Category: Daily Inspirational Devotional

The composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein was once asked what musical instrument was the most difficult to play…his reply: “Second fiddle.” Think about it, most of Christian service is just that…playing a supportive role, behind the scenes, quietly getting things done. It’s ordinary, un-grandiose things done well in a consistent manner. It’s cleaning the Church, and scrubbing toilets, and rocking babies in the Nursery…all of which aren’t flashy but need to be done by someone. For God sees & knows, and ultimately we’re accountable only to Him to serve others wholeheartedly and in love…whatever our role.

In his first letter to the Corinthian Church, Paul made it very plain the path we are to follow…remembering that there is no God but one, and that we need to live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord. In other words, we are to be totally united with God, ever seeking His guidance and walking continually in His truth. Psalm 25:4-5 echoes this well, “Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.”

Eli was the high priest of the Temple and father to his greedy and unscrupulous sons, Hophni & Phinehas. It tells us that their sin was very great in the Lord’s sight…for they were not following the prescribed practices laid out by God in Leviticus and Deuteronomy for sacrifices…and they were taking advantage of their positions in the Temple to treat the Lord’s offerings with contempt. When Eli confronted them they refused to listen to his rebuke and warning…but neither did Eli take control of the situation…rather turning a blind eye & further enabling them. Eli was then confronted by a unnamed prophet of the Lord who asks, “Why do you honor your sons more than God?” The key word in this question being “honor”. Whatever we value the most, we honor…and we worship what we value. Sadly for Eli, not confronting his wicked sons carried more weight than obeying God’s laws.

The Jewish custom was after the couple were betrothed, the man would return to his father’s house to prepare a Bridal Chamber, and once it was finished, he would return to fetch his bride…complete with a wedding feast of family, friends, and neighbors. And because no one knew when he would show up, his arrival, preceded by trumpets blowing, brought great joy and gladness to the celebration…so grief, mourning, sadness, and fasting wasn’t at all appropriate for the occasion. Thus Jesus was telling John the Baptist’s disciples that there would come a time when it would become appropriate to fast and pray…when He, the bridegroom, would go away to prepare a place for His bride, the Church, only to return someday for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb found in Revelation 19. Jesus is coming back to fetch His bride…

We think that we’re not only in charge of our own bodies but in charge of the entire world…but then a devastating hurricane, earthquake, wildfire, tornado, or some other natural disaster happens, (a act of God as they’re called) and we realize just how little power we actually have. God is firmly in control and sovereign…creating, working, and accomplishing His divine plan and purpose in both heaven and on earth and doesn’t really need our help or permission …or as Jesus prayed in Matthew 6:10, Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Or put another way, Daniel 4:34-35 tells us, ” His dominion is an eternal dominion; His Kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases…” But what pleases God is only to do good…desiring that none should perish…delighting in His children’s obedience, and wanting only the very best in their lives.

During His time on earth Jesus revealed Himself clearly and without reserve, telling His disciples in John 8:26, “What I’ve heard from God I tell the world.” And later as He was preparing to leave, He told them, “I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15) But there was no higher revelation of divine knowledge and wisdom reserved for that elite inner brotherhood of Jesus’ disciples. For Jesus will reveal Himself to all who will come earnestly seeking Him.

It is rather a momentous time for Safetypinlove. Today is the Tenth Year Anniversary, and this Scripture is a tribute and testament to the plan, purpose, and aim I have strived for all these years. Each of the 3,429 Devotionals governed and determined by what will promote the manifested excellence of God through the drawing of others to the saving faith of Jesus Christ. It’s simple, I write to honor God & for His approval not man’s. And over the course of these ten years God has been faithful in so many ways…starting by taking my personal journaling of the Scriptures and sending them out into the world to encourage others…with today Safetypinlove.com & God’s Word going into 156 countries around the world. Praise His Holy Name! Many thanks to all my friends who have exhorted and encouraged me over the years…you don’t know how much it has been appreciated. God is so very good… and with His help and by His grace I will continue on.

As Paul exhorted the Church in II Corinthians 13:5…Examine and test yourself to see whether you’re in the faith. Sin has a way of blinding us to our own wickedness…leading to deliberate and defiant disobedience. These verses are a call to repentance…but much more than that. First, we must acknowledge our sin and confess it…which leads to renewed lamenting of our sinfulness as we lift up our hearts and hands to God as signs of both internal and external repentance. But it can’t stop there, for it must be followed by a change in our behavior…a turning back to God and submitting to His correction and direction Many have declared how sorry they are for sinning…but there is no follow through…and sadly it then only amounts to being sorry they got caught.

You have been raised with Christ, His redemptive work in you done once for all. But the route to spiritual maturity is not reached at that moment, but rather just started. This is why Paul was so empathetic, “Set your hearts on things above.” So look beyond the world’s confusion and seek out God’s decrees to integrate into your life. Determine and strive for holy living daily…glorifying God in word and action. Finally, desire to obey God rather than man as you do what is right in His eyes.

Unfortunately across the ages there have been times when the wickedness of men as been so great that God has said, “Although they cry out to Me, I won’t listen.” (Jeremiah 11:12) That’s when this verse in Isaiah is more of a taunt…just like Judges 10:13-14 when God declared, “You have forsaken Me and served other gods…go and cry out to the gods you’ve chosen.” or when God sarcastically spoke of the people’s idols in Deuteronomy 32:37-38, “Let them rise up and help you, let them be your protection.” It’s all quite simple, our collection of idols will never be able to rescue or save us…and if we cry out to them in anguish, it will only fall on deaf ears… for in the end it’s our hearts that are deluded, deceived, and misled.