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Listen while you read: "The Head That Once Was Crowned"1 (Lyrics) |
Luke 18:22-23 – When Jesus heard this, he said to [the rich young ruler], "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. (NIV)
My young granddaughter, who is just learning to feed herself, sometimes chokes on her food. When this happens, she coughs until she dislodges the morsel from her throat. Sometimes, she re-chews and swallows it successfully, and other times, she spits it out.
These episodes reminded me of God's Word and how sometimes it, too, can be hard to swallow. I am listening to a sermon, or reading a devotional or my Bible, and the Word of God hits on an area of my life that needs some fine tuning or an about-face regarding my thoughts, words, or actions. When this happens, I, like the rich young ruler, have a choice to make. Do I, by faith, choose to obey these hard-to-swallow words and end up being spiritually nourished and blessed, or do I reject them and lose out on the blessing?
At such times, I seek to remind myself what the Bible teaches:
2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (NIV)
I need to remember that Scripture is very powerful and that the Holy Spirit uses it to get to the root of my thinking, my attitudes, and my habits to reveal to me where and how I need to change, both for my own sake as well as to be a greater blessing to God's kingdom. I thus need to learn to chew and re-chew those difficult parts until they no longer stick in my throat, but are swallowed and digested into my very being. When this happens, change begins to occur. I become just a little more like Jesus, which is exactly what I want.
How about you? Is any of God's Word sticking in your throat these days? If so, what choice are you going to make: to spit it out and remain unchanged, or to chew and re-chew and finally swallow and be nourished and blessed and be a blessing?
Prayer: Lord God, help us today to trust by faith in Your Word and the nourishment and blessing it brings when we choose to ingest it into our very being, allowing the Spirit to use it to transform us a little more into Your image. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
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Saturday, May 18, 2024 – In North Africa — Living in North Africa we get so used to hearing the call to prayer it becomes like background noise and sometimes I don't hear it anymore. I am challenged by the fact that some Muslims are so committed to pray that they go to the mosque 5 times a day. Would you consider, with me, setting your alarm to go off at 3:00 every day and pray for these three things: 5 families to come to know Christ, 3 people for us to read scripture with,1 new church plant.
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Amen to that!
Good one, keep writing.
True words. Thanks Lynne.
Another good one for the New Year, Lynne.
I always enjoy your devotionals, because they make me pause and take stock. Thank you, Lynne.
Great writing.
Thanks,
(CA)
Well spoken, good and faithful servant. May the only true God richly reward you, as you say He will, Hallelujah!
Dear Lynne,
What a wonderful devotion! Well written and perfect analogy! Thanks, and blessings to you.
Oh my, Lynne, did you have to write these words that hit so close to home?? Thank you once more for your thoughtful writing.
Lynne,
Today I needed to read your devotional, “The Difficult Chew.” It not only touches home with me but gives me perspective in a young couple needing my support. You have been a blessing to me today. Thank you.
Thanks once again Lynne. This brings once again to my mind that I have an area in my life that constantly presents a ‘difficult chew’ Seemed like an odd name for a devotional, but it is the perfect name for the situation I am facing. I think I need stronger jaws to deal with it, but God is all powerful, so I know he can strengthen my jaws if I l ask Him to.
Thanks again.
Hi Lynne,
It is so true, so often we just kind of “gum” away at the words of the Bible, but we don’t really take it in. You will see later this month that I had written about that in a different way, but with the same theme.
I always enjoy your writings.
Blessings.
Lynne
This is well said, and I commend you for your sharing. Our churches and our people need to come under the Authority of Scripture and not dismiss those parts they disagree with, for all of Scripture is God breathed and we cannot accept some and reject others and still be disciples of Jesus.
Blessings.
Thanks Lynne for sharing this devotional with us. I read it as I was attempting to eat my breakfast with a very sore throat. Talk about trouble swallowing! Ironic how God links these devotionals to the very thing we are having the most trouble with at that particular moment. Your point about accepting God’s Word in its totality is well put, and yes, we often do find it hard to swallow especially when it’s addressing our sins. Blessings.
Lynne, your message is so true! May your prayer be our goal for the new year. Blessings.
What a vivid image.
That will definitely stay with me every time I hesitate to hear Him speak and then, follow His leading.
Good thought. Look forward to your future devotionals. Bless you.