Devotionals and Musings

A Constantly Updated Document

Copyright by
Joan Saunders

Day 35 – Do Good

James says that he who masters his tongue is a perfect man - well, that perfection has
eluded me thus far. So, knowing what I know about myself and my tongue, how can I
possibly be asked to use the same fickle tongue to speak out for Jesus?

Have you ever used an old piece of broken pot, or a sharp stone to dig up a plant? I've
done this because I didn't want to go back for a spade when I found an onion I wanted, or
when I wanted to get or give a start of a plant. The spade would have worked better, but
the clay or shard served.

Timothy 2 (New American Standard Bible)

19
Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows
those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from
wickedness."
20
Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of
wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
21
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor,
sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
22
Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with
those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

I think this passage clarifies a lot. God knows who are his - that comes first. Then we are
to depart from iniquity. I'm not going to define iniquity. If it bothers you - then you
should probably treat it as iniquity. We need to read the Bible to discern what is right and
wrong. And also we must listen to our heart. The Bible says that sacrificial meat is fine,
but if eating it bothers you - don't. If you feel that eating sacrificial meat is a sin, then it is
a sin. And if I try to make you eat it, then I am sinning, too. Your heart can tell you a
whole lot.

If we don't depart from iniquity, then we deteriorate from a spade to a shard. Does God
still use us to dig onions? If we're willing, you betcha.

One of the strongest messages I've ever gotten is that sometimes worrying about the vice
takes us farther away from God than the vice itself.

In my prayer life, I have frequently gotten the message, 'It's not time for the PhD, yet,
let's get you through grade school.' I would be all worried about some fault of mine and
God would basically say, 'Let's not tackle that quite yet. Let's work on this other thing.'
Frequently, the vice which concerned me evaporated in the process of following God's
direction in another area.

What are we to do? How are we to serve?

1 John 3 (New American Standard Bible)

17But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart
against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

We need to love with our actions. We need to give. And, when we do this, God will give
to us.

22and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and
do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
23This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and
love one another, just as He commanded us.
24The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this
that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

Keep the commandments. Love one another. Mortify the flesh by doing those things
which express love to one another. What is enough? There is so much need. Listen to
your heart. Listen for the peace. If the voice is loud and pushy and relentless – it isn’t the
right voice.

1 Kings 19 (English Standard Version)

11
And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD
passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks
before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake,
but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD
was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.

Do good. But be guided in the good you do. Listen. And follow the peace.

Day 36 God’s Power

Prologue - Opinion

I believe from reading the Bible and history, that mankind goes through stages of
maturity much as a child does. When a child is young, he or she usually believes his
parents are wonderful. But, understanding is very limited and all rules must be clear,
definite and without exception. As a child grows older, he/she asks about extraordinary
cases and questions the parent. As the child reaches maturity, ideally, a deep respect
develops for the parent.
There is a difference between God and our parents. God is GOD! Our parents made us -
God CREATED us. There is no comparison.

We need to get beyond the point of immature disrespect of our Father in heaven and need
to develop both mature respect and awed respect. We may surpass our parents. We will
never even come close to meeting the standard of God.

It is important to realize that God is God.

Psalm 66 (English Standard Version)

3Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
5 Come and see what God has done:
he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.

We have a short time here. And much to learn. This life is a test – and it isn’t just pass
fail. Unlike most tests, the test isn’t about what we already know, the process of taking
this test is supposed to teach us matters pertaining to life and godliness. And God DOES
have expectations of us:

Psalm 90:11 (New American Standard Bible)

11
Who understands the power of Your anger
And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You?

Psalm 90 (New American Standard Bible)

8
You have placed our iniquities before You,
Our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

God expects us to have results for our life here, as is indicated by the context of the two
verses above.
9
For all our days have declined in Your fury;
We have finished our years like a sigh.
10
As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years,
Or if due to strength, eighty years,
Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow;
For soon it is gone and we fly away.
11
Who understands the power of Your anger
And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You?
12
So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

No matter how badly the Hebrews behaved, no matter how badly we behave, God is
faithful to continue to give us opportunities. Every day, every moment, is a new
opportunity to accomplish what we have been put here to accomplish.
We can learn by example from the following Psalm:

Psalm 111 (English Standard Version)

1 Praise the LORD!I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2Great are the works of the LORD,
studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and merciful.
5He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
8they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!

1. Praise God and give thanks.

2. Delight in the Lord.
3. Praise God.
4. Praise God.
5. Praise God. He will take care of you.
6. Those who are His shall be rewarded.
7. Praise God. He is faithful.
8. Praise Him.
9. Praise Him.
10. Reverently respecting God is the beginning of wisdom. Doing what he
Says results in understanding. But God's PRAISE endures forever.

Day 37 Power

Continuing on power:

We are weak of ourselves. God is the one who provides our power.
Ecclesiastes 5 (New American Standard Bible)
19
Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also
empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this
is the gift of God.

Even in the smallest actions, it is God who enables. Without our health, we have no
strength.

Ecclesiastes 6 (New American Standard Bible)

2
a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks
nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a
foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction

When counting your blessings - think on these two verses. Consider the story of the
king's son who quit eating because nothing tasted good. The king had all the best chefs
cook for him, but still the prince wasted away. One day the young man snuck out in the
early morning and came upon some wood choppers. He helped them all morning and
then was offered some of their lunch - water and hard bread. The prince raved about how
wonderful the bread tasted. The moral is obviously about the value of hard work - but
there is also the fact illustrated in Ecclesiastes - riches don't do any good to a person
without the health and wherewithall to enjoy them.

Ecclesiastes 8 (New American Standard Bible)

8
No man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of
death; and there is no discharge in the time of war, and evil will not deliver those who
practice it.

God chooses. We don’t. As we follow His will, there are promises. And if we claim the
promises and fulfill the associated requirements, we receive. But God made the promises.
God made us. God is God. We aren’t.

Isaiah 40 (New International Version)

26
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.
27
Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?
28
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
 He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

God is immense. Jehovah is powerful. All-powerful. And God wants us to serve Him.

Isaiah 50 (New American Standard Bible)

2
"Why was there no man when I came?
When I called, why was there none to answer?
Is My hand so short that it cannot ransom?
Or have I no power to deliver?
Behold, I dry up the sea with My rebuke,
I make the rivers a wilderness;
Their fish stink for lack of water
And die of thirst.

God can and will give power to those who serve.

Jeremiah 27 (New American Standard Bible)

5
"I have made the earth, the men and the beasts which are on the face of the earth by My
great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will give it to the one who is pleasing in
My sight.

Remember the immenseness of both the power of God and the weakness of man.
Consider the wonder of God’s caring for us.

1 Peter 5 (New International Version)

7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

And remember that it is God; it is God who gives us power.