Jeremiah 29:4-14 – “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:

5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters — that you may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace, you will have peace. 8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the LORD.

10 For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you and cause you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.”  NKJV

Jeremiah was not always well-received because he refused to say what people wanted to hear.  He said what he heard from the Spirit of God.  Some called him a traitor when he told Israel not to resist and the letter, he wrote to the captives was not well received by everyone but provided insight and hope for the nation. 

Israel was in a dilemma.  They could resist and ultimately be wiped out or become so diminished in numbers that when the day of deliverance came, they would be too few to carry out the purposes of God. 

Therefore, the prophet instructed them, with a word from God, to live as near normal as possible in the midst of their captivity.  He gave as a chief reason, “…that you may be increased there, and not diminished.”  He warned them not to buy the deception that other prophets were offering and informed them that their captivity would be 70 years in duration but afterward, in their strength and numbers God would bring them out. 

God’s purpose was not to destroy them but ultimately to lead them to victory.  They were going through difficulties because of their failure to follow His directive but ultimately God’s heart was their victory.  He says in verse 11, “For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” 

They, as we, had the choice to endure hardship for a season.  We are encouraged and instructed to keep our eyes on the ultimate prize.  We are enjoined to conduct our lives in such a manner as to ensure that we are not weakened beyond repair in times of trouble and trial. 

There may come a time, in America, when we are faced with the decision to resist or submit, for a time.  It will be a most difficult choice for we will see terrible calamity and many who become docile exterminated. 

I do not know what the future holds and if God will instruct us to submit to captivity or resist, as did our forefathers in the American Revolution.  There is a time to rise up and a time to remain silent.  A time to resist and a time to submit.  There is a time to live and a time to die. 

I realize from scripture and history that immediately taking up arms is not always the right answer.  Therefore, it is imperative, in these coming days, for each of us to pray and seek the face of God.  It is time that we incorporate the words of 2 Chronicles 7:14 in our daily lives, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  

My prayer is LORD give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and courage to do that which You direct.  

God bless you as you go through this beautiful day in Him!

Philippians 4:6-7

Now let us get to the important part of our consideration and see if we can discover how we can get rid of worry and live the Fret-Free Life.  Interested?  I hope so.

HOW DO WE GET RID OF WORRY?

There are some things that will not get rid of worry.  We will never be free from worry by getting into an ideal situation.  The truth is we would worry anyway if everything were perfect. Some of the people who worry the most are the people who have the least to worry about.  We will not stop worrying by simply laughing it off.  (Nor will getting drunk or high solve the problem, those will only exacerbate the problem.)

How Do We Cure Worry?  I believe the first step is to realize that a cure is possible.  It is a remedy that is taught in the Bible.  It is taught through the experiences of a myriad of saints in scripture and history. 

I can hear someone protest and say, “But Roy, you don’t know my situation or circumstances.”  You are absolutely correct, I do not, but God does!  The human author of our text scriptures was no freshman in the school of life.  He was not a raw recruit or a novice.  He had lost everything and is limping through life with a thorn in the flesh.  Here, in prison, he writes these words as he awaits trial before a bloodthirsty ruler and religious zealots.  Yet, in all that, he declares – There is a cure for Worry.  You can live the Fret-Free Life!

Another step toward finding and embracing the cure for worry is to realize that in some ways we can help ourselves.  How do we do that?  We cultivate the attitude and habit of looking for the best.  If there are two windows in your house and one looks out at a pigsty and the other a beautiful flower garden, why spend more time looking at the pigsty than the flowers? 

That is what Paul meant when he wrote Philippians 4:8 – Finally, ^[b]believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].”

In NOTHING be anxious!  In EVERYTHING through Prayer talk to God and lay the issue before Him. Cast it on Him because He cares and is concerned about you.  It is a reasonable expectation to be anxious for NOTHING, if in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving you are making your requests known to God.  Whatever causes the anxiety is to be taken to God in prayer.  Take all those worries to God and let Him address them.  Be definitive and specific.  Present all requests to God with a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving.  God has pledged Himself to meet our needs.

How Will God Do That?  Either by removing that which causes you to worry or by giving you the grace to bear it.  Jesus promised, “My peace, I give to you…”  You can be like Paul in prison and sing praises to God who has everything in control.  You do not have to focus on your problems, you can focus on God who is your possibility. 

My suggestion:  Do something about the situation if you can.  But above all, take it to God in prayer.  Then allow the peace of God that passes all understanding to fill your hearts and minds.  God wants to cure your worry problem and enable you to live a Fret-Free Life.  You have to cooperate; He will not do it all for you!

God bless you as you embark on your Fret-Free Life and Live! 

Philippians 4:6-7

Last time we considered the charge from the apostle Paul that we were not to be Anxious or Worried.  This time I want us to take another step into considering how to discover the Fret-Free Life and be cured of the problem of Worry.

WHY DO WE NEED TO BE WARNED AGAINST WORRY?

There are more reasons that I have time or space to address but one of the many is because it is so common.  Almost everybody worries about something sometime.  It is extremely widespread.  It is not limited to a certain class of people.  The poor worry and so do the rich. The old worry and so do the young.  People who are seemingly on top of the world worry and those at the bottom do as well.  The unchurched worry and so do those who regularly attend church.  Worry is an experience that is no respecter of persons. It comes to one and all when given the opportunity to do so.

We worry about all sorts of things.  Some worry about how to get money, then they worry about how to keep it.  We worry about the things we have and the things we do not have.  We worry about what we have said and what we should have said.  We worry about what we have done and what we should have done.  We worry about our bodies, our souls, our jobs, our families, our relationships, and many other things.  Some worry because they are married and some because they are not.  The circle never ends.  Some worry about not worrying.  We worry over real and imaginary things.

Let me offer an illustration that might be beneficial.  I heard about a man who visited friends in Colorado for the first time.  He told his host that he was going to walk over to the mountains, which he assumed were nearby, before breakfast.  Those mountains that appeared as if he could reach out and touch them were about fifteen miles away. 

His host decided to allow him to discover his error on his own.  The man set out to walk to the mountains he presumed were just a few minutes away.  After a couple of hours, a farmer found him sitting on the bank of an irrigation ditch, taking his shoes off.  The farmer asked, “What are you doing?”  The man said, “I’m going to swim that river.”  The farmer laughed and said, “Man, you could jump across it.” The man was indignant and said, “You folks are not going to make a monkey out of me anymore.  I thought it was only a short distance to those mountains and I discover it is miles. Therefore, I am going to swim this river!”  We worry about how we are going to cross rivers that do not actually exist.

We need the warning because worry is so utterly useless.  Jesus addressed that in his question, “Which of you by taking thought or worrying can add one second to your life or one inch to your height?”  You will not live longer or grow taller by worrying.  Worry solves no problems, dries no tears, and lifts no burdens.  I contend that there are two classes of things about which we should never worry.  Never worry about the things you can do something about.  That is like lying in bed shivering because you do not have enough cover rather than getting up and getting a blanket.  Second, never worry about things you can do nothing about.  Psalm 37 says, “Fret not” and then reveals the end of fretting, “it tends only to evil.”  Worry never does anything but harm.  Worry increases problems increase burdens and produce an abundant harvest of tears.

Worry hurts the person who worries.  It has been said that few things do more harm mentally, physically, and spiritually than worrying.  It takes a lot of work to kill a person, but a little worry moves us toward an early grave with ease.

Worry hurts others.  If we could just be alone and worry without affecting anyone else it might not be as destructive and dangerous as it is, but we cannot.  Worry infects others and dampens their spirits.  Homes, relationships, and lives are ruined due to the little fox of worry.  The person who worries constantly is as annoying as a toothache or a traffic jam on a busy day.

Worry is a wound to the heart of God.  I can only imagine God’s disappointment when the person who claims to love, trust, and believe in Him and His Word goes about moping and fretting as though God were either bankrupt or heatless.  Worry, therefore, is a sin!  I can say that the person who has received the Light of God worries it dishonors God.  It is effectively calling His claims and Promises untrue.  Worry tends only to evil. 

I want to pause one more time and address this more in the next session and give you some hopefully helpful insight as to how to get rid of worry and live the Fret-Free Life.

God bless you as you enjoy this day in Jesus!

Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].”  Amplified

In 1988 Bobby McFerrin wrote and released his little song, “Don’t Worry Be Happy.”  It is reported that he got the inspiration from Indian mystic Meher Baba who frequently used the phrase, “Don’t worry, be happy.”  He was also influenced by the jazz duo Tuck & Patti who had a similar poster in their apartment.  His motivation was not biblical inspired, but the idea of choosing happiness over worry. 

The Bill Gaither Trio released, “Why Should I Worry or Fret” song, and many others covered it.  It was based on the biblical principles of faith versus worry and focused on the greatness of God. 

Here in Philippians, the apostle Paul captures one of the many marvelous truths, helps, and comforts afforded within the pages of the Bible.  I suspect that every Christian has a favorite verse or verses that have been a greater inspiration to them than any other passage.  This passage is always an inspiration to me and a challenge.

When we consider the words of this passage, we quickly realize that the person who is anxious or worried about nothing has either fully placed their life and confidence in God’s hands or they are living in a fantasy world.  Total Trust is embodied in the charge and challenge of the apostle.  His simple message was Worry about NOTHING and Pray about EVERYTHING.  He suggests that an attitude of gratitude is necessary.

DON’T BE ANXIOUS OR WORRIED…

That is a very tall order as most of us have discovered in life.  But what does Paul mean? He does not mean to have a flippant, happy-go-lucky not caring attitude toward life.  It is not an appeal to adopt the Doris Day view of life – “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever will be will be.) 

Paul was a man of deep moral conviction.  Life was profoundly serious business to him and should be to us.  He took life seriously and realized that he had no guarantees of tomorrow.  He wanted his followers to embrace a similar view of life.  Life, enjoy but never become nonchalant or flippant. 

Paul was not suggesting that we avoid the “thought-out life.”  If you will recall, it was this apostle who said, “whatsoever a man sows, he will also reap.”  Paul believed it was our right and duty to decide in advance what kind and size of harvest we would reap and sow to that harvest.  The Bible is never opposed to the planned life.  It is opposed to ignoring the directive of the Holy Spirit.  The steps of a good man, the Bible tells us, are ordered by the LORD.

Jesus told the story of a man who set out to build a tower.  The man was haphazard in his planning and preparation.  His objective was not in harmony with his ability to perform, therefore he could not finish the project.  What he built had no value and he was the laughingstock of the community all because of his lack of planning and diligence. 

What Is Paul Suggesting?  He is warning that the person who is fretful and fearful toward life will succumb to fear and lose joy, hope, and faith, and be filled with doubt and worry.  He is warning that we must never listen to the voice of fear but always listen to the voice of faith, through the Holy Spirit.

In short, he is forbidding us to worry!  His foundation is in harmony with the declarations of saints in both testaments.  In the Psalms, we are told to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. God is our refuge and strength, a present help in times of difficulty so do not fear.  Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you.  Also, that fretting only tends to open the door to evil.  It is a doorway to doubt.  In the New Testament, the apostle Peter tells us – “Casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you.”

I have often wondered if Jesus is amazed at how full of fear His followers are from time to time.  In His teachings, He reminded us of how the Father cares for the birds of the sky (never saw a sparrow fall to the ground that God did not take note of).  He speaks of the lilies of the field and their beauty and that even the hairs on our heads were numbered and for those reasons, we had no cause to be fearful or worry.  God is God and has not and will not change!

As I think of this, I see the picture in my mind of our Lord stretching out His arms lovingly and saying, “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy burdened, I want to and will give you rest.” 

Therefore, I can say with confidence that the Bible and God are against worry so DON’T WORRY!  Give up and let Jesus take over!  I want to say more but will pause here and wait until the next session.

God bless you as you embark on a Fret-Free day!  Have a good one in Jesus!

Philippians 1:1-11

The last time we consider the element that is essential to Christian Fellowship is “Having Others in Our Minds.”  Now I would like to move to the next essential as Paul described.

He said in Philippians 1:7-8 – “I Have You In My Heart.”   This takes us a little deeper into the heart of the matter.  It is possible to have people in our minds without really having them in our hearts.  Some could and should confess, “I have you on my nerves.”  Paul demonstrated sincere Christian Love.

What is Christian Love?  That is the tie that binds like no other tie.  Love is evidence of salvation (1 John 3:14).  Love is the spiritual lubrication that keeps the machinery of life running smoothly. 

Love and compassion are not simply mercy and sympathy.  They are not our identification with or even understanding and empathy.  One can do all those to the letter and not really love.  Compassion is only born in love!

How did Paul show his love?  He was suffering on their behalf.  His bonds were proof of his love (Ephesians 3:1) – “The prisoner of Jesus Christ for you gentiles.”  It was through Paul’s trials that Christianity was receiving a fair hearing before high authorities in Rome.  Paul’s love was not something he simply talked about it was something he practiced.  He considered his difficulties as opportunities for defending and confirming the gospel message.  That is something each of us should embrace.  Not looking for trouble, but out of trials manifest the heart of God.

Another Question is – “How Can Christians Learn to Practice That Kind of Love?”  I heard a man say, “I get along better with my unsaved neighbor than I do with my saved relatives.  Maybe it takes a diamond to cut a diamond, but I have just about had it.”  Hear me please, Christian Love is not something we work up, it is something that God does through us. It is in us and flows out of us.  If it is there, it will shine forth!

This was not Paul’s love being channeled through Jesus, but Jesus’ love being channeled through Paul.  (Romans 5:15 NIV) – “God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”  The Key and it is an important Key is when we permit or cooperate with God to perform His “Good Work” in us, then we grow in our love for others!

Another Question is – “How Can They Know That We Are Truly Bound in Love to One Another?”  One is our concern for other believers and other people.  The believers at Philippi were so concerned about Paul that they sent Epaphroditus to check on him and Paul’s concern for them was reciprocal.  (Philippians 2:25-28).

I John 3:18 – “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

Another way, people know our love is we are willing to forgive one another.  In 1 Peter 3:18 we read, “And above all things have fervent charity (love) among yourselves: for charity (love) shall cover a multitude of sins.”

Let me offer this illustration:  A radio quizmaster asked a contestant to tell some of his wife’s blunders. The man replied, “I cannot remember any.”  The quizmaster chided him saying, “Oh, surely you can remember something!”  The man said, “No, I really cannot. I love my wife, very much, and I just do not remember things like that.”  The world and too much of the church cannot grasp that concept.  Remember 1 Corinthians 13:5 NIV – “Love keeps no record of wrongs.”

Christians who practice love always experience Joy!  Love and Joy come as a result of the presence of the Holy Spirit in us.  Galatians 5:22 teaches, “The fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy…”

I must pause again before taking up the third element Paul considered essential in True Christian Fellowship.  We will address it in the next devotional.

God bless you as you walk with Him today!

Philippians 1:1-11

I would like for us to begin considering three things that Paul described as being essential to True Christian Fellowship. 

He said – “I have you in my mind.”  (Philippians 1:3-6).  I believe we can agree that this is utterly amazing.  The apostle in dire straits himself was thinking of others, not himself.  He is in prison and awaiting trial in Rome.  However, his mind goes back to the city and people of Philippi.  He is focused on the believers there and those thoughts cause his level of joy to increase.

If you read Acts 16 you gain some insight as to some of the events that transpired at Philippi.  Some of the events could have caused immense sorrow rather than joy.  Paul was illegally arrested and beaten in Philippi.  He was placed in stocks and humiliated before the city.  However, those memories brought joy to his heart.  Why?  The jailer received Christ.  Lydia and her household became Christians.  A demon-possessed slave girl was set free!  Joy flooded his heart.  He made the choice to rejoice!

I believe a legitimate question for each of us is, “Am I the kind of Christian who brings Joy to my pastor’s heart when he thinks of me?”  Paul reflected on, with gratitude, their financial help (v.5).  But lest we misapply the principles and think that it is works that produce salvation, I suggest turning to Philippians 2:8-9.  Here we are not saved by good works.  Then in Philippians 1:6, we realize that the good work is Salvation.  Then back to Philippians 2:12-13, he teaches that God continues to work in us by the Holy Spirit.

I suggest to you that Salvation includes a three-fold work.  The work God does for us – Redemption.  The work God does in us – Sanctification.  The work God does through us – Service.  This work will continue until we see Jesus Christ at His return and then the work will be completed.  1 John 3:2 declares, “We shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.”

It was a source of Joy for Paul to know that God was continuing to work in the lives of his fellow believers at Philippi.  The true basis for Joyful Christian Fellowship is having God work in our lives day by day. 

Let me give an inadequate but revealing illustration.  A woman went to a marriage counselor and said, “there seems to be friction in my home, and I really don’t know what the cause is.”  The counselor looked at her and said, “Friction is caused by one of two things.”  Then to illustrate he picked up two sticks of wood from his desk and said, “If one block is moving and the other is not, there will be friction.  Also, if both are moving in the opposite direction there is friction.  Which is it with you?”

The lady looked at him and replied, “I’ll have to admit I’ve been going backward in my Christian life and my husband has been growing.”  She then said, “What I need to do is get back into Fellowship with the Lord.” 

God working in our lives daily is the basis for Christian fellowship.  As He works in us, we are enabled to focus on others not just ourselves.

I fear making this study longer than I had planned but will pause here and take up the second thought in the next devotional. 

God bless you as you allow the Holy Spirit to work out the kinks in you and as you enjoy this day He has provided.  Have a Great Day!

Philippians 1:1-11 – “PAUL and Timotheus, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Jesus Christ who are at Philippi, together with the elders and deacons:² Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from our LORD Jesus Christ. ³ I give thanks to my God for your steady remembrance of me.⁴ In all my prayers for you, I make supplication with joy,⁵ For your fellowship in the gospel, from the very first day until now,⁶ Being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun the good work among you, the same will continue it until the day of our LORD Jesus Christ: ⁷ And this is the right way for me to think of you all, because I have you in my heart, because through all my imprisonment and my defense and confirmation of the truth of the gospel, you have been partakers with me of grace.⁸ For God is my witness of how much I love you through the love of Jesus Christ. ⁹ And for this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all spiritual understanding:¹⁰ So that you may choose the things that are excellent; and that you may be pure and without offense in the day of Christ;¹¹ And be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and the praise of God.”

FELLOWSHIP – That is a good word!  It is a Bible word and has such a warm reception when uttered it needs to be kept in circulation as long as possible.  How many times have you heard words like these?  “Come over to the house for some fellowship.  What a golf game!  Man, did we have some good fellowship!  The fellowship after church was tremendous.  Do you need to go and wash the fellowship off your hands?”

FELLOWSHIP – The word seems to have many different meanings, yet it is worthy of our attention and consideration.  I believe that fellowship, like several other biblical words, has been misused, misunderstood, and needs to be rescued because of its immense value.

When we consider the life and situation the apostle Paul found himself, we discover some valuable truths.  Despite his circumstances as a prisoner in Rome, he was rejoicing!  The secret of his joy was ‘singleness of mind.’  He lived for Jesus and the Gospel.  In Philippians 1 Christ is mentioned eighteen times and gospel six times.  In verse 21 we read, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  Sounds single-minded to me.

The question we need to answer is, “What is a Single Mind?”  Among other things, it is the attitude that declares, “It makes no difference what happens to me, so long as Jesus is glorified, and the gospel is shared with others.”  That is singleness of mind and focus. 

Paul rejoiced despite his circumstances because he believed that his circumstances strengthened the fellowship of the gospel.  The Promoted the furtherance of the gospel and it Guarded the faith of the gospel. 

FELLOWSHIP is to have commonality.  True Christian fellowship is deeper than sharing a cup of coffee, cake, cookies, a meal, a game, or shaking hands and having a conversation.  Too often, what we call fellowship is nothing more than acquaintance or friendship.  You cannot have fellowship with someone unless you have something in common with them.  The basis upon which Christian Fellowship is enjoyed and experienced is Possessing Eternal Life – (Jesus – Salvation).

Therefore, unless a person is born-again, he knows nothing of the fellowship of the gospel.  Thus, we discover in Chapter Two of Philippians the Fellowship of the Gospel, and in Chapter Three, we are introduced to the Fellowship of Suffering. 

When we share what we have with others, this is also Fellowship. (Philippians 4:15).  Therefore, Christian Fellowship is much more than having your name on a Church membership roll or attending services.  You can be close to a person physically and be light years from them spiritually.  You can also be away from someone physically and be near them spiritually.

I am going to pause here and introduce three things that the apostle Paul described as being True Christian Fellowship.

God bless you as you enjoy this day in Jesus!