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Sacred Whispers Devotional
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Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.
Proverbs 14:34
I recently had a conversation with a young person who was on the fence about voting in this year’s election. He noted his distrust of the Electoral College and disappointment in the political system and politicians in general. In his opinion, they all seem to do what they want to do and tell us what they think we want to hear. I could not help but agree as I too recognize that our political system could use a lot of improvement.
Too often we see dishonor of their oaths of office, corruption, political jockeying for more and more power and a blatant disregard of “the will of the people”. The last 12 years, particularly on a national scale, has revealed some of the darkest places of the human heart, especially in pursuit of power, and 2020 has seemingly been the all time low. The politicizing of our response to Covid 19, the resurgence of racial tensions, and the sheer nastiness of this election, tempts me also to feel that it is hopeless; so why even bother. Why vote, why speak up, why even try to stand for what is right? Afterall, this world is ‘going to hell in a handbasket’ as it is said.
Shortly after the conversation, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “it is righteousness that exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” This scripture, found in Proverbs 14:34 changed my perspective. If we as Christians fail to show up, in the darkness, then what hope is there? Our collective righteousness lifts up our world and counters the collective evil and sin that is bringing it down. The only way that people see the light, is it shines in darkness.
Jesus put it this way in Matt 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Despite the darkness, lets choose to be the light. For indeed, it is righteousness that exalts a nation.
Published on Jan 20 @ 3:55 AM EDT
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So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”
2 Kings 4:2
Have you ever been in a situation that has caused you to be in a state of pure panic? Maybe you unexpectedly lost your job or have incurred a debt as a result of an unanticipated illness. Perhaps you’re a student who miscalculated your college expenses and got a bill you didn’t expect. We’ve all had that moment when we panicked because in our adverse circumstances, we forgot that we serve a miracle-working, “shows-up-when-you-need-Him” God.
There is the story of a widow whose husband died suddenly. He was a prophet’s disciple and left his family in debt when he passed. Creditors were threatening to take the widow’s sons to make them slaves because of this debt, and she went to the prophet Elisha for help. As you can see from 2 Kings 4:2 above, Elisha first asked, “What have you in your house?” And her initial response was to say “nothing.” How many of us, when confronted with an unanticipated situation, panic and immediately experience a crisis of faith because we believe we have “nothing?”
However, as soon as the widow said that she had nothing – as if it jumped into her mind – she remembered that she had some oil in the house. But it seems like this didn’t mean anything to her because she said, “except a jar of oil.” In my mind, I experienced this verse as though she was saying, “we have nothing of importance in the house. Just a jar of oil.” That word “just” can be a terrible word because it reveals a mindset that we undervalue who we are or what we possess. I don’t like it when my friends say it’s “just” me; as if their presence isn’t important. The fact that it’s you means all the world to me because I have no other you in my life. You are unique.
In the midst of the widow’s limited thinking, God shows up to reveal what he can do with “just” a jar of oil. Elisha instructs the woman to get as many vessels as she can and to pour oil from her jar into the vessels. He specifically tells her to get “empty vessels, do not gather just a few” (v. 3). This widow and her sons started pouring oil from her jar into all of the vessels borrowed from neighbors and God’s Word says that her jar continued to give oil until the family ran out of vessels. The widow was able to sell the oil and the money was enough for her to pay off her husband’s debt and to provide for her and her sons.
As you meditate on this lesson, ask yourself:
- Are you of the mindset that you have nothing? Even worse, have you been tempted to believe that you are nothing?
- What valuable object or gift do you have in your life that you think of as being “just a jar of oil’ when god can multiply that gift to bless you and your family?
- Read 2 Kings 4:1-7. Did you notice that the jar of oil only stopped producing because the widow had not secured more vessels? Are you limiting God’s abundance in your life by not having secured enough vessels?
Published on Jan 19 @ 3:51 AM EDT
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Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
Matthew 17:1-3
We all love those powerful mountains moments when the beauty and the glory of the Lord are revealed, and His face shines bright as the sun. Jesus took Peter, John, and James with Him to what we refer to as the mount of transfiguration while the other nine disciples waited down in the valley. What these three disciples saw and heard during those mountain moments would not only send shivers up and down their spines but would forever reshape their lives and prepare them for the journey that lay ahead. This journey that would require them to give everything for the sake of the gospel and the call of Christ.
Peter’s journey would take him from the floor of a smelly fishing boat to the streets of Jerusalem, where he would say, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6). He would later die a martyr’s death. James would become the leader of the Christian church, establishing doctrine and writing inspired writings. He would also die a martyr’s death. John’s journey would lead him to be exiled on the island of Patmos where he would be called up to heaven to write the book of Revelation. Their lives are a testament to the truth of Jesus’ declaration in Luke 12:48, which says, “to whom much is given, from him much will be required.”
As is the case in most physical terrains, so is also the case in much of our lives; the only way for us to come down from those glorious mountain moments is to go through a few dark valley experiences. The truth is that when God calls us ‘UP’ to spend time with Him on the mountain, it’s because He has some important work for you to do in the valley. It is on the mountain that we get to spend precious moments with God, and it is in the valley that we get to live out our calling and find purpose and meaning in God’s plan.
Enjoy the mountain moments, and when God releases you, come join us in the valley as we do the work of our savior.
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9: 37-38)
Published on Jan 18 @ 3:47 AM EDT
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Most of us are familiar with John 14:6, where Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In other words, no one can have eternal life with the Father, except through His son, Jesus.
Published on Jan 21 @ 12:54 AM EDT
One of the benefits of our January fast is the powerful external motivation that we get to benefit from. Many Christians all over the world choose to begin their new year with a month of fasting.
Published on Jan 20 @ 12:09 AM EDT
Sometimes I like to just sit with a good book. I mean, to really become present with the writer and to become one with the story. Great literature is like that, you can’t truly appreciate it if your mind is racing and your thoughts are concentrated in other places.
Published on Jan 19 @ 12:14 AM EDT
Helicopter pilot, Ray Asgar, flew over Gilcrest, Texas, and took a photo of a single little yellow house belonging to Warren and Pam Adams. What is remarkable about this house is that it is the only house left standing after Hurricane Ike completely demolished nearly every home and business in this small, once-thriving community.
Published on Jan 18 @ 12:04 AM EDT
The Apostle Paul uses an illustration in 2 Timothy 4:7 reminiscent of competing in the Roman Olympic games in order to demonstrate the Christian believer’s life of faithfulness. He says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Published on Jan 17 @ 12:31 AM EDT