Devotions

It’s no surprise that there has been a renewed interest in the end-times prophecy. With a global pandemic, wars, and economies faltering, there is no wonder why people are looking to the book of Revelation for answers. Navigating the last days will be difficult, but the Holy Spirit has equipped each believer to endure until the end.

‭‭2 TIMOTHY‬ ‭3:1-2

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,”

If there is a verse that defines our times, it is this one. Paul says the last days will be difficult. Are we there? I think so, and I am not even an end-times guy. What has happened in the last three years convinced me that Jesus is coming soon. I am afraid of what is coming down the pike if it isn’t. Difficult times will define the last days. People will be lovers of themselves. You will be criticized for not conforming to the narrative. Question someone’s motive, and they will act like a victim and attack you. It will take the resolve of steel to navigate the last days.

What if I could give you a piece of advice that would change your life almost instantly? Would you be interested? Today I want to show you two things that, if implemented, change your outlook and could change your situation. This isn’t some hoax or bait and switch. Do these two things well, and it will go well with you. Master them, and they will change your life.

‭‭PSALMS‬ ‭112:5

“It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgment.”

You have both promises and principles in the books of Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. The promises you can take to the bank because God will do them. There are multiple promises in all three of these books. Predominantly what you find are principles. If you follow these, it will more than likely go well for you. That is what we find in today’s passage. It goes well for the person who is gracious and generous.

Building a house is a long and involved process where I live. It usually takes you 3-5 years from plans to finishing construction. You have to deal with the government, architect, and contractor to have your dream home completed. God asked His people, “What kind of how will you build me?”

‭‭ACTS‬ ‭7:48-49

“However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says: ‘HEAVEN IS MY THRONE, AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET; WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?’ says the Lord,’ OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REPOSE?”

The translation above is the NASB. It capitalizes the word of Jesus. I like the emphasis it places and makes it jump out of your Bible. Here we see God talking about how heaven is His throne and earth is His footstool. No temple or church can be built big enough to house the Lord. He is much bigger than anything human hands can build. I love that Steven reminds us that God is bigger than anything we can imagine.

Truth is under attack today. If you stand for biblical truth that goes against the popular narrative of the woke mob, you will be attacked. They will try to cancel you. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, you must stand firm on the Scripture. You guide your life by the Word and base your decisions on its wisdom. Paul tells Timothy to be bold with the truth.

‭‭2 TIMOTHY‬ ‭2:15

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

Paul continues his mentoring of Timothy by encouraging him to present himself approved to the Lord. What does it mean to be approved by the Lord as a minister of the Gospel? Paul lists several indicators. First, Timothy was to be a workman. He was to be in the trenches doing the work of a pastor and evangelist. Second, he was not to be ashamed of following Jesus. Paul wanted him to live out his faith boldly. Finally, Timothy was to handle the word of truth. That means he was to preach the truth of the Gospel without worrying.

In the story of the wild man from Gadarenes, we see a person who is so crazy that he ran around the cemetery naked because no human chains could hold him down. We discover the source of his strength when Jesus cast a legion, or a thousand demons, out of him and into the nearby pigs. The man was in his right mind when the town came to see what was happening. He desperately wanted to go with Jesus but was told to go and tell everyone what had happened. The man shows us that we need to learn to delight in His Great Works.

‭‭PSALMS‬ ‭111:2

“Great are the works of the LORD; They are studied by all who delight in them.”

The Psalmist spends all of Psalms 111 extolling the greatness of God. Verse two captures the whole theme. “Great are the works of the Lord.” The Psalmist is rejoicing, which is an essential form of worship. To rejoice means to give back the joy that is inside of you. If the Joy of the Lord is our strength, then rejoicing is the form of worship expressing our gratitude.

I ran across a video the other day of the best showdowns from all of the western movies made. Most of the encounters were of two men about thirty feet apart, with revolvers on their hips telling the other to draw. Out of these standoffs came some of Hollywood’s greatest one-liners. Moses had a showdown with a powerful person in the Bible. He told Pharaoh to “Let my people go.”

‭‭EXODUS‬ ‭10:3

“Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me.”

Chapter 10 begins the eighth plague on Egypt, the locust. These grasshopper-like insects wiped out all of the plant life. It was so bad that Pharaoh’s wise men begged him to let the people go, but God had hardened his heart, so he refused. He had a lot to lose. The Jews were a source of free labor that made bricks for his buildings and managed the livestock and farms. Pharaoh prospered off the Israelite’s backs. If he let them go, he would lose all of that.

If there is one emotion everyone struggles with, it is fear. Some deal with it constantly, while for most, it is a sporadic battle. Fear is not something to laugh off or belittle. Prescriptions to battle it is on the rise. Jesus offers an alternative treatment for His followers, and Paul tells us what it entails.

‭‭2 TIMOTHY‬ ‭1:7

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”

In Paul’s final letter to Timothy and the last one we have recorded, he starts by giving some powerful insight. We aren’t given a spirit of fear but one of power, love, and a sound mind. This is part of the victory that we have in Jesus. He has overcome the ruler of the world and replaced that fear in us with a sound mind. Timothy needed to hear this as he was leading a church with people older than him. Paul was telling him to operate in the power of the Holy Spirit, love the people God has given them, and not be given over to fear.

Nothing is better than putting your feet up after a hard day. It relieves pain and can help with circulation. Did you know God is making His enemies a footstool for His son, Jesus Christ? None other than David prophesied it would happen. You serve the Almighty God. He is stronger than any military force on earth. Don’t worry about today’s troubles. God has got it under control.

‭‭PSALMS‬ ‭110:1

“The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

This is one of the most quoted Old Testament verses. Boice estimates that it is quoted twenty-seven times. Jesus quoted this verse in Mark 12:36 and ascribed David as the author. Why is this verse a big deal? Because it is David talking about the Messiah sitting at the right hand of God as he makes His enemies a footstool. This shows that Jesus was not only the Messiah but also will be the one who reigns at the end of time.

Many people ask why there aren’t miracles like there were in the early church. Some explain it by saying that the gifts ceased with the last Apostle’s death. Others claim there are no signs and wonders because the church lacks the faith the early church possessed. We could speculate until Jesus returns, but I believe that God can do signs and wonders when He wants to. Our job is to seek Jesus and leave the rest up to God.

‭‭ACTS‬ ‭5:12

“At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico.”

There were a lot of miracles in the early days of the church. Signs and wonders follow the apostles through their ministry, starting with the poor man at the temple entrance. Peter prayed for Dorcas, and she was revived. Paul cast out the demon in the little girl in Philippi. We could go on and on, but God often used these to bolster the testimony of the young church. Skeptical Jews and clueless pagans were blown away by the work done through the Apostles. Some people wanted to pay them for these powers.

As a pastor, I have a unique perspective on wealthy people in the church. For the most part, they are ordinary people. The primary time their wealth becomes an issue is when a problem needs to be solved. They rise to the occasion because they have experience in this area. The challenge is getting them to see the solution through Scripture instead of money. It becomes a time of instructing the rich.

‭‭1 TIMOTHY‬ ‭6:17-18

“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,”

The issue of money in the church has been around since the beginning. How are those endowed with monetary wealth to conduct themselves? First, they are to be humble and not conceited. It’s natural for the rich to think their wealth makes them better than everyone else. Seldom is that true. Next, they are to fix their hopes squarely on God and not on their riches. Too many have fallen into the trap that their money can fix everything. Finally, they are to be known for their good works. Benevolence should be their reputation. Paul wanted Timothy, and every other minister who read this letter, to teach this.