My Daily Pause

Category: Devotional

  • Bearing the Fruit of the Spirit

    Bearing the Fruit of the Spirit

    As I read through Matthew, (and listening again via audio book) I can’t help but wonder how I would have reacted when Jesus walked up to me and told me to follow him. The disciples had successful businesses and they were in good standing in their community – The kind of lives you don’t just walk away from.

    To top it off, they were asked to keep making these adjustments in their lives. Jesus sent them out to teach with literally nothing but the clothes on their back. (Matthew 10:5-15)

    They were warned there would be persecution. (Matthew 10:16-17)

    They had to go and say things that would not be popular among those they taught.

    I found this about the disciples in Burton Coffman’s commentaries:

    These men were not princes of the blood, but fishermen, a tax collector, and followers of other ordinary occupations. They were industrious, more than ordinarily successful in business, keen of mind, sensitive of soul, honest, perceptive, and courageous. They were ambitious, hard-working men, an excellent lot indeed; but apparently they possessed no skills or talents of an extraordinary nature. They were men most remarkably like the best men of any stable community anywhere on earth, peculiarly fitted to be the chosen representatives of all mankind, and eminently qualified for the possession of that power and dignity to which the Master called and elevated them.

    These look like qualities of the kind of people that are easy to follow. When Paul told us there is no law against bearing the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), when he told the Philippians to act the way they saw him act, (Philippians 4:9) I have no doubt that he meant for us to work toward becoming people like this.

    Yes, it’s a lot to ask.

    It’s not very easy.

    But the payoff is outstanding!

    So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 10:32-33

    Daily Bible reading for July 1

    Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
    Deuteronomy 32:48-33:29
    Nahum 2:1-3:4
    Matthew 10

  • Praying for Our Labors

    Praying for Our Labors

    Previously, I outlined my suggestions for daily Bible study. A key ingredient to an effective study is prayer. When we invite God into our efforts he will provide us with the wisdom we lack (James 1:5)

    When Jesus was about to send the disciples out to teach, he asked them to pray for the harvest. (Matthew 9:35-38) As his followers, one of our biggest opportunities is to go out and teach and make others aware of him. (Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:2) This is a big responsibility! Whether it is for Bible studies, door knocking, vacation Bible schools or even our routine worship service we need to follow Jesus example and pray for the laborers.

    Daily Bible Reading for June 30

    Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
    Deuteronomy 31:30-32:47
    Nahum 1
    Matthew 9

  • Nothing New Here

    Nothing New Here

    Congratulations USA!

    Not only do you have the hard fought right to kill your unborn babies, you now protect a group of people that choose to sodomize each other. You’re even going to pay the “healthcare” costs for those that do it!

    The desire to tear out the moral fabric of a nation is nothing new. Since the beginning of time, man has forgotten the darkness that debauchery brings to his life and community. Here are a few to refresh our memory:

    • Noah was the 10th generation from Adam. By then God had already decided the world needed a fresh start (Genesis 6)
    • Abram had to rescue Lot from Sodom (Genesis 14) and then God had to (Genesis 19)
    • Jonah fled from Nineveh. They were so bad he didn’t want God to forgive them when he convinced them to repent. (Jonah 4)
    • Jeremiah said that Israel had gotten so bad that couldn’t even blush anymore (Jeremiah 6:15)
    • Paul reprimanded the Corinthian church for embracing incest (1 Corinthians 5)

    Here’s how it happened over and over from the beginning:

    1. God made himself well-known and easy to find (Romans 1:19-20)
    2. People chose to ignore that and their hearts went dark (Romans 1:21)
    3. They thought they were smarter than God and embraced foolishness (Romans 1:22)
    4. God gave up on them (Romans 1:24)
    5. With God gone, their heart filled with debasement (Romans 1:26-32)

    When Solomon said “there is nothing new under the sun”, He meant it! (Ecclesiastes 1:4-11)

    So America, as you celebrate your “victory”, don’t be surprised when you get what you paid for.

    Daily Bible reading for June 29

    Ecclesiastes 1:4-11
    Deuteronomy 31:1-29
    Micah 7:14-20
    Matthew 8

  • Falling for Anything

    Falling for Anything

    Jesus wraps up the Sermon on the Mount with a pair of similes comparing his words to structural foundation choices. (Matthew 7:24-27)

    Since that time and most especially now, Jesus’ words are not given the credit they deserve. The value of the lives of our unborn and our aged, the strength of a family as designed by God or being recognized by the fruit we bear are no longer the focus of the world. Those with worldly influence would have us build our houses on the sand. (Matthew 7:26)

    The good news is that those of us who are building on the rock, those that are trying to follow Jesus’ teachings, have the promise of the strength to withstand the world. Those who follow the worldly attitudes – the shifting sands of fun and fashion – have given themselves to be pushed around by the tides of whatever is new or what’s “cool.”

    As the cliché goes, they will fall for anything because they stand for nothing.

    Take an extra few minutes today and read the Sermon on the Mount straight through – even if you have already. These basic building blocks are the key to making the rest of the gospel work for us.

    Daily Bible reading for June 28

    Ecclesiastes 1:1-3
    Deuteronomy 30:11-20
    Micah 7:1-13
    Matthew 7:13-29

  • The Good Wife

    The Good Wife

    It is hard to find a good wife,
    because she is worth more than rubies.

    Her husband trusts her completely.
    With her, he has everything he needs.

    …

    She is strong and is respected by the people.
    She looks forward to the future with joy.

    She speaks wise words
    and teaches others to be kind.

    She watches over her family
    and never wastes her time.

    Her children speak well of her.
    Her husband also praises her,
    saying, “There are many fine women,
    but you are better than all of them.”

    Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you,
    but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised.
    Give her the reward she has earned;
    she should be praised in public for what she has done.

    – Proverbs 31:10-31 NCV

    At the beginning of man’s time, he knew something was missing in his life when there was no woman for him. (Genesis 2:18-20) God knew that out of everything he created, this situation was not good. As he took steps to fill in what was missing, he noted his intention that she be considered one and the same as her husband. (Genesis 2:22) A godly woman can be the difference for her husband’s salvation. (1 Peter 3:1-2)

    A vast majority of the women of young America fit the Proverbs 31 description. They pioneered this land and made it the great Christian nation that it is. They were responsible for its growth, godliness, and family values. It is no wonder that we see these things deteriorating right before us as the nation continues to devalue the family as God designed it.

    It is too bad that there are those that think they can do better with a mate other than what Proverbs 31 describes. They are turning their backs on the very beauty of God!

    Daily Bible reading for June 27

    Proverbs 31:10-31
    Deuteronomy 29:1-30:10
    Micah 6
    Matthew 7:1-12

  • How to Get Enough

    How to Get Enough

    Greed has two daughters
    named ‘Give’ and ‘Give.’

    There are three things that are never satisfied,
    really four that never say, ‘I’ve had enough!’:
    the cemetery, the childless mother,
    the land that never gets enough rain,
    and fire that never says, ‘I’ve had enough!’ – Proverbs 30:15-16 NCV

    A lot of people who are already wealthy, spend too much time trying to gain more wealth. All of that time wasted and they will never know how to be rich! Focusing on material things has no end except the kind of greed and covetousness described here. Paul recommended that we flee these things and “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11).

    It is best to concentrate on contentment, learn to be generous, grow from godliness. When you do, the spiritual void in your heart shrinks. There will no longer be a need to fill it with things that do not have everlasting substance (1 Timothy 6:6-8). Imagine getting everything you ever wanted by giving away as much as you can! (1 Timothy 6:17-19)