Devotions

Many people are frustrated because even though they have much knowledge of God’s Word, they have little life experience living it out. God wants us to marry what we know and the way live.

In the Old Testament and even in Jesus’ time, intense study of the Word of God was an integral part of Jewish life. A Hebrew child started school when he was six years old and his education was launched with this verse: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Then, from age six to nine, he would study the Torah, the first five books of the Bible — Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Some historians tell us that the more brilliant children memorized the entire Torah. Amazing!

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8). The Rabbi would actually pour honey on the chalk board in class, dip his finger in the honey, and let the children taste it. As the honey was wiped away from the board, the letters of the lesson would appear. What a delightful way to start your education. As the children advanced in their learning, they developed the wonderful Jewish characteristic of debating one another — learning how to argue.

In Jesus’ day “a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’” (Luke 10:25). The brilliant young scholar was probably thrilled to be engaging the Master in debate, as Jesus answered: “What is written in the Law?” (10:26). The young man replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (10:27). Jesus told him in verse 28, “Do this and you will live” — issuing a call to action!

Jesus then told the parable of the Good Samaritan, issued a challenge to the young lawyer, and turned his world upside down. He made it clear that it was not enough merely to memorize or debate the Word, but he must act on it.

The call of Jesus goes far beyond just hearing and memorizing his words; we must put them into practice.

Does it feel as though it has been a long time since you heard from the Lord? Does he seem to be silent while the fulfillment of his promises he once spoke to you remain nowhere in sight? Perhaps you started out full of faith, believing God when he told you, “I am going to deliver you. I am going to use your life for my glory.” When he first spoke these promises, they were the joy of your heart and the strength of your days. But now, in the midst of God’s silence, you wonder what happened to his word to you.

Rest assured that we all have such seasons in our walk with the Lord. Even one of the psalmists said, “Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: his seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me. It shall be established forever like the moon, even like the faithful witness in the sky” (Psalm 89:35-37).

He was recounting words from the very mouth of God — an incredible promise given to King David regarding the establishment of his throne and the enduring reign that would result. However, the psalmist then lamented: “But You have cast off and abhorred, you have been furious with Your anointed. You have renounced the covenant of Your servant; You have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground” (89:38-39).

In that day, as the psalmist looked at the state of his nation, all he could see was Israel’s demise, so what happened to the promise God had given to David? You may feel the same at times. Why does everything seem to be crumbling? Has God withdrawn His hand?

We humans have a tendency to see with only our natural eyes. Oftentimes, however, we perceive our situation incorrectly. In those seasons, we must learn to stay strong. The things God has spoken to you will come to pass, but on His timetable, not yours. Say with the psalmist David today, “As for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God,’ My times are in Your hand” (Psalm 31:14-15).

Carter Conlon joined the pastoral staff of Times Square Church in 1994 at the invitation of the founding pastor, David Wilkerson, and was appointed Senior Pastor in 2001.

In the last days of his ministry, Jesus was spending time with his disciples, preparing them to become the pillars of his future church. They were still “slow to believe,” men of little faith, and Jesus had chided them for their unbelief at times. He saw that there was a hindrance in their hearts that needed to be removed or they would never come into the revelation necessary to lead the church.

As they walked past a barren fig tree, Jesus cursed it: “‘Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.’ And His disciples heard it” (Mark 11:14). Later, as the group came by the fig tree a second time, Peter pointed out, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away” (11:21). Jesus gave Peter an amazing response. Actually, without offering an actual answer, he simply said, “Have faith in God” (11:22).

This dried-up tree was an illustrated sermon by Christ. What did it mean? It signified God’s rejection of the old religious system of works in Israel which was all about trying to earn salvation and God’s favor by human effort and self-will.

Something new was about to be birthed in Israel: a church in which salvation and eternal life would come by faith alone; indeed, walking daily with the Lord would be a matter of faith. Yet, to this point, God’s people knew nothing of living by faith. Their religion had been all about performance and keeping extensive sets of rules. Now Jesus was saying, “That old system is over and a new day is dawning.” The church of faith was being birthed and Christ’s disciples were being trained for leadership.

In the passage about the fig tree, Jesus refers to an unnamed mountain: “Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says’” (11:23).

Your mountain may be a besetting sin, sickness, fear, discouragement. Jesus is saying to you, “Unbelief is like a hindering mountain in your heart, but I want to do the impossible in your life. Simply trust me.”

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). Jesus is speaking here of a sheep that has been in the fold. Clearly, this represents a member of Christ’s flock, one that has been well fed and led by a loving shepherd. Yet this sheep had become lost so the shepherd has gone out looking for it.

Note what Jesus says about the shepherd here: “[He goes] after the one which is lost until he finds it.” God never gives up on anyone who belongs to him and has gone astray. Instead, the Shepherd goes out to find that sheep, embraces it, and brings it back into the shelter.

David testified, “If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there” (Psalm 139:8). Simply put, you can go so far into sin that you come to the very brink of hell, and he will still pursue you.

We have all heard the expression “hell on earth.” That is what life is like for those who run from God; their “bed in hell” is an awful condition. It means to be captivated by sin, drifting further and further from the Lord, eventually falling into a nagging fear of being lost forever.

You may have made your bed in hell, but you are not too deep in sin for Jesus to reach you and receive you with open arms. “When [Jesus] has found [the sheep], he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing” (Luke 15:5). When the shepherd finds the lost, injured sheep, he does not take it back to the fold right away. According to the parable, he carries the wounded creature into his house. Then he calls all his friends and neighbors together, exclaiming, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” (15:6).

It does not matter what you have done, how far you may have strayed. Once the Shepherd brings you back, you are redeemed in full and he rejoices over you!

When Peter and the disciples saw what took place at Pentecost, Peter immediately stood up and declared, “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel … ‘I will pour out My Spirit in those days’” (Acts 2:16, 18). Likewise, we are able to see in Scripture what the Holy Spirit is doing in these last days — indeed, in this late hour.

The prophet Malachi offers a two-fold prophecy: First, he speaks to the ungodly, materialistic, secular, pleasure-mad world. And second, he speaks to those who love and fear the Lord.

Malachi warned the godless nations, “Behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble” (Malachi 4:1). If ever there was a day like a burning oven, when everything the world over is “hot” — economically, socially, spiritually — it is today. This great nation is slowly pushing God completely out of our courts, our schools, our society, saying, “We are the greatest, mightiest, wealthiest nation on earth, and we have achieved it all on our own.”

Such arrogance! But beneath all the bravado is an underlying fear and gloom. Even God’s people tremble at what they see. However, Malachi had a second prophecy for those who fear the Lord, the overcoming church, a message of gladness and hope. Christians will experience collateral damage from the coming day of “burning.” That cannot be helped. But God has sent a word that will keep his people through the hard times. 

We are told that “the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings” (4:2). In the darkest hour, when things look hopeless, Jesus is going to rise in greater revelation than at any time in history. And the world is going to witness his saving and keeping power in all its glory. Jesus Christ will rise up and he will shine as a healing Sun, brighter than in all past generations, and God’s people will experience a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit — with signs, wonders, and miracles (see Acts 4:29-30).

Encourage yourself in the Lord today and thank him for his anointing on your life.