Your Daily Crossroad
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May '19
Our God, A Warrior
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May '19
The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. (Isaiah 42:13)
When you see pictures of Jesus, do they often depict Him as a warrior? Do they ever show Him defeating his enemies? Probably not. Generally, he is longingly gazing heavenward, holding a child or a lamb. Isaiah, however, is very clear about our God: He is a warrior. In fact, Revelation 19:12-16 reveals what He will look like when He “shows Himself mighty against His foes”:
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
This may appear to contradict what we are called to do as Christians. For example, Jesus instructed, we are to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39), go the extra mile (Matthew 5:41), give up our coat (Matthew 5:42), love our enemies (Matthew 5:44), and show mercy (Matthew 5:7). How can we do this when our God is called “a man of war” whose robe is dipped in blood? We are freed to do this as Christians because it isn’t our job to judge God’s enemies or make them pay the wages of their sin! We are to love them so that they may come to worship this warrior God.
While our God is holy and just, He is also merciful. Merciful, even to the point of sacrificing His only Son that we, His enemies, may be made into friends. We can weather hardships, trials, and injustice done to us because we know that our God is coming back to “judge the living and the dead” (2 Timothy 4:1), and He will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
Do you try to judge others instead of loving them and letting God be their judge?
What a powerful devotion. I love how it depicted just how powerful God is and yet so loving and merciful. He is coming back one day and my prayer is that you are ready to stand before Him as a warrior for Christ. Search my heart oh God and find me ready, I want to be a part of that army following Him on a white horse.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Proverbs 4:23
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May '19
The Point of No Return
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May '19
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body . . . (James 3:6)
It wasn’t as simple as just crossing another river. By law, no Roman general could lead armed troops into Rome. So when Julius Caesar led his Thirteenth Legion across the Rubicon River and into Italy in 49 bc, it was an act of treason. The impact of Caesar’s decision was irreversible, generating years of civil war before Rome’s great general became absolute ruler. Still today, the phrase “crossing the Rubicon” is a metaphor for “passing the point of no return.”
Sometimes we can cross a relational Rubicon with the words we say to others. Once spoken, words can’t be taken back. They can either offer help and comfort or do damage that feels just as irreversible as Caesar’s march on Rome. James gave us another word picture about words when he said, “the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell” (James 3:6).
When we fear we have crossed a Rubicon with someone, we can seek their forgiveness—and God’s (Matthew 5:23–24; 1 John 1:9). But even better is to daily rest in God’s Spirit, hearing Paul’s challenge, “let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6), so that our words will not only honor our Lord, but lift up and encourage those around us.
Lord, please guard my heart and my words today. May I speak only words that please You and bring health and healing to others. Amen.
As I was reading today’s devotion I couldn’t help but think of our children and the coming generation. We must do as scripture says and let our speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt. Our future generation, our children need an example to follow after. So the next time you get angry, hurt or frustrated in the moment, remember this, when words become weapons, our relationships soon become casualties. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit (Proverbs 15:4).
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Matthew 18:6
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May '19
The Crooked Steeple
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May '19
My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness . . . (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Turns out that crooked church steeples make people nervous. When we visited some friends, they shared how, after a fierce windstorm, their church’s proud steeple was crooked, causing some alarm.
Of course, the church quickly repaired the flagging spire, but the humorous image got me thinking. Often church is seen as a place where everything is expected to look perfect; it’s not seen as a place where we can show up crooked. Right?
But in a fallen, broken world, all of us are “crooked,” each with our own collection of natural weaknesses. We might be tempted to keep our vulnerabilities under wraps, but Scripture encourages the opposite attitude. In 2 Corinthians 12, for example, Paul suggests that it’s in our weaknesses—for him, an unnamed struggle he calls a “thorn in the flesh” (v. 7)—that Christ is most likely to reveal His power. Jesus had told Paul, “my strength is made perfect in weakness” (v. 9). So Paul concluded, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (v. 10).
We may not like our imperfections, but hiding them only denies Jesus’s power to work within those aspects of ourselves. When we invite Jesus into the crooked places in us, He gently mends and redeems in ways our effort could never accomplish.
What are some of the “crooked” places in your life? In what ways have you seen God work through your imperfections?
Dear God, enlighten what’s dark in me, strengthen what’s weak in me, mend what’s broken in me, bind what’s bruised in me, heal what’s sick in me and lastly revive whatever peace and love has died in me. Amen.
I love today’s devotion. We are all imperfect, loved by a perfect God. Invite Jesus into your imperfections for His mending.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Galatians 5:13
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May '19
Throwing Stones
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May '19
He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. (John 8:7)
Jesus was teaching in the temple courts when He made that statement. A group of teachers of the law and Pharisees had just dragged a woman caught in adultery before Him and challenged, “now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?” (v. 5). Because they considered Jesus a threat to their authority, the question was “a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him” (v. 6)—and getting rid of Him.
Yet when Jesus replied, “he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone . . .” not one of the woman’s accusers could bring themselves to pick up a stone. One by one, they walked away.
Before we critically judge another’s behavior while looking lightly at our own sin, let’s remember that all of us “have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Instead of condemnation, our Savior showed this woman—and you and me—grace and hope (John 3:16; 8:10–11). How can we not do the same for others?
How can you put the lesson of John 8 into action in how you treat others? How can you use your own experience to help others facing similar challenges?
Dear Lord, thank You for loving us! Help us to look with compassion on others and to be gracious in all we say and do. Amen.
When I read this devotion I was reminded of a saying, be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Today, look with compassion on others and be gracious in all you say and do. Judging a person does not define who they are, It defines who you are. Choose to show The Love of Christ each and every day. Put the stones down and make a positive difference, we rise by lifting others.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 2 Corinthians 4:16