Preparation (Aug 28)

When you go on a trip, you often have to take some time for preparation. You think about all of the things that you will need while you are away and then you make sure that you have them packed with you when you leave. Some trips require more preparation than others. When I flew to Boston in February, I had to pack light because of baggage policies with the airline. I made sure that I had clothes for work and also a few things for off-hours. I packed my swimsuit because the hotel had a pool. I made sure that I had the appropriate personal care items. I made sure that anything that wouldn’t pass security was in my suitcase which would be checked baggage. I also brought my work laptop, iPod, GPS, and cell phone. That didn’t require much preparation and I had everything that I needed while I was there. A camping trip, on the other hand, requires a bit more preparation because there are so many more things you need, such as equipment, food, and utensils, not to mention a different set of reservations and itineraries. If I were to travel abroad, that would even compound the process. Every time that we travel to see my grandparents, I sit and think for a few minutes before going out the door, mentally checking off items from a list. It is important to have everything that we need for a trip, as well as a job or task that we might accomplish at home.

Imagine how much more planning and preparation must be made for scenarios of life-and-death importance that come up in life, spiritually speaking. For those situations, God’s got you covered. He’s already done the planning and preparation. But you have to take it.

Eph 6:10-20 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (19) And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, (20) For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Belt – Truth
Breastplate – Righteousness (equity of character or act, right living, right being)
Shoes – Preparation of the gospel of peace (ready with good words of peace, rest, and quietness)
Shield – Faith (persuasion, belief, assurance)
Helmet – Salvation
Sword – Word of God
Disposition – Prayer with perseverance (persistence; don’t give up!)

Playing Chicken with the Devil (Aug 21)

When we were kids, sometimes we would play chicken, usually on bikes. Basically, two people would ride toward each other and whoever turned aside first, was the chicken and lost. It can be done with any vehicle, or even on foot. Sometimes you’ll hear of someone playing chicken with a train, or an animal in the road playing chicken with your car as you’re driving towards it. It’s a test of willpower and nerves, to see who will give up first. Obviously, if played correctly, the result will be a collision.

I often ride the bicycle on trails and sometimes there are a lot of other people riding, walking, or jogging. At those times, you have to be careful to stay to the right, alert people when passing, and if riding side-by-side, you must ride single file when someone else approaches. Unfortunately, people don’t always do that. There have been many times when I have to ride off the trail to go around people that don’t get out of the way in time. Sometimes it feels like I’m playing a game of chicken. As I approach, they should be moving over, so it is sometimes tempting to maintain my position until the absolute last moment when I’m sure that they just aren’t going to budge.

It got me to thinking about how we sometimes play chicken in other areas of life. Sometimes people work very closely against deadlines. If even one thing goes wrong, they could be late and have problems. Some people hold their bills until the absolute last second before sending payment. One hiccup in the mail and they’ve got late fees. I’ve heard of some people that have it down to within dollars and cents as to when and how much is deposited and when and which bills they pay, trying to avoid late payments and overdraft fees while living barely within their means. It’s like people are just asking for something to go wrong. But more importantly, what about the spiritual side of life? What happens when we play chicken with the devil? We see just how close to the edge between God’s will and the devil’s temptations we can get without teetering right off into oblivion.

1Co 6:18-20 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. (19) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1Co 3:16-18 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (17) If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (18) Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

Let me tell you something about playing chicken: The more you play it, the bolder you become; the bolder you become, the closer you get to destruction. Sooner or later, when playing chicken, you lose.

Strength Under Pressure (Aug 7)

We often talk about having faith, strength, and commitment. We believe that no matter what comes along, our faith will remain strong and we will not break. We know that this strength comes from the Lord and we rely on Him to keep us when times are both good and bad. What happens, though, when things get really tough? What happens when you’re really under pressure? What happens when that faith is tested? What if there’s persecution? I can’t even imagine what we’d see in the church if we had the kind of persecution that Christians endure in places like China, Pakistan, and Vietnam. They regularly face the threat of imprisonment and death.

The other day, I had my bike in the shop. I had been dealing with creaking, squeaking, clicking, and other random oddities from the pedals and bearing. The repairman had replaced the bearing cylinder a week earlier, which eased much of the problems, but there was still something wrong. He next replaced the pedals. I turns out that there was a crack in one of them. Shortly after he fixed the bike the first time, I rode 41 miles with a group and everything was smooth. But we were riding at a slower pace than normal to accommodate a less-experienced rider. A couple of days later, when I was riding alone, I noticed the clicking from the cracked pedal. You see, I was putting more pressure on it than before and it wasn’t able to stand up to that. If I had put even more pressure on it, it probably would have snapped off and caused me to wreck. Oh, it had strength. It held up to mile after mile after mile that I was putting it through. But when there was added pressure…when the going got tough, that strength seemed to disappear and it all but broke apart. So I got new pedals. They are of better quality and will (should) hold up when under greater pressure.

Mar 9:23-24 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (24) And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Jud 1:24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Col 1:9-13 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (11) Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; (12) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

1Co 10:12-14 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (14) Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.