Tag: devotion

Fanning the Flame part 2: MT episode 22

Two weeks ago, we had looked at Paul’s words of encouragement to Timothy, “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.” (2 Timothy 1:6) I want to share a way in which we can do this and that is to put yourself in a position to be successful. Let me explain it this way.

When I was young man my two friends Chris, Kenny and I came up with an idea to begin camping.  It was not May or August when the urge hit us to set up a tent, but rather February.  We set the date for our first campout on a night when the temperature was to be in the teens. 

We had the site cleared and a fire ring in place with a small collection of “wood” for the fire.  With all the ambition and excitement in the world we took our snacks and sleeping bags and began our first night of roughing it.

A book could be written about the numerous adventures we had that night.  For today, one stands out and it was the fire.

In our inexperience, we had not gathered the proper amount of wood.  We had a nice large stack of what would be defined as twigs.  They produced enough heat to keep us warm, but only for a few minutes at a time. 

By 1030PM our wood supply was gone.  Which prompted a constant search for more wood and in the dark of night.  More twigs for temporary heat. What was needed was something big to supply a lasting fire.

We had to restart and fan the flame of that fire many times.  We were not prepared! 

With that in mind, if you want to grow in this faith, you must be thoughtful and be deliberate and prepared.  Put yourself in a position to succeed.  How is this accomplished?  Humble submission.

Often, we can get started in a daily time with God but then lose focus.  The flame dies out.  Our fire is weak with twigs. In my experience, humbly acknowledging that I need help to be consistent is key.  This comes by just admitting this in prayer.  God will supply.

Growing in your faith can only come by daily feeding.  Fanning this faith into a flame (as our text states) is by God’s Spirit, within us.   Seek help to consistently spend time in prayer and reading.  Otherwise, you will be constantly in search of twigs and reviving a smoldering, smokey faith.

S.D.G.

Lessons from Southern Ohio: MT Episode 18

Psalm 1:1-3

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates both day and night. He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither.”

I grew up in southern Ohio, right on the mighty Ohio River. Summertime in the late 80s, we had a long period where there was no rain. I am unable to remember how long the drought lasted, but it was long enough that crops began to wither and die.

Except those farms that boarded the Ohio River. Hundreds and thousands of acres that shared a bank with the river were able to use their tractors as pumps and siphon water to their crops. I can remember driving up State Route 7 and seeing the vast landscape with sprinklers spraying lifegiving water. Those fields were beautiful and green.

As we begin a new year I wanted to share the purpose of Monday Thursday. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to listen to these short messages but they are written with the believer in mind. My hope is to encourage you and with Biblical insights and observations maybe help you grow your faith.

Through this year we will come back to this Psalm on occasion to be encouraged. This is one of my favorite passages in all of Scripture. There are MANY things which this Psalm can teach us but today learn the lesson from the 1987 drought of southern Ohio. Those farms near the stream of water, that is the Ohio River, not only survived but thrived.

Delighting in God’s word IS spending time IN GOD’S WORD and this is the picture of being planted by a stream of water. As a believer, if you want to survive, if you want to thrive, even when it is difficult, let this word be a constant source in your life. Daily.

I look forward to occasionally coming back to this Psalm this year and I certainly look forward to spending more time with you on Monday’s and Thursday’s. For now,

Happy new Year

S.D.G.

A Peculiar People: MT episode 17

On Monday’s episode I closed our time together noting that while it is great Christ that was born into this world, it is more important Christ be born in you.  Let’s consider this thought further and from a different angle.

“Jesus, who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous for good works.”  Titus 2:14

I picked this passage because it uses the word “peculiar.”  As Kenneth Weust says, “Christians are the peculiar people of God.”

This is a word sometimes we use for people who are odd or strange.  I have definitely met some people who claim Christ and are strange but that is not what is meant here. 

The word here in the original language is a compound of two words, “around” and another word “to be”.  Mentally, picture a circle with a dot in the middle.

As the circle is around the dot, so God is around His people.  He has the dot all to himself.  These people are His own unique possession. Peculiar!

There are days when my obedience and pursuit of God, on a scale of 1 to 10, I would put at a 7 or 8.  Then there are those days or seasons, where things just are not going well.  I might put it at a negative 5.

God is the constant.  In speaking about the believer’s security, Jesus says, “My Father, who has given me (the sheep) is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” John 10:28

Good seasons and bad, we are circled by the Father.  Keep that picture in your head and let it be and encouragement.  As a believer, we are God’s circled people. His possession.

So, the different angle is, this season, it is not only to have Jesus in us (Colossians 1:27) but also, us in Christ (Colossians 2:6).  What a beautiful gift!

S.D.G.