Devotions for August 2007
John 1:12, 13
Receiving Christ Produces Sons
KEY VERSE: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name,” John 1:12.
There are many couples who, because of compassion for the disadvantaged or because they cannot have children of their own, travel to foreign countries such as South America, eastern Europe, or Asia to adopt children and bring them to America to live. They spend days, perhaps weeks, immersed in a different language and a strange culture. They fight the red tape and pay large fees with the hope of being able to bring a child home with them.
In a far greater sense, God did the same for us. He entered our culture, battled the resistance and paid the unspeakable price which our adoption as His sons required. Legally we are His. He owns us. We have every legal privilege accorded to one who is His child. We are just waiting for Him to finish the process, as Paul said in Romans 8:23.
Do you know many fathers who do not desire to have a son? Many mothers feel the same way, too. But the word son as used in this passage is generic—and to make it clear that the word sons in this instance refers to both male and female, we might use the word children. God’s desire for children is extremely evident in the price He paid, sending His Son to die for us.
Living it: If you are saved, you have experienced the new birth.
Mary McCalister
Psalm 1:1-3
Rooted and Fruitful
KEY VERSE: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night,” Psalm 1:2.
What three daytime activities consume all our waking hours? Walking, standing and sitting. What we do with these activities will determine the amount of our blessings. We are not to walk in the plans and purposes of the ungodly, stand in the path where sinners walk, or sit where the scornful and mockers gather. The blessed man chooses his friends and associates carefully.
Instead, “his delight is in the law of the Lord”—the precepts, instructions and teachings of God. Is this true of you? Your mind is key to your happiness, joy and personal love for the Word of God. Paul admonished, “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”(Rom. 12:2).
The tree the righteous man emulates is planted—firmly rooted and stable—marked by effectiveness and prosperity—productive and fruitful. There is not a child of God who does not desire to have such a life. No one wants to be a lifeless, petrified tree.
How can we attain this marvelous life? Refuse to walk in the counsel of the ungodly. Refuse to stand where sinners stand. Shun evil companions. Read God’s Word faithfully and diligently. Delight in it. Allow it to penetrate and control your attitude for daily living. The choice is yours.
Living it: Delighting in the Law of God makes you a prosperous and fruitful Christian.
Mary McCalister
Ephesians 3:17-19
Grounded in Love
KEY VERSE: “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God,” Ephesians 3:19.
To make the love of Christ understandable to his readers, Paul took a progression of steps which lead to that love. He talked about the mystery of Christ (verse 4); the gospel of Christ (verse 6); the riches of Christ (verse 8); the power of Christ (verse 9); and the purpose of Christ (verse 11), all leading up to the love of Christ (verse 19).
To know the love of Christ, you need to know all these steps which lead up to that love. A limited understanding of Christ’s love comes when you accept His sacrifice for you and become a believer. But, as Paul stated, the love of Christ “passeth knowledge,” or is beyond our comprehension. It is only as you become rooted and grounded in His love that you are willing to let Him dwell in your heart, settle down and make Himself at home.
To be rooted in Christ is to receive your strength and nourishment from Him. Grounded is a builder’s term and for us it means “being grounded on a firm foundation,” Jesus Christ Himself (1 Cor. 3:11).
Paul’s desire was that they should be filled with all the fulness of God. It is not our love for Christ, as sincere as it might be, but it is the love of God toward us that should fill us and equip us for the life we live.
Can we understand this love? It is mind-boggling and immeasurable. We cannot fathom the breadth and length, and depth and height of Christ’s love for us.
Living it: Do you desire spiritual understanding? Make sure you are rooted and grounded in the love of Christ.
Mary McCalister
John 14:9, 10
The Father in the Son
KEY VERSE: “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works,” John 14:10.
Jesus had just spoken words which have become dear to the hearts of believers today. What was Philip’s reaction to this great promise? Poor, dull, matter-of-fact Philip. Three years with Jesus, hearing His preaching, His teaching, witnessing His miracles and His life—and yet! “Shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us” (verse 8).
Anyone but Jesus would have become impatient with him. But we should not be hypercritical of Philip. A lot of what he was exposed to was completely new to him. On the other hand, we have had two thousand years of being exposed to His Word, of having His presence in the Spirit, His churches—and look at us! Some of us have lived a long life, having Him with us all the way—and yet! How poorly we know Him, how slow of heart we are to believe and how little like Him we have become.
John later wrote, “As he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). Imagine, as He is, so are we! This is not just in church on Sunday or in some secluded spot, but in this foul, wicked world, in the old rat race every day. Jesus lived in this world and had nowhere to lay His head. Try living for Him for a week and find out the attitude of the world toward Jesus and those who serve Him.
Living it: Understand that Christ the Son and God the Father are one.
Mary McCalister
John 14:6
The Only Way to God
KEY VERSE: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me,” John 14:6.
A traveler engaged a guide to take him across a desert area. When the two men arrived at the edge of the desert, the traveler, looking ahead, saw before him trackless sands without a single footprint, path, or marker of any kind. Turning to his guide, he asked in a tone of surprise, “Where is the road?” With a reproving glance the guide replied, “I am the road.”
Thomas, who certainly earned the description of doubting, asked, “How can we know the way?” (verse 5). We trust in Jesus, Who is the way and knows the road. We must follow Him, knowing He will always lead us in the right way.
Not only is Jesus the way, He is the truth. The truth is always the same. It never needs updating. A friend asked a music teacher what the good news of the day was. The teacher picked up a hammer and struck a tuning fork. As the note sounded, he said, “That is A. It was A five thousand years ago, and it will be A ten thousand years from now. The soprano may sing off-key, the tenor may flatten out his high notes, and the piano may be out of tune. But the sound of A never changes, and that is the good news.”
The good news is, Jesus is the truth, and the truth never changes.
Most important for us, Jesus is the life. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). This is eternal life, which is now and future, but it is also abundant life, which is for the time we live here.
Living it: Know that Christ is the only way of salvation.
Mary McCalister
Romans 6:4, 5
Walk in Newness of Life
KEY VERSE: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life,” Romans 6:4.
We learned how important our walk is (August 2 devotional); therefore, we can appreciate the admonition Paul gives us. The secret is to be identified with Christ. That is, our walk is to reflect the joyous truth that Christ was raised from the dead. Paul described this in greater detail in Galatians 2:20, the next devotional. Does your life testify to the truth of the resurrection? Do you live to show you are dead to your old life?
To walk in newness of life is to live a life which is new and different from what we once lived. Does our daily walk demonstrate that Christ is indeed living in us? Sin characterized our old life, so righteousness should characterize our new life. Everything about us should be new: a new heart (Ezek. 36:26); a new spirit (Ezek. 18:31); a new song (Psalm 40:3); and a new name (Rev. 2:17). All this is because all things become new (2 Cor. 5:17); a new creature (Gal. 6:15); and a new man (Eph. 4:24).
Knowing Christ lives in us means what we were in our old life is gone, and everything is new, praise God!
Living it: Does your life look new to others since you have been saved?
Mary McCalister
Galatians 2:19, 20
Live unto God
KEY VERSE: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me,” Galatians 2:20.
Paul did not say, “To me to live is Christ first.” He said, “Christ liveth in me.” What is the difference? The difference is if Christ is living in us, people will see Him and not us.
God has work to do, and He uses us to do it.
Your tongue—He uses for His message.
Your feet—He requisitions to carry His message.
Your mind—He uses to bring glory to Him.
Your eyes, your face, your hands—He uses to see those who are in need, to extend hope to the hopeless, to give hugs to those who need consoling.
When Christ lives in us, His joy becomes our joy (John 15:11). His sorrow becomes our sorrow (Matt. 23:37). His friends become our friends (Prov. 18:24). His cross becomes our cross (Matt. 16:24).
We are accustomed to seeing brides walking down aisles to waiting grooms and saying, “I take this man.” When we are baptized, we are affirming our love for Christ as our Heavenly Bridegroom, that all we have and are are His forever.
Living it: “Living for Jesus a life that is true...My life I give, hence-forth to live, O Christ for thee alone.”*
*Living for Jesus copyright 1945 by Harold Lowden.
Mary McCalister
2 Corinthians 4:18
Aim for the Eternal
KEY VERSE: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal,” 2 Corinthians 4:18.
As with Paul, for some of us the journey has been long, very long and stormy. Like Paul, some have had to face difficulties along the way. Perhaps some have shouldered burdens that few could ever carry. Some have bid farewell to lifelong loved ones. Some have been robbed of lifelong dreams. All through life a man’s strength fades. At the same time, however, a man’s spirit should keep growing. All of us facing old age should pray that we will grow lovely while growing old. Certainly not physically but in a temperament mellowed with age and experience.
Paul had suffered much, but he was convinced that nothing he endured in this world would compare to the joy he was looking forward to in eternity. Paul knew that the things which are seen, whether tribulations or triumphs, will be destroyed in the destruction of this earth. Jesus never said the journey would be easy (John 16:33), but the promise is that the arrival of the unseen eternity will be worthwhile.
John expressed the believer’s hope in the following way, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
Living it: Only what is done for Christ will last.
Mary McCalister
Hebrews 11:13-16
Living Here—Pointed There
KEY VERSE: “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city,” Hebrews 11:16.
Years ago my husband was invited by a church in
We have lived in a number of different places while in the pastoral ministry, but we tried our best never to put down roots at any one place, knowing we might be uprooted at any time. That is why we understand this passage, and why we desire a heavenly country.
As did Abraham and all those in the roster of faith
in this chapter, we demonstrate our faith by our walk. Abraham put his faith in
operation when he obeyed God. Because of that, his faith was counted to
him for righteousness (
The result of our faith is that it brings us through all the circumstances of life. It gives us the power to climb the mountains of difficulties which we face.
The patriarchs honored God, and God honored them. Nothing is so honoring to Him as the life of faith. Having this kind of faith means that God is not ashamed to be called our God.
Living it: We are pilgrims and strangers in this life. Let us look for a better life to come.
Mary McCalister
Psalm 119:36, 37
Live God’s Way
KEY VERSE: “Incline mine heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness,” Psalm 119:36.
This psalm should be of great interest to writers and theologians alike. Someone has made an extensive study of it and found that the word law is used twenty-five times, testimony twenty-three times, word twenty-three times, statute twenty-two times, commandment twenty-two times, judgment twenty-one times, precept twenty-one times, and another form of word nineteen times. What does the repeated use of these words do for us? They direct our hearts to truth, light and power, showing us power to be obeyed, testimony to be shared, precept to be practiced, promise to be claimed and way to be followed.
What is the inclination of your heart? Do you turn to the superficial things of this world? The psalmist admonishes us to incline, or turn, our hearts to God’s testimonies or statutes. Another verse in this psalm gives us the secret, “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee” (verse 11).
One of the major sins, the lust of the eyes, was dealt with by the psalmist when he asked the Lord to turn his eyes away from worthless things. Then, knowing man does not live in a void, he prayed to be quickened, restored, or strengthened to live life in His way.
This psalm teaches the truth that we serve a living God. Not only does He give us salvation, but He also restores us and frees us from the power of evil and gives us the strength to overcome evil.
Living it: Turn your heart toward God’s Laws and live to please Him, not yourself.
Mary McCalister
Romans 8:4-6
Be Spiritually Minded
KEY VERSE: “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,” Romans 8:4.
Not all childhood memories are happy. For many of us there are memories of being jeered at, belittled or being ignored. Most children accept such treatment as typical, but it should not be so. As a Christian there is no reason to explain our past actions or to make excuses. Our past is covered by the blood of Christ and should not be a problem for us.
Living after the Spirit is knowing that spiritual life comes from the Spirit. You get your genes from your parents, but God gives you grace. You can blame your parents for the shortcomings of your body, but God has taken charge of your heart. You might get your good looks from your mother, but you get eternity from your Father, your Heavenly Father. God can give you what your family can not. He gives you the power to walk by the Spirit under the lordship and in the power of Christ.
Your heart is like a fertile greenhouse, ready to produce good fruit. However, you must know that your mind is the doorway to your heart. In your mind you determine which seeds are sown and which seeds are discarded. Now walking after the Spirit is involved.
When you live by your new nature in the power of the Spirit, God’s desire is your desire. But, because we are still saddled with the old nature, the old self, we are sometimes tempted to resist God’s will. It is important for us to have our minds set on the Spirit. Only then do we know real life and peace.
Living it: Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, having the mind of Christ.
Mary McCalister
Matthew 6:31-33
Follow Divine Priorities
KEY VERSE: “But
seek ye first the
Worry is probably one of the worst of the human traits. Jesus said, in essence, do not worry about what you are going to eat or drink and what you are going to wear. Your Heavenly Father knows what you need and He will supply all your needs. In the light of His words, it is a sin to worry.
A down-to-earth professional baseball player once said, “Ain’t no sense worrying about things you got control over, because if you got control over them, ain’t no sense worrying. And there ain’t no sense worrying about things you got no control over either, because if you got no control over them, ain’t no sense worrying.”
The way to conquer the sin of worry is to get your
priorities right. Jesus said two extremely important things, “Seek ye first the
At a cathedral in
Living it: Live your life with joy—Jesus first—others next—you last.
Mary McCalister
1 John 4:7-12
Manifesting Love
KEY VERSE: “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us,” 1 John 4:12.
Enough love to save a marriage is not within us. Enough devotion to preserve a friendship cannot be found in our hearts. We need help from an outside source. Would we love as God loves? We start by receiving God’s love.
Preachers speak long and loud, “Love one another. Be patient, kind, forgiving.” But instructing people to love without telling them they must first know the love of God is getting the cart before the horse. God’s greatest desire is to make us right with Him.
To see the love demonstrated in that desire is to
look on a stone—cropped hill outside
Second Corinthians 2:8 states, “Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.” John 3:16 teaches us how God proved His love—He gave His only Son as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. When we have God’s love in our hearts, we prove our love by loving one another and demonstrating that love in tangible ways.
Living it: They will know we are Christians by our love.
Mary McCalister
Isaiah 26:3, 4
The Source of Perfect Peace
KEY VERSE: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee,” Isaiah 26:3.
Never has there been a greater cry for peace than we hear today. And never have there been more solutions offered to bring peace to the world. Most of these solutions require man to compromise. None of them include God in their plans.
We have mastered many diseases of the body, conquering some of the worst plagues. Then a new plague arises to trouble mankind. Today it is the plague of Aids, and there seems to be no real solution. For some, deliverance from such a plague would be peace.
The word peace appears first in Genesis 15:15 and is found countless other times throughout the Old Testament. It is found in all the New Testament books except 1 John. We can see how important peace is from this.
Let me put you on the spot and challenge you to define peace. It is not always easy, because it means different things to different people. Calmness, serenity or absence of war may come to mind. We cannot have all these in our lives at all times. How do we attain peace?
The prophet is so clear. He has told us God will keep in perfect peace the one whose mind is stayed on Him and remains steadfast and unmoveable in faith and trust. Trust in God to keep you. Let God do it. You can rest in peace, relying on His promises. Why? Because “the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (Isa. 26:4).
Living it: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:...Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:27).
Mary McCalister
John 16:33
In Him There Is Peace
KEY VERSE: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,” John 16:33.
These words of Christ seem almost contradictory. Peace in a world filled with tribulation? Yes, indeed! Christ promised, “I have overcome the world.”
The peace of Christ comes with trust that He will bless us as we serve Him, even when our service seems to fail. It is the peace of confidence in God when all the forces of the universe seem to be working for Satanic ends. It is the peace that helps us accept unexplained mysteries, bear heartbreaking sorrows, see natural instincts thwarted, holy aspirations unrealized, Christlike purposes broken off, and yet, be unperturbed. It is the peace of all those who have given their lives for causes too high and sacred for immediate success and who have yet been able to believe that even their failures are being overruled by God for good.
“Be of good cheer.” Can you imagine how these words must have puzzled the disciples? Jesus had just told them He was going away. “How can we be of good cheer?” would have been my question. They were losing their Lord, their Master, their leader. How could they be of good cheer? It means to have courage, to be confident, to be certain of the future. The disciples learned to be all these things, and it is a lesson we, too, must learn.
We learn it by knowing that Christ is with us (Matt. 18:20). We learn it by relying on the leadership of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13).
Living it: Romans 8:28 gives you peace—believe it!
Mary McCalister
Hebrews 4:12, 13
The Indwelling Word
KEY VERSE: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart,” Hebrews 4:12.
We welcome the truth that the Holy Spirit indwells the believer. But are we as comfortable having the Word in dwelling our hearts. This is not something that takes place automatically. It takes activity on our part—reading and meditating on the Word of God.
God’s Word is the perfect discerner, the perfect critic, exposing the thoughts and intents of the heart. God’s Word analyzes all the facts perfectly, as well as all motives and intentions, which even the wisest judge or psychiatrist cannot do. In fact, psychiatrists would love to possess this skill.
Do not trifle with God. His Word is alive and constantly active. It can pierce the innermost part of the heart, separating the heart and soul, and laying bare all our thoughts and motives.
The writer of Hebrews certainly knew nothing about couch therapy but he skillfully described the process involved. He wrote in verse 13 that the Word of God would open and lay bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. We will be standing face-to-face with our Judge (1 Cor. 4:5).
Living it: Never think you can put anything over on God. He knows all about you.
Mary McCalister
Ephesians 5:25-29
Loving Like Christ
KEY VERSE: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it,” Ephesians 5:25.
In the world today, marriage is almost a dirty word. Famous couples have children out of wedlock and have no intention of ever marrying. President Bush’s attempts to take a stand on the sanctity of marriage and the home are belittled and made fun of, accusing him of using this as a ploy to get people’s minds off the war in Iraq.
When we realize that marriage was important enough for God to use it as an example of Christ’s relationship to His church, we should be more sober in our assessment.
How interesting it is that Paul said more to husbands than to wives about the responsibilities of marriage. As Adam was given God’s instructions in the Garden of Eden, and, as he was responsible for the fall, not Eve, so the husband bears a great responsibility in the marriage.
If a husband loves his wife as Christ loved the church, his love will be a sacrificial love. As Christ’s love sanctifies a church, even so the husband’s love should sanctify his wife and set her apart, as the sole object of his enduring love. His love should also be a satisfying love (verses 31-33). Paul cited Genesis 2:24, writing, “A man...shall be joined unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh.”
Living it: Marriage should be until death do us part, not until something better comes along.
Mary McCalister
1 Peter 3:1-7
Wives and Husbands
KEY VERSE: “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives,” 1 Peter 3:1.
If a husband and wife live by all that is expressed in this prayer, they will fulfill the teaching Peter gave.
Our gracious Heavenly Father, who has given the supreme gift of love to us, we thank You for each other. We thank You for the love that has bound our hearts and lives together and made us husband and wife.
As we enter upon the privileges and joys of life’s most holy relationship and begin together the great adventure of building a Christian home, we thank You for all the hopes that make the future bright. Teach us the fine art of living together unselfishly that, loving and being loved, blessing and being blessed, we may find our love ever filled with a deeper harmony as we learn more perfectly to share it through the years.
Help us to keep the candles of faith and prayer always burning in our home. Be our guest at every meal, our guide in every plan and our guardian in every temptation.
None can know what the future holds. We ask only that we may love, honor and cherish each other always and so live together in faithfulness and patience that our lives will be filled with joy and the home which we are establishing may become a haven of blessing and a place of peace. Amen.
Living it: “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matt. 19:6).
Mary McCalister
1 Peter 4:7, 8
Focusing on the Essentials
KEY VERSE: “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer,” 1 Peter 4:7.
When you read this, do you think, how could Peter make such a statement when, two thousand years later, the end has not yet come? Peter was looking at world history more as God looks at it. He was looking at redemptive history, knowing that all the previous acts of God in redemption had been accomplished—creation, fall, redemption extended to Adam and mankind, the Abrahamic Age, the Law Age and the history of the kingdom of Israel, the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit to be with the New Testament church.
The church age had been in existence for about thirty years and will continue until the gospel is carried “unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). In that sense, the end was at hand. There was nothing more for God to accomplish in His plan of redemption until the end came.
So, if all the redemption plan has been accomplished, and we are awaiting Christ’s return, how should we live in the interim? Peter lists several steps for us to follow.
1. Be sober. We might say, stay awake and alert.
2. Watch. Know the signs and watch for them.
3. Be prayerful. Have an attitude of prayer, always saying, “Thy will be done in earth” (Matt. 6:10).
4. Have fervent love for one another. This commandment is found all through Christ’s teaching.
Living it: Show how much you await His coming by being sober, watchful, prayerful and loving.
Mary McCalister
Psalm 55:16, 17
Faithful Prayer
KEY VERSE: “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice,” Psalm 55:17.
How long has it been since you faced a situation where you prayed for God’s help morning, noon and night? This was normal for David, because he suffered greatly at the hands of his enemies. But this time his suffering was greater because he was betrayed, not by the enemy, but by a man he considered his equal, a companion and a close friend.
What can we learn from this passionate entreaty by David? We can learn to expect the unexpected and to remain firm in the belief that the Lord is in control of our lives. If we are experiencing suffering and anguish, we can rejoice. We can learn something of what Christ endured for us.
In the midst of his anguish, David felt the affirming hand of God in his life. Since God has not changed, we can have the same assurance of His care and compassion for us.
God heard David’s cries of distress, evening, morning and noon (verse 17). He was able to save David (verse 16) and He is able to deliver us as well.
What a God! He will not forsake the righteous (verse 22). We need only to cast our burdens on the Lord and He will see us through all our trials. Say, with David, “I will trust in thee” (verse 23).
Living it: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
Mary McCalister
1 Thessalonians 5:17, 18
Pray Without Ceasing
KEY VERSE: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you,” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
Joni Eareckson Tada, a Christian writer, artist and speaker is a good example of one who experienced the “every thing” we are instructed to give thanks for in life. Because of an accident, she became a paraplegic, confined to a wheelchair for life. After medical personnel informed her that regaining the use of her hands and legs was hopeless, she investigated every possible hope, reaching the conclusion that God could heal her, but that He does not will to heal all those who pray for His healing. After a great struggle, she accepted that her problem was her “every thing” and learned to give thanks for it. We must learn the same lesson in our lives, knowing that whatever circumstances surround us, this is God’s will for us. Paul said we should give thanks for all things (Eph. 5:20).
Are you getting the message Paul wanted to give? He said, “Pray without ceasing” (verse 17). That praying is not to be give to me prayers alone, but prayers of thanksgiving to God because He is working out His will in our lives for our good and His glory. Learn to rely on the promise in Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” In the same chapter Paul stated: “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (verse 11).
Living it: As breathing is the physical response to the need for air, so praying should be our spiritual response to God.
Mary McCalister
Psalm 90:10-12
Make Your Days Count!
KEY VERSE: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom,” Psalm 90:12.
Children love blowing soap bubbles. They float in the air like iridescent Christmas ornaments, only to disappear a second later. Later on it is cotton candy at a fair and with one bite into the tantalizing pink confection, it dissolves in the mouth almost immediately. We learn early in life there are many fleeting illusions.
This psalm, a prayer written by Moses, teaches us that our earthly existence is like that sparkling soap bubble or that frothy confection. Like the grass which grows up in the morning and wilts and dies in the heat of the sun, our lives are fleeting indeed. Recognizing how fleeting our lives are, Moses asked God to teach us to number our days (to make our days count for something).
It is always good to remember that though our lives are transitory, God is eternal and infinite, “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 90:2).
We need to reorder our priorities and make sure every moment of every day will be spent wisely, in preparation for the glorious life to come. When we are plagued by uncertainty about the future, by insecurity in the present and by guilt about the past, we need to focus on the unchanging God, who remains ever the same—omnipotent, infinite and eternal. In Him we can find rest.
Living it: Thank God that, though your years on this earth may be brief, you will have an eternity in which to sing His praises.
Mary McCalister
James 1:5
The Source of Wisdom
KEY VERSE: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him,” James 1:5.
A young new president of a bank, feeling his shortcomings, asked his predecessor for the key to his success. The older man said, “Two words—good decisions.”
The young man asked, “How do you know what the good decisions are?”
The older man answered, “One word—experience.”
“How do you get experience?” the young man asked.
“Two words, young man: bad decisions.”
That is why James said, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God”(James 1:5). It is most important that, first, we recognize our lack of wisdom, and second, we ask God for His wisdom. To do so and to follow His wisdom is a sign of Christian maturity. No one wants to be a baby all his life either physically or spiritually.
What are the steps to Christian maturity James lists?
1. Trials: you benefit from them because they help you develop patience.
2. Temptation: you learn to resist temptation by relying on God for His help.
3. Truth: the truth of God’s Word sets you free from error. It is God’s desire that we know His truth and take our place as the firstfruits of His creation.
4. Tongue: know the power of your tongue. Know how to use it to direct and delight, not to defile and destroy.
Living it: Knowledge is proud that it knows so much. Wisdom is humble that it knows no more.
Mary McCalister
Psalm 37:30, 31
Speaking in Wisdom
KEY VERSE: “The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment,” Psalm 37:30.
How careful are you about what you say? The psalmist stated that the righteous speak wisdom and talk of judgment, or justice. So, how righteous is your speech? An anonymous poem reads:
If all that we say in a single day,
With never a word left out,
Were printed each night, in clear black and white,
’Twould prove queer reading, no doubt.
And then just suppose ere one’s eyes he could close,
He must read the record through.
Then wouldn’t one sigh, and wouldn’t one try,
A great deal less talking to do?
And I more than half think that many a kink
Would be smoothed in life’s tangled thread,
If one half that we say in a single day
Were left forever unsaid.
God has given man alone the gift of speech. And speech is more than the mere emitting of sounds like the crashing of thunder, the rippling of waves, or the whistling of the wind. Because God has given us this gift, He holds us responsible for what we say. As righteous children of God, we should speak only what is wise and what is just. Keep the Law of God in your heart, and He will help you.
Living it: “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3).
Mary McCalister
Psalm 71:15-18
Wise Use of Time
KEY VERSE: “My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof,” Psalm 71:15.
A farmer was awakened in the middle of the night when his clock went on a rampage and struck seventeen. He rushed all over the house waking everybody up shouting, “Get up! It’s later than it ever has been before!”
This is laughable, but it is later than we think. We do not know what time it is on God’s clock, so it behooves us to make good use of our time. Job said, “Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?” (Job 7:1).
The wise man wrote of time, saying, “I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work” (Eccl. 3:17). Speaking of time, Paul said, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Rom. 13:11.
It is important that we take time to pray because it helps bring God near. Take time for friends because this is the source of happiness. Take time to love for it makes life richer. Take time for work for it is the price of success. Take time to read your Bible for it presents Jesus, the Bread of Life. Take time to worship, for it shows our reverence for God. Take time to laugh for joy is the cure for many ills.
Living it: “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16).
Mary McCalister
Ephesians 6:18
Pray and Watch
KEY VERSE: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints,” Ephesians 6:18.
It is fitting that Paul would end this precious book on love with an admonition to pray always? He recognized that prayer gives us the energy to do all other things we are admonished to do. First, what does it mean to pray always? Not that we are saying nothing but prayers, but that we are in constant communication with the Lord—in a sense leaving our spiritual cell phones plugged in so we can communicate with Him instantly.
Notice the different forms our prayers are to take: prayer, supplication, intercession and thanksgiving (1 Tim. 2:1). First, we must begin with prayer, a formal conversation with God. Then we should make our requests known to Him. This is not because He does not know what we need, but because it shows our dependence on Him to supply those needs. “Watch and pray” (Matt. 26:41) is a familiar combination in the New Testament. We should watch for the opposition of Satan, and we should watch for the coming of the Lord.
Perseverance means “not to give up.” How often do we pray, give up and then are surprised when God answers the prayer? “For all saints” (Eph. 6:18). It is important for us to pray for one another. Paul needed the prayers of the saints, and we do, too.
Living it: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2).
Mary McCalister