Thirst

Posted on February 5, 2007 by gophumek | Permalink 0

Thirst
Jeremiah 2:13

If I’m thirsty, I usually go somewhere I can get a drink. That only makes sense, huh? An unnatural response to thirst is to go where there is no water. If I’m walking down a dusty road dying of thirst and in front of me appears a sign that reads “dry well that way” and “flowing water” this way, I’m going toward the flowing water, usually. However, Israel did the opposite in the time of Jeremiah. They tried to get water from their own broken cisterns. When I rebel against God, I try that magic act too and I always fail to quench my thirst.

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” – Jeremiah 2:13

Jeremiah was simply stating that Israel was traveling down the wrong road. He, in fact, is there to bring them back to God. Unfortunately, Jeremiah was the last person Israel wanted to listen to. How many of us have been in the same circumstance, going down the wrong road when we know it’s a dead end? We need to get back on the right path. God loves each of us. He is the ultimate guide and will never lead us astray. He wants us to have a natural response to our thirst. He wants us to drink from His spring of flowing water. That water is nice and cold on a day full of scorching struggles.  Drink up!

God's Love

Zach’s House

Posted on January 29, 2007 by gophumek | Permalink 0

Zach’s House
Luke 19:1-10

Zacchaeus was a wee little man. If being short is considered a problem, it was the smallest of his problems. He worked for the Roman government as a tax collector and he cheated the people. Even with these problems, he was interested in Jesus and Jesus was interested in him. But the people watching his incident in the sycamore tree and Jesus’ interaction with him were a little upset. They said “…What business does he (Jesus) have getting cozy with this crook?” (Luke 19:7 -The Message). Other Bible versions simply call Zacchaeus a sinner.

What right did Jesus have to eat at Zack’s house? All the people there would be sinners. Jesus answers this objection with the claim, “For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.” It’s a good thing Jesus would eat with sinners. There weren’t any other kind of people in Jesus’ day. There were folks who thought they were perfect, but they weren’t.

It’s sort of like today. We’ve got people in this world that think Jesus isn’t interested in them because of some extremely judgmental church experience. Some think Jesus wouldn’t want them because of how the media portrays all Christians, you know, as hypocrites. I sit here today and say it’s untrue. There are plenty of Christians who love and accept people no matter their status or lack thereof. Jesus did this and I see this as a growing trend in the Christian world. More and more congregations are modeling themselves after Zach’s house than as a sanctuary for perfect people.

You’re right, this idea of loving people no matter what hasn’t always been the case, but I sense a change is coming.

Belonging, Ministry

I’ve Seen that Mountain Lion

Posted on January 15, 2007 by gophumek | Permalink 0

I’ve Seen That Mountain Lion
1 Peter 5:8

One day in the mountains, a man went for a peaceful walk or so he thought. Unknown to him, a mountain lion was prowling around waiting to devour him. The man was attacked. He survived and is now a lot more careful while he walks in the mountains.

Now I wasn’t thinking of any particular man. I’m sure this has happened a number of times over the years. Peter wrote that the devil is like such a lion. He is ready to devour each and every one of us. Unfortunately in my life, I’ve tended to walk a little closer to the devil than I should. It’s like I’ve decided with my actions to make that lion’s leap a little less difficult. When I give in to impatience or anger, and numerous other bad habits, I sometimes get devoured.

Unlike the man in my fictitious story, I have yet to learn to be more careful while I walk through the mountains. In some areas of my life, I keep doing the same things wrong over and over. However, I refuse to beat myself up over that. But if Satan wants to do so, that is his prerogative. God loves me. I know that.  He loves to hear “I’m sorry.” God loves to see my baby steps in the right direction. I can see God holding his hands out, encouraging me to leave any area of sinful muck in my life. There he is now, calling, “Brian, c’mon. You can do it. Just a few more steps.”

Eventually, I’ll be out of reach of Satan’s leaping ability in certain areas of my life. Those areas will be conquered. They will belong firmly in God’s grasp. Getting out of Satan’s reach is not easy. It’s time consuming. It cannot be done solely by our own ability. We are better able to accomplish this with the help of others. While we don’t want others to struggle as we do, it is nice to know that we are not the only ones who are struggling with a particular issue.

Today, share your struggle with someone else. That sharing might help you and the other stay far from the reach of Satan.

Sin

How Godlike is a Cat’s Love?

Posted on January 8, 2007 by gophumek | Permalink 0

How Godlike is a Cat’s Love?
Romans 5:8

Sorry dog lovers, I’ve had at least one devo about a dog before. Now it’s time for one concerning a cat, my beloved dead cat Spunky.
 
I used to have a friend (I mean cat) named Spunky. He was my best friend for so many years. At the time he died, he had lived with me for over half my life. Spunky loved me no matter what. If I left him alone while I traveled, he loved me when I returned. If I neglected to clean his litter box for a week, he still loved me. I guess to a cat, not cleaning a litter box could be considered sinful behavior.  But Spunky still loved me. When I didn’t feed him when he wanted, he may have got mad, but he never stopped loving me.

I knew that he loved me because he always rubbed up against my leg, or my outstretched fingers and that’s when he said he loved me. He purred. No matter what I did to him. No matter how bad of a person I was to my friends or family, no matter how sad I was because of my problems, he loved me. I could have killed some guy for his tennis shoes and my cat Spunky would still rub up against me and purr, “I love you.” 

In reading a book by Brennen Manning titled “Ruthless Trust,” I have been reminded of God’s endless love for all of us, no matter what we do. This does not mean God is pleased with our every behavior. However, he always loves us. We can’t make God stop loving us, just like my cat Spunky. If I neglected to feed my cat, neglected to change his kitty litter, neglected to spend time with him, my cat would still love me although there might be times when he’d wonder if I felt the same for him.

Remember right now, God loves you no matter what. Even if you’re angry at him or neglecting him, God is still loving you. The big question is whether or not your behaviors and actions are making God wonder if you feel the same about him.

God's Love