Gleanings From The Word

Tag: daily devotional

  • Unity and Diversity – One in Christ

    Bird collage

    I sat out on the back patio yesterday evening, preparing to barbecue supper. I had my Merlin app tracking the birds. It captured calls from 21 different species. That’s a lot of diversity for a small yard.

    God likes diversity; it displays his creative power and love of beauty. The other evening, the sky was blue, grey, black, pink, yellow, purple, and more, depending on where you looked. White light refracts into eight colors. Who can count the species of plants, insects, birds and animals, or the stars in the sky?

    He has given us different cultures, different personalities, and different spiritual gifts.

    I love what I call “Holy-tonk” music. That is old hymns done with a rocking country beat. It hurts the ears of others. The same can be said about literature, fashion, the cars we drive and more.

    Yet believers are unified in the Spirit. 

    Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:1-7

    Distinct and different. Diversity and unity in a profound way.

    We don’t have to look the same or worship the same way. We can have personal preferences and differences.

    What a blessing. How boring it would be if we were all identical little Christian robots.

    He has given us diversity so that we can learn to love others who are different from ourselves, to minister to those in different places, and to encourage us in a diversity of spirit united practices.

    The next time someone walks through the doors of your local assembly who is different in some way, don’t tut-tut. Celebrate the wonder and creativity of the Living God.

    Be blessed
    Kevin

    Joy – Only Christians can have it
    Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12
    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear
  • The Hot Seat – Hell is real

    The Hot Seat – Hell is real

    A burning chair - the hot seat. hotter than hell

    I got a bit of a surprise hot seat this morning. As I drove Kathy to work and turned a corner, her travel mug tipped over and dumped some hot coffee into the driver’s seat. It wasn’t hot enough to burn me, but it was surprising, to say the least.

    Now, of course, the term hot seat is usually applied to being put into an uncomfortable, pressured situation where you are being interrogated or criticized. It was also once a euphemism for the electric chair. My hot seat didn’t compare; it was far more literal.

    There is a very real high-pressure hot seat coming for non-believers. It’s a thread that runs throughout the Bible, here are a couple of examples.

    And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to reproach and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2

    Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. John 5:28-29

    There are many more, Revelation 20:11-15, Matthew 35:21-46, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 and so forth.

    Wanting to become a Christian to escape the hot seat of God’s judgment and the fires of hell is a good reason, and it has motivated many people. Yet, if that’s all it is, an escape, are you truly saved?

    Only God can know, but if your relationship doesn’t expand into knowing Him, loving Him, obeying Him and wanting to be with Him, you might want to examine your heart.

    Being a Christian is so much more than just escaping the hot seat and the fires. It’s about a love deeper than any other and a desire to be like the one we love.

    It’s a new birth and a second chance. It’s a new life eternally. It’s blessings beyond measure, although some won’t be realized in this earthly life. 

    Our faith is radical and countercultural. It’s hated by those who don’t believe, just as our Lord was hated. It may bring hardship and persecution. Yet, it’s worth it all.

    It’s your choice, face the hot seat on your own merit (of which you have none) or bypass it with the imputed righteousness of Jesus.

    Choose wisely.

    Be blessed
    Kevin

    Unpleasant Endings – the hard questions about hell
    Unity and Diversity – One in Christ
    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear

  • The Church has a blessed future

    The Church has a blessed future

    An old Moravian church - image public domain

    Can I confess something? I get angry and frustrated with the church sometimes because she is full of people who are guilty of all the stupid and sinful things that people do, (including myself and you).

    I wonder, “Why did this one do that?” or “Why didn’t they do that?” The people of the church have done some incredibly stupid things since Christ left. Crusades. Bad teaching. Inquisitions. Self-centeredness. Unscrupulous “healers”. I could go on and name a hundred more things without thinking.

    Sometimes the people of the church tell a good story, but the reality is different. We talk about caring on Sunday, then cheat and steal on Monday. We talk about being welcoming, but woe betides the visitor who sits in Grandma’s pew. We talk of freedom, but then we walk in bondage.

    It doesn’t matter if it’s a house church, a pretty little country church, or a megachurch congregation with attendance at every service larger than some communities I’ve lived in. Regardless of theological stripe or denomination (or non). It happens across the entire spectrum of the visible church.

    I guess that means I get frustrated with the people in the church, rather than with the church. When I take the time to stop and think about it, I remember that the people of the church aren’t supposed to be perfect yet, that comes later. Jesus loves us just the way we are. He’s changing us day by day, but He loves us. 

    When I stop and think about it some more, I remember that I love the church herself, complete with all of her problems, confusion, and tension. The true church is the body of believers worldwide and is the bride of Christ. She’s imperfect but she is growing more like Him every day, and when the marriage does happen, all will be made whole and right. 

    In the Middle East 2,000 years ago, there were elaborate rituals before a wedding. The groom or his family often paid a price for the bride. 

    The betrothal was an extended period during which both parties were to remain pure. During this period, the groom often went away to prepare a home, either by adding onto the family home or building one from scratch. When it was done, great effort was made to have the groom sneak back and claim his wife. The exact timing was to be a surprise. After his surprise return, there was the formal wedding and a time of feasting and celebration.

    Knowing a bit about these customs helps us appreciate the wonderful picture of believers as His bride.

    He’s gone away to build a home for us.

    In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:2-3

    There’s going to be a wonderful banquet.

    Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. Revelation 19:7-9 

    The similarities are far more extensive than that. It would take a book to cover them all in detail, but the people of His day understood what Jesus talked about when He called the church His bride. They knew of His deep and sacrificial love for the. They understood that He would come again.

    Until next time may you come to a deeper understanding of what it means to be part of the true church and eagerly await the return of your groom. Let’s also remember that all those people in the church who frustrate us are His bride to and learn too love them as well.

    Be blessed
    Kevin

    Check this out!

    Happy Anniversary Church – What is our future?
    What is the church? The hands and feet of Jesus.
    Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12

  • God Provides for the Chickadees (and for us)

    The Easter celebration is over for another year. We celebrate the Risen Christ and that He provides us with a way to redemption. He is risen! He is risen indeed.

    I wrote about chickadees last week, but something I saw yesterday brought them back to mind.

    I looked out at our patio, and a chickadee was busy pulling threads from some burlap around one of the plant pots. Soon, he had so many threads that it looked like the bird had a fuzzy burlap-covered beard.

    It was joined by its mate, who did the same thing. They’d fill a beak full of threads, fly away, and quickly return. The nest they are building must be very close.

    I wasn’t able to get a photo because of where I was standing and I didn’t want to move for fear of causing them to fly away. Today’s image of a chickadee in a nest is a stock image from the web.

    Those chickadees were busy, but not anxious. They were working, but not worrying. They were gathering what they needed from what the Lord had already provided. In this case it was threads from our burlap.

    How often do we fail at that very point?

    We can become troubled because we do not see everything we think we need for the days ahead. We want the whole answer, the whole supply, and the whole plan laid out before us. Yet so often the Lord provides in smaller portions than we would prefer—not because He is stingy, but because He is teaching us to trust Him.

    Our Lord told His disciples to look carefully at creation and learn from it.

    “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” Matthew 6:26 

    That does not mean life is free from labor. The chickadees still had to pull the threads. They still had to carry them. They still had to build. But the materials were there before they ever arrived. What they needed had already been prepared for them.

    That is often the way our God works.

    Sometimes He provides strength for one day, not ten. Sometimes, He gives wisdom for the next step, not the whole journey. Sometimes, He supplies just enough grace for the present burden, and not a bit more than is necessary. But it is enough, because it comes from His hand.

    Israel learned this in the wilderness when manna was given daily:

    “Then Yahweh said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My law.’”  Exodus 16:4 

    And Paul rested in that same truth:

    “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

    Perhaps you are in a season of building just now. You may be trying to hold things together in your home, your work, your ministry, or your own weary heart. You may feel that what is in your hands is very small compared with what lies before you.

    But do not overlook the threads.

    The Lord is not careless with His children. He knows what is needed, and He knows when it is needed. If He sees a chickadee gathering burlap for its nest, He certainly sees His own people and the burdens they carry.

    So, receive today’s provision with thanksgiving. Use what He has placed before you. And trust Him for the next thread when it is time.

    Be blessed
    Kevin

    Chickadee – an amazing bird
    The God Who Provides

    __________________________________________ 

    Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12
    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear


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  • What’s good about Good Friday?

    Tomorrow is Good Friday. The day we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus and His death. It seems such a strange name for a remembrance of the day when humanity’s ultimate sin occurred.

    Yet it might not be as strange as you think. There are several possible reasons for the name. The most plausible comes from Old English, where “good” often meant holy or pious. That means it is Holy Friday. That tracks.

    There is also a theological reason. Without the crucifixion, there is no resurrection, and our sins are not atoned for. That makes the events of that day good, at least in their outcome.

    I’ve also heard that the term is a corruption of God’s Friday, but I can’t find any evidence for that perspective.

    Whatever the reason for the name, the effect of what happened changed the world. It was always God’s plan, but it bore fruit that day, both forward and backward in time.

    On the cross that day, outside of Jerusalem, Jesus made a profound declaration.

    When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:31-34

    It was finished. Mission accomplished. Game, set, and match. The wrath of God was satisfied.

    All who come by faith were now reconciled to God. What a day! 

    A horrific day in terms of the events that took place, but truly a Holy Day, a Good Friday.

    There will be no Gleanings until Tuesday because of the Easter weekend.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Something else worth remembering at another time of the year

    Lest We Forget – Remembrance Day Thoughts
    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear
    Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12
    The Church has a blessed future

  • Chickadee – an amazing bird

    a black capped chickadee sitting on my

    The black-capped chickadee is an amazing little bird. They are cute, friendly, and have a sweet song, but they also have some amazing characteristics you might not know about.

    Each year, the chickadee’s hippocampus sheds memories of the previous year and develops new patterns to remember the location of every seed it stashed away. It is estimated that they can remember 100,000 seeds. Scientists are studying this to learn how memory works.

    A chickadee can go into a state of semi-hibernation. Their internal body temperature can drop nearly 50 degrees (F) allowing for far less energy usage. I extreme cold.

    Chickadees remember faces that fill their feeders and more. Being naturally inquisitive, other species of birds watch them to see if an area is safe before moving in.

    Such a little bird, made in such a complex, specialized way. How much more so does that apply to humanity, being made in the very image of God?

    So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

    I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14

    Every human being has intrinsic value. Every life is important to God. We need to remember that when we look down on or dismiss others because of their lifestyle, melanin levels, gender, socioeconomic status, or anything else. 

    We’re called to love and compassion. We’re called to share the gospel. We’re called to be in the world not of it.

    Jesus died for them, just as He died for us while we were yet sinners and enemies of God.

    Like other birds watching chickadees to see if things are safe, people are watching us to evaluate the claims of Christ. Is He safe?

    May your life reflect the fruit of the Spirit and the love of Christ.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    God Provides for the Chickadees (and for us)

    Check out our homepage

    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear
    The Church has a blessed future
  • Gospel of Barabbas

    Gospel of Barabbas

    gospel manuscript

    Let’s talk about the gospel of Barabbas. It’s not some new book that’s been found; in fact, as far as I can research, historically, such a book has never existed.

    The gospel of Barabbas is the name I’m giving to a profound passage that appears in all four gospels. It doesn’t really have anything to do with Him, but it’s a great visual of the gospel of Jesus Christ played out in the life of Barabbas.

    It’s the night Jesus faces the mock trials and is condemned for crimes he did not commit. The Jewish leaders have pushed him before Pontius Pilate and Herod, demanding his death. Pilate and Herod don’t want anything to do with the situation, but the crowds become dangerously unruly and Pilate gives in.

    But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. Luke 23:18-25

    Barabbas was a bad dude. A rebel against Rome and a murderer, essentially a murdering terrorist. Yet the religious leaders would rather see him free, and Jesus killed. Further in the text, we see that it is fulfilled.

    Jesus dies so that a guilty man can go free. That’s a physical manifestation of the gospel. Jesus came to die so that you and I would be reconciled to God and set free from the penalty of our sin.

    We don’t know what happened to Barabbas after he was freed. The Bible doesn’t tell us, and his name isn’t recorded anywhere else. Did he change his ways? Did he continue as a terrorist?

    That’s also the way of the gospel. Jesus has done His part to set the guilty free. What becomes of that sacrifice depends on what we do with Jesus. We can accept or reject his offer of freedom.

    Perhaps, we’re not murdering insurrectionists. Yet, we are all guilty of sinning against the Lord, and without Jesus, there is no way for us to be free.

    If you haven’t already done so, allow Jesus to free you. If you are a believer, give Him praise and thanks for what he has done.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear
    What about the “new gospel”?

  • Impossible Task

    Can I say something that will probably make you uncomfortable? Of course, I’m not really asking permission; it’s just an easy way to broach the topic. Living the Christian life is an impossible task.

    I stand by that 100%. That is, if we try to live under our own power. Successfully living the Christian faith walk under the power of our will and flesh is an impossible task. It just cannot and will not happen.

    Fortunately, for us. God knows that. We are justified, that is, our sins are forgiven, but we are not yet fully sanctified (made holy).  It’s why he made the disciples wait after His ascension before beginning the next phase of their ministry.

    “And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’” Acts 1:4-5

    “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49

    There was a special outpouring of the Spirit at the beginning of the church. Today, every true believer has the Spirit dwelling in them.

    The Holy Spirit intercedes for us, gives us discernment and wisdom (in tandem with the Word), gifts us and more.

    The Holy Spirit is the gasoline that powers our faith walk. Without Him, we can go nowhere and do nothing. When we try and do something without Him it is an impossible task.

    With Him, working in accordance with God’s will, all things are possible.

    Do not neglect or grieve the Spirit. He is our God-given helper.

    Praise God that He has not only forgiven us through Christ but empowered u with His Spirit.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Circles
    Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12
    # Right Belief Must Become Right Living

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  • Circles

    Circles

    Yesterday, Kathy and I took two of our granddaughters to Castle Fun Park (a local amusement park). One of the highlights for them was the go-carts, going around in circles (okay, not exactly circles. More of a circuit) in carts driven by lawn mower-sized engines.

    I remember the thrill of that when I was a youngster. Getting to drive and racing around at what seemed like great speed. Trying to pass others or avoid getting passed. I could hardly wait to grow up and drive my own car, and I was convinced I knew everything about driving. Of course, I really knew nothing.

    Life is a lot like that. We get busy going around in circles, we’re busy, and think we know far more than we do. We spin our wheels, going nowhere and accomplishing very little, if anything.

    It’s a tool the enemy, and our own fleshly nature use to keep us from growing in our faith walk and doing what god wants us to do. We get caught in empty activity, or struggling with what we think is urgent rather than important. We waste time, money, and energy pursuing things that don’t matter but seem just around the next bend.

    If we’re honest with ourselves, we all waste a lot of time. Much of it may even be on things that are good, but not the best use of our time. I confess that I’m that way far too often.

    We’re called to follow Jesus with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. That takes focus and intentionality.

    Paul exhorts us to:

    Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-8

    Stop running in circles chasing things that never satisfy. Take some time to intentionally follow Paul’s exhortation. Allow your heart, mind, soul, and strength to be focused on the things of God.

    That plan comes with blessings.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Impossible Task
    # Right Belief Must Become Right Living
    Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12

  • Fruit of the Spirit

    produce department - fruit

    As I walked through the produce section of a grocery store recently, I was struck by the huge variety of fruit and berries. Numerous varieties of apples, oranges, and other citrus fruits, strawberries, bananas, melons, grapes, and more. There were also fruits that people consider vegetables, like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and others. If I had been in a green grocer’s, the variety would have been far larger.

    We’re all familiar with fruit of some kind, even if we mislabel it. The same was true in biblical times; it’s no wonder the Bible refers to the fruit of the Spirit. Almost every Christian is familiar with the famous fruit of the Spirit passage

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

    There are also many other passages that speak of this fruit directly or point towards it. Some of them you might be as familiar with. John 15:5, Mathew 7:16-17, Ephesians 5:9, Colossians 1:10, Philippians 1:11, James 3:18, Romans 8:5-6.

    It’s abundantly clear that spiritual fruit is important, but did you ever stop to wonder why?

    Physical fruit isn’t for the benefit of the plant. It grows to provide a source of replacement plants and to benefit those who eat it. It’s the same with the fruit of the Spirit. As we grow more Christlike, the changes in our lives benefits those around us and glorifies God.

    When we are more patient, loving, and self-controlled, we are a greater blessing to those around us. In the process we become better people more like the design God has for us. The fruit of the Spirit is a double blessing.

    May you grow plentiful, healthy fruit that the world will be blessed in the name of Jesus.

    That’s astounding when you think of it. God wants to grow and mature you and me to be a blessing to others. The fruit of the Spirit we develop glorifies God.

    Kevin

    There Is No Fruit of the Spirit without Holy Spirit

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    Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12

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    Live in Abbotsford? There are many good churches. This is where I attend.