Gluttony Vs. Grace
I used to be so glad someone decided to give out candy for Halloween. As a kid I would take a pillowcase trick or treating and usually end up sick from eating too much candy! Snickers and Skittles taste so good, but never really satisfied. What is meant for good turns into gluttony because I didn’t stop trying to find satisfaction after a couple treats.
Over my life I have learned this can happen spiritually also. I look to things to make me feel better instead of trusting in Jesus’ work to transform me. Therefore, a little candy (or a lot) will give a little enjoyment, before we crash and are left searching for satisfaction again.
That is why the host’s table in Psalm 23:5 is a beautiful picture. We see a table the Lord has prepared, full of what we need to fully satisfy our soul. Nothing can quite fill us like our relationship with Jesus, and he does all the work so we can be satisfied (Romans 5:8). Through His provision we are fulfilled, rested, and restored (2 Cor. 12:9).
I sometimes trade His table for treats that don’t fulfill. I don’t feel good enough to come to the table, I don’t belong at the table, what if I don’t want what He has prepared, or maybe I am afraid of the enemies that are around. I look to others or things to fill my need instead of going to His table and I end up a glutton because I am not letting His grace satisfy my soul. I keep reaching for things that keep me in a cycle of temporary enjoyment followed by a crash, but that is not what He wants.
Hebrews 4:15-16 reminds me that Jesus understands me and allows come to Him with confidence. His grace and mercy can help me move from just surviving on scraps and treats to find satisfaction in Him. Then I come to the table, no matter life’s circumstances, and am restored because He is giving me what I need. That frees me from the worries and stress of life (Romans 8:38-39).
When we try to fill our own soul, it’s gluttony; when we let God do it, it’s grace. His grace fully satisfies.
Jesus thank you for being there always, help me believe and trust in your grace to fully satisfy me. I love you, amen.
A Table of Love, Mercy and Grace
The word enemy is defined as one that is antagonistic to another, especially, seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound. There is no question that David faced enemies time after time on multiple fronts. As a shepherd boy he chased off lions and bears. As a young warrior he defeated a giant. As God’s anointed and the King of Israel he ran from men who sought to kill him.
Like David, many of us have faced real life external enemies who seek to destroy, but we can also attest to internal and spiritual battles that wage war for our souls. 1 Peter 2:11 says, “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.” These sinful desires are a result of the flesh and the presence of spiritual forces that seek to injure, overthrow and confound. Galatians 6:12 tells us, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” The spiritual realm is real and insidious. 1 Peter 5:8-9 admonishes, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith.”
Yet praise be to God! We have victory over these enemies through the blood of Jesus Christ! John 16:33 reminds us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Through His extravagant love, our Lord and Savior not only sustains us, but He prepares a bounty before us. He goes above and beyond what we can imagine, even in the midst of trials, temptation, and spiritual battles. Our enemies surround us; looking on as the story unfolds. They long to attack and accuse but instead God silences their mouths as they watch the Lord himself spreading our table and filling our souls with heaven’s delightful fare. No evil power can comprehend this kind of love, mercy, or grace.
Which of the enemies’ tools produce the most vulnerability in your own life? Is it doubt, fear, anxiety, addiction, co-dependency, anger, sexual immorality, slander, pride, depression, confusion, lies or distractions? Take some time to be honest with God about your struggles. Then thank Him for the forgiveness and provision that He makes available. Praise Him for the bounty that He has set before you and the victory that He has declared through Jesus!
God, forgive me, cleanse me and free me from the chains that the enemy desires to use to distract me. The battle has been won. Yours is the victory, now and forever. AMEN!
The Battle Is Not Yours, but God’s
Have you ever felt like you’re up against a “vast army?” Maybe it’s a struggle at work, with your family or even a health crisis. When we’re facing our personal “vast army” sometimes we itch to do something – anything. Other times, we might want to hide out and pretend the struggle doesn’t exist.
In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat discovers that not one, but THREE armies are coming after his kingdom. We’re told he’s “alarmed,” but then he goes straight to the Lord – and calls all his people to seek the Lord’s guidance through prayer and fasting.
One of the things I love about this story is that he doesn’t just start by pouring out his lists of requests to the Lord. Instead, he starts by praising the only One who could help. In verse 6 he prays, “You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.” Then in verse 12 he prays, “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
Isn’t that a beautiful prayer for all of us, no matter what we’re facing? Just as in Psalm 23, Jehoshaphat and his people trusted that God was going to take care of them in the presence of their enemies. Instead of tiptoeing quietly up to the enemy, Jehoshaphat and his soldiers went out singing praises to the Lord.
And what did those praising warriors find? A lot of dead bodies! Those three armies destroyed each other, leaving Jehoshaphat’s men to collect all the clothing, equipment and articles of value. God truly provided for them in the presence of their – newly deceased – enemies. Do we trust God to do this in our lives?
Lord, I praise You for being the ultimate Problem Solver. Forgive me when I go to fear instead of faith. You know my current situation. Help me keep my eyes on you and be ready to go out and face the enemy in Your strength and in Your perfect timing, because I know you will be with me. Amen.
The Host and the Feast
I grew up in Denver Bronco football country and I proudly wear the blue and orange. My loyalty is unwavering partially because I was a Colorado resident during all three of their Superbowl victories. I can remember the party we threw for the 2015 Superbowl like it was yesterday. My friends and I planned for two weeks. We invited guests. We set out to make amazing foods and great drinks. We wanted it to be a great party – and it was!
It’s interesting that when Jesus tells parables about the present and future kingdom of God, he often describes it as a feast. One with great food, music, and dancing (see Matthew 22:2). Imagine that heaven is one eternal celebration of life and that God is at the center as the great host. God is the one preparing the food, inviting guests, putting out the décor, and anticipating that his guests will have a great time.
Here’s the gospel plot twist that few saw coming: Jesus isn’t just the host; he is also the feast. It sounds akin to a turkey hosting Thanksgiving dinner. God is the party planner and he is also what’s on the menu. In what many have argued is one of the most offensive and misunderstood statements Jesus made, he called people to “eat his flesh and drink his blood.” (John 6:56) The people who had been following him walked away in disgust and confusion. It was fine for God to be the host, but they didn’t have a category for him to also be the main course.
Maybe the original story isn’t all that far off. The only difference would have been if I’d be invited to go to a Superbowl party hosted by the Broncos themselves. A party where they bought all the food and prepared the whole party, where we got to go for free, and where we then got to feast not only on their food, but on their victory! They would then be both the host and the feast – just like Jesus.
On the other side of the cross we recognize that through Jesus’ death and resurrection we are invited to find our life in God and to feast on his sacrifice. However, we can’t just admire him from a distance or add him as an accessory to our already nicely organized life. Jesus demands that we ingest him, that he permeates our whole being, and that his life becomes so intertwined with ours that we exhibit his aroma wherever we go. Today, pause and make on intentional step toward feasting on Jesus.
Comfort or Escape?
Where do you run for comfort and why? We’ve learned from Psalm 23 that sheep are timid and afraid when they find themselves alone or sense a predator. And what do they do—run! We all have different stress levels, can feel overwhelmed, and afraid at times depending on our life experience and the circumstances we find ourselves in. We need God’s comfort, but sometimes we just don’t want to face the reality of life, so we escape—we run away from the only true Source of what we need.
We live in a materialistic, fast paced world and many find escape from stress in comfort food, social media, binge watching Netflix, or there is the old saying, “when the going gets tough the tough go shopping!” Amazon on your phone makes that much too easy. I wish I could say that I’ve never run from the stress of life and escaped by doing any of those, but I honestly can’t. In and of themselves they may seem harmless, but if habitual, they can become so time consuming that our relationships suffer and most importantly our relationship with the Lord suffers. Those might seem harmless in comparison to drug, alcohol or relationship addictions that give people an escape from dealing with life, but are they really?
Our loving Good Shepherd longs for us to run to Him when we’re feeling overwhelmed, sad, depressed or scared. He wants to be our source of strength in the hard times we all face, and Jesus came to experience every human feeling and emotion we have so that we would know that He has felt the same things and understands. He created us, He knows us and “discerns our thoughts from afar” Psalm 139. If we know and trust His love for us, why wouldn’t we seek our comfort in Him?
When we run away from God’s protection, eventually we face the unpleasant consequences of our choices—wise parents know that is how children learn and God will allow consequences for the same purpose. It’s our choice to run to Him and find comfort and strength by talking to Him, reading scripture, and being still to listen so that we can hear His whispered words of wisdom. We can choose to run away from the hard stuff in life and our feelings, or we can run to our Good Shepherd—the Keeper of our soul, who gently instructs and tenderly comforts.
Meditate on Psalm 17:8 today. We don’t have to be afraid when we trust that God is in control.
Comfort in the Valley
The rod and the staff were the two tools of vigilant shepherds. The rod was a defensive weapon wielded against predators, while the staff was for the correction and restoration of fallen or wandering sheep. Distressed sheep would find comfort in the Shepherd’s gentle tap of the staff, tenderly reminding it of his nearness and protection. At other times the Shepherd used the crook of his staff to draw the wandering sheep back to the right path of safety.
Is your soul at rest today, finding comfort in God’s protection and care for you? Sometimes I find myself struggling to rest in the Spirit’s vigilant watch over me in the dark places of my life. Then the loving tap of the Shepherd’s staff at my side reminds me that He is near and will be faithful to guide me through the valley.
Years ago, my family had the privilege of welcoming several children into our hearts and lives through foster care. Since significant neglect was a common reality for most of them before coming to live in our home, establishing a sense of safety and security was our primary focus in the first days and weeks. Bedtime, mealtime and playtime routines all needed to be introduced. New behaviors needed to be learned. Correction was sometimes needed.
Who could blame these little ones for not being quick to trust that our intentions were good, or that we would protect them? They had learned not to trust and didn’t understand healthy boundaries.
So, there were tantrums, and angry rages, and tears.
Then slowly, they began to settle into the care of our home. They began to trust that we would not leave them or let them go hungry. They learned that our rules helped to keep them safe and healthy.
There was a sweetness in watching them gradually settle in and find comfort in our home. They had learned that we could be trusted to provide the loving care they needed.
Do you find comfort in the correction and guidance that God’s Word provides? Are you learning to trust that God will be faithful to work through the circumstances of your life to make you more like Jesus?
How have you seen the Lord as a good and loving Shepherd whose every intention toward you is good?
The Goodness of Guardrails
As you drive down the Pacific Coast Highway, one of the most scenic and beautiful drives in the states, there are many places you become thankful and at the same time terrified at the presence of guardrails. Of course, the guardrails are there for your protection since there are many places along the drive that are winding and narrow and one mistake could leave you with a car doing its best impression of a submarine.
As we walk along the journey of faith, we have the guardrails of God to help guide us and protect us and help us along the journey. David says in Psalm 23, that the rod and the staff comfort him. The staff was used to guide the sheep along the path, the path that led towards green pastures and still waters. The path that God uses to restore and refresh our souls. You see, guardrails are there for our benefit. However, I find myself quite often fighting against them because they inhibit my view of what I think freedom is! If I want to drive on the other side of the road, I should be able to. However, this isn’t how the roads were designed and it would put me in immediate danger. You see, the guardrails aren’t there to take away our freedom, they are there to help us live into the fullness of it.
Guardrails are designed to provide boundaries that help us to function and drive safely. God’s guardrails are designed to help provide boundaries as we navigate the journey of life. I love what the Psalmist says, “I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.” Isn’t this a true statement? When we come to understand that the Good Shepherd intends good for us and that’s God’s commands aren’t meant to confine us, but to set us free, it allows us to run the race fully as God intended us to run. Sometimes walking along the path that God has set out for us can feel like confinement, but when we’re in it we realize that it’s for our good.
So, here’s the question for us: what are the guardrails that you’re bumping up against? Where are the areas of life that maybe your trust in the commands and guardrails of the Good Shepherd are wearing a bit thin? Trust the process. Even in difficulty, your path or journey is not the destination. The Good Shepherd is leading you to green pastures and still waters, but when we don’t see where we’re headed trust becomes difficult. Trust the Good Shepherd. He has good plans for you.
Stretched
There was a toy we used to play with called Stretch Armstrong. It really is not an exciting toy, as it literally just stretches and goes back into place. That is the fun part, and we always wanted to see if we could stretch it so far it would finally snap! We tried so hard but could never get him to tear or snap under the tension of being stretched so much.
Sometimes I feel like Stretch Armstrong. Life pulls in different directions; one arm goes this way, a leg goes that way, and I feel like I’m about to come apart. Maybe for you it is financial stress, tension and worry from a serious illness, the tediousness of work, can’t find work, difficult kids, difficult parents, distance between you and your spouse, loneliness, not being enough, fear of failure, other deep seated lies--the list can go on and on. It is in those moments when I begin to cry out where is the Shepherd? Where is His rod and staff? Is He with me? Why don’t I see Him, why don’t I feel close? Then snap the tension overwhelms and causes me to break.
As much as I blame life’s tensions, the real issue might be my expectations. I expect God to work the way I want Him to. Can you relate? I want him to lead me in green pastures and never dark valleys. When the valley comes, when the enemy prowls, when I feel fear and God doesn’t do what I want, I feel like I’m going to snap under the tension.
BUT it’s being stretched in the tension that God works in us (1 Peter 1:6-7). He is refining, transforming, and molding (Romans 9:21). He does not waste the pain, the suffering, the heartache--no He takes out the imperfections, He straightens the crooked, He remains with us. He uses the tension and does things His way for our good even when it doesn’t feel like it. Jesus did something that did not make sense to this world, and He did it so even in the midst of the valley, the darkness, the tension, even in our incorrect expectations we could see light, we could be with Him, and be restored.
Read and rest in Hebrews 12:1-3. If you are being stretched, we are here for you.
Father we need you to make your power perfect in our weakness, allow us to accept your grace and may it be sufficient for today. Amen.
Tools of the Trade
This is an artist’s depiction of what those might have looked like; the tools of the shepherd’s trade. At least the ones that the sheep would have been concerned about. I imagine a shepherd also having water skins, a knife for whittling, skinning, food prep, and we’ve heard about slingshots too. But the rod and the staff are the tools of comfort apparently. This idea of comfort, or sometimes lack of comfort, from these tools will be the focus of this week’s devotionals. Today is a bit of explanation about the tools.
The rod and staff could have been one item that was poetically described by its uses of protection and guidance. Or a shepherd could have had a longer staff used for walking and steering, prodding, or pulling sheep, as well as a smaller club or rod normally attached at the waist that would be easier to swing for protection against predators.
The Hebrew roots sheʹvet and mat·tehʹ used in Psalm 23:4 are both translated in other Old Testament passages as staff, stick, rod, branch or support. Both are also translated tribe, as in a tribal family that branches off the original patriarch, i.e. the tribe of Judah. She’vet is sometimes translated as scepter indicating the staff of a ruler. The words are closely related and always indicate something from a tree or branch.
In Psalm 23, King David gladly accepts the skills and guidance given through the tools of the shepherding trade; “your rod and your staff they comfort me.” Our goal is to embrace this part of Psalm 23 to make the same claim. Many of us struggle with or feel afraid of, the Lord’s guidance, correction, and discipline. Or we make the mistake of believing that God’s tools/leading are what have led us into the “valley of the shadow of death,” instead of the larger perspective that sees them leading us through it to a destination that will conclude the Psalm and our lives with the Lord at home forever. A proper perspective finds comfort in them because of the shepherd’s skill, presence, and understanding the ultimate destination. Prayerfully consider the comfort available through the correction and protection God’s principles provide.
It is Well with My Soul
Many know the story of Horatio and Anna Spafford. Horatio was a prominent businessman in Chicago in the mid-nineteenth century where he and his wife were blessed with five children and a lucrative business. They used their resources to care for people, opened their home to visitors and actively served in their church. Tragedy hit the Spafford family in 1871 when their four-year-old son died from scarlet fever. Just a year later many of Horatio’s assets were destroyed in a fire that swept through downtown Chicago. Despite their own loss, the Spafford family, focused on caring for some of the thousands of people in Chicago who had lost their homes. Two years later, the Spafford family had the opportunity to vacation in England. Horatio sent his wife and four daughters ahead. While at sea, their vessel was hit by an iron sailing ship. It sank immediately and 226 people lost their lives. Anna survived, but her girls did not. She telegrammed Horatio saying, “Saved alone. What shall I do?” Horatio immediately set sail for England to be with Anna. As he passed the place in the ocean where the ship had sunk, he penned the words to this famous hymn:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll:
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
In the months to follow, Anna kept hearing God’s voice quietly whispering to her, “you were saved for a purpose”. Anna gave birth to three more children but again tragedy hit when their four-year-old son died. Despite life’s challenges, Horatio and Anna continued to dedicate their lives to serving the Lord. In 1881, they moved their family to Jerusalem, where they served the needy and poor, cared for the sick, and took in homeless children. They longed to show people the love of Jesus.
Do you think David’s words in Psalm 23:4 were another way of saying, “it is well with my soul?” Psalm 46 also demonstrates David’s acknowledgement of God’s strength, peace and protection. We too will face trials that produce pain and suffering, but God’s promise in our trials is that “even though … He is with us.” We may not know the outcome, but knowing God is with us, helps us say, “It is well with my soul.”
What challenge are you facing today? Is it physical? emotional? relational? Do you feel God’s presence? Do you long to say, “it is well with my soul?” Do you even recognize your soul? Cry out to God, then be still. Sometimes we miss God’s voice because we are too busy talking.
Resources for Soul Care: Soul Keeping by John Ortberg
Surrender to Love by David Benner
The Book of Psalms