Scripture for Today: II Corinthians 7:1  “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates our body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”

I am thrilled and proud of my latest thrift store find!  It is a silver-plated candy dish, much smaller than the tray pictured.  It did not look like much as it was so tarnished and dark.  But it was heavy and I loved its design so out came the polish.  It took time to rub.  It not only needed lots of product but lots of elbow grease as well.  Little by little the dish began to shine.  Working on it outside, I had to at one point look away as it caught and reflected the dazzling sun!  The end result was worth all the effort and it now sits proudly on my buffet.

That dull gray or black film coating is a product of a chemical reaction between a metal and a non metal compound.  In our verse for today Paul is teaching that we need purifying.  In the world we are contaminated, slowly becoming tarnished and losing our shine.  As believers, we are to be separate from the world.  In keeping ourselves untarnished from sin we are promised a close fellowship with God as a Father.

Those who belong to the Lord have a new nature.  We are no longer made of the same material.  We are metal, and we need to avoid that “chemical reaction” with non metal.  Thankfully, God has made provision for those times when we sin and compromise.  His cleansing is available when we confess, and He is faithful to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).

Lord, keep me untarnished today.  May I shine for You!

Scripture for Today: Job 28:20-21a “Where then does wisdom come from?  Where does understanding dwell.  It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing…”

It is that time of year again when many families celebrate the graduation of one of their members.  Our first daughter’s high school graduation was memorable for several reasons.  The graduates of this European Christian school surprised their parents with a rose when leaving the stage.  I was doing great keeping a check on my emotions until then!  After that, the tears flowed.  She was our first to leave the nest and move to the other side of the ocean.

But there was another reason why I remember this graduation from so long ago.  The speaker repeated a phrase over and over; “If you want knowledge, go to college.  If you want wisdom, go to God.”  This simple but profound statement has stayed with me.  In our verse for today Job poses the question as to where wisdom can be found.  This beautiful poetic passage explores the different possibilities.  Job concludes that only God understands the way to wisdom (verse 23).  He ends the discussion with the often repeated truth, “the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom.” (verse 28, Psalm 111:10, Prov. 1:7)

Both my husband and I come from families where higher education is a valued priority.  But as impressive as four doctorates may sound, it all pales in comparison with God’s wisdom.  To know how to choose well and live life with skill is not something learned in a university.  It is learned from God.  It is learned through intentional obedience to His commands and precepts.  David understood that it is God who teaches wisdom (Psalm 51:6).

May I sit at Your feet and learn from You today, Lord.  Make me obedient and wise.

(Look familiar?  This is a re-post from 2014)

Scripture for Today:  Acts 20:24 “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

Our son loves to run.  In high school he was very good at cross country running.  The rugged terrain around our home was just right for training.  Later, he ran a few marathons and also did well.  The training for a full marathon (26.2 miles) is no little thing!  It is advised to begin training a full six months ahead of time, running at least three times a week.  So much of doing well is the result of mental toughness.  It is said that the last three and half miles of a marathon are the most difficult.

Our verse for today reveals Paul’s heart.  The image of a race for the Christian life must be a marathon.  Paul is approaching his last three and a half miles.  He is on his way to Jerusalem where he knows through the Spirit’s revelation that hardship and prison await him there.  He is compelled to go on, even when it means having to say his final goodbyes to the elders from the church in Ephesus.  Paul had only one aim in life, to communicate the wonderful grace of Christ that he had found.  It was a God-given task and he was determined to finish, no matter what.

That kind of mental toughness is incredible.  He finished his race well, staying faithful to the Lord and continuing his witness, even in prison.  His death as a martyr has earned Paul a special crown at the end of his marathon.

Can I be that tough?  Keep me determined Lord, so I can finish well.

Scripture for Today:  II Corinthians 12:7 “….Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me.”

The weeds are getting nasty in my yard.  There are a few that hide out and attack my unsuspecting hands with their sharp thorns.  I do not like wearing gloves, especially when feeling for roots, so I am an easy target.  No matter how vigilant I am, they somehow make their way into the bunch I am pulling out.  Some even manage to attack my hands while being thrown out!  There is nothing worse than trying to dig a thorn out of a hand or finger.

In our verse for today, Paul is describing a tormenting thorn.  It was sent by Satan but in God’s hands it was used for a good purpose; to keep Paul from becoming conceited.  The text tells us that Paul had received some incredible visions and revelations from the Lord.  The temptation for Paul was to boast and feel spiritually strong because of them.

What was that thorn?  Many interpretations make that thorn out to be a physical problem.  I am wondering if it was a person in Paul’s life.  Numbers 33:55 describes Israel’s enemies as thorns in the side giving trouble.  Ezekiel 28:24 uses the image of a thorn to describe malicious neighbors!

A relationship that has gone sour, a conflict that goes unresolved, or a family member that has no interest in reconciliation can all be like a thorn in the flesh.  The pain and discomfort from those thorns is a constant reminder that I am weak and not strong.  Like Paul, my only boast should be in God’s strength.

Thank you Lord, that I can delight in Your strength regardless of the “thorns” in my life!