Online Devotions: living in faith

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Difficult, Freeing, Exhilarating Faith

May 13 (2 Corinthians 5:7)

For we walk by faith, not by sight. (ESV)

Do you realize how difficult it is to walk by faith and not by sight? You certainly do if you’ve ever tried it. We cannot see God, but we have faith in Him. His ways are not our ways, but we have faith that His ways are right. We will experience suffering, but we have faith because Jesus said He overcame it all. It is no wonder that people look at us and say, “Are you kidding?”

Let’s be clear. Everything we do in our daily existence is based on our physical sensations. We see a line of traffic and take a different route. We hear about an interesting book and go to buy it. We smell bacon frying and know the day is off to a good start. Yet everything about our relationship with God is based on something else. As the writer of Hebrews 11:1 puts it, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” It is assurance. It is conviction. It is not namby-pamby, wishful thinking, but because it has nothing to do with our physical senses, which form the basis for how we interact with every other aspect of our lives, faith is a different way of knowing, and a difficult one.

Yet faith in God is the single most freeing force in the world! Think about something that scares you, something that just terrifies the living daylights out of you. Maybe it is standing on the diving board and looking into water that seems about a thousand feet away. Maybe it is facing a job decision or the prospect of losing a job. Picture that thing that gives you the sweats. Now, what if you didn’t have to rely on your senses? What if all the things that terrify you because you have seen them or heard about them or experienced them in some way just weren’t there? What if you could ignore all that? Would that not be the most exhilarating feeling in the world? That, my friends, is faith.

Jesus, whenever You call me, I look around at the wind and waves the way Peter did and start to sink. Remember that I am dust, Jesus, and prone to fear and weakness. Help me to strengthen my faith so that I may operate more by it and less by my physical senses, for I truly do believe in You. Amen.

Sunday, December 17, 2017

When Jesus Speaks Your Name

December 17 (Revelation 3:5)

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. (ESV)

What do you want this Christmas? And don’t say, “Peace on earth,” or some other answer that you think sounds appropriate for a Christian. Seriously, what do you want? When I read this verse recently, I was overcome with how much I want this. I want to hear Jesus speak my name to God our Father and to stand before Him in a white garment that shows I am one of His own.

Every day we face the temptation to turn away from Jesus. We are tempted to try life on our own rather than relying on His provision. We may even be tempted to reject Him outright, whether through fear of embarrassment around others or in a fit of pique because we think He has not done for us what we need or want. The one who conquers is the one who stays true to the end, the one who clings to Jesus faithfully rain or shine, through thick or thin.

And what a reward is waiting for that person! Try to picture it. There you are, clothed in white. You are trembling with nervous excitement. Your faith convinces you that this moment is going to happen, but still, you want and need to hear those words. Jesus looks at you with a smile and turns toward the Father. “I want to present to You one who has known me for a long time,” He announces. And then He says your name.

O Jesus, I long for You to announce my name to our Father! I want more than anything to be found faithful and true. When I grow weak, make me strong. When I stumble, please pick me up. Help me to run my race and fight my fight with the victory that can only be found in You. Amen.

History of Online Devotions

In January of 1999, I began the Online Devotions with the teens of the church we were attending. Each week they would receive a verse of Scripture, a short reflection, and a prayer. Over the years others subscribed to this email list, and soon the Online Devotions were going out to people across the country and beyond.

In 2007 I published in book format a collection called Desert Days: Forty Devotions for Men.

After suggestions from several readers, I launched in 2010 the Online Devotions blog. Devotions are still available each week by email, and if you would like to subscribe, please indicate so in the comment box.

As I have always said, if one of these devotions touches you, you can be sure it was from God. If one leaves you flat, then there was too much of me in it.