“MEASURE ME”

Ephesians 4:11-16

Jesus increased in wisdom and stature. Luke 2:52

“Can you measure me today?” Caleb, our paperboy, asked.

It was not the first time he had made that request. A few years ago I had mentioned to him how tall he was getting. Since then, we’ve often measured his height on the siding of our house. After all this time, he still wants me to measure him.

Measurements can be indicators of growth. And it’s a good idea to measure our spiritual growth. For instance: Do I spend time reading God’s Word and talking with Him each day? Do I look forward to fellowshiping with the Lord? What “fruit of the Spirit” is apparent in my life? Do I talk about Jesus with people who don’t know Him? How am I using my spiritual gift or gifts? Do I have a generous and giving spirit? How much better do I know God today than I did a year ago? These questions are good indicators of spiritual growth.

A child seems to grow up all of a sudden, but it’s actually a continual process. Just as Jesus grew in both wisdom and stature, we as believers are to continue to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). We are no longer to be children, but to “grow up in all things into Him who is the head— Christ” (Ephesians 4:14-15). Have you measured yourself lately? —cindy hess kasper

The child of God who reads the Word and heeds the messages he’s heard will grow in grace from day to day and share with others on life’s way. —hess

Salvation is the miracle of a moment; growth is the labor of a lifetime.

HOW LONG?

Luke 19:41-44

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20

It took years before she finally said yes. A Welshman had fallen in love with one of his neighbors and wanted to marry her. But they had quarreled, and she refused to forgive.  Shy and reluctant to face the offended woman, the persistent suitor slipped a love letter under her door every week.

At last, after 42 years, he summoned up courage, knocked on her door, and asked her to become his wife. To his surprise and delight, she consented. So they were married at the age of 74!

God is also a persistent lover. Century after century He sent prophets as His messengers beseeching the stubborn, alienated people of Israel to live with Him, a faithful covenant-keeper. But all those overtures were sinfully refused. Then at Bethlehem, God Himself came in the Person of Jesus Christ. Now, having opened up the way for reconciliation by His redeeming sacrifice at Calvary. He stands at the door of everyone’s heart, knocking and asking that sinners personally accept Him as Savior.

If you have answered yes, rejoice that you are His. If that door stays shut, however, you must realize that time may run out. Don’t remain forever self-alienated from the Lover of your soul. Trust Him today. —vcg

Why trade the hope of heaven’s light for things that please the prince of night? Eternal glories wait for all who turn and trust God’s loving call. —jdb

God always knocks loud enough for a willing soul to hear.

SUPERSTITIONS

Deuteronomy 18:9-22

You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. Deuteronmy 18:13

Baseball players are often superstitious. They  become involved in all kinds of odd behavior in the belief that it will help them play better.

When Babe Ruth ran in from the outfield, he always stepped on second base just for good luck. Willie Mays kicked it for the same reason. Manager Leo Durocher rode in the back seat of the team bus to break a losing streak. Other baseball superstitions include never changing bats after two strikes, not changing uniforms during a winning streak, tapping the plate three times with the bat, and not stepping on the foul line.

Lefty O’Doul, a pitcher for the Yankees in the 1920s, said, “It’s not tha tif I stepped on the foul line it would really lose the game, but why take a chance?” He must have believed deep within himself that if some supernatural power was available, he wanted its help.

Harmless rituals? Some say yes. But superstitions reveal something about the object of one’s trust, and in some cases they are even tied to occult practices. The Bible warns against trusting unknown forces that work behind the scenes. Those who trust in Christ must reject the idea of luck or chance. God is all-knowing and sovereign over the events of our lives, and He wants us to trust Him alone.

Into His hands I lay the fears that haunt mme, the dread of future ills that may befall; into His hands I lay the doubts that taunt me, and rest securely, trusting Him for all. —christiansen

Winning in life depends on God — not good luck.

ADVERSE WINDS

2 Samuel 22:1-20

[The Lord] was seen upon the wings of the wind. 2 Samuel 22:11

In the great Chicago fire of 1871, more than 17,000 buildings were burned and 250 lives were lost. In a fire in London, which could have been as bad, the damage was much less and only four people died. Surprisingly, a strong easterly wind made the difference.

During the Chicago fire a great pall of smoke hovered over the city that increased the heat by preventing the ground from cooling during the night. In the London disaster, however, forceful winds prevented the formation of a smoke layer so that much of the heat that could have caused other buildings to burst into flame was dissipated. Also the steady wind directed the blaze westward, making it easier to predict its path and allowing the people to escape in time.

In today’s Bible reading, David’s song of deliverance refers to seeing God on the “wings of the wind.” Whatever natural phenomenon that may have been, David saw in it God’s providential hand. It gave him cause for rejoicing and made him feel safe and secure (2 Samuel 22:20).

Are winds of adversity filling you with dread? Maybe it looks like they are fanning the flames of more trouble. Hold to God in faith. One day you’ll see that He was “upon the wings of the wind,” fulfilling His good purposes. —hgb

God moves in a mysterious way His wondersss to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm! —cowper

Like a kite, a Christian can rise the highest when the winds of adversity blow the hardest.

LET’s TAKE A BREAK!

Luke 9:1-10

Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while. Mark 6:31

According to tradition, when the apostle John was overseer in Ephesus,  his hobby was raising pigeons. It is said that on one occasion another elder passed his house as he returned from hunting and saw John playing with one of his birds. The man gently chided him for spending his time so frivolously. John looked at the hunter’s bow and remarked that the string was loose. “Yes,” said the elder, “I always loosen the string of my bow when it’s not in use. If it stayed tight, it would lose it’s resilience and fail me in the hunt.” John responded, “And I am now relaxing the bow of my mind so that I may be better able to shoot the arrows of divine truth.”

We cannot do our best work with nerves taut or frayed from being constantly under pressure. When Jesus’ disciples returned from a strenuous preaching mission, their Master recognized their need for rest and invited them to come with Him to a quiet place where they could be refreshed.

Hobbies, vacations, and wholesome recreation are vital to a well-balanced, godly life. We lose our effectiveness by keeping our lives so tightly strung that we are always on edge. If it seems we can’t relax, Jesus may be inviting us to take a break — to “come aside” and “rest a while.” —djd

If our body, soul, and spirit are to function at their best, time is needed for renewal, time for leisure, time for rest. —djd

If Christians do not come apart and rest a while, they may just plain come apart! —havner

PIECE BY PIECE

Exodus 40:17-34

According to all that the Lord had commanded [Moses], so he did. Exodus 40:16

There in boxes lay all the parts — thousands of them. Plastic blocks, wheels, poles, and all sorts of seemingly incompatible and unusuable pieces. It was time to help Steven put his Lego pieces together into something recognizable. But first we had to look at the instructions. Without them, we could have snapped pieces together, but we would never have been able to construct the fire station or helicopter shown on the box.

Back in the days of Israel’s wilderness wanderings, Moses also faced the task of putting together a structure using a variety of parts. In Exodus 36-39, we read that the people had gathered materials and built the parts of the tabernacle. Then the Lord told Moses how to put it together (Exodus 40). The tabernacle would be the structure God wanted, and it would bring glory to Him only if Moses followed His detailed plans — if he did “as the Lord had commanded” (Exodus 40:19).

With the tabernacle — and with our lives — the only right way to build is to follow God’s guidance. Are we allowing Him to direct our steps? Are we following His instructions as outlined in the Bible? If we are, He will help us to put the pieces of our lives together so that we will bring glory and honor to Him. —jdb

My Bible to me is a guidebook true that points for my feet the way, that gives me courage and hope and cheer and guidance for every day. —anon

The words of scripture are meant for our protection, correction, and direction.

SORRY?

Philippianns 1:12-26

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

I read about a radio station that featured an on-air “obituary column.” Its purpose was to inform people in the community of any deaths of its citizens during the previous day.

On one of those broadcasts, after an introduction with the usual funeral music, the announcer said thoughtlessly, “We’re sorry to report that there were no deaths in our country during the past 24 hours.” As soon as those words left his mouth, he knew what he said was inappropriate.

That slip reminds me of what I sometimes catch myself doing. When writing to express my sympathy to someone who has lost a Christian family member through death, I have a tendency to say something like, “I was so sorry to learn about the homegoing of your loved one.” But something doesn’t sound right. Am I correct saying I’m sorry? Sorry about going to heaven? Of being with Christ? Of moving to that wonderful place where there is freedom from pain, illness, and sorrow?

Naturally, we feel sorrow for those who grieve. It hurts when human ties are broken. But should we feel sorry for those who have gone to be with Christ? Never! To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:1-8).

We have reason to rejoice — even in our sorrow. —rwd

The death of people whom we love brings sorrow and deep pain; but if our loved ones know the Lord, our loss becomes their gain. —sper

Sunset in one land is sunrise in another.

IS HE MY SHEPHERD?

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

She was a newspaper columnist and a celebrity on radio and televions. But she died alone at the age of 52 next to one of the 18 phones in her 22-room Manhattan townhouse. The end came as a result of a deadly combination of pills and alcohol.

Unhappiness was the story of her life. While she made her name giving press attention to the lives and loves of the “stars,” she secretly longed for the admiration and affection they were getting. On more than one occasion she was overheard asking, “Why can’t I be the adorable one?”

In short, her life — as successful as it looked — was characterized more by wants than fulfillments. This reflects the unhappiness of millions who never experience the comfort pictured in the 23rd Psalm.

But let’s make this personal. Many of us are discontented and empty even though we’ve long ago memorized this familiar passage. Why? Because when we say, “The LORD is my shepherd,” we really don’t let Him be our shepherd. We don’t follow Him beside the “still waters” and lie down in “green pastures.” Instead, we want and want until our souls are dry and we have wandered far from the paths of righteousness. We become fearful in the presence of evil and refuse the protection and rescue of His rod and staff. He sets His table before us, but we don’t eat. Is it any wonder, then, that our cup is more often empty than full?

If we want goodness and mercy to follow us, we must let the Lord be our shepherd. —mrdii

You’ll want nothing more when you want to follow the Lord.

JUST DO IT!

James 1:19-27

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22

John Wesley said it well. Thousands have echoed it since. “The problem of problems is getting Christianity into the life.” What is it that makes putting the Christian faith into practice so difficult? Maybe it’s because we assume that it’s enough simply to know God’s truth in our heads.

Most of us have heard more sermons than we can count. We may even take elaborate notes on what we hear. We tune in to several religious broadcasts on the radio, and we watch a few more on television. We read the Bible and read Our Daily Bread regularly. We feel good about what we know, and we are quick to debate anyone who disagrees with our understanding of Scripture.

What else is left? The answer is as simple as it is obvious: Just do it!

At the end of his initial consultation with a client, the famous psychoanalyst Alfred Adler would ask a perceptive question: “And what would you do if you were cured?” The patient would give an answer. Adler would listen, then get up, open the door, and reply, “Well, then go and do it!”

How do you get God’s truth into your life? The answer is as obvious as it is ignored. In God’s strength, and in loving obedience to Him, just do it! —hwr

Help us, O Lord, to heed Your Word, its precepts to obey; and may we fight the tendency to go in our own way. —sper

We master the scriptures only when the scriptures master us.

NO FISH STORY

Genesis 3:1-8

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, . . .she took of its fruit and ate. Genesis 3:6

Imagine this scene: You like to fish, so you crank up the motor on your old boat and head out into Lake Ontario, near Olcott, New York. You get several nice walleyes and clean them right away. That night you have a wonderful fish dinner complete with fried potatoes and cole slaw. “I doesn’t get any better than this,” you say to your satisfied self.

Wrong! At least according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Although the fish were delicious, eating them increased your risk of getting cancer. New tests show high levels of Mirex, a poison used to control fire ants. (No fish from there are sold commercially.)

This illustrates an important spiritual point. What appears so inviting and satisfying may contain destructive elements. It may be something we are looking at on TV or in a magazine, or listening to on tape or on a CD. It may be something we’re inclined to eat or drink. Satan sometimes uses pleasurable things to bring about our downfall. But in the pleasure he hides the poison.

We need to be extremely careful about what we take into our bodies and into our minds. What seems the most pleasant may be the most harmful. Adam and Eve discovered that in the Garden of Eden. And that’s no fish story! —dce

I would live for Thee, Lord Jesus; keep my eyes so turned toward Thee that the world and all its system may attract no part of me. —graves

Guard against evil or you’ll be influenced by it!