2 Peter 1 [The Message]

Can you imagine how it was for Peter and the early disciples to have walked and lived with Jesus, the miracle-working young man from Nazareth? Christ revealed His divinity through His miracles, having the Voice of God The Father speak out of the heavens on the mount of transfiguration etc. And yet, God’s plan was to send His Son in the flesh to suffer like we do and rise triumphant over the grave.

Peter assuredly declared, “We couldn’t be more sure that this was the Messiah.” The garden tomb was EMPTY!

1 Pet. 5 [The Message]

My mentor, Moses Vegh, used to say,”God doesn’t always pay on Fridays, but HE ALWAYS PAYS.” He was referring to God’s deferred payment process. Actually, we should be ultra glad that God doesn’t operate on an immediate payment basis. If He did, we’d ALL be wiped out.

Christians have rewards awaiting them in heaven. Jesus was constantly preaching, “Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven.” It’s healthy to be generous because God is, but living a generous life is a blast. We get rewarded here with the satisfaction of helping others, and then we have a reward stowed away in heaven.

Payday’s coming.

1 Peter 3 [The Message]

Everything we can see now is merely temporal. The earthly beauty that wives have now can fade, but their character and inner comportment is only getting going. One test … ask her children what they admire about her. You will get answers that refer to her qualities rather than her appearance. Don’t get me wrong. We men appreciate what women do to remain attractive, but the beauty we see with our eyes means little when the meals stink, the house is trashy, and every conversation is an argument.

Ladies, love God and His Word and your inner beauty will brightly emanate from your soul.

1 Peter 2 [The Message]

Governments come and go. God remains. His principles of relating to government are consistent .. respect it and pray for it.

I am occasionally guilty of being critical of contemporary government policies and trends. I am not helping by so doing. To be an active part of the solution, I resolve to pray and not criticize.

There you have it. Hold me to it.

James 5 [The Message]

Scripture uses farming analogies to illustrate the needed patience to understand God’s timetable for results. Our lives can be compared to a crop being planted and the way results are proportionate to soil preparation, rain, weather conditions etc. It takes time. Farmers cannot afford to be impatient. They wait.

Our lives are an adventure in agriculture. We plant, water, fertilize, and cultivate our lives and those of our offspring with hopes that we will reap favorably. Then, we wait for the harvest.

James 4 [The Message]

God knows the future. We don’t. We make plans based upon what we want and what we see. That it such a limited and unwise strategy

James warns against saying, “We’re gonna do this and that and go here and go there.” His advice … say, “If the Lord wills.”

God knows the future. He sees the future. He controls the future. Our interaction with the future should be more prayer-based rather that prediction-based. There should be more asking and less assuming.

If a football coach knew the open paths to a touchdown on every play, he would ALWAYS WIN. God creates and knows those paths.

Let’s huddle up and pray.

James 3 [The Message]

We are encouraged to set a watch on our words.

Establish a filter on your mind to vet everything you’re going to say for its impact. This is wisdom in action. How will it be taken? Is it laced with love and mercy? Will it create a hunger for more or close up a hole of opportunity?

Like a ship, the course of every relationship can be charted by our words. Where is that relationship right now? Where do you want it to go? With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, you are steering that person’s life.

James 1 [The Message]

My grandson took a job teaching. It has been a baptism of fire since he was not trained to be a teacher. Gratefully, his administration and fellow staff members have pitched in to show him some of the ropes, but it’s pretty much a sink or swim situation. My heart goes out to him … I was a teacher with the benefit of an education degree and methods courses to prepare me … but I pray that he comes out of this MUCH STRONGER in his faith and teaching skills.

James makes it clear that life for the Christian has these struggles. But, if we allow Him, God will pull us through. We also might end up saying, “Wow, I’ll never do THAT again.”

Patty and I have both had a difficult week of illness. I’m sorry I just didn’t have the energy to complete the devotional. I trust you kept up your DAILY time in God’s wonderful Word. (Your personal devotion to His Word IS my main objective) I’m obviously doing much better. Patty is still in the tunnel, but she’s improving. Thanks for praying.

From Hebrews 11 in The Message;

Years ago I produced an Easter musical at Evangel Community Church where I was serving as Worship Pastor. We had a re-enactment of the Abraham-Isaac sacrifice scene where God had instructed Abraham to offer up his son. One of our staff pastors, Charles Lorentz, and his son, Adam, performed the scene. It was one of the most moving bits of drama I was ever involved with. EVERYONE could see the love Charles had for his natural son. Abraham had faith that God would raise the boy up if he died. Parents, we need to live in this faith that God protects our children and grandchildren from harm. We likewise give them to Him.

Hebrews 7 [The Message]

There is a valuable ministry program for rehabilitating men called, “A Better Way.” It was begun by John Barrow, who himself, experienced Christ’s restoration in his own life.

Everything about Christ is BETTER. That’s the theme of Hebrews.