Faithful Until Death

"...hold tightly to what you have until I come." Revelation 2:25b

Reading the first three chapters of the book of Revelation, repeatedly there is encouragement to remain faithful, hold on and be victorious until the end. the call to persevere and not abandon our faith is clear. It seems to stir in us the urgency to strengthen our resolve and not stray from the truth. Revelation 2:10 says, "If you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life." Faithful until death.

Our track record for such commitment is not stellar. At the first sign of hardship, we abandon things pretty quickly. Will we stand for Christ in the face of opposition and persecution? If encouraged to renounce our faith or face death, would we recant our belief?

My mind goes to both past and modern-day martyrs. Polycarp, one of the most famous Christian martyrs, found his home in Smyrna, the very church receiving one of these admonitions. When given the choice to reject Christ and save his life or be bound and burned at the stake, Polycarp replied, "Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury. How then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?"

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose involvement in the resistance of Hitler, along with his strong Christian convictions, was executed by the Nazis in 1945.

Many have no doubt seen the film "End of the Spear", depicting the life of missionary Nate Saint who was killed in 1956 while trying to minister to the Waodani people.

Text books are filled with examples of others whose faith and courage never wavered in darkest of times, paying the ultimate price for their uncompromising commitment. Their lives stand as a testimony to us today, and cause us to search our hearts, praying for the same resolve in the face of similar circumstances.

Too often we would rather blend in with the culture and not be noticed, never risking the possibility of being approached about our faith or being on the receiving end of animosity because of our faith. With nothing different evidenced in our lives, we are never challenged by unbelievers. Like the church in Laodicea described in Revelation 3, we are lukewarm, going through the motions without deep conviction. We need to rekindle our lost love. We will only remain faithful and hold tightly until our final breath when we remember what Christ has done for us. Our calling is the same today as it was for the church in Smyrna. We are to hold fast until the end, no matter what the cost.

Remaining steadfast in faith when forced to choose between our life or our belief in Christ, is a choice we pray the Holy Spirit would empower us to respond to with strong, unwavering confidence in that moment. As a final act of love and devotion to the Lord, each Christ-follower longs to face such a situation with enduring resolve and proclaim with assurance that I am His and He is mine. It is possible those final words would be the last declaration we might ever speak. Not denying or betraying our love for Jesus can place us in precarious situations, but Christ's desire is for us to "hold tightly to what we have until He comes."

The only reason we each have breath today is because of Jesus. Because thousands of years ago there was a manger miracle. On this eve of the day we celebrate His birth, may our minds fill with anticipation of His arrival. If we know Him as Lord and Saviour of our lives, ask Him to "strengthen what remains", our faith that often falters, and remember that "all who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before My Father and His angels that they are mine." (Revelation 3:2a, 5)

Living On the Edge of Overwhelm

"When I am overwhelmed, You alone know the way I should turn..." Psalm 142:3a

Two days ago, I was chatting with a precious young friend online. I actually message her daily. She is like a little sister to me. She is the sounding-board for each devotional I have written this year. She provides encouragement and feedback, and her life and family bless me more than they will ever know. I cannot thank the Lord enough for inviting her into my life thirteen years ago. During the course of our conversation, I mentioned that Christmas, at that moment, was only 4 days away. She admitted in her response that its closeness scared her a little. With five children at home, a very active household, and all that still needed to be accomplished, it can appear overwhelming. It is possible that many of us feel overcome by all that still needs to be completed in less than 48 hours before Christmas Day.

The feeling of being overwhelmed is one of being submerged by thoughts or feelings that paralyze us. These can speak and consume us so fully that we lack productivity, unable to do anything and incapable of finding rest. The perceived demands around us seem stronger, our emotions heavier and our need bigger than our ability to process and provide. 

As we struggle to control the uncontrollable, fear, anger, impatience and discouragement are the fruit of our feelings, pushing us to give up and quit. Life is just too much. Everyone is trying to take a piece from us and our hearts and souls cannot find the peace we long to experience as we are pulled in every direction.

Sometimes we are overwhelmed because of choices we have made. In an effort to do all and be all, we have said 'yes' to far too many commitments. Each one sounded marvelous at the time of invitation, and there is no denying we would truly love to attend every gathering, go to every concert, extend hospitality to every friend, but as the expectations and pressures arise, like lava in a volcano waiting to release, it is impossible to contain and control an overflowing schedule. Individually each request extended is great. Collectively they overburden.

Other times, to no fault of our own, circumstances and situations have arisen, piling one on top of the next. Like building a tower with children's blocks, we know there will be a final placement, that one "brick" that topples everything and finds us down on the ground fighting to get back up.

Here is the beautiful promise of hope when life is crashing around us and within us, when our hearts feel they are holding more than we are able, "When I am overwhelmed, You alone know the way I should turn." Our confidence comes in knowing that God knows the path to take. Does that speak rest to your heart? It should. When the weight of daily living is threatening to smother us, God knows the way out.

When we are living on the edge of overwhelm, we must rest our hearts in the Lord. David writes how God is the only One who knows the way for us to proceed. But here's the incredible truth. He not only guides our steps, but also orders our stops. Have we considered that a cancelled event, inclement weather that forces us to remain home, or some other detour or delay is the gift that creates margin for our racing souls when we feel at the end of our rope? It is at this very place, the end of ourselves, unable to give, go do, that God directs us as He fills us with Himself. Today may He quiet and calm our hearts as we find rest in Him.

Drifting or Dwelling

"Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips. Don't let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don't let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong." Psalm 141:3-4

Drifting. How easy it is to drift. A continuous slow movement from one place to another. It is often in such slight increments that it happens unaware. 

I recall reading Katie Davis Majors book "Safe All Along", which begins with a camping trip. She and some of her family were swimming and kayaking in the Nile River. Katie writes, "The thing about rivers is that you can't possibly tell how strong the current is until you're in it." Warning signs were posted along the banks of the river, but her family were strong swimmers, and up for an adventure. Rivers, she says, are also not predictable, and around the bend of the bank, the water shifted. Gentle drifting became crashing waves. Katie and one of her daughters had drifted into a racing current that carried them away. Thankfully their story ends well, but not all drifting has a positive outcome.

Marshall Segal writes, "The danger of drifting, spiritual or otherwise, is in just how subtle and comfortable drifting can feel. Often we don't even notice it's happening at all." It's the thousand little, sometimes unintentional steps, that become bigger over time. Distractions. Busyness. The small glance. Only a few seconds on the website. Drifting always begins in our hearts.

We can only address a drift if we acknowledge that our life is deviating from what God desires. Without this awareness and acceptance, managing drifting becomes a challenge. Faking piety, (which becomes needed to keep living the charade), is exhausting and leads to spiritual apathy. 

Regardless of how long we have walked with the Lord, none of us are immune to drifting. It can happen so casually. "The currents of the still-sinful soul, weathered by constant waves of temptation, still pull us out to sea." And as Katie wrote above, the strength of any current can be unknown until we are in it.

When we drift, we have lost focus on who Jesus is. Other things would stop being an attraction to us if our eyes were fixed on Christ. Instead of drifting, the Lord is so worthy of our dwelling. Safety comes through abiding in Him. "Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture." Psalm 37:3. When our hearts are drifting instead of dwelling, we are constantly unsettled. We are always looking to the next thing, but God invites us to dwell in the land.

When we dwell with God moment by moment our swirling thoughts are captured by God's goodness, faithfulness and provision. Protection from drifting involves choosing to be present with the Lord and practicing His presence.

Here are some warning signs of a heart drifting from the Lord. Examine yourself and make sure you are not drifting in your relationship with God: little or no time reading His Word; neglecting to pray; unaffected by the Good News of the gospel message; distancing yourself from other believers; not relying on the power of the Holy Spirit; increasingly compromising your commitment; unrepentant; refusing to trust God; and excusing sin. If any of these describe you, recognize the drift, repent, return and renew your relationship with the Lord, choosing instead to dwell with Him.

Book: "Safe All Along" - Katie Davis Majors; Multnomah; copyright 2023

Covered By His Mercy

"O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle." Psalm 140:7 (ESV)

If you are facing some kind of obstacle in your life right now, raise your hand. Life is a continual battle. We are constantly facing challenges and struggles. Navigating difficulties requires effort and resilience. We grow weary and exhausted. We feel stressed and overwhelmed. 

The battle is big for a reason. God desires to show Himself strong on our behalf.

In June of 2011 I was facing a battle. Having started chemotherapy treatments for stage 3, grade 3 ovarian cancer, one of the inevitable side effects was beginning to manifest itself. The Lord was calling me to another surrender, and this time it would be visible, unlike some of the other heart surrenders He had already asked of me. 

As much as I had tried to prepare myself for this relinquishment, I was not ready. Running my hands over my head and finding my fists filled with my crowning glory, I knew it was time. The following day I would offer another sacrifice to the Lord...my hair. At 10:00am I would sit in a chair and a transformation would take place. It was a very tough letting go. Although I had tried to prepare myself by getting my hair cut short weeks prior, and being pro-active in purchasing a wig, my tears indicated that I was still not ready to face this consequence of chemo head on. The time had come too soon.

It was then that I received an email from my Lead Pastor, Dr. Rev. Rick Baker. To be honest, I do not think I had ever noticed Psalm 140:7 before. Pastor Rick encouraged me that the Lord would be my covering. God would cover my head in the day of battle. Outwardly my appearance would change. No longer would auburn locks grace my head. It would become obvious, with a simple glance my way, the battle I was fighting, but I was not fighting alone.

I remember praying that more than the visual difference, observers would be drawn to a more startling makeover. A heart growing stronger. A confidence in my Saviour. A peace that passes understanding. A surrender to His will. A trust in the unknown. An intentional choice to love the Lord and keep holding His hand as I walked this path He had chosen for me. God promises to cover our heads in the day of battle.

This is the "alive and active" work of God's Word (Hebrews 4:12). It is also why we can never stop turning to this treasure. We hold an incredible resource in our hands when we open His Word. It is not just a book, but it holds the answers, guidance, wisdom and truth that we need to walk us through each day of life. Its well-worn pages tell the story of a child of God who continually seeks to know Him and finds direction for daily living. As our Young Adults Pastor has written, "A life immersed in Scripture is a life well-lived." (Pastor Nick)

As our battles rage on, God is not finished. Not being sufficient in ourselves, we need to pray for God's strength to sustain us. As we take our places on the front lines, the power of darkness and spiritual forces of evil are wielding weapons against us, but they cannot stand against the Lord. He is the strength of our salvation, the Sovereign LORD, the strong One who rescues us and protects us on the day of battle. Know with confidence today that He is covering you by His mercy.

The Real Deal

"Our actions show that we belong to the truth..." 1 John 3:19

It hit me so suddenly late last night that I could not believe I had failed to see it. I had done something so unintentionally that now caused me to worry I had upset someone. Early this morning I wrote to the one impacted by my actions of oblivion and expressed my sorrow for neglecting to consider them. They responded so quickly and with such grace. They shared that they had not even noticed my unconscious oversight and encouraged me not to think any further about it. But think on it I will, not to dwell on my thoughtlessness, but Lord willing to spur me on to act better given the next opportunity. Oh how I long to live Jesus better before others, so that they see Him and not me.

Our activity testifies to the truth we hold dear. Over twenty years ago our lead Pastor at that time, Dr. Rev. Rick Baker, shared a sermon entitled, "Are You the Real Deal?" In his message he shared four proofs that serve as tests of authenticity. We find all these proofs in 1 John.

1. Right Choices: The Moral Test (1 John 2:3-6)

Too often our tendency is to be selective in our obedience. We do what is easy and convenient or what seems "important". We obey "Thou shall not murder" and "Thou shall not steal", but what about other calls to obedience? Do we obey in the area of tithing? Have we considered whether we are stealing another's reputation? Each act of obedience moves us one step closer to Jesus.

2. Right Love: The Social Test (1 John 2:7-17)

A selfless love saves us from stumbling (2:10). A seductive love leads us to sin (2:15-17). A couple of tests for true love are found in answering the following two questions: How easily am I offended? And How quickly do I diminish other's accomplishments? How telling it is if we are slighted and the slightest remark. We also might not belittle or discredit the achievements of others openly, but suddenly sharing all our personal accolades devalues the one who reached a milestone. A one-upmanship is not the right love.

3. Right Belief: The Doctrinal Test (1 John 2:18-28).

We are to remain in community (2:19); remain in original teaching (2:24); and remain in Christ (2:24, 27). Are we gathering with God's people, staying in the truth we have been taught, and abiding in the Lord? A friend's granddaughter often tells her grandma, "Stay right there". This precious little one does not want her grandma to wander away. God is telling us to hold to His truth and "stay right there".

4. Right Living: The Parentage Test (1 John 2:29-3:10)

We should show evidence of some family resemblance. The DNA of God is placed in us at salvation and it cannot be removed. Do our lives reflect our Father?

Jesus obeyed the Father, loved people, believed doctrine and lived right. Our life is the best proof of Christianity. Are we the "real deal"?

(Thoughts today taken from old sermon note journals.)

With All My Heart

"I give You thanks, O LORD, with all my heart..." Psalm 138:1

As I opened God's Word this morning, the phrase above, written by David, was the first I read. It hit me so powerfully that I burst into tears. There are times when His presence is so palpable, our hearts overflow in wordless worship.

Giving thanks to God with all our heart. I recall years ago attending the "Walk Thru The Bible" seminar and during the course of the day we were taught that Saul had "no heart" for God, Solomon had a "half heart" for the Lord, but David had a "whole heart" commitment. We really all fall under one of those three categories. We either do not know the Lord as our personal Saviour, "no heart", we are believers but not living fully devoted to following Him, "half heart", or we have surrendered our everything for His anything with hearts completely surrendered to Him, "whole heart".

1 Kings 14:8 tells us that David was a man who followed God with all his heart. He had unwavering commitment to the Lord. It does not mean that he was perfect, but his heart was in such a place that he prioritized the Lord and when he failed, genuine repentance followed. 

Deuteronomy 6:5 instructs us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and strength. God desires wholehearted devotion, yet 2 Chronicles 16:9 implies that this kind of love for the Lord is rarely found. "The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him." God is constantly looking for hearts that are abandoned to Him. Fully committed. No compromise. Completely His.

How I long for all my praise, thanks, love, ministry, entire life to be a whole heart expression to the Lord. In humility I fall to my knees knowing the times my "no heart" or "half heart" have directed my thoughts, emotions and actions. As I envision His eyes moving to and fro, do they ever stop and consider me...or you? Do our lives ever receive His pause? He longs to show Himself strong on our behalf. "It remains to be seen what God will do with a man who gives himself up wholly to Him." (Henry Varley to D. L. Moody)

As this year is moving quickly towards its end, we can resolve today, at this moment to come to the Lord with our whole heart, with either new or renewed devotion. A whole heart gives thanks, trusts, honours and praises the Lord at all times. I think that is why my tears flowed so instantly today. I long for my heart so desperately to follow the Lord in this way, yet see all the times I have failed. This struggle with sin will no doubt continue but God's love for us remains steadfast and His grace unending.

Back in the Fall, the Toronto Mass Choir visited our church. Just prior to the evening closing the choir director shared a short song with us that she had composed. The lyrics are repetitive and simple, but profound, expressing the deepest longing of my heart. How I pray you too can sing them and mean them. (Although I could have chosen a shorter video version of this song, the ten-minute link below is not too long for a heart that is fully devoted. Your response to the length is very telling. A whole heart praises the Lord with every waking moment.)

"Let all that I am praise the Lord

Let all that I am praise His holy name

Let all that I am praise the Lord

I won't forget the good things He does for me

With my whole heart, with my whole heart

With my whole heart, I will praise Him."

"With My Whole Heart" - written by Karen Burke; Micah Music; copyright 2011

A Bowl of Popcorn

"The LORD of Heaven's Armies sent me this message in reply:" Zechariah 7:4

Reading Zechariah 7-10 this morning God spoke so many messages to my heart. Kernels of truth were popping up throughout each chapter. Choosing just one verse was impossible. Like the salty goodness and flavour of a bowl of freshly made popcorn, I could not stop at just a taste. Please indulge me as I share several verses that drew my attention today.

Pop!

"During these seventy years of exile, when you fasted and mourned in the summer and in early autumn, was it really for Me that you were fasting? And even now in your holy festivals, aren't you eating and drinking just to please yourselves?" (Zechariah 7:5b-6)

Question: Are we doing the right thing for the wrong reason? Remembering that man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart, what is the motive for all that we do? Man? Self? God?

Pop!

"All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God's people. But is it impossible for Me? says the LORD of Heaven's Armies." (Zechariah 8:6b)

Question: When situations appear beyond any ability to change, do we hold fast to the knowledge that with God all things are possible?

Pop!

"Be strong and finish the task!" (Zechariah 8:9a)

Question: How many obediences do we start and abandon? Is the Lord calling us to complete a task?

Pop!

"Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and source of blessing." (Zechariah 8:13b)

Question: Do we realize any time God rescues us that we become both a symbol and a source of blessing? Through His deliverance we represent the Lord's blessing in our lives to others, and we also are used as a reservoir of blessing to others. Are we both a representative and reservoir, a symbol and a source of blessing?

Pop!

"Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you." (Zechariah 8:23b)

Question: Could that request be asked of us? Is there such clear evidence of Christ in us that others would long to spend time by our side in order to get to know the Lord?

Pop!

"Look, your King is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet He is humble, riding on a donkey - riding on a donkey's colt." (Zechariah 9:9b)

Question: Christ's arrival changes everything! Do we see the coming of our King and Messiah in Zechariah's prophecy?

Pop!

"Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope!" (Zechariah 9:12a)

Question: Christ is our hope, and we can never stop believing what He can do! Do we fall prey to discouragement or are we prisoners of hope?

Pop!

"They will pass safely through the sea of distress...By My power I will make My people strong..." (Zechariah 10:11a, 12a)

Question: Do we need reminders of God's deliverance from distress by the power of His hand?

Each "bite" has given food for thought. Praying His Word blesses and encourages all our hearts today. Pop!