Tag Archives: Devotional

Devotions, Kingdom of God, Life, Motivation, PINOGAM

Grassy Hillside thought Who, Why, What

Hillside Thoughts for Monday – Day 287 of the year 2024 – October 14

Matthew 6:9-13 “This then is how you should pray: Our Father in Heaven, hollowed be your name, your kingdom come, you will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.”

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Jesus considers three things: character, conscience, and conduct.  When we establish an equilibrium between these three things of “Who am I”, “Why I do”, and “What I do”, then we will have a balanced life.

When we set our lives in order before God, we have a new character, the “Who am I” for me is a Child of God. Once my character has been set, then my motive, my “why I do”, becomes clear. My motivation in life is to conform to God’s will.  My why must conform to my who. Finally, and only when my character defines my conscience, then and only then can I do. Actions speak louder than words, but both must conform to the who and the why.  The “What I do” must align with the “Why I do.”

Seeing ourselves as children of God, conforming to His image, will result in doing. When all three are in line, can we live valiantly, peacefully, joyously, and lovingly in the Kingdom of Heaven.  We can have our bread, we can forgive, we can resist temptation and we can be delivered.  That is enough.

# Just Larry

Culture, Devotions, Justice, Life

Going one step further to grace and mercy

Matthew 5:38-42 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

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    Another remarkable teaching from Jesus on the grassy hillside. I have taken my place near the front that I might not miss anything. Every phrase, every thought is filled with both mystery and conviction.

But now Jesus is suggesting that I must allow the evil in this world to triumph. Am I to assume the role of victim in any encounter with someone who would do me harm? Is all that I own subject to anyone who wants to borrow it? This teaching of Rabbi Jesus is tough.  I don’t want my cheek slapped. I don’t want to give my shirt away.  I don’t want to go the extra mile.  I don’t want to lend my favorite fishing pole to a clutz. Jesus must be telling me something more here than a radical reaction to an offense.

     The culture in which we live remains resolute in its ability to accomplish much. There are many things the secular world can do better than the church. There is a place for government to do things the individual cannot.  Industry can build a car without being Christian. But there is one thing the world cannot do.  That thing is the offer of grace. Jesus was saying we are to be different from our culture, government, or industry.  We can look beyond the requirements and go a little further and become grace and mercy to all the world.

Just Larry

Devotions, Kingdom of God, Ramblings, Worship

The New Kingdom

Matthew 5:3,5,8,9,10 Kingdom words.

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Wait, hold on Jesus, let’s take a reality check moment. Could you tell me again what this Kingdom is?  A quick recap of the sermon so far is needed.  There seems to be a theme here: the kingdom of heaven, inheriting the earth, seeing God, sons of God, the kingdom of heaven again. What does that all mean? The guy over on the third row seems to think it is about a political solution to Roman occupation. He is whispering about the setting up of a new earthly Kingdom with God in charge. The guy next to me who was beaten by Romans a couple of months back agrees with a smile hoping for the Romans get what they deserve.  The smartly dressed one in front of me seems to think if everyone would get their act together, we would have 1,000 years of peace. Most of my fellow grass-sitters see the Kingdom as a day in the far future when history ends and it is over with a big bang and the Messiah will return. But the common conception is that Jesus is just talking about a futuristic someday.

Peter over there on the first row and in the middle seems to think it is about a new community identity. To Peter it is an opportunity to replace the chosen people with a new group. A royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, declaring the praises of God who calls us out of this dark world into his wonderful light. He thinks that those on the hillside were looking for more than an ethnic association. I tend to agree with Peter. Jesus seems to be saying that there is a new distinction: a group of people now being in a kingdom characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and control. Ethnicity was no longer a requirement for Kingdom entrance. This new kingdom is internal to all who would follow.  It is a Kingdom where all are welcome.

As I squat here on the grassy hillside, I am warmed by the sweet acceptance of a Kingdom where all are welcome. A Kingdom of the heart. And in that moment I realize, that  I am a part of the kingdom because God knew I needed to be a part.

Just Larry

Assurance, Devotions, Life, Preaching

Blessed are…

Matthew 5:3-12 The beatitudes. Blessed are….

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Nine attitudes of the Christian life. Attitudes that find their source in Jesus. Attitudes that make Christians different. Attitudes which describe expectations and acceptance. Attitudes when all tallied up make a difference in my life. Today I must circle back to one word that begins each. What is this blessing? What is this favoritism, this acknowledgment of my worth which is pointed to those who have these attitudes? How do I understand, experience, and feel this blessing? How is my being conformed to each called-out attitude a blessing?

There has always been a dichotomy, a struggle between two points of view. One side was saying they were led by the spiritual and didn’t need any other guide. The other was extolling the merits of keeping every law, precept, tradition, and cultural norm. The spiritual and the law have always been a center of argument and division. The law demands conformance, yet these gifts of grace are offered as free and abundant.

As I sit on the grassy hillside, I listen carefully to hear and understand how I shall live. I hear these nine characteristics of faith. Each is a gift is determined by my relationship to God. I do not hear commandments but blessings. Blessings, not because of what I do, but for what I am. Blessings to empower life. Blessings to overcome. Blessings to be more than a set of rules and regulations. Blessings to strengthen. Blessings to live a life full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and control. (Galatians 5:22,23). What a blessing! Nine reasons for nine attitudes. Gifted to become and to be.

# Just Larry

Devotions, Peace

Matthews 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”

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As I was reading through this message and imagining myself among the inquisitive masses, this one line seems different. It is the only one which is a promise if a future title. Yes, the makers of peace are blessed, that is a simple description of the current state of the task. Here he says that in the future and not during effort, a title will be given. My actions as seen by others will be seen as actions of peace and I will receive, not from God but from those around me a title of peacemaker. I will become the go to person when there is strife.  I will become trusted to listen to both sides and provide a reasonable solution to the dispute. What a reputation!

I hear Jesus telling me the better alternative to hurt, pain and resentment, is being a peacemaker. He tells me that I have a calling to make peace. Peacemaking is me doing something for the concept of peace. Peacemaking is about my willingness to go further than the hurt.

I need a new relationship with God with a united peacemaking cause and to reach out to make peace. It is the calling of all children of God.

Today, I will dedicate my every action with the purpose of making peace.  I will not lash out, I will try to make peace when others seem bent to tear things up.  I will stand in the gap when there is conflict and bring the hope of peace.

And again, that peace must start with me.  Oh Lord, Remind me again that you desire peace among your children.

Church, Culture, Devotions, Peace

To protect the peace.

Ephesians 6: 14-17 “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

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I have never served in the military. I admire and pray for those who protect and serve. It is difficult to relate to the metaphor Paul was using here. Belts, breastplates, feet coverings, a shield, flaming arrows, helmets, and swords are all about war.  It seems that it is not politically correct to sing, “Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war”. Today’s church is one of inclusion, worship songs, and integration with the community. As I write this morning I wonder, is the church becoming so culturally aware, that it has lost the war makers?  Is the price for cultural awareness in the name of peace, restricted the Gospel strengthened warriors of faith? Where is the “Stand Firm”? Where is the armor?  Where is the call to prepare for the current culture war?  A war where truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, the Spirit, and the Word of God are the implements. 

I pray for the readiness that comes with the Gospel of Peace.  I pray for my fellow Christians who are ready for battle. To protect the peace.

#Just Larry

Devotions, Motivation, Personal

Peace is a process

James 1:2-4 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
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James the brother of Jesus urges us to be filled with joy when we endure trials of every kind. Hebrews says that Jesus suffered the cross with joy (Hebrews 12:2). Acts reports that Peter and the apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ’s sake (Acts 5:41).
This is just crazy talk for anyone in the slough of despond. It seems impossible when life is dealing you one disappointment after the other. There have been times when I must look up to see the bottom. One of the requirements which I demand of God is peace. I need it. I crave it. It is my preference over struggle and turmoil. Yet here James is telling me my life is a trial, a training ground. I am to be filled, crammed to the brim with joy in trials. My faith is being stress tested to a point where it is counted as persistence. Don’t get me wrong here, I assume my survival in trial will result in a better me. Even so, I don’t want a better me. I want peace. I demand of God an inner, incomprehensible, sweet peace. I don’t want to suffer. I don’t want trials. I don’t want to endure. I don’t want to work at it. I want to shortcut to that place where I am, “lacking anything.” I acknowledge it is a process. But Lord, at least give me a little less struggle and a little more peace!
# Just Larry

Devotions, Life

My Peace Meter

Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.
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The peace that comes from being in the right relationship with God is not the peace of this world. There have been times in my life when I have taken a step forward only to slide two steps in the opposite direction on my peace meter. Peace in our current culture is vastly inferior to God’s peace. To those who don’t have God in their lives, peace depends on having favorable circumstances: if things are going well, then we feel peaceful; when things go awry, the peace quickly dissipates. Jesus made the distinction between His peace and the world’s vacillating peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.”
It is fundamentally a choice: peace with God through trust or to settle for the less, offered by the world through circumstance.
Just Larry

Devotions, Life, Mercy

Get my brakes fixed, second.

Matthew 6:25,26 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
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No one likes to be told what to do! Jesus, are you telling me about how I should live my life? “Do not worry about your life”, sounds like a command. I may not worry as much as others I may know, but there are times when an emotion that could well be characterized as worry does pop its head up in my life. But Jesus, does this mean that when my brakes on my old pickup start to grind and the pedal is as soft as an over-ripe peach, I should not worry about going down the interstate at 70 miles an hour in rush traffic?
Perchance, I think what he is really saying is “Don’t let worry become my conditioned and continual response to circumstances out of my control. I must rely moment by moment on his provision, promises, and plan. First, I must realize God is the source of my peace, and second, get my brakes fixed.
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Just Larry

Devotions

Miracle of Peace

Thought for March 28–

John 14:26-27 “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

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Everywhere I look, there is everything but peace. Wars,  political infighting, and the declining health of those I love, all wanting to steal my inner tranquility.

Like B. J. Thomas sang, “The rain keeps falling on my head, And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed, nothing seems to fit,” Life doesn’t conform to my standards.  Yet there is still a feeling of peace in my soul.  Praise God!  My sins are forgiven.  I have declared to be at peace with God.  God is at peace with me. Today I will experience the peace that is simply incomprehensible. I trust in a God that loves, cares, draws, forgives, restores, destroys fear, and limits trouble within my heart.

I live with peace within myself, I live in peace with one another, I live at peace with God.  When things change inside me, things change around me.”

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