Devotions

There is nothing in the Old Testament quite as strong as the warnings of Paul against affinity with the world.

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16 NKJV).

In the Old Testament, when God wanted to reveal the power of his presence before the wicked Egyptians, he drew a line of separation. This line divided God's people in Goshen from the rest of Egypt.

“The Lord will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. So nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel. For at this time I will send all my plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth” (Exodus 9:4,14).

God wants everyone to see the difference between those who love him and the rest of the unbelieving world. He wants us to be an example of a delivered, trusting and victorious people.

The reasons for separation today are the same as they were in ancient times. In every generation, God draws a line that shows the stark difference between righteousness and wickedness. Nothing else fully captures the attention of those who disobey and brings them to repentance.

Jesus said, “I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (see John 15:19). The world loves its own, but under the New Covenant we have been reborn. We are new creatures in Christ Jesus from a different world. May he help us joyfully embrace this unique and wonderful position! Only those who are truly unmixed with the world, separated unto Christ, have any power to save it. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).

Mental and spiritual self-care is a hot topic. On Instagram, the hashtag “loveyourself” has been used around 42 million times. However, in modern culture, self-care is attached to a “me” mentality. Is there even such a thing then as biblical self-love? Can Christians unselfishly practice self-care?

The answer is a resounding “Yes!” When a new buzzword like “mindfulness” (self-care techniques) crops up in the culture, we think it’s a new idea. However, true biblical self-care is addressed and exampled throughout the New Testament. The approach diverges from that of Eastern religions in that the focus is God-centered, not centered on self.

Romans 12:2 is a core scripture on mindfulness. Paul writes, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2, NKJV).

There it is. If you want to be healthy, begin by turning your attention to pleasing God. In your daily prayer and meditation, ask him, “What truly matters here?” As your mind and spirit align with the Holy Spirit, you can see what matters: spending time with God, serving others with compassion, being present with loved ones and generous with your time and attention, creating a peaceful, positive home, and addressing challenges with the mind and direction of the Holy Spirit. Whatever is important to your life, God will reveal.

When we have the mind of Christ, the Holy Spirit works enthusiastically in harmony with us. In prayer and meditation, my faith and creativity begin to flow. The fruits of the Spirit are more emergent. I am less judgmental and more patient. In re-centering my thoughts on him throughout the day, I am fit to fight the twin enemies of self-criticism and people-pleasing. Most important, I can see the unseen, the wisdom of the Holy Spirit at work in miraculous ways.

Jesus himself understood the power of quiet time, often retreating from the crowds and noise to pray. He knew that most of the action of life takes place in the quietness of the inner man and that spiritual and mental health are foundational. If we are weak and unhealthy, we cannot effectively minister or care for others.

Anchor your mind in the Holy Spirit, and “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

The New Testament is the story of stories, and it starts off all wrong. Most adventure stories begin with the wondrous “Once upon a time”, but Matthew starts his book with a genealogy. Why in the world would he do that? The greatest story ever told starts like a phone book with a long list of unpronounceable names. This is important, though. What makes this list amazing is that some names belong to people who had sketchy pasts.

One of these names is Rahab from the Old Testament book of Joshua whose act of saving Hebrew spies got her inducted into the hall of faith. “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies” (Hebrews 11:31, ESV). Not only was she saved, but she married a Jewish man.

Now don’t miss this. Almost every time Rahab’s name is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, it says, “Rahab the prostitute.” How would you like that, if every time someone said your name, they included with it the worst season of your life? Can you imagine that act or the time you regretted most was the tag line connected to your name?

What if it looked like this? I’ll use my name so I don’t indict anyone. Tim the thief. Tim the embezzler. Tim the adulterer. Tim the baby aborter. Tim the wife beater. Tim the divorcee. Tim the porn addict. Tim the alcoholic. Tim the unemployed. Think about the label that would be after your name. For Rahab, the label ‘prostitute’ connected her to her past.

If time healed wounds or shame, we wouldn’t need God. Time is not that strong, but God is. There is only one place in the entire Bible where ‘harlot’ or ‘prostitute’ is removed from Rahab’s name. It’s when her name is connected to Jesus in Matthew’s genealogy: “…Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king” (Matthew 1:5-6). The only way that the past lets go of us is when it’s confronted with a future in Jesus.    

_{After pastoring an inner-city congregation in Detroit for thirty years, Pastor Tim served at Brooklyn Tabernacle in NYC for five years and pastored in Lafayette, Louisiana, for five years. He became Senior Pastor of Times Square Church in May of 2020.}

I believe Jesus is coming soon. We see the Lord moving in astonishing ways around the world, and events are rapidly moving toward the day of his return.

“So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near – at the doors! But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:33,36, NKJV).

Those who know the scriptures have a Holy Ghost inner sense of the Lord’s return. We hear the call of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, crying, “Even so, Lord Jesus, come.” Jesus said, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns” (Matthew 24:42,44, 46).

Beloved, do you feel or sense that these are the last of the last days? Do you share the longing for his appearance? You are in good company! There are millions of people around the world who are also looking up, waiting with great anticipation for our Lord’s return.

Until then, God wants us to stand out as believers, as messengers of hope in our hopeless world. We do not despair because we know that Jesus Christ’s triumphant return will bring an end to the evil and hopelessness that have poisoned mankind since the serpent spoke to Adam.

When the Lord comes back to earth, he wants to find us hopeful, ready and working hard to spread his message of hope to the world. Even though we don’t know the day or hour, we know he can come at any time. Let us gather the harvest with joy as we await that great day.

What a day that will be! “The dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). Look up, and be encouraged; our redemption is drawing near.

Over 150 years ago, the missionary George Bowen said, “All human experiences of Christians must be put to the test of scripture.”

This is a powerful statement, and it gives us pause to stop and ask ourselves some questions. Do our deepening fears stand the test of scripture? Does our wavering faith stand the test of scripture? Is there any form of doubting that stands the same test?

When circumstances become overwhelming and doubts enter our hearts, we tend to justify them because of trying experiences. We all experience pain, afflictions of all kinds and trials that threaten to crush us. When that happens, our souls are challenged. How do we react to it all? Will our reaction stand the test of scripture?

What are you facing in your life today? Financial troubles, unemployment, bad health problems, or anxiety attacks? How are you dealing with it? Does your present reaction measure up to scripture? For example, James 1:6 says, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind” (NKJV).

Do you pass over this scripture and go on wavering because of dire experiences? I think we all do, but this verse is not intended to condemn us. It is meant to encourage us to anchor ourselves to the Holy Spirit when we feel overwhelmed. God created us to reach out for him for help and strength, to cry out to him, to trust in him and to absorb his Word into our hearts.

I have wavered many times when my experience looked hopeless, but more and more, I ask the Holy Spirit to conform my experience to the test of scripture. Because our thoughts, emotions and even our physical circumstances are often unreliable, it is God’s Word that trumps all experience.

God help us all to test our feelings by the Word of God. Ask yourself, “Is this reaction scriptural? Do my emotions measure up to the Word?” If not, pray for strength to let go, and let God steer your vessel through the storm. Keep the faith!