncertain about just about everything as I am at this time, and uncertainty breeds fear and stress. I simply do not know how to sort through all the issues that surround us. I do not know what to do.

And so it is that the words of this famous Proverb come to mind. I do not need to know how to deal with all that threatens those around me. The only thing about which I must be certain is the Lord my God. What deep comfort these words offer! Trust the Lord with all your heart, ever single fiber of your being. Trust Him with your worries and fears, your struggles and challenges. Stop trying to figure it all out yourself. Acknowledge His sovereignty in your job, your marriage, your family, your finances, your political concerns, your dreams for the future. The God Who is Truth has promised that He will direct your paths.

Lord, in the words of the old hymn, I surrender all to Thee, my blessed Savior. You know the burdens of my heart, even those I do not admit to myself. Take them, Lord. They are Yours. Guide me in the way of truth that I may walk pleasing and acceptable in Your sight. This only do I ask in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

February 13 (Psalm 24:1)

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The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (KJV)

You belong to God, but not just because of your faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in Christ leads you to eternal life with God, as opposed to living eternally apart from Him, but everything and everyone on the earth belong to Him simply because they are His creatures. Think about that for a moment. President Obama and your next-door neighbor belong to God. Your cousins belong to God, as do Bill Gates, Lady Gaga, and Nelson Mandela. Hugh Hefner and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad belong to God every bit as much as the lady who sits next to you at church and your child’s teacher at school.

You likely nodded your head in affirmation as you thought about some of those people. Of course the lady who sits next to you at church belongs to God. She is always so nice to ask how you are doing each week. At the same time, it might have bothered you to think that violent leaders and pornographers also belong to Him. How could they, given what they do?

We all belong to God by virtue of our having been created by Him. The most devout among us and the greatest of sinners all belong to God. How much, then, must God grieve when His creation goes astray? How much must God want His creation to turn to Him and accept His grace and love? How much must He want those who already have accepted the gift of life to share it with those who have not?

Father, it is too easy for me to look at others and think less of them because of their sinful actions. Forgive me my pride and so fill my heart with Your love that it flows out in word and deed to all around me. May everyone You put in my life come to bow to our Lord Jesus Christ, in Whose name I pray, amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

February 6 (Deuteronomy 30:6)

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And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. (KJV)

We were made to love God, but we all know that we do not. Oh, we go through the motions and may at times even love Him in truth, but it is an effort and, quite frankly, loving God takes a back seat to a busy agenda. It is a nice idea to be Mary, but Martha is the name of the game.

We cannot love God as we were made to with the buildup of sin and daily distractions that gather around our heart. These must be cut away, circumcised, by God Himself before we can hope to love Him as we should. It is not just a matter of our own knuckling down and trying harder to be more disciplined with daily devotions. We must ask God to circumcise our hearts so that we can be free to love Him.

What is blocking your heart? Is it a particular sin that keeps cropping up? Is it the details of life or worries for the future? God already knows what is keeping you from Him. He wants you to ask Him for his help in drawing closer.

Father, there is almost nothing that cannot separate me from you when I let it. I am distracted by the tasks before me, by my desire for pleasure, by worries, by concerns, and by sin. Yet Paul promised that nothing in fact can separate us from Your love through Christ Jesus. Circumcise my heart, Lord, from all that prevents me from loving You as I should. Set me free so that, in You, I may truly live. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord, amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

January 30 (2 Corinthians 4:6)

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For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (KJV)

This is an amazing verse. The very One Who created the light of the universe, the same God of Genesis 1:3 who spoke light into existence, shines in our hearts so that we may know Him.

So why do we not spend more time in those secret chambers of our hearts, dwelling with our Lord in His radiant grace? Why, when we are tired, do we prefer to dwell in the dimness of so-called reality television? Why, when we are worried, do we prefer to seek avoidance in a flurry of activity, or what is worse, in addictive substances? Why, when the pressures of life are upon us, do we go anywhere other than to our Lord, Who has chosen to dwell within us through the Holy Spirit?

This verse, which can provide incredible comfort, is also a challenge to our faith. We may read the Bible, go to church, and give mental assent to the proposition that Jesus is Lord, but do we really believe it? If we really believe that God has chosen to dwell with and within us, then why would we not want to spend more time in quiet, secluded joy with Him?

Lord, you have given me a birthright through the adoption of my baptism. Forgive me for all the times I have exchanged it for anything less. Restore to me the joy of my salvation, and teach me to dwell in Your courts forever. In the name of Christ Jesus, my Lord, amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

January 23 (Psalm 18:43-44)

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Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. (KJV)

Many of the Psalms contain a double meaning. A large number come out of the experiences of David, but many also are prophetic about the life of Jesus. It is easy to see the verses for today as among the prophecies obviously fulfilled in Christ. Jesus is indeed the head of all creation, and people who were not alive in His time serve Him today. Indeed, strangers submit themselves to Him, for there was no such thing as an American, an Australian, or a Canadian in the modern sense during the 1^st century.

So, if this passage is about Jesus, then do we make our Lord a liar on a daily basis? It also says, “As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me.” How often do we hear a message at church, in the Bible, or from some other source and know that God is calling us to do a particular thing? When that happens, do we obey at once, or do we put it on the back burner? Do we weigh the pros and cons? Do we think about how to get out of it? Do we ignore the call completely?

When Jesus called Matthew from his tax-collecting table, the man left his job at once and followed. When our Lord called James and John, they left their father in the middle of their work and followed. God does not offer us propositions to consider. He makes calls upon our lives. Anything less than immediate acceptance is a refusal.

O Lord, my God, weaken my ties with the world as You strengthen my identity in You. When You speak, may I speak. When I speak, may it be with Your words. May my life be one of such utter obedience that anyone who sees me, sees You. In the name of my Lord, Jesus, Who was obedient even unto death on a cross, amen.

January 16 (Isaiah 5:20)

2011-01-16T11:16:00.002-05:00

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (KJV)

Where does one go to know what is right and what is wrong? If you listen to any voice that comes from within our culture, it will tell you to listen to your own voice. Yet if I were honest, I would have to admit that many of the things God calls good, I prefer not to do, and what He calls bad are pleasing to me. Now if, after having listened to my own voice on such matters, I go back to the culture around me, I will find many voices willing to encourage me in my sins. In fact, a quick listen to any of the nightly news shows, a quick glance at the newspaper or Internet, followed by even the briefest of looks at the Bible will reveal that our age proudly calls evil good and good evil.

There can be no switching of one for the other. Good and evil are what God says they are in His eternal word, and no legislation of man or Madison Avenue spin or Hollywood advocacy can make it otherwise. Good and evil, light and darkness, right and wrong are not subjective issues open to interpretation. They are rooted in the unchanging Truth Who is Jesus Christ, communicated through the words of Scripture and taught by the Church, the body of Christ on earth, for two thousand years. Woe, says the prophet Isaiah, to anyone who would try to confuse such matters.

Where are you and I guilty of this? Do we try to excuse our pet sins as really okay based on the false gospel that God wants me to be happy? Do we go along with false ideas in our culture because we do not want to seem intolerant? Just how far have we drifted from our Lord and His teachings?

Father, forgive me when I try to persuade myself or others that good is really bad, or bad is really good. Help me to know deeply the truth of right and wrong and to follow it at all costs, no matter how unpleasant. In the name of my Lord Jesus, Who suffered the evil of the cross for the ultimate good, amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

January 9 (Psalm 31:22)

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For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. (KJV)
The Greek word translated “haste” in the King James Version of this verse can indicate being out of one’s mind. Indeed, one would have to be out of his mind to think that God does not see him, for God sees everything. Yet we all suffer this type of insanity from time to time. It is easy, whether in times of great tragedy or even in moments of mere temporary displeasure and dissatisfaction, to think that God is not with us. Perhaps it is because of our haste. We hurry from this to that, becoming so consumed in our agendas that we begin to believe that the only reality is what is in front of our eyes at the moment.

Yet even in his own time of insanity, David had the presence of mind to call out to God, and God heard him. We must cry out to our Lord when all seems dark and everything seems stacked against us. When we cannot see or feel the presence of our loving Father, we must hurl our prayers and supplications into the darkness. This is the essence of faith. Although we do not see Him, God sees us. Although we do not feel Him, He touches us with His Holy Spirit and is as close as the inner chambers of our hearts.

Father, I cry out to you, for I am beset by many problems and fears. To You they are as nothing, but to me they threaten to overwhelm my life. I do not even know where to begin listing all that confronts me. Look into my life and see what is there. Guide me through what lies ahead and keep me faithful to You, my Lord and my God, in all circumstances. In the name of Christ Jesus, my Lord, amen.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

January 2 (Colossians 1:11)

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Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness… (KJV)*

Paul prayed a mighty prayer at the beginning of his letter to the Colossians, one that would serve us all well to pray at the beginning of this new year. The first part is obvious. Who among us does not need to be strengthened after the hustle and bustle of Christmas and as we look toward all that the coming year holds? What is interesting in Paul’s prayer is how we are to come by that strength and to what end.

In and of ourselves, we are weak, no matter how well we eat or how much exercise we do. Paul prays for the Colossians to be strengthened according to the power of God. It is His strength that truly makes us strong. Notice, too, the purpose of having this strength. It is not to have enough energy to accomplish all that is on our own to-do list. It is so that we may be patient and longsuffering. Paul knew that the Colossians would have much to suffer as followers of Christ. So do we. The world is increasingly hostile to Christians. Even in the land of the free, it is a challenge to practice the faith openly.

Pay attention to the end of this prayer as well. We pray for the power of God to make us strong so that we may be able to endure all that comes our way, and then we see it. We are praying for all of this with joy. We will all endure hardships this coming year. The goal for the Christian is not to avoid them, but to bear up under them with joy. In this way those around us will see the true power of God in our lives and be drawn to Him.

Gracious Father, strengthen me with Your power that I may endure all that comes my way this year with joy. May Your Spirit radiate through me and draw others to You. In the name of my strong, suffering Lord, Jesus Christ, amen.

*2011 marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible. It stands to this day as one of the greatest achievements of translation and a testament to the beauty of English.

Copyright © 2011 by Steven R. Perkins

December 26 (Luke 1:55)

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…just as he promised our ancestors. (NIV)

It is typical at this time of year to think back over the past twelve months and to begin dreaming about the next twelve. We do this from a perspective of change rather than one from fulfillment. For most of us, we have things we did not get done, or would have preferred to do differently. These thoughts help us chart the course for what we want to change in the coming year.

In the final words of Mary’s response to the announcement that she would be the mother of the incarnated Son of God, she acknowledged a different perspective on time. She saw in the past the promises that God had made to her people, promises that were passed down through families, taught by rabbis, preserved in the sacred scriptures. So deep was she in the historical promises of God that she was able to see what was happening to her as fulfillment of those very promises, thus prompting her poetic praise.

Rather than think merely about the past or coming twelve months, consider the larger sweep of history, of which you are also a part. As you contemplate the promises of God and their fulfillment through Jesus Christ, both in the lives around you and in your own, your view of time will take on an entirely new and faithful perspective.

O Lord, my God, before Abraham was, You were. Draw me into an eternal perspective. May I see life as You see it, eternal, with purpose, and perfectly redeemed by Christ. In His holy name I pray, amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

December 19 (Luke 1:50)

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His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. (NIV)

We do not like this statement by Mary, uttered when Gabriel announced that she would be the mother of Christ. We want it to say that the mercy of God extends to all. In a world that despises all authority and wants to put everyone on equal footing in every situation at all times, we have placed ourselves on the level of God Himself. How can we show fearful respect to one who is our equal?

Yet God is clear. We are to have no other gods before Him, including ourselves. While His mercy is available to all, it is accessible only to those who will humble themselves at the foot of a babe in a manger. It is accessible only to those who recognize God as their Lord and King, who drop to their knees in adoration at the Presence of His Son.

This was true before Mary and it remains true today, from generation to generation. As we head into the week that ends with Christmas, let us remind old and young alike of the proper posture before God. The babe whose birth we celebrate is not to be cooed over in saccharine sentimentality. He is to be worshiped with fear and trembling, for as the hymn rightly says, Jesus was Lord at His birth.

Almighty and merciful God, prepare my heart this week as I prepare to celebrate the birth of Your only Son. May my posture of humble adoration bring glory to You, my Savior and King. Amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

December 12 (Luke 1:48-49)

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From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. (NIV)

What on earth was Mary thinking? She thought she was blessed to have to carry around an increasingly difficult burden for nine months, only to deliver that burden in agonizing pain and then have to care for it, all while not knowing if her betrothed would believe such a cockamamie story about its paternity? If she had only known the kind of suffering her child was going to endure, so great that it could be compared with a sword piercing her own soul (see Luke 2:33), she surely would not have considered this a blessing, nor would she have praised the name of God.

Thus runs modern reason. Yet Mary knew that for however much suffering and work go into the life of a parent, a child is never a burden and can never be described as an it. She simply knew that God had picked her to play a role in His grand design, and for this she was grateful.

If we read her words closely, I think we can detect a bit of excitement, too. Do you remember what it was like to be young and capable of hearing the call of God as an adventure? As we grow older, we try to look too far down the road, to see every angle and consequence before deciding whether or not we will do what God asks. Mary was a young girl. She did not ask whether this or that would happen. She simply heard the magnificent call and accepted it with enthusiastic praise. It is no wonder that all generations have called her blessed!

Father, my life has become encrusted with attachments, burdens, and responsibilities that keep me from being free to follow You. Restore to me the childlike faith that would follow You anywhere. As I look toward the celebration of the birth of Jesus, may I be reborn with the enthusiastic faith I had when I first knew You. In the name of my beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

December 5 (Luke 1:48)

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…for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant… (NIV)

Mary truly understood what receiving the ultimate Christmas gift meant. After it had been revealed that she would be the mother of God in the flesh, she acknowledged that she had done nothing to deserve such a privilege.

We may become puffed up with our many accomplishments in the world, even with all the great things we do for God, but at the end of the day, we are merely servants. The truly great ones, of course, are those who do not think they are. Yet God remembers His servants in their humility. He knows each and every one of His children. He sees the one living in squalor and the one who inhabits the penthouse. He knows the labors of the custodian and the multi-million dollar deals of the executive. He is mindful of us all.

The incredible thing about Christmas is that not only is He mindful of us, He has deigned to give us the most extraordinary gift of all, His own Son. This is a gift greater than the humble could ever wish for, more wonderful than the great could ever hope to attain. Pause for a moment and realize with Mary that although you are truly nothing in and of yourself, yet God saw you from eternity and loved you enough to give you His son.

Glory to God in the highest! May Your name be praised forever in my heart and from my lips, Lord! May I never overlook the greatest of gifts, Jesus Christ, and the greatest of affections, that You would want to give this gift to me. Amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

November 28 (Luke 1:46-47)

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And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (NIV)

With these words Mary begins what has come to be known as the Magnificat, a praising of God so glorious that it has been set to music throughout the ages and has found its way into the ranks of the greatest choral music. Yet Mary did not come up with these words of praise on her own. The words themselves and the themes of her praise are drawn from the words of Scripture.

“The Magnificat – a portrait, so to speak, of her soul – is entirely woven from threads of Holy Scripture, threads drawn from the word of God. Here we see how completely at home Mary is with the word of God, with ease she moves in and out of it. She speaks and thinks with the word of God; the word of God becomes her word, and her word issues from the word of God. Here we see how her thoughts are attuned to the thoughts of God, how her will is one with the will of God. Since Mary is completely imbued with the word of God, she is able to become the Mother of the Word Incarnate”.

So wrote Pope Benedict XVI. As we move into Advent, the season that looks forward to the celebration of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus, it is natural that we desire to bring the best offerings of praise to God. Yet He Himself has already given us the greatest praise songs in the Psalms and other songs and poems of Scripture. Does that written word of God live in our hearts as it lived in the heart of Mary? Do the words of Scripture come to our lips with the immediacy they came to hers? During Advent, when the rush of year-end and holiday activities press all around, spend even more time in the words of God. Let them sink into your heart and become your flesh. Let them issue forth from your lips in the greatest praise for our Lord, Who deserves the best.

Lord, plant Your word deeper into my heart where it may grow into great hymns of praise. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. Amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

November 21 (John 6:26-27, 35)

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Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (NIV)

In the classic novel Dracula, the insane man Renfield escapes from his asylum to the home of the infamous vampire. His caretaker, Dr. Seward, overhears Renfield begging Dracula for certain gifts and remarks, “He thinks of the loaves and fishes even when he believes he is in a real Presence.” How very much like this insane character we all are!

God has given us His Son, Who in turn has given us the Holy Spirit, Who dwells within us. We live in the real Presence of God, and that Presence lives within us, yet we concern ourselves too often only with the food that spoils. In other words, we focus far too much on the matter at hand rather than taking the long view of our lives. Yes, we need our cars to run and we need jobs to pay our bills and we need good health to accomplish our many tasks. It is not wrong to pray over such things, but if this is where our life with God stops, then ours is a shallow relationship indeed.

Jesus is the bread of life. We are called to an eternal and personal relationship with the God of the universe. For just a moment, put aside the immediate cares pressing in on your thoughts. Almighty God is your Father! What does your heart cry out to say to Him? What is He calling you toward? He will provide loaves and fishes, but our relationship with Him should be about so much more.

Gracious Lord, You provide all my needs according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Help me to move beyond worrying only about my daily needs and see life as You have intended it, an eternal life with You. In the name of my Lord, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

November 14 (Psalm 85:8-9)

2010-11-14T08:54:00.000-05:00

Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did. (NIV)

Why do we continue to test and try the Lord? It is easy in the depths of our despair to cry out to Him as if challenging Him, daring Him to help us. Time and again we slip into believing that God really does not love us or have our best interest at heart.

Yet if we look back on our own lives, we can see countless examples of His love and provision. If I were to detail all the ways in which I have seen God working in my life, your Internet provider would truncate this email. It is important for us to read the psalms and the Old Testament histories and the letters of Paul and the lives of the Christians who have gone before us to be reminded of all that God has done for our people. We also need to take stock regularly of what He has done for each of us.

Make it part of your spiritual discipline to praise God each day for something He has done in your life. It will strengthen your faith for the times of doubt.

Father, You have blessed me beyond measure. Forgive my lack of gratitude. May I never fall into the false belief that You do not love me. Strengthen my faith by helping me to recall all that You have done in my life. To You be the glory for all things, through Christ Jesus, my Lord. Amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

November 7 (Psalm 147:11)

2010-11-07T07:28:00.000-05:00

The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. (NIV)

How wonderful God’s love for me must be, since it is infinitely greater than the love I have for my own children, a love that daily threatens to burst my heart! I truly delight in our children. Whether it is their voices saying “Good-bye” and “I love you, Daddy” as I leave for work in the morning or their enthusiastic hugs that nearly knock me over when I return, I find myself constantly smiling around them and thanking God for the privilege of being a parent.

I am delighted when they share some wonderful new discovery with me, and I get to see with fresh eyes one of the glories of the created order. It delights me when our little girl asks for help with a stuck coat zipper and when our son performs some task that signals his ever-growing skills. I delight when I watch them play with their friends or when they play alone in their rooms or in the backyard. I delight to hear their spontaneous songs sung only to their stuffed animals and God. I delight to watch them sleep.

I repeat, how wonderful must the love of God be for me, a love that transcends all my human emotion for my own children!

Father, I love You and indeed put my hope in your unfailing love! May what I do with the life You have given me always bring delight to You. In the name of my Lord Jesus I pray, amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

October 31 (1 Samuel 24:4)

2010-10-31T10:09:00.000-04:00

The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD. (NIV)

What heinous act had David committed against King Saul that he should immediately ask the Lord’s forgiveness? Had he poisoned the king’s wine or orchestrated an assassination plot? These would certainly have been understandable, given that Saul himself was trying to kill David and David had already been anointed as Saul’s successor. The outrageous offense that David had committed against the honor of the king and for which he immediately repented was…

He had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

How often in our over-worked, over-stressed, over-exhausted age do we look to complaining against the boss or the powers that be as an outlet? We slice and dice those who are over us for each policy with which we disagree and for every decision that we know we would have made differently. One of the most difficult things for us to understand is how to live under unjust, or simply incompetent, authority.

It is especially difficult for those who live in a republic founded on the rights of the people to change their leaders. We are indeed grateful to live in such a land and we must work within the framework of law and government to install the best leaders we can. Yet when we have done all that we should and our leaders still disappoint us, then we must ask for the grace of humble obedience. This flies in the face of our natural will, yet David, and his greatest descendant Jesus, who submitted even to the injustice of the cross, show us that it can be done.

Lord, help me to control my tongue and my actions. Help me to submit faithfully to the authorities that are over me, taking comfort that my life rests not in their hands, but in Yours, my loving Father. In the name of Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

October 24 (Psalm 18:17)

2010-10-24T09:35:00.000-04:00

He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. (NIV)

A pastor at our church once used the expression, “confessing theist, practical atheist.” The phrase struck me because it seemed, painfully, to describe me. I am not just a confessing theist. I am a confessing Christian. I joyfully proclaim the truths of the Christian faith grounded in the lordship of our crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit reigns eternally as one God. Does my life, however, reflect my words?

I am a do-it-yourself kind of guy. I am hard charging and enjoy tackling multiple responsibilities and seeing them through to completion. Yet when my powerful enemies and foes mount their attack, my preferred response is to dig down deeper into my own strength and battle them on my own. If God plays little role in my moments of stress, pressure, and difficulty, I have to ask. Is mine a practical atheism?

David, who would become king of Israel and was known as a man after God’s own heart, was not too proud to admit that he had enemies stronger than he. Because of his humility, he could enjoy God’s grace. Where in your life is pride blocking God’s grace?

Lord, I thank You for how You have made me. I truly enjoy the gifts with which You have blessed me to live my life and fulfill Your calling. Help me not to take such pride in those gifts that I miss what is even greater, You. In the name of Christ Jesus, my Lord, amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

October 19 (Philippians 3:10)

2010-10-17T08:05:00.000-04:00

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…. (NIV)

While many of our brothers and sisters in Christ will indeed share in Christ’s sufferings, even to the point of torture and death, the vast majority of Christians in the West do not face physical suffering for the faith. How, then, can we join Paul in pursuing this kind of Christ-likeness?

We turn the channel when there are inappropriate images that prompt us to sin. We refuse to allow our children to watch inappropriate shows or play inappropriate games. We do not hesitate to speak the truth in love on social issues of our day. We let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. (See Matthew 5:16.)
Make no mistake. Ours is not a culture that supports this kind of life. Temptation lurks on every channel. Our children will be mocked. Our friends and co-workers will become angry with us, and it is not impossible that we will lose our jobs. Faced with such consequences, are you ready to say with Paul that you want to know Christ by sharing in His sufferings and becoming like Him in death?

Lord, grant me courage to be the Christian You have graciously called me to be. It is not easy where I live, but I know You will grant me the grace and strength to be salt and light. Help me to bear well my sufferings for the name of my Lord Jesus. In His name I pray, amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

October 12 (1 Samuel 16:7)

2010-10-10T08:28:00.001-04:00

The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. (NIV)

We are accustomed to reading this verse and thinking about others. We know that we cannot tell what is really going on with a person simply by looking at his or her outward appearance. Try applying it to yourself, however, and this verse might have a different feel.

God does not pay one bit of attention to the size of the Bible we carry. He does not care about the mere fact of our attendance at church activities. For that matter, He is not all that impressed with any of the great things we do. After all, He gave us the abilities to do everything that we do, from picking up a pencil to launching a rocket. God, as He sees through all our outward appearances and activities, looks directly into our hearts and sees our motives. He knows our thoughts and intentions.

Well. Ahem. Okay then. Suddenly this verse becomes a bit uncomfortable. A Sunday School teacher of mine used to say that you cannot con God. He knows exactly what is going on in our hearts. So take a look. Ruthlessly apply His holy and perfect standard to all that you think and do. When, not if, but when you fail to measure up, know that God already knows. Do not try to hide it, but confess your less than pure motives. He is faithful not only to forgive, but to guide you back on the path of becoming more like Christ.

Lord, I do not always want to look into my heart, for I fear what I will find. Grant me the courage to see what You see and to bring everything before You. Transform me into the likeness of Your Son, my Lord Jesus. In His name I pray, amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

October 5 (Philippians 3:20)

2010-10-03T07:32:00.000-04:00

But our citizenship is in heaven. (NIV)

I recently had the opportunity to talk with a teenage boy about some rather serious matters. He is in the ROTC at his school and comes from a military family that has seen his older brother killed two years ago in Iraq. He wanted to talk with me about issues of war, and he began the conversation by saying he thought he knew where I stood politically. I replied that the more important thing for me than my political views is the fact that I am a Christian and that this, more than anything, shapes my views.

Examine your own beliefs, as evidenced by how you actually live your life. Among the various identities we have…Republican, Democrat, American, alum of a certain university, man, woman, older, younger, particular ethnicity, Christian…which one really shapes those beliefs and guides your life? It is easy to associate our Christian faith with other ideologies until we are convinced that thinking along those lines is to think as a Christian.

Paul puts it bluntly in his letter to the Philippians. We may pay taxes to the United States government and alumni dues to a particular university, but our true identity lies with Christ Jesus in heaven. This over all must direct everything we do, say, and think, from our most significant to our most momentous decisions.

Gracious Father, I am Yours by the blood of my Lord, Jesus Christ. May my status as Your redeemed servant direct all that I do, to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

September 26 (Acts 19:26, Acts 2:13, Matthew 26:74)

2010-09-26T07:20:00.000-04:00

You see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. (NIV)

Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” (NIV)

Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don't know the man!” (NIV)

There is much trouble and scandal among Christians today, just as there has always been. Some of it is based on the truth, and we would not change it if we could. Just as Paul was attacked for speaking the truth about the false gods of the ancient world, so many Christians today are persecuted for speaking the truth about Christianity over religions such as Islam. Sometimes the accusations are false, as when Peter corrected the crowd at Pentecost. Accusations against Christians are not true simply because the mainstream media makes them. Finally, there has been and always will be trouble among Christians because Christians have actually fallen. Peter himself denied Christ with an oath and a curse. It truly does not get worse than that for a Christian scandal.

Yet none of this…not the accusations, not the scandals…has one bit of bearing on Christ Jesus. He remains what He has been since before the foundation of the world, God. He is the Savior for all who would accept His grace. This includes those who have misunderstood the Christian faith, those who have falsely accused Christians, and those Christians who have themselves strayed from the straight and narrow path. Despite the vagaries of the world, which will continue as they always have until our Lord returns, God remains faithful.

Lord, help me not to be swayed by all the trouble inside and outside the Church. Help me to speak truth when others are swayed and begin to doubt or slander You. May I always cling fast to the cross of Christ, for in Him I live and move and have my being. Amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

September 19 (2 Timothy 3:12)

2010-09-19T09:01:00.000-04:00

…everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (NIV)

It really does not get much more direct than this. If you follow Jesus, you will know the blessings of peace and comfort, strength to accomplish all that God sets before you, and the promise of eternal life with Him. Yet there will be areas and times of your life that will be worse than if you did not follow Him. To this day, people are arrested and murdered, have their homes and property destroyed, and lose their jobs and family members because they follow Jesus. For these people, none of this would have happened had they rejected Him.

It is easy for us who live in the lap of luxury to forget this or to romanticize it away, and make no mistake, if you are have four walls and a roof and food to eat, you are living in luxury compared with much of the world. When I think of what Paul suffered, which led to his advice to Timothy, I am embarrassed at how shallow some of my prayer concerns are.

The verse today should remind us of two things. We must live our lives passionately enough for Christ that it produces suffering for us. This is not to say we should become false martyrs, but if our faith is only a matter of convenience, then is it really the faith of our crucified Lord? Secondly, we must draw attention to, pray for, and assist however we can those brothers and sisters in Christ who live with the more violent persecutions. As Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40, NIV)

Father, whether it is the sacrifice of time, money, or friendships, whether it is the loss of respect or even my job, help me to live my life in bold faithfulness to Christ, for indeed there is no other kind. Amen.

http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?clickfrom=bWFpbl9tZW51

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

September 12 (2 Chronicles 20:3)

2010-09-12T09:28:00.000-04:00

And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. (NIV)

There is much to learn from this one verse about the life of King Jehoshaphat. A large enemy comprised of many tribes had come to attack, and the first thing we read is that the king was afraid. Of course he was afraid! Pretending that you are not afraid when the bills pile up, when sickness strikes, when one more thing goes wrong with the car is not courage, but self-deception. As Christians, we know that we are not supposed to lie, and this includes to ourselves.

So what did this king do? He turned to God. Talk of turning to God in times of trouble is so common among Christians that we end up ignoring it. Slow down for a moment and consider. This king did not first call his war council. He did not make plans for attack, review his troops, or charge blindly into war. The first thing he did when confronted by more than he could handle was to go to the Lord. We must do more than pay lip service to this. We are not going to the Lord when we throw out a quick prayer in the midst of doing what we had already determined to do, and this is where the fast comes in. By ordering a fast for all of Judah, King Jehoshaphat caused everyone to slow down and wait for the guidance of God.

What are you facing this week? However frightful or nerve-wracking you claim it is, is it frightful or nerve-wracking enough for you to be quiet…really quiet…and wait for the guidance and blessing of God?

Father, You know what awaits me more clearly than I do. Still my heart, my mind, and my hands. Lead me into humble quietness that I may hear Your plans for me. Grant me then the quickness to fulfill Your will. In the name of Lord Jesus, Who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever, amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

September 5 (Exodus 33:19-20)

2010-09-05T08:37:00.001-04:00

And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. … But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” (NIV)

Thanks to the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we can call God “Father.” We have the gift of eternal life with Him and are counted as brothers and sisters of Jesus Himself, Who calls us His friends. What extraordinarily intimate gifts! Yet we must never for one moment forget that God remains awesome and terrible.

On Mt. Sinai, Moses asked to see the glory of the Lord. God responded by saying that Moses could see His goodness and hear the divine name, but He warned him as well that there were parts of His nature that must remained hidden. How do we relate to a God Who calls us His friends and children and yet remains One before Whom we must live in reverent fear? (See 1 Peter 1:17)

We must be intimate with our Father, while never forgetting He is our Lord. We must go to Him in the moment of our needs, yet never address Him casually or with disrespect. We must approach our God with confidence in His faithfulness, yet humbly in acknowledgment of our weakness and His surpassing glory.

Almighty and glorious heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of being able to approach You any time, day or night, in any circumstance, through the intercession of Jesus Christ. Thank You, too, for the gift of Your Holy Spirit, Who intercedes when we lack even the words to speak. May my life be one of ongoing worship of Your majesty and grace. Truly, You are my Lord and my God. Amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

August 29 (Ephesians 2:8)

2010-08-29T13:01:00.000-04:00

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (NIV)

The mere fact that you believe in God, believing and accepting the saving grace of our Lord Jesus, is a gift from God. Think about that for a moment. You may have studied and read much about the Christian faith. You may have analyzed the arguments for and against its truths. Yet the ability to believe at all is a gift.

We do not know fully why God hardened the heart of Pharaoh. We do not know why some have the gift of faith and yet choose to reject it. For those who have it, however, and have chosen to use it, there can be only one response. It is sheer, absolute, overwhelming, humble gratitude. There is no room for spiritual pride among the followers of Christ. When we come to terms with the fact that our lives in all their full richness, both now and in the world to come, are the result of pure grace, our hearts burst with the desire to praise and thank the Giver of this grace.

We should be grateful for all the blessings of our lives. When was the last time you thanked God for your faith itself?

Father, I do not know why you have granted me the ability to believe, but I thank You from the bottom of my heart. Thank You, too, for all those You have put in my path to teach and lead me ever closer to You. May I serve likewise in the lives of those around me. In the name of Christ Jesus, my Lord, amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

August 22 (1 Corinthians 6:19)

2010-08-22T09:17:00.001-04:00

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. (NIV)

“It is my body, so I can do what I want with it. “It is my life, so let me do what I want to do.” Sound familiar? We hear these statements all the time from the halls of our schools to the corridors of government, from the nightly news to the so-called news of the entertainment world. The Christian response to any such statement is, “No, it is not.”

It is not your body and it is not your life. Life is a gift wrapped in a loaner package. Every breath we draw and the tiniest hair on our heads belong to God, whether or not we follow Christ. For those who do claim to follow Him, there is the addition of the Holy Spirit, Who transforms the gift and life we have from God into His very temple on earth.

So what are you doing with the temple of God that you actually are? Has it become a billboard to flaunt your sexuality in the way that you dress? Has it become the local dump where you toss fat- and calorie-laden junk made of high fructose corn syrup? Is it a place from which flows the love and grace of Christ? Is it a source of truth and love among those in its neighborhood?

Father, I am grateful indeed for the gift of life and the gift of the body that I have. Forgive me for the many times when I used these gifts for nothing more than my own pleasure and at times even for the intentional pain of others. May Your Holy Spirit flow from me in all that I do, say, and think. In the name of Christ Jesus, my Lord, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

August 15 (Matthew 6:10)

2010-08-15T09:12:00.000-04:00

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (NIV)

For many Christians, this is a prayer of request for blessing. We are suffering in a particular way and are sure that this must not be the will of God, Who we are sure would want us to enjoy only a smooth, comfortable life. Therefore, we pray that His will be done, for in this we are confident that our situation will improve.

St. Cyprian, a third century Christian leader and writer, saw it a bit differently. He wrote that we do not pray for God to do what He wants, but that we may be able to do what God wants, for he rightly points out that no one can block the will of God. We, however, are often blocked by Satan and our own sinful nature. We need divine assistance to do what God would have us do. When we pray for the will of God to be done on earth as in heaven, we are praying that God will grant us the grace to be like angels, who without hesitation do His bidding. We are praying for the grace to be like Christ Himself, Who was obedient to the will of our Father to the point of death.

Father, forgive me when I have treated the riches of Your blessing as a storehouse of magical cures for whatever ails me. Help to focus not on my own sufferings, but on You and Your perfect will. May Your will be done through me, a ready and willing vessel made in Your image and purified through the blood of the Lamb for accomplishing Your good works. Amen.
Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

August 8 (2 Corinthians 7:1)

2010-08-08T09:56:00.001-04:00

Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. (NIV)

I still wear my Vacation Bible School shirt from earlier in the summer, and when I do, I am quite conscious of it. I am aware that when I go out for a burger or to the home improvement store, I am wearing a shirt that has the name of my church on it, one that advertises my faith. I would like to think that I would act the same no matter what I wore, but I am keenly focused on my behavior when wearing that VBS shirt. Paul says we should think like this all the time.

We do not hear a lot of talk about holiness these days. It has become too associated with being holier-than-thou. Yet Paul teaches us that we must strive to perfect our holiness because we love and respect God, and he tells us how to do it. At the end of the preceding chapter of 2 Corinthians, he states bluntly that we are not to do what unbelievers do. We must purify body and spirit. We must not do what unbelievers do or think as unbelievers think. God makes a claim on every aspect of our lives.

So how do you look when you go out in public? Do you behave, talk, and think as a Christian? How do you look in the privacy of your home? Do you behave, talk, and think as a Christian? How do you look when there is no other human being around? Do you behave, talk, and think as a Christian?

Gracious Father, I stand convicted for not living the holy life to which You have called me. Too often I surrender to my base emotions. I ask forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ and call upon Your grace through Him that by the power of the Holy Spirit I may live a holy life in honor of You. Amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

August 1 (Mark 1:35-37)

2010-08-01T10:07:00.000-04:00

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” (NIV)

Do you ever feel as if everyone is looking for you? You have responsibilities to your boss, to your spouse, to your children, to your extended family, to your friends, to your church, to your bill collectors…where does it end? All of those are important responsibilities, too. They are good responsibilities, and we must meet them well.

Yet not one, not one of them, is more important than the work that Jesus came to do. It does not matter who is waiting for that report at work or who has left that voice message demanding a call back. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Nothing we have to do trumps that.

So what did Jesus do when everyone was demanding a piece of Him? He arose early, before the work of the day got started, and prayed. We all go through seasons of greater or lesser spiritual devotion. We need to be reminded every so often that this time of prayer and being with God is invaluable. To put it bluntly, Jesus had more important things to do than you ever will, yet He set aside time for His Father. Will you?

Father, I have grown lax in my relationship with You. It is easy for me to drift into other things, things I think are pressing and demand my attention. Help me to put every aspect of my life into a proper perspective, beginning with You at the center. Grant me the grace to discipline my life by spending time with You. In Christ, my Lord, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

July 25 (Hebrews 4:14)

2010-07-25T11:06:00.001-04:00

…we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God…. (NIV)

When we were young, we wanted a friend to ask the teacher our question or to approach the person we liked sitting two rows away. As we grew older, we recognized the value of having someone to put in a good word for us when it came to getting a job or buying a house. To this day, my wife prefers for me to make certain phone calls for her or to answer the phone from an unidentified caller.

In essence, this is what a priest does. He speaks for us, on our behalf. As Moses learned, we cannot look directly upon the Presence of God. In our sinful state, we would be instantly consumed by the burning light of His perfection. Yet with Jesus, we have a priest Who pleads for us, Who argues our case, Who defends us against the slanders of our enemy.

This may not seem like much of a blessing in our do-it-yourself age. We want to be self-sufficient. We think we can do it all ourselves, but just how many failures do we need to experience to know that this is not true? I am a weak and incredibly needy person. I have to have someone who can present me before God, who can take the shabby and dog-eared pages of my resume and make me look good. How grateful I am that this someone is my Savior, my Lord, my Brother, Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus, You know what I truly need, despite all that I babble about in prayer. Present the deepest needs of my heart to our Father. Draw me closer to Him. By Your grace, transform me ever more into Your likeness. Amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

July 18, 2010 (1 Chronicles 17:1)

2010-07-18T09:51:00.000-04:00

After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.” (NIV)

We are often so minimalist in our approach to the Christian faith that we think as long as people have access to a Bible, their Christian needs have been met and the work of God has been accomplished. Yet how much time, energy, thought, money, and resources do we put into our children’s sports teams, endlessly renovating our homes, or arranging for our entertainment? Are we doing all we can for our Lord if our churches cannot offer even cost of living increases to their staff, if the only Christian education in town is one hour a week on the weekend, or if counseling, poverty, and domestic problems are left to be addressed solely by government agencies?

We do not earn our way to salvation and we do not earn God’s love by doing good works. On the other hand, how much do we love Him if we are doing the bare minimum to serve His people? Would you really believe your parents, your children, or your spouse loved you if they did only enough to stay on your Christmas card list?

O Lord, You are so gracious to me, pouring forth blessings into my life beyond what I can imagine, and this on top of the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. What would You have me do with the talents and blessings You have given me? Into what part of Your kingdom work would you direct me? I am ready to do all that You command. In the name of Jesus, Who gave all for me, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

July 11, 2010 (Isaiah 30:1, 2)

2010-07-11T08:39:00.001-04:00

“Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the LORD, “…who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh's protection, to Egypt's shade for refuge.” (NIV)

We live in a world with various types of governments, and these are necessary. They serve a purpose and can be quite good in ordering life for their citizens. Yet no government is the source of all our needs, and we invite God’s anger when we look to human organizations as the source of our protection and refuge.

God is our rock and our salvation. He is the only good and therefore the only source of what is good and needful in our lives. Too often His people, the Church, have stopped living out their call to be salt and light in the world. Tasks that should be performed by the body of Christ have of necessity been picked up by governmental and other secular organizations. The result is that needs once served with the love and grace of our Lord are now provided in ways that do not acknowledge Him and at times bring more harm than good.

Think for a moment. What areas of your life are provided for by non-Christian organizations? What would it look like if you could receive those things through the Church? What talents has God given you to see to it that those things are in fact offered through the Church? What will it take for us to stop going to Pharaoh for our needs?

Lord, forgive me for living as if You are but one aspect of my life when in fact You are the very ground of my existence. Show me how to use what You have given me to build up the body of Christ so that it may truly be the light on the hill, able to welcome all who hunger and thirst. In the name of Christ Jesus, my Lord, amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

July 4, 2010 (Isaiah 30:1)

2010-07-04T08:59:00.001-04:00

“Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin.” (NIV)

No one builds a house and then draws up the architectural plans. Even children know that you first have to open the freezer, then take out the ice cream, scoop it, and finally eat it. There is an order to doing things, and most Christians want the Lord to be part of that order. We go on the Internet to research the best places to stay, order our tickets, stop the mail, tell our neighbors we will be gone for a week, and then pray for the Lord’s blessing on our vacation. We think we are being faithful, when in fact we are closer to heaping sin upon sin.

God is not a genie in a bottle. He is not a magic talisman to be used when we need a blessing. Jesus taught us to pray that God’s will be done on earth as in heaven. This means that our plans must align with His. It may be His will that we travel to a certain place, make a certain purchase, marry a certain person. It may be His will that we do a particular thing for our children or enter into a particular business agreement. Yet we will not know if we do not seek His will before doing any of those things. We must align ourselves with His will and not try to strong arm Him into our plans.

Where is God in the order of things you have planned for today? If He is not first, then you have set yourself ahead of Him, and that is a dangerous place to be.

O Lord, my God, You are so gracious to me, heaping upon me grace and mercy beyond my comprehension or merit. May I seek Your will in all that I do. May my life be ever more conformed to that of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Through me, may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

June 27, 2010 (Isaiah 30: 15)

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For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” (RSV)

Reaching. Straining. Grasping. We are a yearning generation, yet we know not for which we truly yearn. We are on a mad dash through life grabbing everything we can to distract us from our pain and from our sin. We snatch games, sports, books, websites, television, movies, relationships, food, clothes, drink, cars, houses, pets, jobs, stuff, more stuff, and even more stuff. Sometimes it is the objects we seek that we hope will satisfy us. Other times it is the frenzied activity of snatching that we hope will dull the pain of life.

Now replace the word “we” with the word “I.” Each one of us gives in to this frantic lifestyle, some more than others. Yet the answer to being saved from the sin and suffering of life, the way to restore our strength is so much simpler. It is to return to the Lord. Another term for this is repentance. We return and rest in Him. We shut off the blooming, buzzing confusion and trust in Him. Jesus Himself confirmed this promise when He said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, RSV)

Seriously, what are you waiting for?

Gracious and loving Father, I surrender my thoughts, my desires, and all my plans and activity to You. I long to sit at Your feet, knowing deeply in my soul Your love for me. Forgive me for when I have sought a cheap counterfeit in the things of this world. Restore to me the joy of my salvation in Christ Jesus my Lord. Amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins

June 20, 2010 (Mark 8:36)

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What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? (NIV)

Most of us seem willing to forfeit our souls for much less. We neglect to tend our souls while in pursuit of academic or athletic trophies that sit on a shelf and gather dust. We compromise the integrity of our souls to sell more widgets in business or to gain the attention of an attractive person whose name we do not even know. Why do we do it?

There is not a lot of talk about souls these days. We focus exclusively on what can be seen, even in church sometimes. Yet there used to be a way of talking about people that referred to them as souls. A ship captain would say that he had two hundred souls on board under his care. Such a figure of speech kept the focus on the fact that we are a duality, neither pure spirit nor pure flesh, but a combination of the two. As surely as we tend the one, we must tend the other.

Father, Who sent Your Son, the eternal Word, into the world to take on human flesh, help me to remember that I am both a spiritual and physical person, created in Your image. May I not neglect to care for one part of Your creation in the pursuit of another. In the name of Christ, my Lord, amen.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven R. Perkins