Devotions

It’s one thing to invest in people who have never hurt us. It is another thing to be moved with compassion toward people who have wronged us.

Consider this biblical story. “Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, ‘Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, “We will enter the city,” the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians…’” The lepers came into the Syrian camp and found that God had put all the soldiers to flight. They started to enjoy food and drink that had been left. “Then they said to one another, ‘We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king’s household.’” (2 Kings 7:3-9, ESV).

In the case of the four lepers, think about how tempting it would have been for them to neglect, and thus get vengeance on, a city that had subjected them to incredible pain and rejection. Perhaps today you find a similar sentiment deep within your heart. You thought a measure of kindness would be extended to you, but you instead found yourself being pushed to the side as everyone else passes you by.

As a Christian in this last hour, you are going to discover incredible provision from heaven. You must be careful, however, lest the thought enter your heart, This is for me and me alone. I am going to eat my morsel by myself, here in my little corner of security. When this all blows over, I am going to emerge as the one whom God provided for. Who cares about my neighbors? What have they ever done for me?

Thankfully that was not the reaction of the four lepers. These men were moved with compassion, and consequently they exemplified the heart of Christ. As we see in their situation, this will often require that we walk in forgiveness. We must be willing to go back into a city that has caused us pain, willing to go back to neighbors or coworkers who were unkind to us.

_{Carter Conlon joined the pastoral staff of Times Square Church in 1994 and was appointed Senior Pastor in 2001. In May of 2020 he transitioned into a continuing role as General Overseer of Times Square Church, Inc.} 

Paul describes the love of God as wide, long, high and deep. “That you…may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19, NKJV).

I want to focus today on the depth of God’s love.

Over the years I’ve heard from backslidden Christians who want to return to their first love. One wrote, “I lived for years in awful sin. I am back, but I fear God can’t forgive my unspeakable sins. I have no peace.” Another said, “I want to get back to Jesus, but I’m afraid. I am one of the worst sinners.”

Many people are tired of their lives of sin and heartache, but they believe God has a limit to his love and mercy, a point at which he says, “You have rejected all my pleas and warnings, and now you’ve crossed the line.” Many are embarrassed or convinced that they have sinned away their day of grace.

The prophet Jonah ran from God’s commission, and his disobedience would put the blood of many on his hands. God never left him, though, even as he floated in the belly of the whale, mired in sin and rebellion (See Jonah 2). Jonah believed God had forsaken him for his sin. “For you cast me into the deep…out of your sight…my soul fainted within me” (see Jonah 2:3-7). But when Jonah reached the bottom, he was forgiven and delivered. He received a fresh touch and a special calling.

The Holy Spirit is at work on our behalf even when we are disobedient. No one is too far gone; no one is cast off. The Spirit says, “Repent. I am right here with you and will bring you back.”

Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Nothing! “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

The blood of Jesus offers freedom, pardon, mercy and reconciliation with the Father. No matter how deep you have fallen, God’s love and forgiveness go deeper.

Oh, the depth of his love!

When the children of Israel went through times of testing, were they really supposed to express gratitude and thanksgiving in the middle of them? When they were surrounded and in a hopeless situation, did God really expect them to have that kind of reaction?

Yes, absolutely! That was the secret to getting out of their difficulty. You see, God wants something from all of us in our times of trouble. He wants us to offer him a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

I believe James discovered this secret when he admonished, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” (James 1:2 NKJV). He was saying, “Don’t give up. Make an altar in your heart and offer up joyous thanksgiving even as you are going through the storm.”

Of course, the children of Israel did offer the Lord praise and thanksgiving, but they did it on the wrong side of the Red Sea. Yes, they rejoiced all night, but God had no pleasure in it. Anyone can shout in gratitude after a victory. The question God put to Israel was, “Will you praise me before I send help, while you’re still in the battle?”

I believe if Israel had rejoiced on the “trial side” of the Red Sea, they wouldn’t have had to be tested again at the waters of Marah. Had they passed the Red Sea test, the waters at Marah wouldn’t have tasted bitter, but sweet. And Israel would have seen water springing up everywhere in the desert, rather than having to go thirsty.

May God help us to sing the right song on the testing side of trials. May we understand how much delight a song of thanksgiving brings to the heart of our heavenly Father.

Are you going through a difficult time right now? Then sing! Praise! Say to the Lord, “I praise you because I know you can do it. You delivered me before, and you can deliver me now. I rest in joy.”

One of the most important verses in scripture is in the apostle Peter’s first letter. He speaks of the necessity of having our faith tested. “That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,” (1 Peter 1:7 NKJV).

This passage suggests that God is saying, “Your faith is more precious to me than all the wealth of this world, which will one day disappear. When the enemy sends all manner of evil against you, I want you to be able to stand strong with unshakable faith. I will keep you through every dark day. Your part is to simply have faith in me. I will keep you by my power.”

God wants to help us stand strong, but he also wants us to move ahead. The apostle Paul writes, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Why would he be interested in keeping us mired in temptation and affliction? He doesn’t get any glory from testing his children. His glory comes from the results.

The children of Israel were brought to the Red Sea for a reason. God had led them to the very brink of destruction. They were surrounded by mountains on two sides, a sea on the third, and an approaching enemy on the fourth. Why? Because he wanted his people to acknowledge their helplessness. He wanted to hear them say, “We remember how God delivered us from the plagues, and how he brought us out of terrible affliction where we made bricks without straw and had no rest. God delivered us then, and he will do it again!”

Our Lord wants to hear the same from us. He will protect us from every enemy that comes against us. When we are trapped and helpless, let's rejoice in his faithfulness. He is God, and he will keep his promises!

Why do so many believers experience weakness, despair and emptiness, as if they can’t go on? It is because they do not have the understanding that the Spirit gave Paul. They do not see all the provisions God has made possible for those who would claim them by faith!

Do you fit Paul’s description of a bountiful servant, one who has all he needs and more every day, even in crisis? Have you proved this by drawing on the bank of heaven?

For several years I worked with American evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman. Morning and evening I preached my heart out at her meetings, and I was usually wiped out by the end of the day. One night Kathryn said to my wife, Gwen, and me, “Let’s go out and get something to eat.” I told her, “I’m sorry, I’m just too tired. I’ve got to go to the motel and get some sleep.”

She looked at me quizzically and asked, “David, did you preach under the Spirit’s unction tonight?” I answered, “You know I was anointed. The altars were filled!”

Kathryn said quietly, “Then you’re missing something. If you’re ministering under the power of the Holy Ghost, you should be stronger at the end of the service than when you started because he is a quickening Spirit! The Spirit will give you freedom from weakness and exhaustion. He will renew your strength. All you have to do is ask.”

She was right. Since then, I have proved that truth in my ministry over and over. “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV). To abound here literally means “ever-increasing; to have more at the end than at the beginning.” In other words, as the battle gets hotter, God’s grace increases. As weakness comes upon you, his strength comes on even greater, if you believe!