PASSING UP ON PLEASURES
“[Moses] chose being mistreated along with God’s people rather than enjoying the passing pleasures of sin.”
Hebrews 11:25

Yesterday I shared some with you concerning the discipline of fasting. Today I want to in some degree continue on it that thought, but relate it also to a sacrifice made by Moses. It is in Hebrews 11 that we read the list of those who advanced in God’s ways because of their faith. Although it is not a complete list, we find ourselves reacquainted with the faith of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to name but a few. But then we also read about Moses. Starting in verse 24 we read that by faith, after Moses had grown up, he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. We know that per the account of Moses in Exodus 2:15, because of the murder he had committed, Pharaoh was wanting to kill Moses, causing Moses to escape. This then seems to work in tandem to show us how indeed Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, giving up all of Egypt in his escape.
In Hebrews 11:25, however, we read that Moses chose to be mistreated alongside God’s chosen people instead of enjoying the pleasure of sin. At his encounter with the burning bush, God called Moses to return to Egypt and deliver His people. Moses’ going back was the fulfillment on Hebrews 11:25, where he chose to be mistreated along with God’s people. Following on in the Exodus account we find that the people of Israel were delivered from Egypt and eventually made it to the Promise Land.
However, I want to focus more on what Moses gave up. The Exodus account does not give us all the details of what Egypt was like at that time. History, though, informs us that Egypt was the happening place. I am assuming that in this Moses had everything at his beckoning when he was in Egypt. If he wanted a woman, he could have a woman. When he wanted a meal, he was served a meal. On and on and on this idea could go. But when he escaped the hand of Pharaoh he left these pleasantries behind.
So why do I point this out? I point this out for one reason alone. As I have been taking inventory of my life this past year and preparing for what is ahead, I have begun to realize that there are ‘pleasures of sin’ that I have not forsaken. Yes I have given up many things that so called made me happy, but I cannot say I have forsaken all of them. And what does this have to do with fasting, as I referenced in the beginning of this devotional? Well as I stated yesterday in looking up the key words of Isaiah 58:6, the type of fast that God elects for His people encompasses the complete freedom of His people and the complete ceasing of attacks from the enemy. If I am still embracing as opposed to forsaking these pleasures, then am I not still in bondage and allowing the attack of the enemy? Quite honestly, yes I am.
I posted the following questions of my Facebook page today, and I write them again here now. What pleasures of sin are we enjoying? And isn’t it time we choose different? I do not want to enter 2013 still chained to the same junk that bound me in 2012. I do not want these momentary pleasures that promise the world to still be my ruin in the near and distant future. So how do I rid this chance? I fast and pray. Again, it was Jesus who told His disciples that some spirits come out only in prayer and fasting (Mk 9:29). So then, what better time than now to begin? Let us enter this new year free of the chains that bound us last year. Let us be like Moses who forsook the pleasures of sin and received greater riches from God.

IS GOD NOT AWESOME?
“In the morning [Pharaoh] found himself so upset that he summoned all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one there could interpret them for him.”
Genesis 41:8

Have you ever stopped to consider all the times that the enemy worked to take out God’s people? We know this to be the case in the 1940s and such when Hitler worked to take out the Jews in any way possible. And if we go back in time we can see how this was even the case concerning Esther and the rise of Haman. But I would like us to focus on the times found within the book of Genesis today. For the past few months I have been walking once more through Genesis, verse by verse, allowing God to speak to me and show me truths that are so easily missed by my quick reading. And while I have seen this trend in reading about the fathers of our faith, it wasn’t until I saw a piece from the account of Joseph that it really jumped out at me and made me question the awesomeness of this truth.
I start with the account of Abraham. We all probably know the story about how God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the sand and stars. From there, we read that Abraham took matters into his own hands and based on the counsel of his wife, produced a child with a servant girl. Why? Abraham did this because he and Sarah both felt they were growing old in years. Truth be told, Sarah’s womb was closed up. But here is the awesome thing. Just when it seemed as though all hope for children was gone, God allowed her to birth Isaac. The promise could have ended before if both Abraham and Sarah had not gone through a heart, and a faith, revamping.
But let us move on in this thought. When Isaac married Rebekah, he had no idea that she was barren. The promise could have ended here as well. The enemy could have won and proved God a liar concerning the number of descendants that would follow. Yet, we read that Isaac prayed for his wife and her womb was opened. The promise lived on. The twins, Jacob and Esau, grew up and soon we read that Esau sold his birthright. This would come back to haunt him as Jacob stood before his father, dressed and smelling like Esau, taking the blessing destined for the oldest child. In rage, Esau spoke of killing his brother. Again, the promise given could have ended here. With no Jacob there would be no twelve tribes of Isra’el. Still, God proved He was in control.
Time continued on and Jacob had twelve sons. However, his son Joseph was sold into slavery and then later placed in prison for a sin he did not commit. He could have wasted away there, yet God was still in control. As is God’s way, He provided the means by which Joseph was made free again. This is the point the hit me between the eyes as I read it. Pharaoh called on the magicians of Egypt to interpret the dreams that troubled him in the night. The word in Hebrew for magician is derived from the root word ‘engraver’ or ‘writer’, and refers to ones trained in occult knowledge. Notice how even these trained followers of the occult could not interpret these two dreams. Coincidence? Not at all. But what if these magicians had been able to interpret the dream? If that was the case, then Joseph and all of Isra’el would have died out. The famine would have taken the descendants of Jacob and Joseph would be a mere memory.
Is God not awesome? Look at what He has done in just these few chapters. God allowed a child to a couple aged 90 and 100. God opened a barren womb. God protected a son by letting Him escape the hands of his brother. God housed an innocent man until the time was right for his promotion. And God prevented the magicians from knowing the truth of the dream so that His man for the hour may rise and save a nation. Again I ask, is God not awesome?
These truths are just within one book found within the Bible, and even still are not all of what God did do for His people in Genesis. But are not these accounts alone enough for us to look at our situation and stand in full faith that God will preserve us, His people, as well? I encourage you to not lose faith. While the enemy will continue to work to take God’s people out, know that God is in control. Even when we are old, barren, hunted, and forgotten, God is in control. Is God not awesome?

CHRISTIANS
“…So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
Acts 11:26b

I have been called many things during my life time. The best ones have been son, boyfriend, husband, dad, friend, and brother. But I have also been called stupid, idiot, loser, selfish, greedy, unable, and a host of others I don’t care to remember. A name can bring honor or a lack of self-esteem, value or pain, worth or worthlessness. Funny isn’t, how names can hold so much weight? While it is true that ‘hey you’ can sound better than ‘hey stupid’, it can never sound as good as ‘hey buddy’. Yet where would we be without a name?
The Bible tells us here in Acts 11:26 that it was not Saul/Paul and Barnabas that called themselves ‘Christians’ first, but rather the people in Antioch that first called them by this name. But why would they call them this? It was because of their reflection. The disciples were being watched, and as the people in Antioch watched, they found the disciples to reflect what they had seen in Christ Himself. What were the characteristics of Christ? They were love, compassion, servanthood, faith, joy, and the like to name only a few. Christ was an example to these men that they didn’t just blow off, but rather embraced with everything in them.
I have heard many definitions of the word ‘Christian’ growing up. I think the best definition I can recall is ‘a mini Christ’. Now according to Strong’s Concordance, the word is defined as CHRISTIANOS, a follower of Christ. Three times this word is used in the New Testament, and in each use it is never the person calling themselves that, but rather others calling them that. This is important to note. How many times do we throw this word out to describe someone who simply goes to church or does good things? Not everyone who goes to a Christian church is a ‘Christian’ based on this definition because not everyone follows Christ. Is this not one of the reasons why Martin Luther nailed his 95 Thesis on the door, because ‘Christianity’ had become about rules and not about relationship?
When we are with someone we become like someone. A great example of this is when married couples begin to finish each other’s sentences. They spend such a great deal of time with that person that they begin to foresee what their spouse will say. Or let us think about children. Some of the behaviors that my children do are a result of things they have watched me do. It all goes back to the reflection in the mirror.
The disciples were not ‘Christians’ because they knew of Christ, they were ‘Christians’ because they knew Christ. They knew His ways and reflected them. They knew His words and lived by them. They transformed themselves into His image, and people saw it and called them ‘Christians’. The question then begs, could someone look at my life, or your life, and see Christ so evident in us that they would give us the title of ‘Christian’?

PUT ON THE ARMOR
“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
Ephesians 6:11

It may be safe to say that one of the greatest known accounts within the pages of the Bible is that of David and Goliath. This is such an underdog story. The Hebrew boy named David, who probably is no more than sixteen years old, and no taller than 5’8”, takes on the mammoth giant of over nine feet. Armed with only a slingshot and five rocks, the boy pegs the giant in the forehead and the battle is over. Rejoicing flood the Israeli camp and the army rushes to advance on the Philistines. That is the story, right? Well yes and no. Let us look at a few pieces of this story in detail.
First, opening to I Samuel 17, we read that the battle was set within the Valley of Elah, with the Philistines on one hill and the army of Israel of another hill. The Philistine’s champion warrior, Goliath, had come out each morning for the past forty days (v16) and uttered his words of defilement against the One True God. But why the morning? In Jewish culture, a prayer known as the Shema (Deut 6:4) is spoken each morning. It was Goliath’s plan to interrupt the prayers of the Jews and work early to bring fear and intimation into the hearts of the people. But what is more, Goliath also looked to bring fear into the Israelites based on his appearance. We know he was tall and well built, and based on the size of his armor and weapons we know that little stood in his way. But did you know that even still, for a person to get to Goliath he would first have to get past his armor bearer? In verse 7 we are told of this person.
Going on, however, I feel we need to clear up a few more items about this account. While it is possible that Saul’s offer of his armor to David could be looked at as a nice and caring jester, could it also be that it was part of a hoax? The king was known in battle by his armor, and it was normally the king who led the charge. That said, Saul should have been the one to take on the giant. But he too was fearful. When David came along and felt the spirit on him to take the giant out, Saul found his chance to rally the troops disguising David in his armor. But David passed on the armor. Armed with his staff, sling shot, and five stones, David walked out on the playing field. The five stones had five purposes. It wasn’t that David thought he would miss, it was because Goliath had brothers. Each stone, so to say, had an intended target in each of the brothers’ heads.
David slung his stone and SMACK!, a target was found in Goliath’s head. But the stone did not kill him. The stone only stunned the giant, bringing him to the ground (v49). On Goliath’s body was the armor, but still there was a place where the giant was unprotected. The stone found that place. Yet moreover, the giant left himself unprotected when he defiled the name of God Almighty. And, according to Deuteronomy 15:10 and 17:5, anyone speaking against God and urging the belief of a false god was to be stoned. Coincidence? Probably not. So then, with the stunned giant passed out on the floor, David took Goliath’s sword and finished the job.
So now with perhaps a little clarity on this account let me leave you with this thought. Going back to I Samuel 17:7 we see that the enemy has an armor bearer. The enemy has an armor bearer yet we don’t even wear our armor. Why did David have to take the sword of Goliath? Could it be that the army of Israel did not think this was their lucky day? Verse 24 tells us that they ran in fear when Goliath came out for his normal defilement. King Saul wasn’t even dressed in his armor if so easily he offered it to David. How do we expect to win a battle if we are naked? God has given us armor for a reason. It isn’t supposed to just be hanging in the closet like an old suit or wedding dress. It is to be worn – because the enemy is engaging us constantly. No wonder we are getting beat up like rag dolls. We have no protection. As bluntly and urgently as I can say this, I am saying to you – put on the armor. It is our turn to advance, take out the giant with a stun, and finish him off with a sword.

STEP UP
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
Ephesians 5:25

Today’s thought is aimed mostly towards the men, but in the end I think you will see there is a point made for all. In a past writing I found of mine, I had made the following comment concerning pride. “It was the deception of pride that tricked Eve to bite. The serpent taunted, ‘Why should you not be as wise as God?’” This thought has been playing in mind repeatedly since reading it last night. As such, this story in Genesis 3 is where I opened my Bible to start reading this morning.
We read in Genesis 3:1 that the serpent asks the woman, “Did God really say you cannot eat from any tree?” Eve’s reply was that God allowed them to eat from any tree except the one in the middle, for it would bring death. Being the crafty snake that he was, the serpent worked to manipulate the conversation his way. He spoke to Eve again and said that death was not the final result, rather that God was fearful that they would be as smart as God Himself, and God didn’t want competition. So Eve took the fruit and ate it.
I think we read this story and place blame on the wrong person. Yes it is true that Eve ate first, but within this verse is a point we need to consider. “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it” (Gen 3:6). Did you catch it? Adam was right there with her. He was probably close enough to hear the serpent talk, close enough to hear Eve’s reply, and obviously close enough for her to reach out and give some fruit to him. But where in this verse does it say that he resisted? Where does it say that he stepped up as a man to protect his wife from the serpent and prevent her from acting against God’s will? It doesn’t. I cannot help but wonder if he was waiting purposefully to see what would happen to her before trying himself, like how scientists test on animals before testing on humans.
But as the story goes on, Adam’s attitude does not change. A few verses later, God returns to the Garden of Eden. Now God, all knowing, is already aware of what has happened, but He asks anyway. As a parent, I can understand this. There are times when I see my kids do something wrong yet they are unaware I am watching. I question them about what just happened and hope to hear the truth. Sadly enough, I hear a fib or excuse that I know is not true. But I want to give them that chance to be honest. Perhaps that was God’s method when He asked, “Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” (Gen 3:11).
It is here again we see Adam dodging. Adam replies to God, “The woman you put here with me – she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate” (Gen 3:12). In essence, Adam was blame-shifting. He knew that he had violated God’s command just as well as she did, but he did not want to take the blame for his own action. I have been there. When my wife at the time caught me looking at porn, my excuses came flowing. We’re never intimate because we’re never together. The baby takes all your time. You do not love me, you tolerate me. On and on I could go. But when all the excuses were exhausted, the truth came down to the fact that I was unwilling to take the responsibility of my actions. I, like Adam, found it easier to shift the blame onto my wife and circumstances.
Closing today, I want to look at Ephesians 5:25. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” This is not always easy. This is where our pride gets in the way. We want the wife to submit to us, but we do not always want to love our wife the way we should. And this is where Adam needed to step up. Seeing the serpent luring his wife to eat, Adam should have stepped up and demand he be gone. Why not, he had authority over every animal (Gen 1:28). But he stood by and did nothing, nothing except extend his arm out to grab the fruit she offered.
Men, let us step up and take the place of honor that God has given to us. Our duty now is to love our wives as Christ loved the church. Jesus gave of Himself, and gave Himself, as an act of love. I speak as one who has learned the hard way in hopes that my past may in some way may prevent this same mistake in others. Let us take our place as men, fathers, and husbands, and love like Christ. No more blame-shifting, no more dodging the bullet, no more pointing fingers. It is time to step up.

WALKING THE PATH
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”
Proverbs 14:12

Not too long ago I was out walking on a trail over by my home. There is a place where, about a mile in or so, the road splits. Now it doesn’t split for a long stretch, but there is a difference in the terrain at the split. If one goes to the left the path remains steady and even. But if one goes to the right there is an extra curve or two, as well as both a down slope and a climb back up to meet with the even path. Back a few years ago when Nashville suffered from a flood, however, the path to the right was not a choice. The path was underwater. While the water may not have been deep enough to drown a person, I dare say the mud and muck that had washed up over the trail may have caused some issues that would have at least posed a threat to any who risked taking the road to the right.
We read in Proverbs 14:12 that there is a road that seems right at first but in the end leads to death. In other words, there is a road that people take, thinking carelessly will be alright and still work out in the end. In a way we see this thought in the Bible around the time of the Judges, and in many cases following. The people began to do what was right in their own eyes, forsaking the ways that God had established. But each time the people moved out from under God’s established ways and paths, the people found themselves in a pickle. How many times do we see this very detail in the Torah? Better yet, how many times do we see this very concept in following history and seeing the captivity of God’s people? It was never God’s intention that His people become the property of Babylon, but their lack of following His ways opened the door for path to death.
Recently I started dating and have found myself falling head over heels for a special someone. I venture to say boldly that she is a gift from God and that we are in a true state of love. In our meetings we find ourselves kissing and holding hands quite frequently. Now I would be untruthful if I said that I did not want more, but I know that path. I know that choosing to forego the commands of God in relation to intimacy outside of marriage is wrong. And I say this not only because her mother reads my devotionals and I want to look like the good guy. I say this because the desire is there to do what is right in my own eyes, but the command of God overrides desire. I can go the way of the world and share physical love before it is time, but will it not in time end in death? Sure, probably not a physical death, but something will die. I am reminded of a quote I heard from Larry Huch who said, “We curse marriage by having sex before marriage, and we curse marriage by taking sex out of marriage.” I am not sorry for this, but I must agree. And because I agree, I cannot risk the pleasure of sin knowing that it will lead to death.
Am I sharing this to be a saint? No. I am sharing this because I am saddened by how many of us call ourselves followers of God, yet do not do His will. That includes me. Praying and seeking His guidance these days seems like the negative thing to do – especially in a society where we are supposed to care only for ourselves. We are blinded. We are blinded by the shiny, by the bling, by the dollar signs, and as a result we follow our own desires. But I warn you, as God has been warning me, that our ways will lead in death. I do not want to see us on that path. I urge you then, in light of Proverbs 14:12, to forsake the way that seems right to you, and instead go the way that is right according to God. His way is the way of life.

“A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY”
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith…”
I Peter 5:8-9a

Seventy-one years ago today, America was attacked. Do you remember this from history class in school? According to former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, this date would live in infamy. It was on this day in history when the Empire of Japan brought a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor which then was the basis for the United States entering into World War II. But what was the intent of the Japanese? Their main mission in this action was simply to cripple America from being the strong force that it was. History shows that Japan had intentions to wage war against the United Kingdom, Netherlands, and the United States, and by wounding our military they could ensure defeat. So then, with 353 of its bombers and torpedo planes, the Japanese military set out for Pearl Harbor. In the end Japan would manage to destroy 188 U.S. aircraft, kill 2402 Americans, wound 1282 more, and take out or damage 16 vessels in comparison to the 29 aircraft and 65 men America took in return from Japan. The next day, the United States declared war on Japan.
Isn’t that just like the enemy, to plot in secret the destruction of their foe? This attack on Pearl Harbor came as a surprise to the American people, and as such the surprise brought about such a great loss. But our enemy is no different. In I Peter 5:8 we are told of him. We are told that our enemy prowls around like a roaring lion. In the Greek, this wording for ‘prowls around’ is PERIPATEO, and means to walk, progress, and look purposefully for opportunities. Reports indicate that the Japanese did just this, checking weather conditions and such so as to attack at just the right moment, with deliberate purpose in mind. Be it the Japanese or the enemy we ourselves face, the mission is the same. Our enemy wants to KATAPINO us. Our enemy wants to devour or swallow us down.
It is for this reason we must look at the beginning of I Peter 5:8 and again of 5:9. The key to our victory rests in these words. We are warned to be self-controlled and alert. In the Greek these words take on a different meaning. We are first told to be NEPHO, sober and circumspect. The clarity of this word makes sense in terms of a person drunk on alcohol. Their motor skills are impaired, therefore making it hard for them to stand against an enemy, much less stand at all in some cases. And we are also told to be GREGOREUO, cautious and giving strict attention to. I have found that when I am clumsy and not paying attention fully that I miss the attacks that come my way. But Peter doesn’t leave us with just these two words. We see in verse 9 he also encourages us to resist and stand firm. The word for resist here is ANTHISTEMI, from where we get antihistamine. The encouragement is to oppose the enemy, just as with the antihistamine we look to oppose the sickness attacking us. And finally we are to be STEREOS, meaning strong and firm, or immovable.
It is no secret, the enemy is plotting our demise. But when he attacks we must take our stand against him. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt gave a speech titled, “A Date that will Live in Infamy.” His closing words begin, “As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.” It is my hope that we make the same stance. It is my hope that we rise up again the enemy who is bombing us and instead stand in defense against further onslaughts. Will we too rise up, become sober and alert? Will we become those who resist with firm footing the enemy’s attack?

FOOLISH OR WISE?
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
Proverbs 1:7

The first time I ever read this verse, I read it literally. I thought that what this verse meant was to be afraid of the LORD. If I was afraid of the LORD, then I was on the right track to wisdom. In some ways I was already there, then, as I did have a growing fear that at any moment God was going to smite me for my wrong behaviors. But since those days I have come to understand the true meaning of this verse, and the true meaning of the word “fear”.
There is more than one meaning for the word fear. My previous understanding was the meaning of being afraid. The meaning here is not quite the same, though. In the Strong’s, the word is YIR’AH, which is defined as respect or reverence. The reverence of the LORD is the first stage for DA’ATH, which is knowledge, understanding, and discernment. It is possible to be book or street smart, but in Solomon’s writings in Proverbs, he is explaining to us how to be filled with a knowledge that only God can give. That knowledge starts with respect.
The first time we are introduced to YIR’AH is in Genesis 20:11. It is here that Abraham asks his wife, Sarah, to tell Abimelech that she is his sister. This action was requested because Abraham was afraid that he would be killed for his wife. When questioned by Abimelech later, Abraham’s response was, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no YIR’AH of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’” Abraham’s concern of the respect and reverence for God in the land of Gerar, and the concern for his own life, prevented him from telling the full truth.
I think it is wise at this point to also draw attention to Proverbs 1:29 that warns us that if we are against knowledge and choose not to YIR’AH God, then we will eat the fruit of our ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes (Prov 1:31). The only way to dodge the schemes of the enemy is to draw close to God. It is in our closeness with God that our eyes are opened and discernment is obtained. James 4:8 secures for us the truth that as we draw close to God, He in turn draws close to us. And as we seek God, we find Him (Matt 7:7-8).
Continuing on in our Proverbs 1:7 passage, we read that a fool will despise this wisdom that comes from respect for God and His ways. The word for fool here is ‘EVIYL, and it simple means one who despises wisdom. There is a difference between the words knowledge and wisdom in this verse, however. While knowledge is understanding and discernment (DA’ATH), wisdom is skill (CHOKMAH). And as look at the final word in this verse, we find the term discipline. Discipline is translated from the word MUWCAR, and means correction and chastisement.
If we put the whole verse together, now with our Hebrew understanding of what each word means, then we read the verse as so:
The respect and reverence of the LORD is the first stage of understanding and discernment, but the foolish one will despise wisdom, skill, and correction.
I pray that the beginning portion of this verse defines us, that we are those who respect and reverence God. In so doing, we open ourselves to the correction and discernment given by God to us. But, if in reading this you find that maybe you are defined more by the second portion, and that you have been foolish and neglecting of a holy fear for God, then I would encourage you to repent and begin today to honor God in your life. Let us move forward in the fear of the LORD, and not forward in foolishness.