September 20

Committing the Work to God


“My thoughts are completely different from yours,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”

Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)


Commit your work to the Lord and then your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:3 (NLT)


In his insightful book, How to Build a Life-Changing Men’s Ministry, Steve Sonderman says only one in ten churches has an effective men’s ministry. Wow! That’s a startling fact, and, for me, quite humbling, because right now our church is focused on just this: building an effective men’s ministry. In fact, we are looking for guys, right now, who have a heart to serve.

To find that pathway to success, God’s Word gives us a clue. “Do it My way,” He says. “Consult Me. I know things you don’t. Let Me tell you My plan.”

I don’t know about others, but I want God’s best. I want to taste His success. It’s got to be better than anything I could ever cook up! That’s the work I want to do: His work … His way.


Lord, open our eyes. Show us Your way. Grant success that glorifies You! Amen.

September 19

Teetering On Nothingness


If … I don’t love, I am nothing. If … I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

1 Corinthians 13:2-3 (The Message)


When I walked through the French doors to my study, the early morning light decided to join me, peeking through the broad white Venetian blinds. I looked out at the neatness of the front porch, the bright house colors and newly stained deck. Nice. I felt warm and snug, but then my mind dragged me back inside: military pictures and plaques added an air of masculine domain. The computer, fax machine, desk lamp and knick-knacks garnered my attention but a moment … then I looked at “my mess.” Papers and books, journals and letters, maps and files laid scattered about. They cluttered the two desks, filled the table, covered the corner wooden chair and spilled onto the floor. They congregated in sleepy piles—undisturbed for weeks and months. I began to count my sloppy stacks, but grew depressed and stopped at a dozen.

It’s a daily frustration … but not for me. You see, my wife hates clutter … and tells me so every week. Some people are just slow, I guess, and I’m just now realizing what I’m communicating. I’m seeing the light … maybe for the first time.

It clicked when a friend mentioned how neat my desk looked at work. “How nice it looks here—you know, I’ve seen your desk at home.”

I look around. Why is that I wonder. At work, I keep a perfectly clean office and I realize it's because I don't want to annoy the staff or leave a bad example. Think, Craig. You’ve known these people, what, three years maybe? Do you love them more than the woman who birthed your three boys? The gal who has devoted herself to you for nearly 25 years? The one who has committed to you totally … does she not deserve more attention ... more love than this?

I’m afraid I’ve had wrong priorities, and I am convicted. My life teeters on nothingness … if I don’t change … if I don’t love.

My mind's made up. I need to ask for forgiveness … and a wastebasket.


Lord, they say, love is action. Help me to act, to show real love! Amen.

September 18

Crashing Barriers


Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink." He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised, for Jews refused to have anything to do with Samaritans.

John 4:7-9 (NLT)


When Jesus physically walked this earth, many considered Him a maverick. In reality, He was the fulfillment of the law and God’s greatest expression of love.

Here, as in so many other places, Jesus breaks the restrictive molds of tradition, culture and race in an act of compassioanate love. Once again, He shows the Father’s purpose for His life as He reaches out to the unlovely, the unwanted, the castoff.

Time and again, He reveals His openness to all—not some. Here, He reaches out to, of all people, a woman … a Samaritan … and someone who would have been considered a very sinful person. As the situation unfolds, the woman is attracted to Jesus’ loving proclamation of truth. Their conversation moves from the everyday to the eternal—while her comments are guarded, His revelation is direct. Truth spoken lovingly, directly brought change—real, life-rattling change—to a woman whose former life had been rough, misdirected and empty.

It’s a lesson for me and for all Christ Followers. It's a lesson to ignore, or perhaps crash, the barriers standing between us and people in need. There is no reason a person should not receive God's love, God's charity, God's Good News through us except one—their choice … not ours.


Father, give me opportunity to show love and to share as Jesus did—kindly, honestly and with great compassion. Amen.

September 17

The Highest Hurdle


It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

Mark 2:17 (NIV)


Then Jesus began to open their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Luke 24:45 (NCV)


Are you content? Comfortable in life? Satisfied with things just the way they are? Do you think you’re a pretty good person, doing just fine and perhaps … better than most? If so, watch out!

There’s a little bit of Pharisee in each of us and unless this persona is subdued and conquered we will miss out. We will miss out on the most important thing in life: truly knowing and understanding more of God.

I picture Jesus in this shadowy room of human warmth and workaday smells with His wonderful group of misfits and outcasts—people who had ridden the roller coasters of emotion and self—the not-quite-good-enoughs who had witnessed His power and glory, but also their own great despair and now this new humility. They would surrender all for Christ and here they stood slack-jawed, opened, and now they caught the complete vision as Christ filled them with His knowledge.

They got it; and when they got it—visions of God’s grace and plan—everything became new. Gone were the glum faces and despairing attitudes. “They worshipped him and returned … very happy. They stayed … praising God” (Luke 24:52-53).

Understanding our shortcomings is the gateway to real knowledge, real life. Too many of us I’m afraid face the highest hurdle: our own self-righteousness.


Father, forgive us for thinking we are so “healthy” when truly our needs are so great. Amen.