“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Paul refers to the Galatian church members as “sons” of God through faith in Jesus Christ, so he viewed them as family members (Galatians 3:26). They were being disciplined, like children, for wandering off the path of true faith, but they also were being trained in how to practice that faith. How timely Paul’s words are for all of God’s children! I have selected our focal passage from within the practical ethical section in the letter because it helps us to apply what we believe about Jesus Christ to our daily lives (5:1-6:10).

Paul has spoken about freedom several times in this letter, so we will view the epistle through that lens today (2:4; 4:26, 31; 5:1; EBC). I have researched “liberty” extensively in my academic life, but I will simplify the point here by stating that there is a distinction to be made between our cultural understanding of freedom and a biblical one. It stems from who ultimately is in charge. Paul defines freedom in Christ from both a negative and positive angle: it is not a license to do whatever we want but rather service to both God and man (5:1, 13-18, ESV). Preachers are fond of saying, “We are free to serve,” which captures the sense of what Paul says, but it does not convince many people to do those things! This last statement begs the question: “What does Paul teach Christians to do?”

Commit to the foundational obligation to love. If I may use a metaphor, we ought to hang Paul’s understanding of Christian liberty onto the nail of our “love God/love neighbor as yourself” broader ethical lifestyle approach. The outgrowth of this moral way of living is evident in the great Christian virtues—for example, the fruit of the Spirit. Paul has helped us to sum up a wonderful way to live freely as servants of Christ and through service to others. Jesus also taught us this love through service ethic when He exhorted His disciples with “you ought [ethical obligation] to wash” each other’s feet (cf. John 13:12-14).

Use Christian freedom to love others. Paul also teaches us how our faith in Christ expresses itself in love (cf. 5:6). This was powerfully useful in countering the divisiveness in the churches of Galatia and will do the same in ours (5:15). When we use our freedom to love others we will avoid “backbiting,” “devouring,” and “destroying” one another. Paul is certainly taking the pruning shears to the church grapevine, isn’t he?! The Christian lifestyle enables the use of freedom in order to lead holy lives responsibly. The life of legalism, as Paul addresses in the letter, requires people to carry a heavy yoke upon their moral shoulders. Instead, Christ places a new yoke of love upon our shoulders, and it dictates how we treat one another. Simple enough!

Make loving others your lifestyle. Therefore, we will choose to do a couple of things now that we are living in love. First, we will avoid using our new freedom improperly—i.e. sinful self-indulgence. We are to guard against giving the “armies of indulgence” a beachhead, or starting point, to operate in our lives (5:13, GK, aphorme; EBC). Some of these areas are listed in verses 19-21. Many of us are long-term believers, and we immediately dismiss such lists because we gave up long ago such “evil” in our lives. Hang on, though, there is also what we may term the “inoffensive sin” that we all too often discount as being unimportant. Overall, the “opportunity for the flesh” includes all that we can do apart from the control of the Spirit in our lives. Our deeper commitment to the Spirit life will help us to rein in many other hurtful attitudes and harmful behaviors. 

Secondly, we are to engage the service of others in love. Paul uses a word meaning “to be enslaved,” which in the Christian sense of the word carries the sense of voluntary sacrifice that yields deep joy. We will discover that the Spirit will guide our service along the avenues of service to God and then others however and to whomever He desires. The vehicle is love and the fuel for such journeys will be supplied by the fruit of the Spirit. How wonderful it is to be free in Christ!

I stood outside our Baptist Center for Global Concerns office building this morning and looked at the wonderful trees that provide a partial ring around the property. I pondered how they serve us in so many “good” ways. Their roots prevent soil erosion, their leaves provide shade, and they offer extraordinary beauty. They did not get that way without the Creator’s handiwork, some support from us to grow correctly, and pruning to maintain their usefulness and beauty. 

Here is the spiritual point. Paul has provided us with some added structure and pruning to help us mature in Christ. Allow me to paraphrase Paul’s point: Train up a “church” in the way it should “grow,” even when it is mature it will not depart from it.

1. Paul has called all of us to a freedom check-up. Are we growing in Christian love and service? Check regularly the fruit of the Spirit in your life to see if you are healthy.

2. For Families: Your older teens will benefit from this passage when they realize that it opens up a passageway for their future. When our teens come to the place where they use their freedom to be responsible, honorable, truth-tellers, and trustworthy, then you, their parents, can release more and more freedom to them.

This passage teaches us that with freedom comes weighty obligations to do the right thing at the right time with the right motive. When we act with justness, our joy bubbles up as we sense God’s pleasure in our service to others.

Parents, we know that training our children from babyhood with consistent faithfulness, and an intentional love ethic, requires constant attention. It is hard work, and we often feel we may be failing. Yet when we provide opportunities to serve others, and model this kind of freedom-based loving, we are teaching them the true way to live in the joy of Christ.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

[Originally published September 29, 2026]

Monastic movements are centuries old. About the year 250, devout Christian men and women began to withdraw from their families to live alone or with others in community, just so they could pray and concentrate on knowing God better. For almost eighteen hundred years, monks and nuns have spent their days living, praying, and working full time in monasteries, earnestly mindful of God and learning His ways. When we think of solitude with God, we sometime think first of monasteries and retreats as special sacred spaces for this kind of continuous contemplation. 

Throughout Christian history, however, laypeople who also love God deeply have started several movements to practice the same kind of devotion. These non-ordained Christians are not called to vocational or full-time ministry, although they witness of Christ's love each day within their circles of influence. They are called to uphold responsibilities in the world, to care for families, and serve God in the marketplaces. But they cannot retreat for lifetimes or years or even months.

Three distinct movements successfully brought the practice of a structured, daily "quiet retreat" to the public. The first is called the Ignatian Movement, named after its founder, Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556). When Ignatius founded the Jesuit monastic order in the 16th century, he wrote Spiritual Exercises, a rigorous thirty-day silent retreat to help train its new brothers. Recognizing that ordinary working people could not abandon their families or jobs for a month, but wanting to help them too, Ignatius explicitly created a loophole in his manual, called the "19th Annotation."

The 19th Annotation adapted the intensive monastery retreat into a "retreat in daily life." Laypeople committed to setting aside sixty minutes of quiet, structured prayer every day at home (while maintaining their regular jobs) and meeting weekly with a spiritual director. It remains one of the most widely practiced daily retreat frameworks in the world today. Over the years, Ignatius wrote more than 1,000 letters about spiritual growth. His collected insights, prayers, and suggestions in Spiritual Exercises have become one of the most influential volumes on the spiritual life ever written. Many Christians have been touched by Ignatius's life-pattern, which he called “contemplatives in action.” His famous prayer speaks of his heart's utmost desire: "Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my entire will, All I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, That is enough for me."

The second movement took place during the early 17th century under the leadership of Francis de Sales (1567-1622), who lived near Geneva where Calvin was living and preaching. Called the "Devout Life" movement, this pattern of private prayer and sacred space swept Europe after Francis was ordained and elected a leading priest in Geneva, and then Bishop. He was an effective administrator and powerful preacher, who spent his days hearing confessions, teaching children, and modeling how to be like Christ in the world. His gentle character was a great asset in winning souls. He practiced his own axiom, “A spoonful of honey attracts more flies than a barrel full of vinegar.” He wrote Introduction to the Devout Life, many pamphlets, and carried on a vast correspondence. His writings, filled with his characteristic gentle spirit, are addressed to lay people. He wanted them to understand that they too were called to be saints.
 
Francis argued that holiness belongs to the shopkeeper, the soldier, and the busy housewife just as much as to the monastic hermit. This loving shepherd-pastor pioneered a structured method of daily morning meditations requiring about thirty minutes of complete interior quiet. When church members began practicing this, it transformed their lives and sparked a massive counter-cultural movement across Europe. Ordinary families began to build "quiet corners" in their homes specifically for the purpose of meeting with God. Despite the controversy of the Reformation era, the historical legacy of de Sales testifies to a time when Europe collectively sought refuge from bloody religious wars by turning inward, using his pattern of spirituality to build an unshakeable, quiet sanctuary within the human heart.

The last movement, which is called either the "Morning Watch" or "Quiet Time," began in the late 19th century and continues today. In the late 1800s, a massive student and lay revival movement took hold across America and Great Britain, heavily influenced by the Princeton Revival and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. In the late 1870s and 1880s, students at Princeton University, led by Robert Wilder, formed a dedicated group called the Princeton Foreign Missionary Society. Wilder and his friends toured college campuses across the United States to urge students to dedicate their lives to foreign missions, forming a core foundation of what would later become the Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions (SVM) in 1886 under evangelist Dwight L. Moody and leader John R. Mott. 

These devoted Bible students then popularized the "Morning Watch," which later evolved into the modern Evangelical concept of the "Quiet Time." It encouraged ordinary Christians to start their day with a personal, private "mini-retreat," typically thirty minutes of silence, unscripted prayer, and Bible reflection, before the rush of the world began. By the mid-20th century, the original Student Volunteer Movement began to fade, but its spiritual DNA directly birthed modern evangelical student movements. A real boost came in 1945, when InterVarsity Christian Fellowship published a highly influential booklet titled Quiet Time. This popularized the routine among university students, and it was quickly absorbed by other para-church lay organizations like The Navigators and Campus Crusade for Christ (now called "Cru"). Evangelist Billy Graham ultimately institutionalized it in mainstream evangelical churches during his crusades in the 1950s. Laypersons by the hundreds of thousands began to incorporate this pattern of "private retreat with God" into their daily lives.

To this day, in their own sacred spaces, Christians read their Bibles. Some read it through each year, using a guide for the passage to be read each day. They meditate and reflect quietly, pondering how the text applies to their personal lives. Finally, they respond to God through conversational prayer (often using frameworks like ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) and log reflections in a notebook or journal. This month, even as we navigate the cultural chaos that threatens our solitude and privacy, we spotlight the historic and helpful Christian movements that have offered encouragement to create "sacred space" in the heart. It is our prayer that we will recommit to this valuable discipline of seeking God in the silence, and perhaps build tiny private retreats in our homes where we can meet with Him daily.

-Karen O'Dell Bullock

1. Ignatian Model - Spiritual Exercises, 19th Annotation

2. De Sales - Devout Life

3. Intervarsity and Billy Graham - Quiet Time

[Originally published September 29, 2026]

“I always feel like somebody’s watching me, and I have no privacy” are 1984 song lyrics that sum up the spirit of our age. [1] The growing desire of many today is to be left alone, and they seek to eliminate all intrusion into their private lives. Easier said than done!

We are watched on our commutes to work and errands to the store. Flock cameras, described as “a different kind of animal,” are specialized, AI-powered, automated license plate-readers, made by a company named Flock Safety. These devices automatically record vehicle details and movements on public thoroughfares. There are presently 120,000 cameras across 49 states that scan 20 billion vehicles each month. They have been described as an “uninvited eye,” and opposed because “you cannot opt out.” Some believe that this phenomenon impacts the privacy of citizens, while others see benefits for law enforcement agencies in capturing criminals and preventing crimes. 

We are watched as consumers. Businesses also have access to the personal data of hundreds of millions of Americans. A major grocery chain, for example, earned by selling customer information, approximately $527 million in a recent year, which represents 35% of the company’s alternative profit! The buyers of the information then tracked 63 million shoppers who were enrolled in the store's loyalty program. The selling of their consumer data to marketers holds implications for consumer privacy.

Furthermore, a major retailer uses Bluetooth tracking devices in its shopping carts and hand baskets. While the tracking does not directly access data from a customer’s mobile device, the company uses the devices to understand customer traffic patterns and shopping behavior. The practice does not directly infringe upon customer privacy; however, it can become problematic if the retailer matches the shopping cart’s Bluetooth ID with a shopper’s smart phone, for example, through its loyalty program. A part of consumer concern stems from the fact that Bluetooth tags are completely invisible and operative without shopper awareness, even though customers do receive various benefits from loyalty programs, in terms of pinpoint advertising and discounts on goods and services.

We are even watched as worshipers! A growing number of churches, traditionally seen as sanctuaries from the world, have now become zones for surveillance, where the use of digital marketing strategies like geofencing delivers targeted advertisements and invitations within a specific “virtual perimeter.” The reach even extends to neighboring church parking lots or buildings! [2] Digital “sheep stealing,” as it has been termed, raises broader privacy concerns related to location tracking. The popular song quoted above also states “I want to be left alone in my average home.” These circumstances raise the question of whether privacy can be achieved anywhere in our contemporary world.

We may easily sense from these examples that there are differing definitions and applications of privacy which include benefits and burdens. Not all the above circumstances are inherently illegal or unethical. However, considerable “grey area” exists when determining the meaning of privacy and when an infringement occurs. One wonders what a “right to privacy” means, and if there is any way to protect individuals and groups from violations of this freedom.

History: Privacy came to the forefront relatively late in human history. The notion began to be discussed in the late nineteenth century, notably, at a time when photography was introduced and when various social behaviors, like same-sex relationships, were cast into the spotlight. The seminal idea was rooted in the democratic ideal of a right to life, liberty, and property; therefore, the aim was to enjoy life and to be left alone. Ultimately, privacy emerges from the core ethical principle of individual freedom, meaning a “respect for autonomy.” (Personal freedom and choices will be discussed below.) Rights to be left alone in a democracy are secured by laws; hence, much legal discussion continues about how to secure this privacy aim.

Law: The phrase in legal terms simply means “the right of a person to be free from intrusion into or publicity concerning matters of a personal nature.” Americans, who are radically individualistic cherish their “right to privacy” and increasingly protest what they perceive to be any intrusion into their lives. Nevertheless, the U.S. Constitution does not specifically use the phrase, even though elements of it may be found in the Bill of Rights. [3] The rubric has become a significant concept in biomedicine as well.

Medicine: Anytime people interact with medical practitioners, their bodily dignity and privacy become a central concern. A right to privacy has become a key medical-ethical principle and factors prominently in medicine where it means “a state of limited access.” Such a right, for example, is difficult to enforce in medicine, especially with the use of digital record-keeping and sharing, as well as teams of practitioners attending to individual patients. [4]

Public square: A right to privacy, as the introduction above suggests, has surfaced increasingly in the public arena too. Most people on this planet live in an impersonal “macro-world,” filled with complex rules and jargon. For example, news media have recently begun to broadcast video reports of local government meetings where angry citizens struggle to understand why noisy (loud humming) and resource-draining data centers are legally permitted to operate in their communities. 

Ever-present noise. Truly, noise is “omnipresent” and impacts much of our private lives. It interferes in the workplace (e.g. open-plan offices), in homes, schools, restaurants, arenas, and even compromises safety whenever it interferes with auditory warning signals. Noise affects health when it leads to noise-induced hearing loss. Controlling sound levels in contemporary culture, especially, in urban areas, presents a genuine challenge. Realistically, the physical world is inundated by a cacophony of noises, chaos, and often myriad distractions.

I believe, however, that there is a deeper point to consider when we ponder the implications of privacy.

Each of these elements of the larger world around us are deeply rooted in our human desire for safety, security, and significance. Aside from being difficult to define and fraught with complexities, a contributing factor to a failure to secure a right to personal privacy may be due to our own empty souls. T.S. Eliot summed it up well when he wrote, “Where shall the world be found, where will the word resound? Not here, there is not enough silence.” I fear that many humans decry the noise, but somehow find it to be an escape from the spiritual cries of their innermost souls for real meaning and relationships. There is “Good News!”

The deafening hum of the noisy world of physical reality no longer distracts us when we choose to return to the God who lovingly and justly created and rules over the universe. We do so by finding him in the world and his Word through our inner stillness (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-14). Many of the privacy issues stated above have their origin in external circumstances; however, a “retreat” from the world, and its hurts, begins deep within our own hearts. Several core biblical principles ought to be considered when we think about our responsibilities regarding privacy.

Invite God into your innermost life. God created you for a relationship; thus, He requires total access to your life, for your benefit. Our great longing should be to worship the Father who lovingly fashioned us in His own image and gave us a life purpose (Genesis 1:26-31). However, like the first couple, we plunge willfully into sin, choosing to reject God’s will in striking fashion. Like Adam and Eve, we seek to hide from God in our shame. They hid in the garden, while we hide behind countless external desires, like the pursuits of money, relationships, and power, in all their variations. “When God stands before us, we stand before him. Refusing to worship him is a way of trying to avoid his face and his eyes” (italics mine). [5] Even so, God pursues us, seeking those who are lost (John 1:14, 29; 10:10b).

The Lord calls out rhetorically, “Where are you?” (See 3:9-11; John 3:16-17). Of course, God had made the garden and knew every square inch, so He prompts Adam to consider his wrongdoing and to restore the broken relationship. He does the same with us. God frames the source of our problem in the singular, “you.” He focuses on our individual accountability. Sadly, like Adam, we feel a bit exposed by God’s query, and skirt the question (3:10, 12). We use our freedom to hide from God and shield our heart from the Savior who loves us! Dallas Willard states, “The so-called 'right to privacy,' of which so much is made in contemporary life, is in very large measure merely a way of avoiding scrutiny in our wrongdoing.” [6] The first move we should make is to return to the Father and place our lives in his care. He gives us meaning amid the surrounding meaninglessness.

Secondly, cease selfish discipleship. We too often treat the Lord as though he invades our privacy. Jesus drives the point home for us in Mark 8:34. He calls us to deny ourselves and follow Him. He does not demand that we renounce ourselves, which would undermine our God-given inherent value and dignity, but to “cease to make self the object of one’s life and actions.” Christ does not call us to self-hatred or self-rejection; instead, he states that we will understand the meaning of life best when we decide not to make our existence to revolve around ourselves.

The singer of the song in the introduction wanted to be left alone in his average home. In contrast, the solution to the frustrating pursuit of privacy begins with a desire for intimacy with the Heavenly Father! He, in fact, invites us into his home (Psalm 23:6; John 14:1-3). We discover that the answer to our quest for privacy comes when we replace our devotion to self with a loving commitment to God and his way (Proverbs 3:5-6). We must choose daily to place the divine will before our self-will. In so doing, the noisy world around us goes silent and our headlong rush to fulfill out-of-control desires ceases (Matthew 6:19-33).

We then discover that the Lord provides food on the table (bread, 8:1-9), health for the body (healing, 8:22-26), and guidance for the way (life plan, 8:27-30). He fulfills all of life’s core values. If I may state it this way, His “Loyalty Club” provides earthly and eternal benefits! The Lord simply calls us to trust Him to provide those things that we need and to hunger for righteousness (Matthew 5:3), apply our strength and minds to follow Him (Deuteronomy 6:5; Luke 10:27), and entrust our entire life to His plan (John 14:6).

Larry C. Ashlock

Notes:
1. "Somebody's Watching Me," by Rockwell, 1984.

2. In one instance, a local church pastor accused a neighboring megachurch of “sheep stealing” because the larger congregation was targeting the members of the smaller body of believers with advertisements for their bigger church.

3. Cf. Griswald v. Connecticut (1965). The Supreme Court recognized that specific guarantees in the Constitution create “zones” that establish a right to privacy. For example, see the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendments. Cf. Beauchamp, Tom L.; Childress, James F., Principles of Biomedical Ethics, 5th edition, Kindle Edition. See also Samuel Warren and Louis Brandeis, "The Right to Privacy," Harvard Law Review 4 (1890): 193-220.

4. Examples include: 1) informational; 2) physical (focus on being undisturbed); 3) decisional (freedom from interference when making certain decisions; e.g. Roe v. Wade); 4) proprietary (highlights property interests in the human person; e.g. stored tissue samples); and 5) relational (family or other intimate relations within which individuals in conjunction with others make decisions).

5. Willard, Dallas. Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ with Bonus Content (Designed for Influence), Kindle Edition.

6. Ibid.

It has been said, “Don’t misinterpret God’s silence as rejection.” Job had yet to hear from God, so he was fearful of divine rejection. We have in our focal passage today the powerful emotions that rise to the surface in the life of a person who feels God’s antagonism, experiences contempt from his family and friends, and is clinging to his last thread of hope! Job’s entire life was being pressed from all directions, yet it produced the sweet honey of hope that will bring rejoicing to our hearts today.

There is a melancholy rhythmic movement throughout Job 19. Job mourns all that has happened to him and provides us with a panoramic view of his life at that moment. He turns the camera, as it were, on his “band mates” (friends) who had come allegedly to show their friend support, but who had “crushed” him instead (19:2). The word means the futility and “feelings of worthlessness” one experiences when overwhelmed by misfortune. Robert Alden writes, “One could be very successful counseling the depressed by simply applying in reverse the principles exhibited by these three friends” (NAC). Our social media culture uses the word “friend” loosely, but we should know that friendship holds deep and rich implications for our lives in relationship to God and others.

What on earth had Job’s friends done? They had heaped insult upon insult upon Job (19:3, “ten”). Job wonders aloud what business it was of theirs to judge him, even if he had committed some sin of omission (19:4). They had used his back to step up and exalt themselves (19:5). Perhaps their greatest assault was to assume erroneously that they knew how God’s justice worked. Job argued, if this indeed were the case, that God had wronged him. Bildad sees Job’s plight as a sign of God’s retribution. Job declares that if Bildad’s claim were the case, it would be a divine injustice.

Job then turns the camera lens toward God to show us his complaint (19:7-20). Job takes two angles of approach: God is center frame in verses 8-13, and He is accused of being responsible for Job’s social alienation in verses 14-19. First, God is pictured as “blocking” Job’s way (19:8), being “on every side” (19:10), then of keeping his “kith and kin” at a painful distance (19:14-19; NAC). All these images remind us of the various ways God’s net had ensnared Job (19:6). We know the exhaustion that follows trials where we feel entrapped and unable to escape from our circumstances. Magnify this tenfold, because this all-powerful God is being portrayed as the one who had ensnared Job! Oh my! Yet, there is more.

Job changes the setting in his portrait portfolio of suffering, and he begins to use legal terminology (19:7-12). It was bad enough to suffer all the indignities he had encountered at home and in society, but now he pictures his perceived mistreatment by God: brought about “darkness” (19:8), “uncrowned him” (19:11) and “besieged him” (19:12; NAC). Job feels like he had been wronged, that God had ignored his case and was indifferent toward him. Well, we certainly have a miserable man, don’t we? Have you ever felt this way toward God?

We cannot point the finger at Job because we too often lift our own cameras of offense and seek to capture God in a bad light. Speaking of light, we do know that God is light and in Him there is no darkness (1 John 1:5). God does not pour out evil upon us, nor does He tempt us to fall into sin (James 1:13). Job knew this truth, and he pointed the camera to the future, adjusted the lens to bring what was to come into clear view, and then snapped a shot of what hope looks like amid dark despair! He writes, “I know that my redeemer lives and that the final One will rise against the dust.” Job assumes that he would soon die and that his tormented body would be thrown out like garbage. Despite this grim belief, he sees God (vision) and yearns for this Intercessor and hopes for a resurrection (19:25). From the agony of dejection and defeat he points a finger to heaven and cries out in faith, “I know that my Redeemer lives!” In other words, he would conquer human mortality and would rise from the dead and behold God in his body (HCBC). Job helps us to picture God’s redemption, not His rejection.

Norm was a member of one of the churches I served as pastor. He had battled leukemia for many years. He heroically endured many rounds of chemotherapy and all the side effects it causes. He was told at last that there was nothing more that could be done, and his family and I watched as he began the trek down the path toward life’s end. 

Here is a spiritual testimony to encourage you this day. Norm was admitted into the hospital when the disease was more than he could bear at home, and I will never forget the scene in that room as his family and I were gathered by his bedside. He had been unable to communicate for some time, and we knew that the end was near. We prayed aloud, and we continued to pray in our hearts for him. Then, as if we were being permitted to enter a private conversation between Norm and the Savior, he began to talk and speak with excitement and was rising up in his bed and pointing to heaven. We all were given one last picture of the victory that was his in Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Suffering was soon gone as he stepped into the loving, healing presence of the Risen Lord. Your suffering is not due to God’s rejection this day. His hands are the ones redeeming you. Trust Him.

1. What great burden has weighed your heart and body down this day? Take a selfie! Yes, use your phone and take a picture of your expression in this moment. Now, give your circumstances to God and know that He is moving forward to redeem you, not reject you. Return to this picture at the end of your travail and take another shot of your face filled with the joy that comes from God’s rescue.

2. For Families: Do your kids think their lives are too hard? The next time one of your children complains about their difficult lives, ask them to run fetch the bathroom scales and come into the kitchen for a little experiment. 

Next, get several grocery sacks out and ask your child how much weight they think they can handle? Have them step on the scales to see how much they weigh. Next, give your child a grocery sack to hold, and begin filling the sack with items from your pantry: packaged foods, canned vegetables and fruit, bags of sugar and flour. Then add another sack and fill it full too! Add pots and pans, potatoes and onions, apples, and the jug of milk. 

When they begin to groan under the weight, add one or two more items and have them step on the scale. Time them for a whole minute while they stand, holding all of that weight. Congratulate them for their strength, lift the sacks, and put them on the countertop. Then remind them that there are people who bear unthinkable burdens, like Job, whose so-called friends even thought he deserved the hardship. 

Share about all of the things Job lost - his cattle and sheep and all of his children. Yet Job’s heart did not sink down. Instead, Job declared that God is always good. He is in the business of helping, not hurting. We do have bad times, but we can all cling to God and have hope. 

Now have your child stand on the scales again, holding the weight, while you lift most all of it from them. Remind them that God takes our burdens. “Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

An old maxim states, “Error does not become truth because it is widely accepted.” The prevailing belief among a widely influential group of Jews was that there was no salvation apart from belonging to their covenant community. The conviction was that the Mosaic Covenant still was binding, even though Christ’s death had forever done away with it (cf. Hebrews 8:13). The great danger, then and now, resides within the belief that any one person or group speaks without question for the Lord!

The beauty in the passage that we will take to heart today is that the issue of salvation was to be deliberated upon by the whole church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and word of God. Here’s the important truth. “Salvation is a work of God for man, rather than a work of man for God” (Louis Sperry Chafer, 1871-1952).  This Christian doctrine had to be preserved in the era of the early church and the same holds true today.

Sincerity does not ensure accuracy. Several key movements in this section of Acts bear directly upon our Christian lives. First, we should notice the assertion that was made by some Jews (15:1, 5). They claimed that circumcision was necessary for a person to be saved. In other words, unless one satisfied the requirements of the old covenant, then the new covenant would be void! These fellows took matters into their own hands by insisting that the Mosaic covenant was necessary for salvation (Bruce, 303). This was dangerous to the Gospel advance and to the fellowship of the church. Their sincere, yet incorrect, doctrinal belief was being used to drive a wedge between Jewish and Gentile believers, since the Jews would refuse to be associated with the Gentiles. This claim also challenged the witness that the Good News was for all humankind (cf. Galatians 2:12). Think about it this way: The Gospel, which was assigned to the Church, is too valuable to be left in the hands of only a few (cf. Acts 1:8). 

Recognize the key source of doctrinal authority. The early Church made certain to establish clearly the proper source for ultimate authority in the body of Christ—God, who had been active through His Spirit (15:8). God had been the one that gave an “evident token” (Holy Spirit) of His acceptance of the Gentiles. This held implications for all of Paul’s missionary journeys and, if we connect the missionary dots, our own lives as Christ-followers! This elevates the challenge to an entirely different level and, in my view, places the learned Christ-believing Pharisees on the same level as the unlearned Peter and Barnabas. Notice also that the disciples were grounding their argument in the deeper Biblical claim that God always intended for the Gentiles to be grafted into the vine (cf. Amos 9:1, 12). The Scriptures, properly interpreted and applied with the aid of the Holy Spirit, were authoritative in the life of the early Church. The leaders used their voices to lead people to the Scripture and the Spirit’s aid! Let’s consider one other important truth.

Follow the Holy Spirit’s lead. The springboard that vaulted the church beyond this obstacle was the determination by the early believers that they must follow the leading of the Holy Spirit (15:8; see also John 14:16-17; 16:5-11; Acts 1:8; and 2:17-21). Notice that the Church deliberated and determined that it “seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements” (15:28). How refreshing. Too often contemporary pastors claim to “speak for God to my church” and “tell them what they need to believe.” The early church, however, concluded rightfully that the proper question for Christian fellowship was: “How we can we require more of the Gentile converts than God has required?” The Spirit brings life, not death. I personally believe we should raise our voices to call for silence until we hear the Spirit’s whisper to the church through the word of God.

There were deadly dangers in World War II which included more than bombs and bullets. False propaganda was heralded to Allied troops to dishearten them in their mission. Tokyo Rose, who was no doubt sincere, broadcast lies to break the resolve of Allied forces to complete their mission of freedom from tyranny. 

Here is the spiritual point. There will always be voices in the church that seem to have a better way to carry out the Gospel mission, but churches already have the “Way” to follow (John 14:6)! Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Listen carefully. Search the Scriptures. Follow the Spirit.

1. The antidote to erroneous teaching is to know clearly the Gospel. Commit yourself to careful, ongoing, biblical study and application.

2. For Families: This biblical truth is an important one both to young and more mature believers in your family. A good way to reinforce listening to the Spirit is to play a rousing game of “Mother May I?”

In this game, all of the players line up along a horizontal line, except for the leader, who is “Mother” or “Captain” (an older title for the game). The goal is for each person to try to reach “Mother,” who stands some distance in front of all the players. Mother then calls on a child by name and gives them instructions so they can move forward. For instance, “Emma, take 2 GIANT steps forward.” 

The child who is called on must then say, “Mother, may I?” Mother then responds. If she/he says, “Yes, you may!” the child can take the steps forward. If Mother replies, “No,” the child must comply. If another child takes the steps out of turn, or if a child forgets to ask, “Mother May I?” they must also go back to the starting line. The first child to reach Mother, wins! Children may skip, hop, take backward steps, or dance. Let them be creative!

This game not only teaches listening skills, and respect for authority, but it also shows a picture of how Gospel-Kids are to make every effort to listen to God each day, and to obey Him according to His word. “Father, May I?” is always the best response any of us children can make.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

Just when you thought it was safe to be a silent witness, Stephen and Philip arrive! The first wave of widespread persecution had rolled over the early church and dispersed the believers to various points throughout the Roman Empire. One cannot help but notice that it was not the denominational “Mission Board” that selected, trained, commissioned, and sent out these witnesses; instead, it was persecution! How interesting it is that the “you shall be my witnesses in Judea and Samaria” was being fulfilled in whatever manner the Holy Spirit determined (Acts 1:8)! He does the same today, so we do well to capture the same passion for sharing the Gospel that these early witnesses had.

“Persecution personified,” as John Polhill terms it, was a man named Saul (8:1-3; see 13:9 for second name of Paul; NAC). The word of God truly never falls upon deaf ears, as may be indicated by the impact of Stephen’s brief, but powerful, ministry. His words held great implications for Paul’s missionary ministry (cf. Acts 6; 22:20; Hebrews 4:12; NAC). The two may have debated one another in the synagogue, and that holy setting may have been the place where the Gospel seed was planted in Saul’s mind and heart (6:9ff.; 9:1-19). I believe the spark that created a life-changing witness was struck by the engagement of a Spirit-filled peacemaker and a persecutor (cf. Acts 6:59-60; cf. Christ in 1 Peter 2:23; & Matthew 5:9). Stephen was an ordinary person like us who simply shared Christ in all he did and said—whether serving tables or sharing the Good News (Acts 6:1-6, 8-15). We may do the same.

Borne along by the Spirit. A wave of opposition pushed Christians into Judea and Samaria, and Luke chronicles this stage of Gospel expansion in chapters 8-11. Make no mistake, it was the vessel of the Holy Spirit that truly carried these first witnesses along. Philip and the apostles shared a witness with the Samaritans and Philip witnessed to the Ethiopian at the Judean border and others in the coastal cities (ch. 8). We see by the end of chapter 11 that all of Judea, the “land of the Jews,” had been evangelized and that Hellenistic believers had planted the church in Antioch (11:19-30). All these things took place under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Anyone, anyplace, and at any time was the focus of a Gospel witness!

Hearts afire with the Gospel. This lifestyle (rather than a strategy) greatly simplifies our daily pattern of sharing Christ, doesn’t it? This rapid expansion of the Gospel cost no money, but the witnesses at times paid dearly with their lives (Acts 7:59ff.). Regardless of the price, these disciples gave witness to the Savior because sharing good news about Christ was their joyful mandate. I cannot overemphasize the fact that the Hellenist Philip (Greek background) became the embodiment of “you shall be my witnesses . . . in Samaria . . . and the uttermost parts of the earth.” Why? He gave witness to Christ in that region and to the Ethiopian who represented the uttermost parts of the earth! We need not spend one cent of our earnings to discover our historical roots when we are rooted in the Gospel and led by the Spirit. The Spirit will guide and empower our daily witness.

Nancy Floyd, a Downs Syndrome child, attended my home church in Houston. She became a follower of Jesus and was baptized and immediately took up the call to be a witness. As she grew older, she went to work at a place much like Goodwill Industries and labored faithfully there for some years. She had a supervisor who was not a good person. He was hard on people. Nancy, however, filled with the Spirit, would share a powerful witness that he needed Jesus in his life. Tiny Nancy stood tall for her Lord in every circumstance. 

Here is a spiritual reminder as illustrated by Nancy’s example. Her pattern surely inspires us. She may have been physically and mentally limited in many ways, but she was powerfully effective in sharing the Gospel of peace wherever she went. We do well to follow her example.

1. Ask God to prepare you to be the point of contact where the Gospel of peace meets opposition. Be ready to share Christ to anyone, in any place, and at any time. Write down the names of those to whom the Lord is sending you. Then go and tell!

2. For Families: Parents, are our kids ready to share a Gospel witness to whomever, wherever, and whenever? This is a learned skill, and can be intimidating for any of us, unless we are trained. What better way than to learn at home what to say when an opportunity arises?

Here is a simple way to teach your children how to share their love of Jesus with others: Helping Kids To Share the Gospel

Practice this until your kids know it like their own name. Then pray with them each morning that God will help them shine like lights and be peacemakers for Christ as they share His love with others.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

“Disciples are to live, looking for the hope of the King’s return” (HCBC). However, we know the agony of waiting until He comes again and the longing for justice in the meantime. So, what are we to do today? Jesus calls His disciples to take matters into their own hands—praying hands! Let’s learn today about active prayer.

This parable is connected to the interaction Jesus had with His disciples, even though the connection may not be readily apparent to us (cf. 17:22). The Savior continues to teach His disciples about the consummation of God’s kingdom. By calling them to pray and not to give up, He provides them with an important lesson in the active power of prayer while they, and we, wait (see also 11:5-8).

This context focuses on the delay in Jesus’ return, but the broader application may be made to all life circumstances. In this parable, two characters make up the picture: a persistent woman and an unjust judge. Jesus uses, once again, an a fortiori argument. He means to show that, if an unjust judge finally granted the woman her request, how much more will God hear and grant the petitions of His followers who pray to Him day and night? Therefore, because Jesus’ return has been “delayed” for centuries (see Luke 17:22-37), the church should not give up, but instead to continue to pray “Your kingdom come” (Luke 11:2) and remain faithful (18:8; NAC).

This judge was that poor woman’s only hope. Her request was not “nonstop,” but persistent. Luke showed special concern for widows in his book. She had next to nothing, and yet someone had robbed her of what little she did have (cf. Luke 20:47). The idea is not to fail in praying for the big picture of God’s coming kingdom. The daily needs we have for justice fall beneath the umbrella of trusting God as well. He knows our needs, and He is just in taking care of us. This type of persistent prayer is to characterize the Christian life. I suppose whether we pray like this or not depends upon how much need we admit we have of God.

Let me illustrate the idea this way. I recall a reality TV episode of Yukon People. These folks had to prepare for temperature drops that remained around 20-40 degrees below zero throughout the winter! They anticipated the coming cold by making sure they had all they needed in food, water, and supplies until spring arrived. No persistent preparation, no survival. Jesus teaches that tireless prayer enables us to survive the “cold” until He returns.

What preparations are needed?

Jesus teaches us that the unjust judge had no reverence for God, and no respect for humankind (18:2; cf. Proverbs 9:10). Intrinsic worth and inherent dignity were not in his vocabulary. The Jewish historian, Josephus, once wrote about Jehoiakim, a king who ruled briefly over Judah during the Babylonian conquest: “He was of a wicked disposition and ready to do mischief, nor was he either religious towards God, or good-natured towards men” (Antiquities 10.5.2; see NAC). Reverence for God and respect for humans who were created in His image forms the core of the Old Testament law (see Mark 12:29-31). This parable was not to show “why” God will bring justice, but that He “will” bring it for all people. So, we are to remain prayerful until He returns!

The LA Times once ran a feature story on the longest-serving employee at the White House. He had served 51 years at that time, and his job was to keep the 85 timepieces ticking! His name was John Muffler, and he was the White House’s official clock fixer and winder. He kept those clocks balanced and oiled and wound for five decades! It was not all a bed of roses for Mr. Muffler, as he was called. President Lyndon Johnson chewed him out on several occasions, but he continued serving consistently and faithfully. 

Here is the spiritual point. Jesus reminds us of the vital importance of praying faithfully and consistently for the Father to come to take us home to be with Him.

1. Pray like a triathlete. They train hard and suffer great hardships to finish their races (2 Timothy 4:7). Dogged determination in prayer will bring ultimate success. Pray on!

2. For Families: We often begin to pray for concerns related to our family’s life together, and then, after a while, discontinue them. We don’t make a record of God’s answer, or celebrate when God’s plan has been revealed, or even when justice resolves a situation.

This is where the family prayer journal becomes an important item in our homes, even one we keep at hand on the kitchen counter or coffee table. When we pray together for a major family concern, or an issue of justice, or a complex situation, or for the salvation of someone we love, we make a ceremony of writing it down, date the prayer, and continue to pray. When God answers, we rejoice, make a special meal, celebrate God’s goodness, and write the date and His answer in the prayer journal! 

Can we imagine the treasure this journal will be over the years as more and more answers are documented? There will be many journals as time unfolds, and shelved in the family bookcases. After we are long gone to Glory, they will remain and testify to the legacy of faithful prayer you have modeled for your family, children, and future grand- and great-grandchildren. Let us commit to consistent prayer!

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

The psalmist writes that we are to praise God: “Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness” (Psalm 150:2). Sometimes we simply feel like shouting out our praise to God, and we should do so! The psalmist knew this was a normal response to the God who was worthy of praise. God used His creative might to rescue people from their current distress (HCBC). Luke shows us precisely how God does this, so, let’s praise Him today!

Geography causes Bible interpreters a bit of a problem in our focal passage, and I include it here because such things amaze me in a good way. These scholars provide essential understanding of the biblical text and help us with our clarity and application. The way Luke writes the phrase, “passing along between Samaria and Galilee on his way to Jerusalem,” does not appear to be accurate when viewed geographically (17:11; lit. “through the midst”). When we look at a map of the region at that time, we wonder what he meant, because Jerusalem is south of both Samaria and Galilee! 

The phrase leads one to think that Jesus was traveling east-west, which is confusing. Some think Luke did not know the region, but I believe he was indicating that Jesus was saturating the region with His ministry. In other words, He was crisscrossing the entire area on His way to Jerusalem. This certainly demonstrates His persistence (Luke 15:8-10). You may ask, “What on earth does this mean for me, today?” Well, you are valuable to the Father! He knows where you live, and He seeks and finds you.

The theology of the God who seeks and saves the outcast comes to my mind in this circumstance. Lepers were required to live apart from society. Only when they had been declared clean by a priest could they reenter their communities and homes (17:14; Leviticus 13:38-46; 14:1-32; Numbers 5:2-4). Here Jesus stood in the middle of Samaritan “no man’s land” and sought out leprous “nobodies” to bring healing into their lives (17:12, “village,” no name given). Furthermore, the passage shows us that He also saved one of the ten who sought spiritual healing as well (17:17-19). This God needs to be praised, for He provides all that we think we need and more!

Anthropology comes to my mind as well. Nine lepers were Jewish in contrast to the one who was a foreigner. Luke is building to a point that demonstrates one of his themes in the book. God’s salvation is for Jews and Gentiles. He may also have been showing the reality of Christ’s teaching that the first will be last (17:17-18; cf. Luke 13:30; NAC). These men received physical healing, but overlooked their deeper need. Many within Israel had done this through the centuries. The one super outcast, who was a Samaritan and a leper, had received the double healing—physical and spiritual. The last would indeed be first, and Luke’s Gentile readers would be most grateful that God included them in His forever love. The Samaritan leper saw the profound depth of his own sin and cried out to the Savior. Once he was cleansed, he praised God at the top of his lungs. Indeed, “Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!”

I have visited on occasion the “church on the hill.” I altered the name a bit because it describes geographically where the facility sits—atop a hill. It was, in many respects, my “passing through the midst church,” because so much that happened there reminded me of Luke 17:11-19. I write this with great affection: Here there were more piercings, tattoos, shaved heads, and colored-hair per square foot than 98% of the churches I usually attended! Even so, their outward adornment is not what was most eye-catching to me and set them apart. Each time I worshiped there, people were saved! The joy over a changed life was genuine and loud in worship services, as people erupted into applause and cheers when it happened. I witnessed baptismal services where the candidates and congregation shouted aloud with praise when people emerged from the baptismal pool. Praise God! 

Here is the spiritual point. I’m so grateful for the spiritual healing I have received, and I know you are as well. However, I am most happy that our God seeks all people to save them. Praise God that He “passes through the midst.”

1. This may take a bit of time, but where is your place that the Savior wishes to accompany you as you “pass through the midst”? Pray for God to empower and use you to share His good news in that place.

2. For Families: This week, we can try something new with our children. Obtain a large map of the globe, and another one of your state (like Texas). As you may be aware, many adults, students, and young children have never learned to use a map and this tool is foreign to them.

First, give a few general instructions about how to use a map. Talk about a map being a “bird’s eye view,” its coordinates (GPS), and the continents they see. Then find North America, the United States, its various regions, where Washington DC is, and finally, the state where you live. Next, unfold your state map and locate its capital, how long it takes to drive there from your house, the famous state parks and attractions, and then your city. Try to pinpoint where you live in your city.

Next, get your phone and google-map your address. Zoom out and show your children the big picture that matches the map, and then zoom in and show the more precise screen that zeros in on your address and house and its street view. Do they see where they live in the world?

Share with your children the message of this devotional. Not only does God know exactly where you live, but He knows where you will be going today, and the people who will be in your vision today. Pray that God will place people in your family’s life who need the Gospel, and that each person in your family will be aware of who God is sending their way. Meet up for supper and report on your encounters as God, through your family, “passes through the midst.”

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

We so often presume to know Christ and His purpose when, in fact, we are not listening to Him. We take up path-making by hacking our way through spiritual jungles while the trail He has blazed rests beside us. Luke shows us how we as disciples may completely miss the nature and purpose of Christ’s ministry—and its power—while He lays the groundwork for His kingdom right beneath our eyes. Our devotional today shows us how to find and remain on Christ’s kingdom path.

The disciples dreamed of an earthly messianic reign, but God had cosmic plans. Luke records a series of events in the earthly ministry of Christ that demonstrate how easily people misunderstand Jesus’s purpose in coming to earth. Ponder the mountain-top experiences over the course of a week. Five thousand men and their families were fed bread by the Bread from heaven (9:14). Militarists believed that Jesus could feed an army while overthrowing the Romans.

Next, the disciples have a spiritual encounter, where they confess that Jesus is the Christ and their lives explode with messianic hope (9:20). Short-sighted hope sees Him as the anointed one who would unite all Jews. Spiritually-open eyes see Jews and Gentiles as citizens in Christ’s kingdom.

At last, these transformational events are followed about a week later with the Transfiguration, where Jesus’ Divine glory is fully revealed to His closest disciples (9:28). Aspiration exclaims, “Let’s make three tents” (9:33). Attention to God’s voice means something else. Their earthly goals blinded them to the true point. We often do the same, so let me explain.

Truly listen to Christ. Association with Christ changes a person often in ways they do not expect. A mountain-top moment like this is a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. The traditional approach to this moment was that Moses and Elijah represent the Law and Prophets (NAC). Others recognize, however, that Moses was not only a lawgiver, but a prophet; indeed, a prototype of Jesus (Deuteronomy 18:18, EBC). Elijah was not only a prophet, but he also was related to the Mosaic law as the one who would turn people’s hearts back to the covenant (Malachi 4:4-6; EBC). He also was associated with the end times in Jewish thought. It may well be that Moses represented the past (Exodus), Elijah signified the future as a forerunner of the Messiah, and Jesus was the One who would bring to fulfillment the redemptive plan of God (cf. EBC). Regardless, the word from the Father was, “Listen to him” (9:35). Then and now, many confusing messages about times and seasons exist, but we slip off-track when we listen more to commentary than to Christ. 

Absorb His words. The time had come for the disciples to lay aside ambition and begin to assimilate the truth about Jesus. His road was the way of suffering and death (9:21-22), and all who truly follow Him take up their crosses daily and follow Him (9:23). I am not at all inclined to criticize the disciples for attempting to initiate a small-group study on the mountaintop (9:33), nor am I interested in shaking them from their slumber (9:32). “Sleepy” may very well be a polite way of suggesting that they simply had not processed fully the Divine reality “Who” stood before them. 

Live the resurrection life. It would take an empty tomb, resurrection appearances, too many in number to fake, and the coming of the Spirit for the disciples to get the point. Integration of the Truth into one’s life takes time. Nevertheless, the results are world-changing in scope (Acts 2:1-28:30). Truth-warping ambitions steer people off the way to lasting hope, while world-shaping encounters with Christ center them in the Gospel path Jesus established.

Have you seen the social media picture where a man took a “selfie” picture with a widely known star in the background, but he did not recognize the celebrity? To make matters worse, he was wearing a T-shirt with the famous person’s picture on it! 

Here is the spiritual point. Our phones are jam packed with all sorts of ministry selfies, but we too often miss needlessly the Divine presence in those moments. God speaks of His Son when He instructs our heart today: “Listen to Him!”

1. Take a few moments to scroll through the picture albums on your phone, or in your photo album. How evident was Christ’s presence in those events? Invite Him to make His Divine presence and redemptive path clear through all your daily life moments.

2. For Families: This message is very simple and clear, isn’t it? We are to listen to Jesus, God’s Son. To help your kids grasp its importance in a fun way, make some initial preparations and then invite your kids to join you in the living room. 
 
Prior to your meeting with them, gather some sidewalk chalk, a small bowl full of fruit, a handful of bandanas, and head for the driveway. Now, hide the bowl of fruit out of sight, around a tree or bush near the driveway, so that it cannot be readily seen. Then draw a line with the chalk, with an arrow leading to the place where the fruit is hidden. When you have completed these steps, call your kids to meet you.
 
Share with them about how God wants us to listen to Jesus, even though sometimes we forget to do so or just choose not to pay attention. Ask your kids to play a blindfold game of “Seek the Snack.” Blindfold your first volunteer, and give them one minute to go find the bowl of fruit while blindfolded, but give them no other instructions. Then, when the time is up, bring the child, still blindfolded, back to the starting point. 
 
This time, guide your child by holding their arm and whispering in their ear how to follow the chalk-line and get to the bowl of fruit. When they have found it, distribute the fruit snack and explain that when we don’t listen to Jesus, we wander and are not on the right path. But when we listen for His whisper, we will be exactly where we are supposed to be each day.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

Dorothy, the fictional character in the “Wizard of Oz,” wanted to get back to Kansas, but every real believer in Christ wants to live forever with Him in the New Jerusalem. We should be reminded that the first verse in the book of Revelation tells us that the rest of that account would be about God’s revelation to His church—a revelation about Jesus Christ (HCBC). John’s vision has unfolded throughout the book, but he now throws open wide the doors to the future and shows Jesus Christ, standing amid the churches, to “weary and persecuted” Christians. He is the one who takes us home! Let’s be encouraged today.

Kendell Easley writes that the city of Jerusalem reached the pinnacle of magnificence during the reign of Solomon (ca. 950 B.C.; HNTC). Solomon, the wise king, ruled as David’s son, and the temple stood as a testimony to Israel’s God. Jerusalem was the envy of the nations. This brief era passed, the kingdom was divided into two, the people practiced idolatry, and the temple was demolished and burned to the ground by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The temple was destroyed, but it lived on in the hearts of the people. John’s vision of a new Jerusalem in Revelation 21 surpasses anything that the old age could have imagined. 

John envisions the holy bride’s city in chapter 21. The old earth had been destroyed in chapter 16 and, at the beginning of the final judgment, the “earth and sky fled” from God’s presence (20:11). God raises a new heaven and earth following the horrible end to the previous earth. I find it difficult to wrap my mind around it, which is understandable, because it will surpass anything that we could ever imagine (e.g. life on earth without a sun, 21:13).

Images from Old Testament prophets. However, there are several things we can grasp with our minds and hearts. Multiple strands of Old Testament prophecy come together in John’s mind as he shows us the fulfillment of prophecies about the temple and Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 60, 65; Ezekiel 40-48). The church is called the bride (21:2). God provides those who are thirsty a drink from the spring of the water of life (21:6). The sea is gone, but the new Jerusalem is fed by the river of the water of life (22:1) and the “tree of life” (22:2). You may be wondering what these images mean and how they impact our lives today. We all long to live with the confidence and security of the end times in the present time!

Eternally secure in God’s presence. We know that this vision of a holy city where we and God will dwell resides in the hearts of all true believers (cf. Hebrews 11:10; 13:14). This new city which we see by faith will come as a gift from the Father (21:2, “coming down out of heaven”). The city is a “bride,” meaning we will enjoy a personal relationship with God. 

Unbroken fellowship. The image of marriage indicates that we will enjoy a unique communion with God and with others in this city. There will be no evil present, because the bride is pure and devoted to God. God’s dwelling with His people is a fulfillment of Leviticus 26:11-13 (EBC). This was a promise that the old Jerusalem forfeited because of its apostasy. We should also recall the loss of fellowship with God that was experienced in Genesis 3 (cf. Exodus 25:8; Ezekiel 37:26-27). In the new city, Christians will not only live as full citizens, but God’s residence will be there forever. All the brokenness of the previous life will be removed forever as we dwell in the Lord’s presence! Be encouraged by God’s promises today.

My family began a remarkable friendship with the Scroggins family in the 1960s. I’ll never forget the day when Ray and Peggy invited my family to drive north of Houston to a new area in Conroe, Texas. We arrived to find a beautiful, wooded lot with two signs nailed to a tree. One of the signs had “Scroggins” painted on it and the other one read, “Ashlock.” They indicated to us that their future home would always be our home, and this was the case for more than fifty years! Ray and Peggy were a constant source of encouragement and hope to me throughout their lifetimes. They kept their word and, as a result, I have always been at home with them. 

Here is the spiritual point. God has recorded the names of all true believers who will be residents in the New Jerusalem (21:27)! Your name is etched into the Book of Life, so keep the New Jerusalem in your heart every day. We will soon be home.

1. All of us will know the tragedy of breaking our commitments to God and suffering the loss of fellowship with Him. God, however, has made each one of us, who has received His grace, a bride in Christ. Our fellowship with Him is secure in and through Christ (1 Peter 1:3-5)! Thank Him for your new life in Christ.

2. Countless living souls walk inside the doors of our church facilities on the Lord’s Day with broken hearts and lives. Their vision of their certain glorious future, which should be clear, is instead clouded by smoke from the smoldering ashes of their present lives. Make Sunday worship so much about Jesus and the coming Holy City that nothing can obscure their view and hope in their eternal home.

3. For Families: Anthony DeStefano has written a lovely book for children about Heaven, God’s Home, based upon the Bible’s descriptions of life there with Him. Some afternoon, curl up in an easy chair and invite your young ones to watch this story, read by the author. Reassure your family that Heaven will be more wonderful than we could ever dream. God will be there, and nothing could possibly be better than that! Click here to watch and listen: A Travel Guide to Heaven for Kids

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

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We presently live in a dreadful and dramatic global era! Turmoil and uncertainty leave every person—at least those who are even remotely aware of the world today—with some concern about where culture is heading. Words like “injustice,” “war,” “crime,” and every dread known to humankind, seem to be prevalent and spreading like a bad virus. What hope may we have for our world today and in the future? Daniel has a word for our hearts to help.

If you are like me, then you are both fascinated and somewhat confused by Daniel 2. You are amazed at the prophetic wisdom that God gave to Daniel and his friends, as well as the favor they found with one of the cruelest tyrants in ancient world history. You are likely puzzled, too, by the incredible dream, with all its images the young man had to interpret. God helped Daniel to interpret the dream king Nebuchadnezzar had and, in so doing, provided a critical prophetic vision of coming history that offers great encouragement to all kingdom citizens. Our Bible is relevant today.

Global events never catch God off guard. The dream was so spectacular that only God could reveal its true meaning (2:31-35). Bible scholars have largely been able to agree upon several parts of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The four kingdoms include Babylon, the Medo-Persian dynasty, Greece, and then Rome. Some insert the Maccabean period of domination as one of the four, but the point that is of concern to us devotionally is that there would be a continued downward moral spiral of cultures until the time when God’s kingdom was established in the coming of Jesus Christ (cf. Miller, NAC). It is of great comfort to me to see, 600-plus years prior to the coming of our Savior, that God was making clear to the world what He was going to do. Nothing catches God off guard, so this reminder can bring us some peace. 

God’s kingdom has come and lasts. The climax of the dream is about God’s kingdom (2:44-45). This domain was symbolized by a “great rock” (cf. 2:45; 7:13-14, 18, 27). God’s reign would be established forever (2:44), in contrast to the four empires that were crushed by its coming, and those kingdoms would be turned to dust and blown away by the wind (2:35). Christ would be its King, and His reign would be inclusive of His earthly millennial reign and would extend beyond that period throughout eternity. 

Global events will never thwart God’s purposes. There will be a coalescing of nations before the second coming of Christ (cf. “10” as a literal or symbolic number). Daniel makes clear that these nations will rise out of the ashes of the ancient Roman empire. Bible scholars like Miller believe that this reference to Rome suggests that the group of nations will emerge from within Europe. Daniel 7 teaches us that the evil world leader of the last days will come from this empire. We know this leader commonly as the Antichrist. We also know well from millennial studies that there are those who see Christ as establishing an earthly reign at His second advent, while others interpret this coming as an invisible spiritual reign. The unifying point is that God will do this, and His purposes cannot be thwarted. The rock will destroy these earthly kingdoms (cf. Matthew 24:29-31; Revelation 19:11-21). Therefore, we may live confidently and expectantly amid global uncertainty!

“I never thought that I’d see the day when . . .” has been a sentence on my lips all too often in recent years. For example, I never thought that I would see the day when foreign terrorists would infiltrate our national defenses and destroy the World Trade Center (recall September 11, 2001). Nor did I ever believe that people of the Bible, knowing passages like this one in Daniel, would become severely divided along political party lines. The prophet Daniel teaches us to bank on the Lord and His kingdom. We should live according to His will. We will flourish despite what is happening in the world around us.

1. It truly is difficult to discern the point at which we have allowed too much of the world to creep into our lives. However, we may ask the Lord to help us to recall the times when unsettling changes in the economy, in those who govern our nation, and/or in our military strength, have caused us deep internal fear. Kingdom citizens need not fear changes in world systems. Instead, believers should expect them, for they know they are not of this world. Follow Christ.

2. For Families: Daniel was such a marvelous servant of God - so courageous, strong, and full of faith. He is a favorite biblical character for every child’s admiration! Here is another chapter from Daniel’s life that shows how he remained faithful to God in a politically difficult situation. With enemies all around him, he trusted in God and showed his nation how powerful God is.

Here is a wonderful 26-minute animated video from the Superbook series based on Daniel and the Lion’s Den. This is the Daniel who stood up for God and did the right thing. Our kids can be like Daniel. Watch this short film together, and then have a conversation about what Daniel’s story teaches your kids about being strong for God. Click here to watch Daniel's Story.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

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[Originally published August 28, 2026]

Every fall seems bittersweet to parents of young adult children. As they graduate from high school and leave the home nest, the smaller circles of parental and school and church influences begin to widen. Like fledgling eagles, the young adults move out, learn to fly solo, and find their own ways and beliefs. These are critical moments in life, perhaps like none other. There is great hope today for young adults and their parents, however. God is still at work on university campuses.

Most collegiate campus ministries today trace their roots back to Dwight L. Moody's revivals in the Third Great Awakening. This period witnessed successive waves of revivals from the 1850s to the 1920s, and many of these took place on college campuses. Born in Massachusetts in 1837, Moody received a fifth-grade education, and then went to work to help support his family, selling shoes on the streets. When Moody was eighteen in 1855, his Sunday School teacher, Edward Kimball, visited him at the shoe store and led him to faith in Jesus Christ. 

Moody began working at the Chicago YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association, founded in London in 1844 and in Boston in 1851). Almost overnight he became a dynamic preacher, traveling across the United States and Great Britain with his musician friend, Ira Sankey, and filling massive halls, theaters, and stadiums with eager listeners. He connected to all levels of society - underprivileged young men, street children, Civil War soldiers, women, upper class seekers, and college students on campuses. His sermons were direct, simple, practical, and focused heavily upon personal salvation. Thousands of people came to Christ in a short number of years, and these new believers needed discipleship training.

Moody founded lasting organizations that trained laypeople in deeper Bible study and matters of faith, including Moody Bible Institute, the Moody Church, and schools that later became Northfield Mount Hermon in Massachusetts. 

About the same time, in 1877, a group of evangelical Christian students at the University of Cambridge in the UK founded Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union (CICCU), the first of its kind. They met to pray, study the Bible, and share their faith despite initial disapproval from university officials. This single student group laid the structural and spiritual foundation for many other student ministries.

Five years later an evangelistic preaching event at Cambridge led by Moody and Sankey sparked a massive spiritual revival within CICCU. Out of this revival, seven prominent, wealthy, and highly athletic Cambridge students—including world-famous cricket player C.T. Studd—decided to follow Christ and take the gospel to China. They abandoned their privileged status and, before setting sail, the Cambridge Seven toured universities across Great Britain and later influenced schools in the United States. Their radical sacrifice captivated the public imagination! This widespread enthusiasm for foreign missions heavily shaped the culture of British and American student ministry. The Cambridge Seven left in 1885 for China as missionaries under Hudson Taylor's China Inland Mission, and the next year the Student Volunteer Mission group was formed.

Encouraged by The Seven and CICCU's active campus witness and missionary zeal, Christian student groups began springing up at other British and American universities, or "varsities." Denomination-based collegiate ministries opened, like the Catholic Newman Centers (1883), the Methodist Wesley Foundations (1913), the Baptist Student Unions (1919, BSM, BCM), and  Presbyterian, Churches of Christ, and other denominational groups. By 1927, the Inter-Varsity Fellowship (IVF) of Great Britain was formed, and the next year, IVF came to Canada, and then to the US in 1941.

In 1951, an Oklahoman named Bill Bright, now living in Los Angeles, California, and a recent student at Fuller Theological Seminary, made a monumental decision. He sold his family's candy-making business, sensing a strong call to embrace the biblical command to “go and make disciples of all nations.” That year, Bright began a new student ministry at the University of Los Angeles, called Campus Crusade for Christ (now CRU), which exploded in growth.

He wrote and distributed the "Four Spiritual Laws" booklet in 1952, now translated into more than 200 languages and distributed to more than 2.5 billion copies, making it one of the most widely disseminated religious booklets in history. He and CRU also introduced the "JESUS" film in 1979, the most widely viewed and translated film in history. His legacy also includes organizing massive evangelism events — such as EXPLO 72 in Dallas, Texas, and EXPLO 74 in Korea — and co-founding the Global Pastors Network to equip ministers worldwide. Evangelism was at the heart of CRU.

In the last ten years, both denominational and interdenominational student ministries are enjoying vibrant partnerships, student to student, campus to campus, organization to organization. In 2016, a shared data base was created so that thousands more voices could share what God is doing in campuses across America. Called Every Campus Movement, its goal is to see a gospel sharing witness on every campus in the US. Since then, the mission group VIA and others have been working to create the same kind of information-sharing network across the world. How does this affect our families?

For example, if your son or daughter chooses a small community college in another state, the date base now can help to locate the many ministries and churches that serve the needs of students at that campus. Thousands of students are gathering to worship and coming to Christ on college campuses each year.

God is working with all of these student ministries to make His gospel known. This month, we celebrate and pray for the influencers who light the way of Christ on college campuses all around the globe.

Karen O'Dell Bullock

[Originally published August 28, 2026]

Recall a person that held sway over your decision making when you were a child. For me, it was Bart Starr of the Green Bay Packers professional football team. That athlete represented wholesome values, and I adopted him as a role model. I aspired to be like him, so I imitated his style of play in neighborhood pick-up football games. That was the extent of Mr. Starr's influence on my life in the nascent era of media marketing and image creation through famous "influencers." In the words of the folk singer Bob Dylan,"the times, they are a changin'."

By contrast, “in the digital age, influencer culture has become a dominant force shaping the perceptions, behaviors, and aspirations of children. Social media influencers, often perceived as role models, significantly impact children's self-esteem, consumer behavior, and worldview.” [1] An influencer is “a person active on social media who is able to influence people's opinions or to persuade them to follow a particular lifestyle or buy a particular product.” [2] Is this type of impact on the lives of children good or bad? I believe it can be both.

On the positive side, educational content abounds on social media and offers opportunities for learning. Social media material can inspire creativity and offer children a sense of community. On the negative side, social media influencers can create unrealistic beauty standards, feed materialism, and create addiction to online content.

Such addiction creates mental health crises in many children and can lead some to destructive behavior, even including suicide. Parents have created an outcry of protest. Their concern for the developmental well-being of their little ones has formed the catalyst for an enormous lawsuit against one mega-sized social media influencer.

Meta has reached an $18 billion settlement with the 48 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories, regarding the harm that social media platforms Facebook and Instagram exert on children. The judgment was termed by one media source as a "reckoning," but the company admitted no guilt in the settlement. This begs a question: How may parents and, specifically, Christians as a whole, reverse the current trend of hurtful social media influence?

I believe that the social media influencer crisis invites us to look within our own hearts and homes. We ought to ask ourselves how much worldly humanism, that emphasizes outward appearance and materialism, has weakened the impact of our own Christian worldview. And how this worldview has affected the eyes and hearts of our children (cf. I Peter 3:1-6; Matthew 5:13-16). Let me illustrate.

Following the fall of Constantinople in AD 1453, Western Europe experienced an explosion of new trade routes, the fusion of cultures between the East and West, and the rediscovery of the literary classics, particularly the Greek and Latin Classical heritage. The former political-ecclesiastical union of the Medieval Period began to unravel, thus ushering in revolutionary changes in society. [3] This rebirth of thinking and learning sought to recover "lost" or "forgotten" knowledge, was termed via moderna, and resulted in new perspectives and reasoning. The ancients became "influencers" because Renaissance humanists desired to shape personality development through education.

This movement provided a pivotal element in individual human "autonomy," or self-rule. People, simply put, thought that reaching into the past through literature would help them to share their present and future and leave their mark on time! Oddly, in so doing, often quite unintentionally, Renaissance humanists separated themselves from a critical connection to their Creator and His will and purpose for their lives (cf. Genesis 1:27-28).

We find that contemporary Christians also often exhibit a split-vision worldview. This model of a Christian life leads to a distorted picture of what it means to be human and how to impact (i.e. influence) the world around us. There is a better way!

The Apostle Paul in Romans 12:1-2 provides us with a watershed passage that carries forward all the theological truths he has delivered in chapters 1-11 and points to the implications this truth has for leading transformed lives. He was a powerful spiritual influencer, as it were, and he offers Christians a serious challenge to live by a holistic Christian worldview (see 1 Corinthians 11:1; "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ"; Philippians 3:11).

Lead our children to a genuine conversion. First, we must recognize that without a faith rooted in the type of supernatural act that took place in history, there would be no moral authority or power to transform our lives according to God’s intentions. We become susceptible to hurtful influences and influencers (cf. Psalm 1). Paul’s ethical instructions hold serious implications precisely because of the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So, the sound belief gives the ethics teeth, as we say. They have lasting meaning and impact. They help us to live now.
 
Model a Christian rhythm for daily living. Live consistently according to Christian truth. Secondly, in view of the mercies of God (chapters 1-11), we are to follow through with obedience. Keep in mind that Paul’s statement is not for our minds only. He uses a word, “appeal,” which is filled with urgency. He knew how important it was to live consistently with the Gospel they had received (you and I, too!). He uses an Old Testament worship example and urges believers to step forward in commitment to offer their own bodies as living sacrifices (12:1-2). This spiritual formation leaves no room to become malformed by evil, or outside influences. It is the decisive steps forward that we take through our lives that advance our sanctification—Christian growth. It may seem to be silly for me to say, but our will must be engaged in our learning or the impact on our lives will be minimal. There is even more.
 
To claim acceptance of God’s sacrifice of His own Son as though it does not hold moral obligations for us is heresy of the highest form. I cannot count the numbers of revivals I attended in my early years where impassioned revivalists would say, “All you have to do is say this prayer, and really mean it, to be saved.” Paul says that the offering of ourselves as living sacrifices is our “spiritual” (rational) service. John Knox writes that “this is the worship that is due from us as rational creatures." [4] In light of what God’s sacrifice for us means, we gladly sacrifice ourselves, “without reservation,” to Him.
 
Exhibit “salty” influence. Thirdly, there should be a recognizable shape to our ethical lifestyles. Total body fitness has become the new norm in our current day; however, Christians commit themselves to total spiritual fitness first. Negatively, we are not to conform ourselves to the values of this world. As one Bible translator writes, we are not to allow the world to “squeeze us into its own mold” (Phillips), as we saw earlier when speaking of one downside to Renaissance humanism. Positively, we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (12:2). Elsewhere the word “transformed” is used when Christ was transfigured (Mark 9:2) and where Paul tells the Corinthians that as believers who behold the glory of God, they are being “transformed” into His likeness. The change is a radical reformation in the heart that leads to a distinctly other-worldly lifestyle.

Sadly, an immediate harmful influence in the lives of our children lives inside the home. Christian Moms and Dads too often fail to see that they are not as separated from worldly influence as they believe themselves to be. We have not laid aside the self-life for the Christ-life, one that is lived in the power of God. This negatively influences the moral development of our children.

The beginning point for reversing this course is to take up our cross daily and walk the way of Christ with our whole hearts (Luke 9:23). Plato was famous for stating, "Know thyself." Paul challenges us to be influenced in a deeper way when he writes, "Not I, but Christ!" (Galatians 2:20).

Larry C. Ashlock

Notes:
1. “Ibrahim, Mahbob, et al, “The Impact of Influencer Culture on Children,” in International Journal of Research in Social Science (March 14, 2025). Accessed online 22 August 2026.

2. Cambridge Dictionary, s.v., “influencer.”

3. William R. Estep, Renaissance and Reformation (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co., reprint edition, 1995), 18, 20.

4. Mounce, New American Commentary on Romans; Knox is quoted in the comments on this passage in Romans.

Airliners have black boxes onboard that record pilot conversations when a crisis strikes. In some cases, loud audible gasps or shouts have been made to express the emotions that those individuals feel. Picture your most desperate cry for help in a moment of crisis, the words you used to express your despair, and you will be able to identify with the message of Psalm 70. This hymn has a bit of an added surprise that we see on occasion in the Psalms—a nearly identical companion psalm. Let’s examine apply today God’s words found in this hymn.

Bible scholars direct our attention to Psalm 40:13-17, the other place where the essence of this song is recorded (HCBC; EBC; Handbook). The hymn is, in fact, an almost exact replica of that passage. The psalmist laments his persecuted and oppressed state and cries out to the Lord. So, we will place one finger in this passage and refer to Psalm 40 to arrive upon a good interpretation of the passage. Regardless, the Lord has provided our hearts today with a powerful message of hope.

Know that extreme evil exists. The psalm takes off quickly and with great intensity! We see immediately that the writer is being “bullied” because people are making fun of him (v. 3; 40:15, “Aha! Aha!”). The words in these passages occur elsewhere in the Psalms, and the meaning is outright lying with the intent to destroy a person’s life (35:13). Surely, we all can recognize this sort of behavior on our own social media accounts. I liken it to a falsehood-feeding frenzy! The situation is serious in our passage because these enemies seek to snatch away the author’s life, to kill him (v. 2; cf. 40:14). He cries out to God for some relief from this situation and requests that they will ultimately be defeated and dishonored (v. 2; 40:14). 

Rely on our steadfast God. These passages remind us that each generation has its bullies. We remember that previous generations very often had some escape from harassment, but many children today face persecution around the clock because of the advent of social media, where bullying is so prevalent. The psalmist knows, however, that bullies come and go but God remains steadfast and able to deliver the helpless. The poet asks for God to defeat the ones who are making fun of him and to “cause them to have burning faces” (Handbook). 

Seek God’s blessings on your enemies. The psalmist then does the most curious thing. He turns his focus toward the Lord and prays for God’s blessings upon his faithful people. Our Savior modeled these words and actions in the most severe circumstance too (cf. 1 Peter 2:23). Prayer and praise are indeed a powerful response to our own sufferings. We must keep in mind, however, that Jesus’ silence and non-retaliation at His trial and crucifixion were intended to satisfy the will and purposes of God in salvation. 

Defend the helpless. The “poor and needy” ones are those who are oppressed. The psalmist calls upon God for justice—God’s justice to prevail (vs. 5; 40:17). He cries out that God would not forget him in his need and to come quickly to the rescue. Our goal should be like the psalmist’s. He prayed that all who seek God would rejoice and that all who come to Him would be glad (v. 4; 40:16).

Contemporary challenge: Respond quickly to signs of abuse

Always keep in mind that our little innocent ones must be defended and protected from bullying. Wives (and even husbands) who are suffering mental, verbal, and physical abuse are to be protected and defended from their abusive spouses. We need to rescue them from harm and not pat them on the back and urge them to return home to violence. Workplace bullying must also be resisted and those who are being threatened and harassed need to be delivered from their oppressors.

God became powerfully real to me when I was a five-foot-tall, 90-pound, 8th grade boy in Houston. My six-foot-plus, 180-pound, “Goliath” was a 9th grade bully who waited twice weekly for me after metal shop class, grabbed me by my throat, lifted me off my feet, pressed me against a wall, and demanded my money. The pattern was continually repeated and was quite terrifying. I recall that afterwards, each time, I would cry out to God through my tears and fear and beg Him to stop this person. It was during those traumatic events, and God’s response to my cries, that solidified in my mind that our Lord hears and answers prayers!

Here are some spiritual points for today. First, the Scriptures became a guide for me in those days because they helped me to shape my prayers in ways that expressed my deepest feelings. God’s word comforted and strengthened me throughout that period of bullying. Secondly, my parents, family, and friends supported me throughout. Thirdly, God made it possible for me to endure the situation, and He ultimately delivered me from harm. 

I will never forget the day, as I once again left metal shop class and braced myself for yet another encounter with evil, that the bully was not there. As it turns out, he would never come to school again. He had been arrested and placed in jail for committing a crime. That day, God received my praise, and still does to this very day, as you may well sense from this testimony. He hears our cries, helps us to bear up under oppression, and delivers us through His Son, our Savior. Take heart and cry out in your need today, “I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God!”

1. We all face “Goliath-like” people or circumstances in our lives, so write down the “who’s” and the “what’s” today. Give your burdens and fears to the Lord. 

2. The church must do more to provide support to the oppressed and burdened—especially those who are living under the iron fist of bullying and abuse. Take bold steps to provide sanctuary and help to the hurting ones among you.

3. For Families: Every six months or so, we encourage Moms and Dads to take their kids, one by one, for an ice cream treat, or on a date, and spend some time visiting about their child’s heart. Pay particular attention to whether your son or daughter is okay down deep. Do they have any fears? Are they afraid to go to sleep at night? Are they worried about something? 

Not long ago at the Baptist Center, we hosted a children’s ministry event. During our Bible session, a small boy of about seven years told us very solemnly that he was afraid to go to sleep at nights. He feared bedtime, feeling abandoned and alone when it was time to sleep. 

If your child has any fear, or is being bullied, or feels anxious, it can be a petrifying phase for them. Listen well, and then pray over them, asking God to give them peace in the Name of Jesus. Then share this verse with them, and help them to memorize it. They can call on God at any time!

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

It has been said, “Letting yesterday affect today will only destroy the excitement of tomorrow.” Well said, but let’s add a prophetic tweak to the axiom. Ezekiel encountered some leaders who were living in their failed past, and it was ruining the prospects for God’s future. He denounced their flawed leadership. Most of us will know of a church ministry where the members lived their present within the glories of a previous season of success. They too often longed sadly for their past and stubbornly refused to participate in God’s glorious future. In many cases, their hard hearts were the obstacle to receiving God’s promises. Ezekiel reminds us today that God’s people are a pilgrim people who are moving ever forward toward better days. They have hearts that long for His will to be done and they show it with their lives.

There is a both/and to God’s promises to restore Israel following its exile. The people would be able to return to their homeland and rebuild their lives there, but there would also be a sweeping spiritual reform that would take place as well. You see, for God’s people, it always must be this way. Israel so often failed, as do we, to follow through on God’s promise of revival. We see in our focal passage that the nation was first to remove all “vile images” and “detestable idols.” Lamar Cooper says both Hebrew words used here mean something like “abominable/detestable” (NAC). We too often grossly underestimate the detestable nature of our own sin. Christians must accept the truth about our sin natures and sinful behaviors, or they will remain a barrier between us and God and His intended future for us. Take time now to read Revelation 4 and catch a glimpse of what takes place in God’s presence every day!

God’s intention is fulfilled. We will see a frequent “interchange” between heaven and earth in the great bulk of the Book of Revelation (ch. 4ff.; EBC). What occurs on earth is inseparable from its heavenly counterpart. We see very quickly, at the end of the age, that which Ezekiel and all people of faith know: that nothing occurs, whether past, present, or future, apart from God’s intention (Revelation 4:2-3). 

The faithful worship God with whole hearts. All authority in heaven and on earth comes from Him. Notice, in contrast to the 25 rebellious elders in Ezekiel 11, there are 24 elders in Revelation 4 who worship God with their whole hearts. The former elders were wiped out, while the latter supernatural beings were very much alive as worshipers in God’s presence. The point is that God is holy and all who truly “live” will worship Him with all their beings (Revelation 4:6-8; 9-11). Bear with me a moment longer and flip back to Ezekiel 11. We need to know how to leave behind our sin, so that we may enjoy what we have been created to do—worship and abide in the presence of the Father.

God gives the required new hearts to His people! The widespread revival, about which Ezekiel writes, will take place because God will give the people a new heart and a new spirit. The heart, as we well know, is the center of human reason and will. We either reject God’s way, like the 25 elders did in Ezekiel, or we choose to follow it like His prophet and the faithful remnant will do (cf. Exodus 14:5; 1 Samuel 14:7; 27:1; 2 Samuel 7:3; NAC). This new person will serve God with an undivided heart (lit. “one heart,” Ezekiel 11:19; NAC; cf. James 1:8). God will also provide this remnant with a new spirit, which means a renovation of the mental processes that had become perverse (cf. Romans 12:1-2).

Long before cosplay conventions became a cultural pattern, there was a delightful person with whom I was associated that enjoyed wearing “period attire.” I mean, she wore clothing from various eras to work each day. Some days were all about frilly lace and parasols, while others were more Victorian and unpretentious. Oh, and there were hats. Lot of hats of the most amazing kind and variety! I would see her in a building or meet her along a sidewalk, and I could not help but feel as though I had stepped into another time. 

Here is the spiritual point. That was fun, but it is never amusing when God’s people cling to the failed past and cut themselves off from God’s desired future. God’s people are transformed for a glorious future. There is no other way, because this is His way (John 14:6). C.S. Lewis once said, “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”

1. When we come to Christ, He provides us with new spiritual DNA. It is in our new nature to worship and follow Him, so we are to follow through completely with God’s design and will for our lives. It is a daily choice. Take a long look in the spiritual mirror today and see how you are clothed. Are you wearing the “filthy rags” (rebellion) of life apart from Christ, or are you clothed in your new apparel (Christlikeness)? Choose your wardrobe well.

2. For Families: Our children might not understand the putting off of “detestable idols” and “vile images,” although, having seen some video games they play, the images might be considered pretty vile or scary! However, they can think through the concepts of a “new heart,” pure worship, and being faithful to follow God in the future. These are all part of the Ezekiel passage for today.

To reinforce the message of this text, invite the kids to come to the table, where you have gathered lots of artistic supplies: construction paper, water colors, magic markers, scissors, tape, ribbons, and other interesting materials for the imagination. Ask them to draw a large heart. Then share about the message Ezekiel spoke from God. God’s people are to trust Him. God will give them a new heart and life. With this new heart, they will leave their yesterdays behind them and look forward to their all-important and every-day worship of God.

Ask them to write one big word across the top pf the heart on their page: FUTURE. Now ask them to put three words underneath: God, Family, and Work. Ask your children to imagine their lives as they become adults. When they grow up, how will they follow God? Choose three words or pictures to answer that question. Then ask them the same about the other two words. What kind of parent will they be? What kind of work will they want to do for God when they grow up? Draw their pictures, or write words to describe themselves as adults with God, at home, and at work.

After they have filled in their heart pictures, ask them to bring them to dinner, so your family can all see and hear what they have been thinking about their futures. God cares about our future, and invites us to look forward to living it with Him!

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

How do you handle life’s testing times? Perhaps you worry. Maybe you even lash out at those you love. Others will deny the situation and seek to avoid confronting the trouble! I read numerous accounts of people on social medial who refuse to face their troubles and eventually find that they are overwhelmed by the results. The psalmist pens Psalm 112 as a reminder that our troubles provide us with an occasion to fill our heart’s reservoir with godly wisdom instead of worldly vanity. As Robert Leighton says, “Adversity is the diamond dust heaven polishes its jewels with.” 

The writer of today’s focal passage took great care with his design because he wanted to make a powerful statement about following God’s way—even in adverse circumstances. This wisdom psalm develops its theme by contrasting the righteous and the wicked and the rewards of obeying God’s law (Handbook). He fashioned the psalm as an acrostic poem consisting of 22 lines (EBC). Each one begins with a successive letter in the Hebrew alphabet. We also should notice that all the stated rewards apply to this life. The wicked are doomed to fail and disappear. There is certainly no “pie in the sky” utopian dream here, so let’s dig deeper into the psalm and seek God’s help for us when we face testing times.

Build life upon reverence for God. The path to success in life is spelled out clearly in the psalm, and it begins with fearing the Lord (v. 1). This means that we “honor,” or “respect,” or “obey” Him. The successful person knows the significance of finding pleasure in doing what Yahweh commands. Notice that there are immediate promised rewards. This person and his family, including his descendants, will experience prosperity and wealth and will be powerful in the land (vv. 2-3; Handbook). Overall, this person’s way of life helps to build up the kingdom of God on earth (v. 3, “righteousness”; cf. Matthew 5:6; 6:10). We are familiar with such a theology, even in our generation, but all too many of us fail to incorporate suffering into such a spiritual worldview. Therefore, we need to look ahead at the following verses.

Use adversity to produce godly attitudes and actions. The way of godly wisdom may not always seem to be beneficial, especially when an injustice occurs. The shadow of adversity will fall at times across the path of the godly man and woman. Yes, even a good person must sometimes walk along a dark road. Nevertheless, the righteous one is gracious and compassionate, like God, regardless of what may happen (see 111:4b). This difficulty may come, for example, in the form of bad news or some foe (vv. 7 and 8). 

Serve others even as others cause you suffering. This righteous person, despite his or her suffering, will do his or her utmost to relieve the suffering of other upright people. Sound familiar? Indeed! Our Savior provides us with the supreme example of suffering for others. In fact, He took suffering a step further by dying on behalf of sinners like you and me. So, why should we cultivate righteousness when bad things can happen to good people?

Extend God’s kingdom in this world. There are many ways to extend God’s kingdom of good and right, and the wise person knows that offering help to the helpless is one of them (vv. 5, 7 and 9). This person holds the idea of “right and just” not only in mind but in the actual deeds of his hands. Notice that the truly wise person has not built such a tall wall of justice that it eclipses his view of the cross life. We may even say that he counters the unfairness he receives by offering help fairly to others. He lends, not as a handout, but as a loan that he will recover without demanding interest (cf. 15:5; cf. 37:26; EBC). His behavior becomes a testimony to the truthfulness of God’s way of life as recorded in His word (cf. 111:7). His actions give witness to the “uprightness of the Lord himself” (111:8). The writer knows that God is good, and He will exalt His faithful ones in time. God’s beneficence grows like a powerful tree from the soil of adversity!

God’s final vindication proves His way is best. The wise person holds to the precepts of God because he or she knows that they are proving what will last (cf. 111:8). This person is “steadfast” (v. 7) and will never be “shaken” (v. 6; “no fear”). Despite life’s surprises, this person’s wise living response is not a surprise to others. This faithful soul stays true to the path of righteousness regardless of what comes his or her way (cf. James 1:12). God will one day permit this person to “look in triumph on his foes” (cf. 118:7; 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10; ESV).

Funny how little daily events serve as larger life truths. I had a college friend who one day tossed an avocado seed into his sock drawer. I’m unsure why he did it, but he soon forgot that it was there. Sometime later he opened that dark drawer and the seed had sprouted! I suppose the adversity of a dark sock drawer could not keep that seed from doing what it was designed to do. Adversity in the lives of the faithful will produce the rewards of righteousness to the glory of our good God (cf. 2 Timothy 4:6-8).

1. Jot down the main areas in your current faith walk where you are facing adversity. Ponder ways that you may turn these circumstances into a witness to God’s way of righteousness and justice.

2. For Families: Another year of school is likely happening in your house! This passage teaches us all to head into our lives with God with four important reminders for a successful journey with Him. Share with your kids that we are to “practice what we preach,” or live faithfully what we believe; respond with goodness to evil that comes against us; let our words and deeds point people to God; and stay true, no matter what happens!

In each of the days of the first week of school, encourage your kids to choose one of these four reminders and focus on living that truth the whole day. For example, if they begin school today, invite them to think of a way they can practice what they preach in their classes and lunch rooms and sports practices.

If your teens plan to share about going to youth camp, remind them to say only things that are appropriate about other people, and use language that reflects their love for God. Encourage them to invite some of their Christian friends at school to practice these four truths this week along with them!

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

“False Confidence” could be the rubric that Jeremiah might place on the marquees of many contemporary churches. The people in Jeremiah’s day believed they were safe because the Temple, God’s dwelling place, was in their midst (HCBC). Many contemporary congregations hold to a similar belief about their own physical locations and the traditions associated with them. Let’s ask the Lord to open our eyes to see the danger in such attitudes.

The first lengthy prose section in the book begins in Chapter 7 (NAC). Scholars tell us that this section indicates a strong Deuteronomic theology, which means that the prophet was drawing deeply upon the Mosaic Law. We may say broadly that he was using the Old Testament, rather than the Temple and its religious system, as the measuring rod for faith and practice. This ethical standard is critical for our understanding of the passage. Jeremiah was using the properly-interpreted scriptures as the plumb-line for evaluating whether Judah’s spiritual house was in good order. The geopolitical circumstances bear resemblance to many eras in Church history—ours as well. Conflicted leadership held the throne, which was buttressed by people who refused to hold it and themselves accountable to the Lord. Let’s dig deeper.

Crises that reveal our finiteness. The people were faced with a grave international crisis. Babylon had overthrown Assyria, and King Josiah had just been killed in battle (609 B.C.). The Egyptians were in military control of the land and had appointed Josiah’s successor—the weak and ineffective leader Jehoiakim. Babylon advanced against Egypt, and the people were grasping for any security they could find. So, they thronged to the Temple (7:2). We can pause here and recall the spikes in church attendance whenever there has been a great national crisis, so Jeremiah has our attention. I remember the rise in worship attendance in the immediate aftermath of “9/11” here in the United States. The World Trade Center twin towers and the Pentagon were struck by commercial airliners that had been commandeered by Al-Qaeda terrorists. Many Americans were faced with deep physical, emotional, and spiritual insecurity, and people turned to churches to make sense of the tragedy and find hope in the aftermath.

God’s word of judgment through His spokesperson. God instructed Jeremiah to stand at the Temple gates and preach as the people entered the doors (7:1). He had called Jeremiah to be His mouthpiece, and Jeremiah had been instructed to speak the exact words that God gave to him. He tells the people of Judah that their only escape from destruction would be sincere repentance. They had been “unjust, violent, and idolatrous.” 

Misguided focus. The people concentrated on temple attendance, but not attending to God’s commands. Keep in mind that they were going about business as usual by offering sacrifices and attending worship. I will not belabor the obvious comparison to much of our contemporary worship, where the lowest common denominators for church “success” are numbers of people in the pews and money in the plates. OK, so we have acknowledged that we have not set a very high bar for measuring genuine worship either. What does this passage say that we should do?

God’s people sometimes commit heinous crimes against Him and humanity (7:9), and when they do, they cease pretending to worship Him. Their hearts are far from Him. But they can return. This return to Him will mean worshiping Him wholly by eliminating idolatry and the abuse of the helpless (7:5-7). Sadly, the people in our passage had turned God’s house into a den of robbers (7:11; cf. Matthew 21:13 and Isaiah 56:7). Robbers would hole up in caves in the Judean hills for protection until their pursuers gave up searching for them. Then they would reemerge and commit other crimes. God tells these worshipers they were using the Temple as a refuge, and performing rituals that they thought freed them to continue their wicked practices. We all know that many times church people will hide behind outward worship practices, even while practicing the wickedness of their innermost hearts.

The recent barrage of church leadership resignations has left most all of us wondering when things will return to normalcy. In recent days, I was pondering the onslaught of moral failings within the body of Christ, and I remembered a prominent church that had been a standard-bearer of Christian uprightness for as long as I can remember. I thought to myself, “Well, I still have __________ Church to look to for consistency.” But then, that church made media headlines within the next few days as a scandal emerged.

Jeremiah has reminded us today to aim much higher when we are looking for the moral summit. Instead of looking around us at others, we should look only to the Lord. He keeps His church pure and enables His people to serve Him with whole hearts. Let’s heed Jeremiah’s word from the Lord today.

1. The Lord calls us to first look to the moral state of our own spiritual houses. We must be willing to clean up our own spiritual malpractice before we dare to call others to do the same. Purify your heart before the Lord today.

2. Christ’s church needs to invite Him to transform the “den of robbers” into His sanctuary of saints. We are not sinless, but we can concentrate on living blameless, holy lives. Seek genuine renewal in your own church fellowship.

3. For Families: A simple way to determine that a child needs to go to the doctor is when a fever occurs. When their temperature rises above normal, then parents will begin to take notice, for this is an early warning signal that something inside their bodies is not working properly. An infection cannot be corrected by external action, like sitting next to a fan. Take some time to use a thermometer and have your child(ren) record their temperatures. Of course, I hope that it will register as being normal! Help them to recognize the warning signs of an illness.

Help them also to know that a spiritual infection cannot be resolved by external religious practice, like attending church, or giving an offering. A spiritual infection is called “sin.” God offers them healing for their soul sickness through Jesus Christ. Read Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, and 10:10, and then share with your children the way to have true healing from their sins. 

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

(“Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem”—Rembrandt, 1630)

Sisyphus, the Ancient Greek mythological character, was required continually to push a heavy boulder up the side of a mountain, only to have it roll back down. I suppose that he is remembered most for his misery! Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, as he is often nicknamed, served the Lord in the latter days of the Kingdom of Judah, and he also is remembered for the misery he endured. However, I believe that we should also remember him for his prophecy about a new covenant! Let’s see what God’s word has to say to our weeping hearts in our own contentious age.

Jeremiah faithfully served in a nation that never could quite rid their hearts of a rebellious spirit. Have you ever attended a church that possessed such a nature? Two steps forward and three steps back is one way to describe Israel’s history. Josiah’s reign (640-609 B.C.) had left a glimmer of hope for Judah, but the rise of Babylon into power signaled that calamity was inevitable. The prophet Jeremiah spoke into this context, denouncing Judah’s leadership, and he received considerable royal backlash! He was “threatened, imprisoned, and humiliated” (HCBC). There was, however, a silver lining in his prophecy. God promised that He would at last fulfill His dream for Israel, but only after a period of “purifying judgment and exile.” This passage of scripture holds critical implications for us. It reminds us how to capture the attention and heart of our own nation and point it back to God. We have a noble purpose in calling our country to return to the Lord.

Purge our lives of immoral practices (cf. Exodus 19:6). Many of us, unfortunately, lead confused lives as we seek to follow the Lord. Christians too often blaze their own trails and follow popular leaders with either hate-filled rhetoric or feel-good messages. Genuine moral issues are not addressed in a redemptive manner. I believe this disjointed approach derives partly from the era in which we live, but this need not be the case with believers. Jeremiah preached one unified message of judgment and hope—after all, it was God’s word. This has caused some scholars to scratch their heads and wonder how this may be so, but his prophecy makes sense if we take it in order. Judah’s idols and immoral practices were to be purged first before God would bless the nation.

Take off moral blinders. Jeremiah’s prophecy applies to our “Christian” nation. We must not see our economic prosperity as a necessary sign that God has blessed us and approves of our behavior. Besides, the richest 1 percent of our population now controls more wealth than the bottom 90 percent. We are likely not as wealthy as we believe ourselves to be. Truly, the fruit of God’s richest blessings will not grow from a twisted root! Erroneous beliefs and practices must be rooted out before God will plant new life and growth (cf. Ecclesiastes 3:3).

There is a pathway to renewal that our focal passage provides us today. The first step requires us to preach and teach a balanced message. I hasten to write that our churches sometimes dwell either on judgment to the neglect of hope, or on hope to the neglect of judgment. Seek balance. 

Secondly, the effectiveness of the message will entirely depend upon God’s word, not the prophet’s “ability or cleverness” (cf. NAC). We do well today to eliminate the cult worship of a pastor. Jeremiah lacked the very things that our generation so often cleaves to as signs of success—self-assurance and speaking ability. It was his inability that enabled him to be most effective (1:6). He offered his humble frailty to a powerful God. 

Thirdly, follow God’s will exactly as He prescribes. The tender, young prophet possessed the essential willingness to be used by God as the Lord willed. This meant that he had to get the message right. God would then empower it and enable His objectives to be accomplished (Isaiah 55:10-11). 

The formula for church renewal begins something like this: God’s word in my heart and mouth will be spoken in the exact way He desires to the precise people He determines need to hear it.

One of my childhood Saturday morning TV action heroes was Superman. He was the mild-mannered, newspaperman Clark Kent, by most accounts, until trouble surfaced. He then became the superhero the weak and defenseless needed. After all, he was there to promote “truth, justice, and the American way!” Superman, if you think about it, would fight an uphill battle today, not because we no longer have phone booths in which to change clothes, but because we have lost the collective zeal for truth, justice, and the American way. 

Here is the spiritual point. Similarly, the church quite often loses its collective passion for truth and justice, which is God’s way. Jeremiah challenges us all today to live heroically, and with hope, by honoring God’s way every day.

1. God calls us to holiness, not by our definition of the concept, but by His. Purge that which is false from your life, then pursue God’s holiness.

2. For Families: There are many truths for our hearts to apply in the devotional above. Perhaps the choicest for our children is the connection between a humble heart and God’s ability to use us. Parents, do you play a “word-face” game with your children? You speak a word (usually one that portrays emotion, like sadness, joy, surprise, discouragement, etc.) and your children make a face that matches the word. This is very fun!

We can use that same game and turn it up a notch to help them with this passage. Say a word that describes an element of character, and see if your kids can match that posture or provide actions that demonstrate the word (like haughty, greedy, arrogant, cruel, gentle, good, meek, and humble).

After your family has had some fun with these games at suppertime, share with them the truth that God is seeking devout disciples, who have willing, humble hearts, to use in His Kingdom. He will entrust His work to those who will follow Him and do not try to grasp His power for themselves. Jeremiah’s prophetic message is still life-changing.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

[Originally published June 30, 2026]

Nicky Cruz (6 December 1938-present) was born in the mountains of Las Piedras, south of San Juan, Puerto Rico, to poor parents who practiced witchcraft. One of eighteen children, he grew up watching seances, satanic rituals of sorcery and voodoo, and horrible atrocities every night. His mother called him "Son of Satan" and his parents abused him physically and mentally, often forcing him to participate in their despicable practices. Nicky's heart rebelled at an early age, and an angry resentment, and then an overwhelming hate, began to grow inside. His teen years were full of rage.

In Puerto Rico at the time, it was customary for parents to send their children to the United States when they became old enough to find work and provide for themselves. At the age of fifteen, Nicky's father sent him to live with an older brother in New York City. Nicky was hardhearted and sullen, toughened by his years of tortured experience. He loathed the world and all of the people in it, he said in later years.

Soon, Nicky ran away and took to the streets. He joined a notorious gang, known for its lawlessness, called the MauMaus. Within six months, Nicky had become its fearless Warlord with a reputation for a volatile temper, ruling Fort Greene in Brooklyn through violence and intimidation. Even after being arrested many times and watching his best friend die in his arms, Nicky was seen as a hopeless case. 

One day in 1958, when Nicky was twenty years old, a new preacher from Pennsylvania came to New York City for an evangelistic outreach to gangs and the lost youth who lived on the streets. His name was David Wilkerson. Viewing him as a threat to the MauMaus, and wanting to humiliate Wilkerson, Nicky and his gang showed up at the place where Wilkerson was preaching. They heckled, jeered, and broke up the meeting with their disrespectful behavior. Wilkerson confronted Nicky, telling him that Jesus loved him. Nicky refused to listen. He spit on the preacher and beat him up.

Pastor Wilkerson did not give up on Nicky. Instead, he showed him relentless love and forgiveness. He kept telling him how much God loved him. Several months later, Wilkerson scheduled a meeting at a boxing arena near Nicky's neighborhood. The MauMaus boarded the bus sent especially by Wilkerson and traveled to where the meeting was being held. According to Cruz, when he arrived at the arena, he "felt guilty about the things he had done" and began to pray in his heart. Later in the evening, after preaching the Gospel, Wilkerson gave an altar call and a large number of gang members responded. Wilkerson prayed with Cruz personally, and was with him when Nicky asked God to forgive him and save his soul. Nicky was miraculously changed from the inside out!

Afterward, Cruz and some of the newly-converted gang members went to the police station and turned in all of their bricks, hand guns, and knives, shocking the officers in the station. The police stated that if they had seen the group approaching, they probably would have shot them down.

Cruz began to study the Bible and attended the Latin American Bible School (now the Latin American Theological Seminary) in La Puente, California, from 1959 to 1962, where he met his wife, Gloria. He became a preacher himself and returned to his old New York City neighborhood, where he preached and witnessed the conversions of more of the Mau Maus to Christ, including the gang's new leader, Israel Narvaez.
 
Since that time, for nearly seventy years, Nicky has been traveling the world, preaching the Gospel of Jesus to millions of at-risk young people and reaching many others through his books. He worked with Wilkerson for many years in Teen Challenge, helping urban youth to find Christ, and then started Nicky Cruz Outreach in 1976 to help troubled teens internationally. He has preached in more than forty countries, in prisons, inner cities, and stadiums. Nicky says the thing that means the most to him is when he shared the love of Jesus and his own forgiveness with his parents and brother. And they came to Christ!

Cruz is now eighty-seven years young, the father of four daughters, and he and Gloria have seven grandchildren. He is still strong in his faith and witnesses every day to the powerful, life-giving grace of Jesus Christ that transformed his life completely. The day he gave his fear and hate and anger to God, he became a new person inside. This month, we celebrate with deep gratitude the victorious life in Christ which is freely offered to everyone who believes on His name. 

Karen O'Dell Bullock

[originally published June 30, 2026]

"The law of the instrument" maxim states that a hammer’s great temptation is to treat everything as a nail. Anger has become in our culture a metaphorical hammer in search of the proverbial nail! Perhaps the reason wrath is so prominent is because we view our challenges in such a way that the negative emotion seems to be the best route to a solution. Therefore, wrath has become unsurprisingly one of the most pressing moral concerns of our day. The word simply means, “A strong feeling of displeasure, annoyance, or hostility,” but its potential harmful effects belie the simplicity of the definition.

Aristotle knew the dangerous ease with which this emotion pervades our lives when he writes, “Sweeter it is by far than the honeycomb dripping with sweetness, And spreads through the hearts of men.” He knew that anger too often leads to hasty reasoning and bad consequences. The Proverbs warn in similar fashion: “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end” (29:11). Christ knew well the dangers of unresolved ire, so he warned his disciples against falling prey to chronic anger (Matthew 5:21-22). One would think that good reason and sound judgment would lead people to keep anger in check; however, this often is not the case.

Captured social media videos of heated outbursts on airplanes, in town hall gatherings, and in schools, to name but a few places, clamor for attention on a regular basis. Social media has become a go-to repository of flash-fire anger reels. From vexation over denied airplane seats, to venomous outbursts at city council meetings, to teen violence on school campuses, everything, as the truism goes, is beginning to look like a nail!

Hurtful anger holds deep significance for life’s sanctity and dignity, for liberty and rights, and for justice. This negative emotion, evident since the dawning of human history, can, and often does, lead to destructive behavior (Genesis 4:5), so we ought to consider the ethical obligations surrounding anger and several principles to bring it under control.
 
Anger leads us to ridicule and rob people of their inherit dignity. It contributes to an infringement upon the liberties and rights that all citizens, regardless of their color or creed, are due to receive. Anger also leads to violations of justice. Justice, in Christian understanding, includes not only fairness shown toward others, but also includes moral integrity. This begs a critical question. How do we equip Christians with other tools besides hammers? In other words, how do we find calm on such stormy seas?

First, Jesus did not proscribe all anger. Indeed, there is no biblical clear injunction against the emotion. The Bible attributes anger to God as an active response to human sin, in particular, idolatry (see also Matthew 21:12-17; 23: 17; Mark 3:5). “God’s anger should not be thought of as uncontrolled fury or personal spitefulness. Rather, it is more in the nature of righteous indignation.” God . . . “is not the enemy of anyone; he loves all and hates none. He loved enough to send his Son to die for us while we were yet sinners and at enmity with him" (Romans 5:8–10). [1] Jesus’ followers, likewise, do not hate their fellow men or women! He calls us, His disciples, to avoid misdirected anger (Matthew 5:21-26). He wants us not to become stuck in a vicious cycle—being angry, insulting, or harming one another. [2]

Secondly, recognize that destructive anger is a character issue. Therefore, the scriptures speak often of anger and the need to control it (Genesis 3:7; Proverbs 15: 18; Matthew 5:21-26; Galatians 5:20; Ephesians 4:26; James 1:19-20). Stanley Hauerwas reminds us that the kind of decisions that we confront, including the way we describe a situation, is a “function of the kind of character we have.” [3] Simply stated, we respond to what we see. [4] We’ve all known people that see and act through a cloudy lens of anger and the results are not pretty, for wrath often clouds our judgment. Christ invites us to see clearly as His disciples and as His leaders (cf. Luke 9:51-56, esp. James and John and Christ’s rebuke).

Thirdly, make love, not anger, a first response to relationship struggles. A way to avoid anger growing out of control, for Christians, is to re-frame our view of moral circumstances with the love of Christ. Sometimes, I am cut off in traffic and anger boils up inside me. I now imagine that someone I truly love is driving that other car! I would not wish to hurt them, so I diffuse my anger by feeding my response with love.

We all know that Jesus, while commanding His followers to love God and love their neighbor and to be agents of peace, did not leave them with a specific "code of ethics" to apply to their circumstances (see Matthew 5:9; 12:30-31). There are, however, core ethical principles that Christ and the biblical writers taught that will enable us to frame challenging moral circumstances with His love.
 
First, choose to hold and show respect for all human life (Genesis 1:26-27; Matthew 12:30-31). This principle is bedrock to human interaction and forms a critical element in displaying love for all humankind. Secondly, choose to use your freedom wisely (1 Peter 2:16). We do not want to do that which gives those who believe differently an occasion to mock the name of Christ (1 Peter 2:12). Thirdly, choose to do that which is good to give glory to the Heavenly Father (Matthew 5:13-16; 1 Peter 2:12). Finally, choose to treat others fairly; including those with whom you have differences (Micah 6:6-8; Romans 13:8-10).

We will not be able to throw open our arms of love if we cling tightly to the hammer of anger in our hearts. The love of Christ leads us to lay down the hammer of anger. The words of Paul challenge us to dispense with hurtful attitudes: “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:5-7).

Larry C. Ashlock

Notes:
1. Erickson, Christian Theology, 621-23).

2. Stassen and Gushee, Kingdom Ethics, 134.

3. As stated in Truthfulness and Tragedy, 20.

4. Gula, Ethics in Pastoral Ministry, 38; cf. hate-filled worldviews.

“If a spring has not been opened in a soul, a spring of living water from God’s own Son, no waters can flow and there is no life in you.” G.V. Wigram (1805-1879), wrote the English theologian and an early leader among the Plymouth Brethren. He echoes what Christ had taught: Living water must spring from within the well of one’s own heart or a person will die of spiritual thirst. Let’s examine anew this famous focal passage and listen to the words of our Savior about living water.

God-created moral status. All humans, regardless of circumstances or capacity, have moral status (person-hood). We do not think twice about this “at-the-well” meeting in our culture, but John knew that the arrival of this woman at her village’s well created something of a crisis for traditional Jews (4:7-9). They did not mingle with Samaritans (considered “half-breeds”), and devout Jewish men did not speak with women in public. We may all have heard these facts before, but there is something deeper still at work here. Webster defines “person” as “human,” and “individual.” I find it also quite applicable that the dictionary defines the term as “one of the three modes of being in the Trinitarian Godhead as understood by Christians.” Our passage today shows us an encounter between Jesus, the Divine Person, and this individual woman, a human person. Something catalytic must happen when heaven touches earth in this way. Let’s see what takes place!

Intrinsic value of persons. Wells were places where folks gathered in the ancient world. Abraham’s servant met Rebekah (Genesis 24:11, 15-17), Jacob met Rachel (Genesis 29:2-12), and God met Hagar (Genesis 16:7) at wells. One obviously comes to fill water containers at such places, so there is nothing extraordinary in the physical sense when Jesus requests that the woman give Him a drink. However, there is something amazing in the spiritual sense—when the Lord discusses theology with a nameless, faceless woman. He treats her as a person. I’m tempted to hover here, but I hope we see that women have been ignored for centuries and this must never be. God creates male and female in His image. They never lose their God-given value by anything they might do or not do. There is more, because this is an important narrative in John’s good news about Jesus.

Jesus demonstrates the woman’s value by offering her “living water,” meaning life eternal (4:10). First, she must see who He is, Divine Person, and then request from Him the gift of cleansing for her entire being. John shows us that this “gift” was the “hope-for fulfillment of God’s promises” in this setting (NAC). Jesus was drawing deeply from the Old Testament scriptures at this point and offering her the opportunity for an outpouring of new life (Isaiah 1:16; 55:1-3; Jeremiah 2:13; Zechariah 14:8; cf. John 3:3-6)! There would be no more laboring to find the few drips of the physical to quench her life’s thirst. Instead, Jesus offered her a bubbling spring that would burst forth from within her soul. Jesus offers this sort of life-changing transformation to every person.

The AIDS epidemic struck in the 1980s and, at that time, to become HIV+ was tantamount to a death sentence. I do not recall the exact moment in time, but men with AIDS diagnoses were referred to me for pastoral support and counsel. Most of these individuals had been rejected by their families and, in large measure, by society. I recall meeting a man in my office who was dying from that disease. We met several more times across the months as he declined in health and a last few times while he was in the hospital. One of my pastoral acts included giving him water through a syringe as he neared the end of this life. That moment stands out in my mind because it helps to picture the way he had lived his life. He had had a precious family, but had fallen prey to some terrible thirsts that both hurt them deeply and ultimately destroyed his life. He was estranged from his family and his Heavenly Father. 

God’s presence in the direst circumstances. There was a powerful John 4 moment in the hospital when that man sought and received God’s forgiveness. I cannot help but think today how his focus changed from receiving water in a syringe to quench his physical thirst, to embracing the living water that nourished his soul. That same living water is available to you today in Christ.  

1. Now, this question may be painful to answer, but what do you thirst for the most? Look at your social calendar and your checkbook register. These two areas will help you to pinpoint just how deeply you thirst for living water. “Bottled?” or “Bubbling?” Choose well!

2. For Families: A fun way illustrate this truth, along with a snack of milk and cookies this first week of August, is to serve your kids a saucer with a cookie on it, and an eye-dropper, along with a small glass of milk. 

Explain the story about the woman at the well, how she tried to make herself happy with all kinds of things that were not right. Ask your kids, have they ever tried to do that too? Then share that living like that is kind of like being very thirsty for a long drink of cold milk, but using eye-droppers instead! 

Let them try this for several minutes (they might be delighted with it!). If they are really thirsty, the eye-droppers will not work very well. Toward the end of snack time, let them drink deeply from their cup. Jesus wants to bring them joy by the glass-full!

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

A Bible commentator catches my eye when he writes, “Affliction either drives one into the arms of God or severs one from God” (NAC). This perspective often proves to be true, but thankfully Peter opens our eyes today to a useful aspect to affliction that we may have failed to consider. He shows us clearly how we sometimes interfere with God’s good work in us when we are experiencing bad things in life! Let’s look closely today at God’s word about humble submission when we suffer in His name.

Peter has reached the place where he takes up concerns related to the house churches throughout Asia Minor (see 1:1-1). He has just concluded a section on suffering at the hands of outsiders. Even though a conjunction begins this section, some scholars do not see the logical link to the previous subject (cf. NAC). However, we may well understand the strains that would occur within the church, due to suffering, and the need to encourage and strengthen the internal fellowship to prevent stress fractures in the body. 

We read of two possible sources of distress in the church. Leaders and younger followers needed to respond appropriately to other members in the church (cf. 5:1-5, compulsion, greed, domineering behavior). Peter has also inserted the reminder that “judgment begins with the household of God,” so there is a deeper theological current of submission to the Lord running through his instructions (cf. 5:17-18). An anti-Christian backlash is evident today in sections of our culture, so we should recognize the importance of sustaining healthy relationships in our extraordinarily stressful contemporary society.

There appears to be a paragraph division in our English translations between verses 5 and 6, but the thought carries over—the call to humble submission to God. We need to examine this passage through a theological lens. Here, Peter links our suffering to God’s sovereignty. He wants us to submit to God’s will and purpose in our suffering because we trust God and know that He will bring all things to a good end (cf. Romans 8:28). We get this, but we often do not avail ourselves of the benefit God offers to us in our sufferings!

First, we must submit to God. When we submit to God, not only for our salvation, but also our entire lives, then God will exalt us and give us the full reward of eternal life, the one that we can know in part now, on the last day (v. 6; cf. James 4:10). This means that we are to submit ourselves to God when we suffer persecution for being a Christian and not to chafe at His will. We need to realize that He is purifying His church (1 Peter 4:17). The use of the expression “God’s mighty hand” reminds us of His deliverance from Egypt. God delivered Israel, and He also will deliver these believers (we, too) from their (our) sufferings. The goal is to receive God’s final reward, life eternal. 

Second, humility means that we hand over our worries to Him (v. 7a). Sometimes we create our own hardship that leads to emotional suffering! We fail to recognize that worry hinders our relationship with God. Worry is a form of pride, since it denies the care of a sovereign God. We all have worries, don’t we? A long-time friend, and Christian counselor, writes, “None of us is immune from the circumstances that feed anxiety and worry.” Peter writes and tells us that we should cease our worrying (cf. Matthew 6:25-34). The antidote to worrying is to believe and rest in God’s care for us. He wants us to see that the way to humble ourselves before God is to cease with our worrying. We fail the humility test when we worry because we are then showing God that we remain convinced that we must solve all our problems on our own. When we throw our worries on God, we show Him that we trust His mighty hand. We do so because He cares so much for us.

We have a magnetic notepad at home that sticks to our refrigerator. If something is written on the pad, then I will soon find that item inside the refrigerator or pantry. It is not rocket science! Imagine that you have a mental notepad of anxieties that your emotions and physical body store. These fears that lead to worry rob God of the space He requires inside your life. Peter challenges us to clean out the “spiritual refrigerator,” so that it may be filled with God’s presence and care. 

Part of the trouble rests in the fact that we too often do not see that God can bring any good out of our difficult circumstances—specifically enduring hardship for being Christ’s followers. We often foolishly slip back into the old ways of trying to fend for ourselves, when all the while God is shaping us for our full and final eternal purpose. Let’s spend time reflecting upon ways to turn our worries over to God.

1. Jot down your top five worries and then, in a moment of solidarity with God’s will for your life, give them to Him. Follow up at the end of the next several weeks and write down ways God has replaced worry with His peace.

2. For Families: If you have junior-high and high-school children, they may have already started “two-a-days” for football, band, cheer-leading, and many other sports/activities. These early morning and afternoon sessions take their toll. Perhaps some extra attention and consistent encouragement will help them as they enter into a difficult few weeks. Challenge your kids to use these sessions as “two-a-days” in walking with God too!

As they awaken in the early morning, be ready to greet them with a sweet word of love for their hearts and something nourishing for their bodies. In the afternoons, give them cheerful send-offs and welcoming returns as they complete each daily round. Place a small verse of inspiration in their hand each day, so they can remember that God will be with them, and there will be spiritual work for them to do too. Click here for a list of verses to lighten their hearts as they work out. Perhaps tomorrow you can begin with our verse of the day:

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

Words are cheap, or so the expression goes, so Christians will choose to show their genuine faith by staying committed to Christ. This introduction encapsulates the point of our focal passage today. The recipients of the Hebrews letter had been tempted to pull away from Christ, so the writer encourages them to remain steadfastly committed to the Lord. The writer uses the symbol of a veil beyond which believers may enter God’s presence. The veil symbolized the life Jesus offered to God when He suffered for our sins (1 Peter 3:18; HCBC). This emblem presents us with a beautiful picture of the cost of our access to the Father and the love that made it possible. Let’s invite the Lord to inspire our hearts as we consider how we may prove our commitment to Him.

We learn in this chapter that the law, as a precursor to Christ and His way, was a mere shadow in contrast to the substance that was to be found in Christ (10:1-4). We must keep in our minds that the first readers of our passage were Jewish Christians who were deeply steeped in the Mosaic law (10:5-18). Gentile readers like us may pick up the theme at the point of declaring that Jesus is the real thing. The author would challenge us not to throw off Jesus and return to our pagan lifestyles (cf. Hebrews 11:1-3; faith gives us eyes to see that this temporal world is not what is real and lasting). We will move from the classroom, so to speak, into practical daily Christian living.
 
A sea change occurs at this point. The doctrinal argument that forms the main section of the book now shifts to instructing believers to apply the scriptural principles to daily living. The Bible, we would say, is the basis for living a flourishing life. The good news for us is that Jesus’ high priestly work has made a meaningful life possible and His Spirit stands ready as our guide to this end (cf. 10:19-25; let us: “draw near,” “hold fast,” and “consider”).

Strong encouragement for us to remain committed has a purpose. Pastors and Christian leaders urge us not to be like those who profess Christ with their lips but without a heartfelt commitment. Instead, we look to these faithful ones for our model. These had passed through the crucible of suffering and emerged with the blessings of Christ intact. Some had met verbal persecution, while others had endured hardships of various kinds. Others among them had suffered disrepute by being associated with the ones who had been persecuted and even had their property confiscated. This commitment to Christ that had sustained them so well, concludes our writer, should not now be thrown away (10:35)! To persist in a life of wrongdoing, without qualms, leads one to judgment (10:26-31).

Have you ever been in a “clean the house” mood and given away something that you thought was no longer needed? Let’s say that I have quite a few “new” books in my library, because I gathered up an important book I needed into a box of “giveaways” and passed them on to someone else. In other words, I later discovered that I had discarded what I had really needed and then had to buy a new copy!
 
Here is the spiritual point. We live in a “jettison Jesus” kind of age, with so many people looking at the faith of our Christian fore-fathers and mothers as being out of date. Many decide to do away with their former commitment to the biblical Jesus. Secondly, some churches today have adopted a spirit of “accommodation” with the world on key and core biblical essentials. They no longer see Christ, for example, as the only way to forgiveness of sin and eternal life. This passage challenges us to give very careful thought to the doctrines of the Christian faith before we choose to discard them. Exercise great care when determining the value of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Keep true to Christ.

1. I regularly hear testimonies about Christians who are suffering ridicule and are being passed over for promotions because they refuse to engage in the immoral practices of their work associates and supervisors. Some of you are encountering similar persecution on the job, with friends, and even in the home. Resolve to remain committed to Christ. Pray for those who are in such circumstances.
 
2. For Families: Much of the Old Testament Covenant with Israel is difficult for adults to understand and even more so for children! We may illustrate the importance of building a life on the right foundation by simply using a deck of cards. Have the children build one house of cards on a table top, and then have them do the same on top of a soft surface, like a pillow. They will recognize that anything built on a pillow will soon collapse with the least amount of movement. 

Teach them that a life pleasing to God, and one that will bring true happiness for them, will be one that is built on the strong foundation of God’s Word and the example of Jesus Christ. Help them to know that the best way to live is to be totally committed to Jesus Christ.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

God does not lose those souls He has saved (1 Peter 1:4, “kept in heaven”). There can be no more powerful statement than the one with which this devotional begins. It was written because the first readers of Hebrews needed to remain steadfast in their commitment to Christ. Since then, this chapter has created libraries full of commentary based upon a flawed interpretation of verse 6 and the phrase “have fallen away.” Let’s look more deeply into the passage to find encouragement to remain committed to Christ.

Interpreters have varied in their understanding of our focal chapter. Some see it as a warning that one may lose his or her salvation. The New Testament, however, knows nothing of a true Christian losing his or her salvation (cf. John 10:27-29; Romans 11:29; and Philippians 1:6; HCBC). Others believe the warning in the passage is hypothetical, but the repeated counsel in 10:26-31 makes this unlikely. Some even see it as a warning given to those who are “almost Christians,” but not yet genuine believers. Yet, the fact that the passage includes “shared in the Holy Spirit” (v. 4) makes this interpretation an impossibility. 

The most reasonable interpretation is to see the passage as being addressed toward professing Christians. We are exhorted to show the reality of our faith by enduring through trials and hardship without falling away (cf. 10:23; 10:32-11:40; HCBC). The author believed all his readers to be genuine Christ followers because their love and work for the Lord had convinced him that none were apostates. So what may we glean from the text?

The chapter “warns us not to claim allegiance to Christ without actually possessing this allegiance” (HNTC). True believers provide evidence of real salvation (vv. 9-12). Evidently there were some whose hearts were so hard they would never repent. The irony is that God had offered freely mercy and forgiveness to them, but they were in danger of rejecting it! This was the same type of human spirit that was mentioned in Romans 1:28. 

We do not like to admit it, but we have known folks in our churches who attend church ritually for years, but who show “zero” evidence spiritually of a changed life. The outward appearance of doing Christian acts is not confirmed by the inner working of God’s Spirit. “Those who profess Christ but turn from Him and never produce credible evidence of commitment need the reminder that God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29; HTNC). So, what is the evidence of a changed heart?

We know the proof of a changed heart when we live productive Christian lives. First, we “work” in Jesus’ name. We show concern for others, live rightly, and demonstrate the Christian virtues (Galatians 5:22-23). Secondly, we love through ministry to others—some who may even be quite unlovely! We continue to spread the love of Christ in our relationships. Thirdly, God’s justice has produced our salvation. It would be inconceivable to the writer of Hebrews that God would overlook the works and love that were evident products of His grace. He urges us to find assurance in the fact that we are working and loving others in the name of Christ and to continue like the heroes of the faith have done before us (Hebrews 11).

Lee Rogers was bent over and worn down when I met him. He farmed a few acres of land, and I helped him to haul his hay and put it into his barn. I also helped him to plow his garden. The latter was no easy task, because he only had a horse and an old rusty plow. It was like stepping back into the 19th century! I recall struggling mightily with that plow as the horse dragged me and that old implement off the mark. My row looked like an arc instead of a straight line, and it became frustrating to continue. All at once, that fragile old man stood next to me and encouraged me. “Larry, I always figured you could plant more potatoes on a crooked row,” he said. “Don’t give up.” 

Here is a spiritual word of encouragement. We may be wobbly in the Christian walk, but God will produce fruit if we simply endure. Keep up the good work and love!

1. Perhaps you look back today over your Christian life and see several “crooked rows” in your commitment. Take a moment to examine the time following those experiences and give God thanks for helping you through them. Take time to write God a paragraph of thanksgiving for saving and keeping you. Then make a fresh commitment to follow Him daily.

2. For Families: Children always enjoy dress up games where they pretend to be a superhero, a favorite athlete, or a movie character. They even enjoy pretending to be a doctor or lawyer or scientist. Play this game for a while, then ask them why they are not the character they are pretending to be. 
 
Then, share with them the vital importance of being who we say we are. We must never just pretend to follow Jesus Christ. Teach them that it is a life commitment that must come from the heart. Then pray with your children and thank the Lord for their precious lives. 

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

Some of the most memorable testimonies I have ever heard come from people whose lives have been radically transformed by God. From addictions to newfound freedom in Christ, they have been reborn! Their journeys toward healing led them to reach out to God and invite Him into every thing they thought or did each day. This required them to slow their lives down and think about each decision and subsequent action. They were now connected to God and this encounter with the Lord was life changing. We will do well to listen to Isaiah today in our age of addictions. He has a message for our hearts.

Isaiah 1-5 has described how God’s people had rejected their “Holy One,” but Isaiah 6 tells us of a face-to-face encounter with Him. The year was 740 B.C., and it was the year that king Uzziah died, seemingly taking the hopes of a nation with him to the grave. Our national leader is alive, but there has been considerable political turmoil across all levels of government in recent years. The same holds true around the globe. Let’s imagine today that the prophet’s message freshly comes into our lives. Isaiah called the people (and us) to lift their eyes to receive a vision of the real King, the Lord, sitting on His heavenly throne (cf. HCBC)!

Recognize the value of a direct message from God. Isaiah’s lips were purified by the Lord for him to preach God’s word to a spiritually insensitive people. His was not an easy call. He was to proclaim God’s truth until Israel faced God’s judgment and the people were carried into exile! Only a remnant would remain. We need to recognize something about the context that would also be the case with the first Apostles—the message is more important than the messenger (cf. Philippians 1:15-18). God’s message, clearly proclaimed, must go forth. Hold on to this thought.

Receive the message directly into your heart. Please notice that Isaiah speaks in the first-person singular (“I”) in this section of the book, which may also be compared to the “we” passages in the book of Acts. There is an immersion of the messenger into the message, so that his or her soul is soaked in God’s saving word of hope. The importance of the message belied the fact that so many people participated indifferently in temple worship. We, too, often sit apathetically in our pews, insensitive to the call of God to heed, then herald, His message. 

Humbly offer your life in service to God. This is the only passage in the Bible where heavenly beings are called “seraphs” (EBC, NAC, comparison to Ezekiel 1:5-14). The name literally means “burning ones” and they were either standing higher than God or flying above the throne. These beings were “very much alive and worshiping God.” With two sets of wings, they were covering their faces and feet, not from shame or guilt, but because of humility (cf. NAC). These creatures, as strange as they were in appearance, are worthy of our focus here because of their response to God! Their “antiphonal declarations” of His holiness are key to getting the message right (6:3).

The old maxim reminds us that it is quite difficult to light a fire with wet firewood. This truth leads me to ask, “What type of spiritual kindling are we?” Can the fire of the Spirit set our lives and churches aflame with our unholy attitudes and practices? Seek God’s fire when you worship, and then fan the flames with your life, so to speak, throughout the week.

We may learn much by observing the seraph’s worship behavior before God. First, God is not our “Buddy.” Like Israel and Judah, we too often adopt a casual attitude about God. Isaiah’s vision of a God who is separate from everything that is vile and ugly in a profane world is critical to understanding how we are to relate to Him. This holiness is revealed in both God’s actions and His will (NAC). So, when the seraphs say that the “whole earth is full of his glory,” they likely mean that the design of God’s work is such that His holiness should become manifest. How may this be the case when we live in such a wicked world? 

Secondly, this level of worship should be our longing. Holy messengers communicating God’s vital message is the key to the realization of the longing. In other words, God’s way should fill the earth and we, ourselves, are to be filled with His way (cf. John 14:6; Leviticus 20:26; 1 Peter 1:16; Franz Delitszch). Our starting point in worship is to see the need, and then to be radically changed by what we encounter in God’s presence. Isaiah (we, also) could only see his unworthiness (6:5) and need for atonement (6:6-7). Isaiah cried out in his sin, and God reached out with His grace! One wonders how anyone, or any church, could fail to herald God’s salvation after an encounter like that one? One does wonder!

1. When and where was your Isaiah moment? Write it down in a paragraph or two. If your worship is cold and lifeless, and you see no essential need of bearing the message of hope, then go back to your Isaiah moment and find renewal.

2. For Families: If it is possible, plan to take your children early one morning this summer to a special place. Choose ahead of time to travel to a tall mountain or hill, where you can park the car, take your picnic blanket, and watch the early morning unfold. Hopefully, you can find a hill, an elevated mound, or a lake – somewhere you can feel the wind and watch nature as it awakens to a new day. 

Ask your children to be very still to listen for five minutes. Ask them to sit in the silence and to listen carefully to sounds that only God makes. Not man-made sounds, like airplanes and car engine noises, but God’s sounds. Ask them to remember what they hear. Then spend the moments of silence together. When the time is up, ask your children to tell you what they heard (wind, animals, leaves in trees, grass blowing, birds, even thunder or rain). Remind them that God has filled the earth that He has made with signs of Himself. God is amazing and not like us. Show your children the majesty of God’s creation – as Supreme Creator and Sustaining Artist of our world. This God also lives in us, and we can share our magnificent God with other people too.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock