March 18

Pleasing the King

Dear brothers and sisters, what is the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions.

James 2:14 (NLT)

For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God’s power.

1 Corinthians 4:20 (NLT)

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

Romans 8:14 (NLT)

Children of royalty are always held to a higher standard. They are watched closely, analyzed and talked about—often to the chagrin of the King or Queen.

As believers in Christ, we too are royalty (1 Peter 2:9), the adopted children of the King, and we have been elevated to a position of great trust and responsibility.

It’s not easy, but He knows our predicament and has graciously provided His Spirit as tutor and guide. We need only open the King’s Book of Etiquette and inquire to find His hope and peace for our journey.

The rules are simple, easy to follow: we trust in our King; we live for our King. When we do these, everything else falls into place. Our witness is intact, and the King is pleased. And that’s what it is all about.

Lord, remind me that I am special to You, and You have given me a grand purpose. Teach me Your ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

March 17

Working Hard

“Well done, good and faithful servant….”

Matthew 25:21a (NKJV)

My white shirt was muddy, grass stains covered my knees; I was wet and bloody and looked like I had just escaped the battle zone. The truth was I had just finished over 10 hours of hard work in my father’s backyard—clipping, weeding, and wrestling with blackberry bushes. I took a deep breath of air as my almost 90-year old dad surveyed my work.

“Good job. This really looks good,” he rasped.

Though exhausted, at that moment, I felt revived. He had just made my day.

Pleasing one’s father brings a very special kind of joy. I thought of this as I drove home that night. It cheered me in a wonderful way when dad praised my yard work. But I couldn’t help but think of the indescribable joy of working all out for God Himself and being treated to His commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant….”

This is good to remember. Sometimes God’s work is hard, but at the same time, God’s work is always worth doing. It’s worth my best effort and it’s worth yours. So, what about your mission? To what work has God called you? Are you working hard? What words will you hear when you come before the Lord?

Lord, give me a mind to work diligently for You. Help me to see my work as significant and having eternal worth. Give me the strength, Lord, to carry on. Amen.

March 16

7,060 Days

Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life, and peace they will add to you.

Proverbs 3:1-2 (NAS)

I am 50 years old. This morning, Psalm 90:12 came to mind and I had the thought, “What if I live to be seventy? How many days do I have left?” After plugging the numbers into my calculator, I found I would have 7,060 days until my 70th birthday. With a little help from a spreadsheet, I now have two sheets of paper covered with 7,060 numbered days—a countdown and a reminder life is SHORT.

Perhaps I will have all of these two pages of days, or if the Lord so chooses, perhaps I’ll have three pages, or maybe less! The point I’m coming away with is this: God has given me my most valuable resource—time. If I am smart, I will use these days for Him, and if I’m really smart, I’ll ask, “What shall we do today, Lord?”

I wonder. How many days are you hoping to live … and … how will you spend your time? What will you do with today?

Lord, help us see the need to redeem the time, to live carefully and productively for You. Give us strength to actively pursue the good things You would have us do. Bless our short time here on earth. May we take joy in the days You provide. Amen.

March 15

Out-of-Focus

God blesses those who realize their need for Him….

Matthew 5:3a (NLT)


Call to Me and I will answer you….

Jeremiah 33:3 (NAS)

Today is one of those days where I feel listless, lost. I am without focus or feeling. Fortunately, I have time with God this morning and He brings me here to this quiet truth: I need Him. Oh, how I need Him! I need Him to open my eyes and my heart. As I think about Him, He reminds me, all I have to do is call upon Him and He will answer. He will show me the way to go.

He wants nothing more than to direct my steps, to guide me along the way. And He has promised me more. As I acknowledge Him, as I call upon Him, He will bless me. Little, insignificant me! He will show me my potential. He will show me great and mighty things. Things He wants me to do. Ways He wants to use me I never dreamed possible. He is a God of blessing, and He has lifted me out of my pit.

Do you feel lost, out-of-focus? Acknowledge you need Him. Call on Him and hear His voice today.

Lord, I need You. Please, show me Your path and guide my steps into Your greater joy. Amen.

March 14

Running from Ninevah

The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh!” … But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction….

Jonah 1:1-3 (NLT)

Jonah was a prophet of God. This meant God had a very special purpose for Jonah, and it included going to the heathen nation of Assyria. These were vile and brutal people, but God knew their need and He saw their possibilities. He also knew Jonah was the man for the mission. Jonah could do this. God had designed him for it.

But Jonah rebelled. The Assyrians were terrible people and Jonah would have no part of it. God thought different, and He had an incredible way of getting Jonah back on track. If you are unfamiliar with the book of Jonah, it’s worth reading. Jonah had quite an adventure and we learn some good lessons. One lesson is this: There is no advantage in resisting God, for in the end, God always wins, and when we do it God's way, we win too!.

Even though life seems hard at times, or we don't understand, or even if our task seems impossible, God understands it all. He has designed us for His special purposes just as He did Jonah. Believe it or not, God calls us to situations critical to Him and when necessary, He finds ways to motivate us. This is important for me to remember. So, I’ll start by asking myself, Where is God calling me? And which of His challenges am I resisting? He's probably not asking me to walk 500 miles to preach to a foreign nation, but what about stepping across the street to talk with a neighbor, or driving across town to visit the shut-in who needs some cheering up, or maybe it's something all together different. But if I pay attention, I'll hear His call. It’s beginning to sink in: the only way I win is by listening to Him, by being His ambassador, and by doing His will.

How about you? What’s your Nineveh? What new challenge does God want you to take on? As you reflect, remember this: God always provides for those who follow His plan. He provides us with every resource we need ... and something else ... He gives us His joy!

Lord, give me the ear, the heart to follow Your commands. Take joy in me. Amen.

March 13

The Very Thoughts of God

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)

… a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart …

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

The Bible is not an illogical hodgepodge of outdated rules and out-of-touch doctrines. It is the very Word of God whose Primary Author understands its timeliness, its practicality, and its eternalness. It is for us—right here, right now.

Paul knew this and it became one of his last pleas to his beloved Timothy and to us: the Bible is important to the way we live now. Yet, so many of us are content to live by the seat of our pants—driven by our own fallible senses. What feels good, what seems right? This leads to an undisciplined and sometimes selfish lifestyle. God’s word has the power to transform us (Romans 12:1, 2), renew us (Psalm 119:25, 40, 50), and set us on the path to true prosperity (Joshua 1:8). Thus established, we are not focused on self, but on something better than self—the very thoughts of God.

Lord, help me to know and understand Your word; help me to know and understand You. Give me the time to dwell on Your thoughts for me. Amen.