Virtual Devotions

“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:7

Dear Friends,

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote how we as Christians should set ourselves apart from the rest of the world in our behavior that we should not succumb to the use of obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking.  That devotional was inspired by a question my oldest daughter asked.  Apparently, the children in her school use foul language and she asked why we shouldn’t.

The simple fact that it is God’s expectation of his children to have clean mouths should be answer enough, but Paul gives us an even deeper understanding in his letter to the Thessalonians.  Paul’s call for us to live a holy life comes in between two aspects of the Thessalonian letter.

Paul begins the letter by speaking of the present state of the Thessalonians.  He is thankful to God for their faith and he longs to see them again after hearing Timothy’s encouraging report about them.  There faith is exemplified in their present holy living.

He goes on to speak of the future of the Second Coming of the Lord and how we should be ready for His return at anytime.  Living a holy life is how we should be found on that day.  And not only that, but since we will be caught up with the Lord at His coming and will be with Him forever, we should be living a holy life in accordance with our eternal life with the Lord, an eternal life that is not only in the future, but is presently realized.

In Christ,

David

“Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” – Mark 2:27

Dear Friends,

Each year about this time, my brothers and I compete in our annual wood-splitting contest.  The contest was originated as a time for us to get together in memory of our oldest brother, John, who died seven years ago.  While the purpose is to get together in brotherly love, the focus often turns to the trophy, the Golden Wedge.

But lately, it seems the contest has taken on a purpose of its own and along with the Golden Wedge, has become an idol of sorts.  We have come to covet the contest, guarding it from those outside the family, even suggesting that spectators should not be allowed as if it were some sacred, secret ritual.  All of these suggestions come with a good intention to preserve what was begun in memory of our brother, but somewhere along the way these suggestions have become a burden.

The same was true of the Pharisees attitude toward the Sabbath and other ceremonial and civil laws.  In an attempt to help people better follow the law, they heaped on their own interpretations and traditions that burdened the people.  And these traditions became an idol unto themselves, coveted by the Pharisees, and blotting out the good intention of God.

Jesus corrected them and brought the true intent back to the law.  The law was meant to be a guide for holy living given by God, not a burden of tradition given by men.  In this, the Sabbath was meant as a day of rest, not as a day to grow weary trying to keep the traditions that prove you are resting.

It is easy for us to make an idol out of anything if it takes on greater significance than it should.  I pray that my brothers and I will remember the true intent of our annual gathering.  The more we focus on the contest and winning the Golden Wedge, the less we focus on our departed brother.

Maybe this is why the holidays are so trying on so many people.  Do we focus too much on the trouble of traveling, the quality of the turkey, who is coming to dinner and if there is going to be tension between family members again this year, or do we remember that the intent of the day is to give thanks to God because we have arrived safely, have food on the table, have friends to share it with and family, whom though not perfect, are still our family.

In Christ,

David

 “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” – Ephesians 5:4

Dear Friends,

One of the definitions of the word “holy” is “set apart for sacred use.”  I believe this is the primary intent of the many rules for living that we find in the Bible.  And God’s word tells us to “Be holy, as I am holy.”   In essence, we are to be set apart from the world.

For this reason, it should be apparent to those around you if you are a Christian.  Take this verse we have from the apostle Paul to the Ephesians.  From it we can deduce that even 2,000 years ago, society engaged in the similar crude remarks that many of us find so offensive today.

But as we examine ourselves, we need to consider how often we engage in this type of talk ourselves.  Do you find yourself around the water cooler at work listening to crude jokes or foolish talk?  Do you then pass them on? And how often do we hear obscenities?  Or worse, how often do we use them ourselves?

Certainly, there are many rules for living in the Bible and at times they can seem daunting.  But this exhortation to use clean language shouldn’t be that difficult for the believer.   Let me encourage you to be aware of your language this week.  Listen to what you say, when you say it and to whom you say it.  And not just verbal language, but written as well.  Consider the things that people send to you in email.  You may pick up patterns of bad behavior that can be broken once identified.

It is my hope for you that the day will come when someone apologizes to you for using bad language in front of you and you stand firm in your faith and tell someone that you really don’t want to hear a crude joke.  Remember, out of the mouth comes the overflow of your heart.  Let your heart overflow with Christ.

In Him,

David