Why is it important to care for a holy life?

 An Emoji Devotions for Wed, 10 February 2021

Topic: Why is it important to care for a holy life?

By H. U. Wenger

Highlights: “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14) 

We do know that except for Jesus himself, every one of us is a sinner. According to the sermon of the mount we all qualify for murderers and adulterers. Nevertheless many Christian consider the doctrine of the sermon of the mount as an ideological non-reachable ideal. Yes, of course we should strive for a sanctified life, but Jesus himself did not believe it really possible and therefore he has given us his own righteousness for free, as a gift. Even the Epistle to the Hebrews mentions that we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) We cannot do without sin, so why bother?

This is a doctrine that has spread from the Western liberal theology and it is a dangerous cancer in the church today that causes Christianity to be without the dynamics of salt and light. Although nobody can claim to be without sin as long as we live in the flesh (1. John 1: 8) we always have to aspire for a more sanctified life. This is the only way to become more like Jesus. Yes, it is true that Jesus has gifted his disciples with his righteousness and holiness, but it is also true that he called them time and again to a holy life: compare the beatitudes (Matthew 5: 3 – 12); be salt and light in the world (Matthew 5, 13 – 16); keep the law (Matthew 5, 17 - 42); love your enemies and be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5: 43 – 48) He encourages to let go of the earthly worries about clothing and food and to concentrate on his kingdom and his righteousness. (Matthew 6: 28 – 34) The apostles continue in that very tradition. All the Epistles show us what riches and blessings are bestowed on us through the redemption through Christ and then encourages us to lay down everything that belongs to the old nature and live in the Holy Spirit, the new nature, God has given us. We cannot follow Jesus just ideally or spiritually. Discipleship needs always to be wholeheartedly, including my mind, my soul, my body and eventually my actions.

Jesus warns us: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21 – 23)

Highlights: “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14) “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:” … (Colossians 3:1 – 5a)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I earnestly want to be holy as you are holy, but I am not. Help me to grow and to be transformed into your image. Thank you for the Holy Spirit and forgive me any resistance I have put against his guidance. My life belongs to you, take it and form it into your image. Amen.

My doubts can lead to deeper trust and firmer faith in the Lord

 An Emoji Devotions for Tue, Feb 9, 2021

Topic: My doubts can lead to deeper trust and firmer faith in the Lord

By H.U. Wenger

Highlights: For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. (Psalm 33: 4 – 6)

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. (Psalm 34:8 – 9)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5 – 6)

It is totally normal that we have doubts because we have so many wants and wishes in our lives and not everything we pray for, is always given to us.
 Additionally we know that our lives are not as perfect as the one of Jesus has been. So maybe God is appalled and disappointed by my behavior. Would he give me, what I crave for, if I could live an immaculate life? Without realizing, we move our thoughts away from God and concentrate on us.

This is the place, where we fall into the same trap as Eve did at the beginning of time. Is God really all that good? Do I just hold to it because it gives me a feeling of security and refuge? God is good because he says so and because he has proven it in history.

Whenever doubts are tormenting us, we need to concentrate our thoughts on God and on what scripture tells us about him. He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).

All the promises he has given us, he will fulfill in his appointed time. It may, however, well be that a few of my wishes do not match with what he has promised. In any case, I am free to pray and to beg with the assurance, that he will give me good gifts (Matthew 6:7 – 11). He has made the heavens and the earth and he has created you and me. All our days have been written down in heaven, before anyone of them came to pass in time. (Psalm 139) Just think what he has cost him to save you from the hands of the enemy! He had to give his only Son to the worst torture imaginable.

His love for you is so strong that he offers life eternal to you, even before you have taken your first steps as a disciple. He will never betray you he will not reject you as long as you cling to him and the promises in his word.  Even if you are lead through hard times, you will find refuge in him and his truth.

The bigger my doubts become, the more I need to cling to him. If I refuse to do so, my own understanding will betray me and I will go astray.  In trusting him with all my heart, despite my doubts, he will lead me in a place of rest and will show his power and strength to me. Paul testifies to this in his epistle to the Philippians:  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4, 6 – 7)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I surrender all I have and all I am to you. Please come into the situations that are too much for me to handle. Thank you that you love me and that you are present now. Guard my heart and let me cling to you with all my strength. Amen

A fruitful live for the kingdom of heaven

 An Emoji Devotions for Mon 8 February, 2021

Topic: A fruitful live for the kingdom of heaven  

by H.U. Wenger

Highlights: As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3:15)

 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (Luke 8, 4 – 8)

The first verse reminds us of the rebellion from the Israelites against Moses, as they did not have water in Exodus 17, 1 – 7. In the spur of a moment they were ready to kill Moses. The Lord saved them by ordering Moses to hit a rock with his rod. The second portion of scripture depicts our lives with regard to our readiness to receive and to nurture the word of God. The fact that we all live as fallen creatures in a fallen world has the consequence that all four types of land are present in my life. I have not been understood, I have been wronged and it has made me hard like a well trampled path. Here the seed gets refused and the birds or the wind can take them away. There are hurts and wounds in my life that are covered with a very thin layer of earth. Here, I am craving for healing and relief, but the good seed is always too slow and it withers and leads to frustration. I have tried, but it does not help anyway; so why bother anymore? Then, I have learned that there are a few things that give me immediate relief and satisfaction, although I hate them.

So many times I have vowed that it has now been the last time, I have done it. But the thorns ensnare me again and the good plant gets chocked. Finally there is the good soil and it may likely be the largest part and give me my reputation for my Christian life.

Jesus wants, however, heal the three parts of my soil that have become deficient through my depravity and through my being wounded and hurt. Every part of my being that cannot receive and nurture his good seed cannot be sanctified and cannot be fruitful. Jesus invites me to bring all my contaminated soil to him for purification, for being renewed by him. To live the new life, I need to look at the soil of my life. He can make the hardened parts soft, heal the concealed wounds and hurts, break the false gods of lust, greed, envy, pride and whatever else the fallen world has betrayed me with.

The only thing, I have to do, is to confess my whole misery and bring it to him. He will show us the way to recovery. He may do a miracle and simply take the bad stuff away. He may lead us into contact with wise brothers and sisters, who can help us out.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11, 28 – 30) 

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus please help me. I want my whole personality to honor and glorify you. I want that my whole being is bearing fruit for you. Please heal the hardened parts and help me to not harden my heart, when I hear your voice, telling me to listen, to repent and to trust and to go on with confidence. Amen.

Am I righteous? Am I just?

 An Emoji Devotions for SUN 7th February, 2021

Topic: Am I righteous? Am I just?

By H.U. Wenger

The steaks for being righteous are high and most of us would probably answer very reluctantly and prudently to the question. We know too well about our biases, about our likes and dislikes and the small or sometimes big injustices that result from them. Normally I consider myself as a non-discriminating guy against others, but recently I have woken to a horrible truth about me that gave me the shivers. I sat in a preaching and it struck me as boring and without deep thoughts. I felt how my anger was stirred and I came to the conclusion that the guy is unfit for preaching. I reasoned that I could say much more even with absolutely no preparation. Right then he began to talk about our tendency for haughtiness, pride and self-conceit and he confessed, that he struggles with the very facts mostly in traffic, when he feels surrounded foremost by morons and people, who are totally unfit for driving. I was immediately convicted by the spirit of the Lord. A multitude of instances flooded my mind, in which my internal attitude was totally arrogant and self-satisfied. Sure, I did not utter words, but the Lord sees our heart our heart determines everything we are doing.

 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4, 23) After the sermon I had to repent immediately. I was crushed by the fact that under scrutiny, my behavior was not even just, let alone righteous.

In his sermon on the mount, Jesus says to his disciples: “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5, 20) If we want to know, who we really are and what we really want, we need to have a close look into what we are doing on a daily bases.

 To enter the kingdom of heaven we need to be righteous. It is not enough to be civil, decent and self-respecting. We need to be loving and merciful towards others as Jesus was, while walking the earth. The problem is that our fallen nature is unable to do all of that. Jesus gives therefore his own righteousness to everybody who wants to earnestly walk with him. Even more, he makes our hearts and souls to the temple of his Holy Spirit. We are made holy, not in our deeds, but in our estate before the Father in heaven. Jesus righteousness becomes my righteousness and this enables me to live already in the kingdom of heaven in the spirit.
 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3, 21-24)

As the preachers and my example show, the worldly spirit tries always to ensnare and to deceive us. We can fall into the trap of complacency and egomania without being alarmed by it. We can even consider ourselves as well balanced with the sins of pride, haughtiness and self-deceit, but we have lost the dynamics of being salt and light for the world. People around us are only drawn to God by encountering the liberating character of Jesus Christ. How should they encounter it, if I do not live it out wholeheartedly?

Prayer: Thank you Jesus for your mercy and grace. You have given to me, your righteousness for free. Please help me live out your character and be salt and light for the people around me. Thank you for your forgiveness for my pride and arrogance. Without you, I cannot do anything of value. Amen.

Dangerous Family Politics

 An Emoji Devotions for Sat 6th February,2021

Topic: Dangerous Family Politics

Highlights:

As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands."

Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?"
1 Samuel 18:7-8

You wonder why some family are shattered today? It's simply because the parents have made one of the siblings powerless by singing praise of the other. In the inward truth the plan is to stir up passion and to motivate the weaker one but in so doing, some brothers and sisters have hated each other. King Saul and David were not family by blood but by anointing.

What could he have more, some women (not all the women in the country) have sang praise of David more than King Saul and given to the king fewer credit to the shepherd boy.  In order words we must warn our family members to beware of praise singers of men who could cause rift between peaceful family. Christian elders should  beware of powerful factors in the causes which could lead to unhingment of mind in family.

King Saul later became mentally unbalanced and almost took David's life in the cause of taking back his credit. He totally lost it all because of political praise singers.

Prayer: Help me Lord to be mentally stable through peace found in the Salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bring God's presence

An Emoji Devotions for Fri, 5 February 2021

Topic: Bring God's presence

Highlights

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24

This is how it works. When you want God's presence you should be determined that money will not control your feelings, actions and reactions.

Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

A needle eye is too small for a rich man or woman to pass because there is no red carpet and no paparazzi? That's the phrase. They cannot just squeeze themselves to stand a boring place. "No, I can't", "I need my bodyguards!" This is not a designer product" I'm allergic to body odor, My MakeUp is not enough! That car is not Porsche. Their hand shakes because they have no time to  pass a thread through the needles eye.

Some are sorrowful because they have no money and they become spiritually irresponsible because they are desperate for money. Many have lost their salvation because they cannot be trusted with money. They forgot God the giver of life and money.

When there's no more conscience because of money. What will you do when you get into trouble?

The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22

Remember that what makes you a true Christian is when you bring God's presence to them. Do not let people regret having relationship with you because of money!

Prayer:

Lord I pray, do not let your presence leave me for life and help me to transmit your presence in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Battles on Bottles

 An Emoji Devotions for Thu 4 February, 2020

Topic: Battles on Bottles

Highlights: 

Remember your Creator

    in the days of your youth,

before the days of trouble come

    and the years approach when you will say,

    “I find no pleasure in them Ecclesiastes 12:1

Before you open that bottle remember you are going for a battle because wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise. Before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades;

when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint, when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets;

when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Remember your creator on when you are still looking good and reasoning rightly so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in you, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:4

Prayer: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be sufficient for me. Amen