Daily Devotionals

1 Corinthians 10:12–13

If you’re old enough to remember comedian Flip Wilson, then you also remember his famous line, “The Devil made me do it.” It was designed to be funny, not phoney. Whether he believed in an actual Satan is, for the moment, immaterial. All he was interested in was getting a laugh. But the thing that made it so effective was the real-to-life scenario Flip was acting out. It made everybody laugh out loud.

2 Samuel 6:13–14

The guy had listened to me talk during several sessions at a pastor’s conference. We had not met before, so all he knew about me was what he’d heard there. Stuff like ex-Marine, Texan by birth, schooled in a seminary, committed to biblical exposition, pre-mil, pre-trib, pro-this, anti-that. You know how all those scary labels go. But those were the labels he’d stuck on me.

I really think he expected your basic, squeaky clean preacher: dark suit; white shirt;tight-knot tie; pocket stuffed full of tracts; a five-pound study Bible; thunderous shouts.

1 Corinthians 1:24–28

Let’s return to a subject we thought about earlier this month ... the church. Why is it unique? One main reason: it is the church over which Jesus Christ says He rules as Head. He’s in charge.

Not General Motors. Not American Airlines or Google or the Academy of Arts and Sciences. Not the local fire station or local theatre or local police department or city library or county courtroom. Although important and helpful, these cannot claim Hisheadship. Only the church. With all its quirks and faults, it still ranks right up there at the top.

Psalm1:1–3

In the first three verses of Psalm 1, the psalmist describes the one who chooses to live a righteous life, the one who consciously resists the subtle inroads of compromise. You can’t turn on cable TVthese days without witnessing the vivid contrast between godliness and wickedness portrayed on the screen. You’re left with a choice: Which will it be?

Mark 1:16–20

One principle of spiritual leadership I’ve become convinced of over the years is that vision becomes contagious. Something down inside us admires a person who stretches our faith by doing things that are filled with vision. Initially, such actions might appear to be foolish. The vision that is communicated seems fraught with impossibilities.

Psalm 90:10, 12

Who hasn’t felt a surge of anticipation while mentally standing on tiptoe, straining to see what lies ahead? Even the writers of a weekly news magazine tried to look beyond today. They didn’t try many predictions, but they did ask some sweeping questions. Among them:

Romans 1:19–20

Sometimes there’s more life-changing power in looking to the heavens than just about anything else.

That thought struck me when I took time to walk deep in the redwoods years ago. I laid back and looked up ... I mean really up ... through the trees. It was one of those clear summer nights when you could see forever. So starry it was awe-inspiring. The vastness of the heavens spoke eloquently. The stars were mute reminders of the glory of God.

Matthew 16:16–18

So, what’s the big deal about the church? What makes it so vital?

It’s a good question that deserves a good answer. Something more than, “You gotta have one to get married in,” or “It’s the place kids oughta be on Sunday.” Or how about, “There’s not a better place to make business contacts.”

1 Peter 2:24–25

The Velveteen Rabbit is a book for children with a message for adults. It’s essentially a revealing nursery dialogue between a new toy rabbit and an old skin horse. As they are lying side by side one day, Rabbit asks Horse:

“What is REAL? ... Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?”

“Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.”

Mark 1:35–37

Dave Cowens, former star basketball centre for the Boston Celtics, suddenly disappeared. Without warning, he walked off the practice court, showered, dressed, and drove away. Alone.

He kept driving to ... somewhere. His only explanation was the familiar comment, “I need to get my head together.” He added that it could take as little as two weeks or as much as 10 years. The sportscasters, management, team, spectators, and fans couldn’t imagine what he was looking for.

I could.