Take A Picture

Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  Ephesians 6:11

In preparation for a much needed family vacation, I recently dusted off our SLR camera that we purchased a few years ago and have been enjoying taking photos of the family and a few scenic shots around town. I have been fooling around with some of the features on the camera and have taken some fantastic shots by adjusting the aperture.  

In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels. Without getting too technical, a wide aperture shot results in an image that is sharp around what the lens is focusing on and blurred otherwise.

Much like adjusting the lens of a camera, the same happens in a temptation to sin. If we only focus on what we need in the heat of a moment, the rest of the big picture of our lives begins to be blurred. We shut out all reasoning and consequence of our sins and focus solely on the temporary pleasure.

In order to build our defense against this tactic of the enemy, we must learn to keep the focus clear on the big picture. There is never a temptation we will face that God won't provide a way out for us.

Evil Urges

I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.  And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.  As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. Romans 7: 15-18

If I had a dollar for every time I used "the devil made me do it" as an excuse for my poor choice of actions over the years, I'd be a rich man.  Of course, it sounds like a valid excuse, but ultimately, we are the only ones responsible for our own actions.

We cannot use the power of sin or Satan as an excuse because both have been defeated by Christ.  When we refuse Christ's help to resist temptations, sin is stronger than we are and we may find ourselves defenseless against an attack.  This is why we should never try to stand up to sin alone, but depend on Christ who has conquered sin once and for all.

When we tap into His never ending power and strength, we can stand tall and not give into our temptations and the sins that so easily entangle us.  

Meant to Live

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2

Despite it being a short work week because of Memorial Day, Tuesday came and went yesterday and I was simply worn out before this week had even begun.  Everything has been going well at work, in fact, so well that I have been running ragged at work the past few weeks with various meetings and presentations.  When I rely on my own limited resources, I simply don’t have what it takes to make it. 

The more I learn about God, the more I am beginning to understand that He wants me to come to a place of dependence on Him, every single day.

This world wants you to believe that being self-sufficient is the way live, but the truth is, we need to rely more on God’s all-powerful and never-ending strength.

Let us rejoice in our insufficiency knowing that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.

With or Without Reason

“I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"  At this they picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.  John 8: 58-59

The other day, I was attempting to make a point to our children and was at a loss for words, so I uttered something completely ridiculous: "Because I said so."  Whoa, I have never heard that one before.  My children probably think I have lost my mind…which, maybe I have, but that’s not the point of today's DEVO...

When Jesus spoke the words above from John 8:58, He spoke one of the most radical and powerful statements of His lifetime.  He boldly proclaimed His divinity when He said that He existed before Abraham was born.  In addition to claiming that He was around before Abraham, He also applied God's holy name-"I am."

Jesus' claim is one that demands a response and cannot be ignored.  The Jewish leaders attempted to stone Jesus for blasphemy, because He claimed equality with God.  Who do you say He is?  Is He truly God or just a great prophet that did nice things for other people?

If I was not a believer, I would certainly question some of Jesus’ outrageous claims, but the truth is that Jesus is God, so how do you respond to His claims?  

Surrender

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  Therefore submit to God.  James 4: 6-7

Our sons are both growing up quickly, Elliott is eight and Elijah is five, but along with all of the fun, they are both capable of also throwing their share of temper tantrums at any given moment. I feel like a ‘broken record’ at times, lovingly correcting them or showing him the proper way to do things. The other evening, we were enjoying dinner on our back porch.  The boys were eating chicken strips, but Elijah refused to eat his because he claimed that the chicken tender was "too crunchy."  If we only served junk food and sweets, Elijah would be in the clean plate club every night, but the reality is that most meals are a struggle to get him to eat at all... 

 

The same principle holds true in our relationship with the Holy Spirit.  If a drowning man thinks he can help himself, he becomes dangerous to anyone who attempts to rescue him.  Until we surrender to God and give him full authority to reign supreme in our lives, we are not in any position to be helped either.  We may not realize it, but when we aren't following his lead, we are listening to ourselves and being disobedient.

To truly follow God, we must make his will our own and it starts by surrendering our own will!

Everywhere I Go

I look up toward the hills.  From where does my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth!  He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.  Psalm 121:1-3

Having almost every variation of Apple gadget known to man, including an iPhone, iPod Nano, iPod Touch, iPod Classic, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and my iPad Mini with Retina Display, I am still amazed at how much I am able to accomplish ‘on the go.’  If I want to watch a movie or television show, I can stream it online.  I do most of my banking online through an application.  My medical insurance carrier now has an application and I can view my claims and access my ID Card through a their new app.   I have access to most of my music library through the iCloud at all times, and I can stay connected at work through email and by phone.  Of course, one of the greatest marvels of the technological age is Words With Friends…I have several games going on at the moment.  While all of this is certainly cool, having God with us at all times is even cooler.

In fact, our Loving Father is not limited by space or time; He inhabits the hearts of everyone who believe in Him.  He is not restricted by buildings or places of worship; He is with us without a Wi-Fi connection or even without electricity, for that matter.

Ponder this for a moment-God is with us everywhere that we go and He is with us in everything we do.  No matter where we go or what we are doing, God is with us at ALL times!  Praise His holy name!

Follow You, Follow Me

If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is not living in the truth.  But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love Him.  That is how we know we are living in Him. 1 John 2: 4-5

Our youngest son, Elijah, got into a little trouble recently.  His 6th birthday is quickly approaching in August and with his age, a stubborn attitude has also developed. (I wonder where he got that from?)  Just like most children his age, it is easy to follow the lead of other people, even if what they are doing is wrong...

Whose lead do you follow?  Have you ever wondered how to express your love for God?  It's simple, because He tells us how-we are to follow Him!  The Bible is not just a bunch of stories; it's our manual on how to live a blessed life.  When you obey God, you are putting your faith to the test and showing that what you believe is true.

When you trust and obey God's commandments, you will be on the way to living a life full of joy and contentment.